To get some gift-giving inspiration, we sought help from Ottawa's romance experts to compile the ultimate list of gift ideas aimed at showing your significant other how much you care. The result was a list of classic Valentine's Day traditions with a twist worthy of the patron saint of love himself.
1. Sexy splurge
While men are the ones who usually turn to sexy lingerie on Feb. 14, you might want to consider doing the same. "Most men are still in the habit of buying a three-pack of cotton boxers every six months. A stylish new pair of boxer briefs goes a long way," says Robert Conley, who works at Harry Rosen. Any designer store will carry Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Burberry and other designer brands. "Splurge on a pair," says Conley. "Everybody wins."
2. Sweet treats
Think like a kid again and buy something sweet for Valentine's Day. "I would say our most popular Valentine's candies are the classic conversation hearts with the messages on them, and cinnamon hearts," says Hayley Sherman, clerk at The Candy Store in Ottawa's Westboro Village.
She suggests creating a personalized treat bag for your partner. Start with a cone-shaped cellophane bag, select three or four varieties of Valentine's bulk candy in complementary colours, layer them by size and tie with a tasteful ribbon. "Dropping in your own letter or attaching a tag with a personal message is a nice custom touch," she adds.
3. Hidden message
Chocolate might be a tried-and-true Valentine's Day gift, but you can take it up a notch. If you insist on traditional chocolate, Sherman suggests getting imported varieties. "Our most popular flavours of chocolate are the exotic," she says. Opt for Belgian chocolate (dark and milk) with hazelnuts or pralines.
To make the gift more thoughtful, get personal. Leave a special message under each piece, listing the things you love about your partner, such as his laugh, his eyes or his smile -- and just to guarantee yourself a bite -- his generosity.
Page 1 of 2 -- From handwritted inscriptions, special flowers to handmade cards, find more unique Valentine's Day gift ideas on page 2
