Valentine Gifts

 The trick to a special Valentine's Day gift is to find something sentimental and personal. Yes, you can go with the old standbys-- flowers, chocolates, jewelry, lingerie-- and you'll probably have a happy Valentine. But if you want to get her a special Valentine she won't forget, you'll want to show you know who she is and that you've put some thought into finding something that pleases her. It's a stereotype to say that all young women are sentimental, but it's definitely true of many of them, and it's also true that women have been acculturated to have high expectations for Valentine's Day and will be disappointed if you don't put a little effort into being romantic. Is this ridiculous and nothing but money in the bank for Hallmark? Of course. But there you have it.

• Photo gifts. Get together some digital pictures and assemble a photo collage or photo CD. You can do these easily at a photo shop or online photo store. The pictures don't all have to be romantic ones; make a collage of her friends and her favorite college places (and you. of course). If this is a more serious relationship, consider a nicely framed picture of the two of you.

• Personalized candy baskets. Forget the prepackaged chocolates. What's her favorite kind of candy? What kind of candy is she nostalgic for from her childhood? Buy bags of her favorite candy, and find some pretty way to wrap it up in a basket. (Find a crafty friend to help you if necessary.) If she likes licorice jellybeans, buy her a huge bag. For mega bonus points, make your own candy.

• Favorite DVDs. What are her favorite movies? Do any of them happen to be romantic? (Here's some suggestions for good date movies.) Is there a movie that you watched together on a romantic date or on your first date? After buying her favorite movies, of course, part of the present is that you offer to watch them with her (and not complain).

• A mix CD or digital play list. This is the classic gift, and it may be a little cliche, but hey, this is Valentine's Day. Choose romantic songs that remind her of you, or "your songs," or just songs that she likes.

• Retro toys. What toys did she love when she was a child? Cabbage Patch Kids? Care Bears? Surprise her with her favorite old toys and you'll have a very happy Valentine. And if her favorite old toys aren't available in stores, look on eBay and you're likely to find them.

• A pet. Of course, this isn't for everyone. Make sure she actually wants a pet, has the resources and space to care for it, is not allergic, and has roommates who are on board with the idea. But if she's always gushing over everyone else's kitty cats, surprising her with a kitten will have a lasting impact. If you bring her a pet, don't forget to bring starter kit necessities like a litter box and food.

• Make her dinner. Also kind of cliche, but very impressive. Don't worry about being gourmet as much as you worry about preparing her favorite foods. If you're not much of a cook, surprise her with food from her favorite restaurant on a candlelit table. And don't forget to prepare her favorite dessert.

• Meaningful jewelry. Meaningful doesn't have to be expensive. A guy I dated one summer used to go by the screen name Phoenix online, so when I went away to school, he mailed me a silver necklace with a phoenix pendant. You get the idea. Birthstone earrings are often a good choice too. (P.S. I've been married to the phoenix guy for five years now. See?)

• A tattoo. Obviously, not for everyone! In fact, this may be a gift you don't want to give as a surprise.

• Meaningful jewelry. Meaningful doesn't have to be expensive. A guy I dated one summer used to go by the screen name Phoenix online, so when I went away to school, he mailed me a silver necklace with a phoenix pendant. You get the idea. Birthstone earrings are often a good choice too. (P.S. I've been married to the phoenix guy for five years now. See?)

• A tattoo. Obviously, not for everyone! In fact, this may be a gift you don't want to give as a surprise.

• Happy Valentine's Day, and best of luck!