A Dozen Roseless Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas (That are Outside the Chocolate Box!)
Let’s be honest – flowers and candy are kind of an easy out for Valentine’s Day. They’re nice, sure – but not the most creative gift choice. And what’s the deal with the price of roses doubling just for the occasion?? Costs skyrocket like the price of gas on Labor Day weekend – for no other reason than people will pay more to give the traditional gift. So buck the system. Be a Valentine’s Day rebel. Here are a dozen (roseless!) gift ideas to that will get you thinking outside the chocolate box!
1. Vanity license plate. Get that special saying or nickname on a license plate – and your loved one will have your special sentiments with them where ever they go!
2. Newspaper greeting. If you live in a small town, buying a page, half page, quarter page or smaller of the local newspaper is probably an option. You can have it say whatever you want – and even include that special picture that will make your mate smile. What goes better with a morning cup of coffee than a personalized newspaper?!
3. Etched mirror. Take a hanging mirror from your wall to a glass etcher and have that meaningful quote, symbol or picture etched permanently in the place your mate will see reflected around their face for years to come! For a bigger splurge, hire the etcher to come to your home and do the bathroom mirror.
4. Create a secret code. Do something simple like having the letters in your own names represent different letters. Give your mate a card with your secret message (maybe where you’re going for dinner?) with instruction on the back for how to crack the code. When the day is over you’ll still have your code to tweet or send Facebook message that only the two of you will understand!
5. Name a star for them. Really. The International Star Registry has several “packages” for star-naming available. They even have coordinates of your personalized star included. Additional splurge? Buy, rent or borrow a telescope to have it aiming at your mate’s new star when you present your gift!
6. Personalized office supplies. Staplers, tape dispensers, letter holders and pens can be boring. Unless they’re a reminder that you are loved! Go traditional with your mate’s name, or make it even more personal with an inside joke, favorite song lyric, or other meaningful engraving.
7. Workplace delivery. Instead of sending those predictable (and grossly overpriced) roses to the workplace, how about surprising your mate with lunch delivered from their favorite restaurant, or a special coffee and pastry for their morning break?
8. Personalized games. Dice and playing cards can be personalized with words and pictures. Want to go bigger? How about personalizing a whole board game like this Make Your Opoly Board Game? Operating on a tight budget? There’s an app for that! In this case, a My Monopoly Game app that allows you to create and print personalized stickers to go over an existing game board.
9. Customized T-shirts. Have a special message printed on a T-Shirt or Sweatshirt so they can wear your love all year round!
10. A calendar. Boring? Not if you have few mystery dates penned in for upcoming months. Now the mundane qualifies as a gift that keeps on giving!
11. The selfie presentation. Want to take your mate to a special movie, dinner, or other event? Take a picture of yourself holding the tickets or menu and download the picture as wallpaper on your mate’s computer. What better way to start the day then turning on the computer and having the promise of a gift-to-come virtually presented?
10. Happily-ever-after book ending. Draft a Love Letter and glue it to the back inside cover of the book they’re reading for a very special ending!
And that’s why we must meet in person. 🙂 You know, one of these days.
Deal!!
You have the best ideas! Love this post!
Thanks, Peggi – hope you have a sweet Valentine’s Day!
Cool ideas, Shel, especially the not-boring-at-all calendar. Love that one for more than just Valentine’s. It may show up under the Christmas tree.
Really? You need a year to pull it together?? C’mon, Kim – let’s shoot for birthday, anniversary, Father’s Day – heck, it’s even a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Happy chosen holiday!
You’ve heard of procrastination, right? 🙂
Heard of it? I have a patent on it!
Very cute ideas!
Thanks, Noreen! The best part (for me!) is they’re all lace-free!
These are fantabulous ideas! I love your title- so catchy!
Thanks, ShaRhonda – and each one is lace-free!
Personalized office supplies are definitely the way into my heart! That’s such a good V-Day idea.
Bonus: no lace involved!
These are wonderful ideas. My hubs and I don’t really do much for Valentine’s Day. Maybe a meal out. I’ve always seen it as such a commercialized holiday, but I might change my mind for some of these things. I especially like the calendar idea.
We’re kind of in the same boat, Carrie – between the commercialism, the onslaught of pink/red and all things lacy, and the fact that my birthday is one week prior (the real reason to celebrate in February!) it’s generally not on our radar (unless you count making sure we remember to NOT go to a restaurant that night!). Having said that, I know it’s a favorite for many, and I love the challenge of creative gifting!
Great ideas, Shel. Actually I love roses. Especially roses since they are cat-friendly :).
What fun ideas, Shel. Several are really unusual and very creative. I especially like the mirror etching suggestion. We had a frosted window pane put in one corner of our bedroom window, etched with our names and a circle of names around ours (of our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren) and the message at the bottom: The Circle of Life and Love Continues.
That sounds beautiful, Marlyin – both visually and conceptually!
Creative ideas, but I guess I’m more of a traditionalist than a rebel. I’ll take roses (or flowers of any type except those dyed, flourescent ones) any day of the week–even Valentine’s Day! 🙂
Clearly you’re not alone, Dee Dee – I suspect the florists aren’t going to suffer much because of my suggestions!
Impressively clever collection of ideas, Shel!
Thanks! We’re kicking around some ideas for that make your own board game – that could be fun to commemorate a lot of different occasions!
Great ideas, Shel. I grew up outside of Washington, DC. I remember every Valentine’s Day they would publish a personal column where you could express your love to your Valentine. This was pre-internet, so I doubt it’s still done.
I remember listings like that, Jill! I wonder if that still is being done anywhere . . .
Fun ideas! I’ve also given love poems and homemade meals or desserts.
I think it’s pretty hard to beat hand-crafted for that “made with love” message, Maria!