Homemade Valentines Gifts

Valentine’s Day is one of the most confusing days of the year, full of paradox and inconsistency. On one end of the spectrum there is a multi-billion dollar industry that promotes highly commercialized cards, gifts and flowers. On the extreme other end of the spectrum there is the historical tradition of Valentine’s Day that speaks of expressions of love not expenditure of money.

So, the confusion is this: Can love be properly expressed without falling deeply into debt? And, can commercial objects made and sold by strangers reflect true feeling that come from the heart?

My commonsense tells me that the correct response to the first question is “yes” and the response to the second question is “no.” Love can be properly expressed without falling into debt. As a matter of fact, there is no better way of expressing one’s love on Valentine’s Day then by homemade Valentine’s gifts that cost very little or nothing at all. No matter how expensive or extravagant a consumer product is, it cannot convey the intimacy that a homemade gift can. In simpler words, putting time and effort into making something for a loved one is a way of showing just how personal that love from the heart truly is.

Mull over the following ideas for homemade Valentine’s gifts that will blow your Valentine away:

- Write a love poem: There is no need to compete with the likes of William Shakespeare or Edgar Allan Poe. Just write from your heart and make it as funny, as corny or as raunchy as you like. This will be coming from your heart for his or her eyes only.

- Write a story about how you and your Valentine met and fell in love: Once again, do not try for a Pulitzer Prize, just write from your heart and soul. Talk about your first impressions and about what your family and friends thought. Recall sights, sounds and smells. Focus on emotional memories as must as on the concrete facts.

- Sexy pictures: Take your Valentine to a professional studio for sexy pictures. No, not x-rated, just beautifully sensual and encase them in a striking frame in your bedroom.

- Romantic meal: Prepare a meal of your Valentine’s favorite foods, dim the lights and fire up some scented candles, put on soft music, dress up. The rest will come naturally.

- Love coupons (Do not forget to put a time limit on these coupons): Prepare a book of love coupons each one offering something else (one hundred kisses, full body massage, breakfast in bed, bubble bath, a dozen red roses, hand and foot massage, free reign over the remote control, relief from kitchen duties, five dinners at restaurants of choice, no visits with the in-laws, taking the kids to school, etc., etc., etc.)

- Bake: Bake a heart-shaped cake and decorated with a Valentine’s Day theme. Or bake heart-shaped cookies and decorate accordingly.

- Recording: Record yourself saying “I love you” in as many foreign languages as you can master and present the recording as a gift to your Valentine.

- Paint: A picture is worth a thousand words. Paint a picture and frame it as a gift for your Valentine. Remember not to try to be professional or even artistic. Being expressive will be quite sufficient.

- Knit: Valentine’s Day tends to be chilly if not outright cold. Knit your Valentine a scarf and add a tab that says, “I love you.”

Homemade Valentine’s gifts will touch your sweetie’s heart like nothing else can.

Posted in Gift Ideas