Ok last minute Valentine's shopper guys... you only have days...no make that hours before February 14, 2011 is here. If you haven't begun planning what you're going to do for your woman, you're almost toast! Thankfully, I'm coming to your rescue. There will be countless fender benders in Wal-Mart parking lots on Februray 13 as frantic "last minute men" converge upon the discount store...trying to "come through in the clutch." Many of you are either that guy right now or you are in the recovery process. Yes, even I have been stuck in panic mode on that infamous day. It's a pretty ugly site with cards wrinkled and trampled underfoot by well-meaning procrastinators. On February 13th there seems like there's nothing left but cards to grandma or ones that scream, "HE WAITED UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MINUTE SO HE SPENT $.99 YESTERDAY TO BRING ME HOME TO YOU TODAY!!" To make matters worse, you're still not sure what else you're going to get and are praying that she doesn't call asking where you are. You're drenched with sweat as you settle for flowers--AGAIN and realize that there are only 2 bouquets left in the store. Now if you could only remember which one of these she said was her favorite, you could end this misery...at least until next year this same time. So, why do so many of us guys allow Valentine's day and other "special days" sneak up on us? There are a lot of theories out there as to why, but I think for the most part it boils down to our male "brain-ness." At any rate, here my top 5 favortie most romantic... yet inexpensive valentine's gifts:
1. Valentine's Day Virtual Card- I really loathe the cold insensitive feel that store bought cards. So, last year I decided to use my MacBook Pro to create a very personal Virtual Valentine's Day Card. I took a few pictures taken over the years and created a slideshow set to an appropriate song by Wayne Brady. I dedicated it to my bride as "our song" and my ticket to the Romance Hall of Fame was secured!
2. Valentine's Day Comic Book of Love- One thing I found that women hate is a boring routine. So instead of just handing someone a generic card that some stranger wrote, why not get super creative. We all have millions of digital pictures lying around on our computers just waiting to be used. Comic Life by plasq.com is a great tool to help you get started. I used it to create a Valentine's Day Comic Book of Love from my 1-year old to my then pregnant (with our second child) wife. She LOVED IT! The best part for me was that she bragged about it to all of her friends. It was also cool because this didn't cost a fortune and yet it means more to her than some "big ticket" options out there.
3. Song Dedication on Facebook via Youtube-Most of us that are in our 30's can remember a time during our teen years where we called into the radio station to dedicate a song to someone we cared about. Obviously, the day of radio dedications is pretty uncool, but social media on the other hand is the hot ticket. So, why not dedicate your undying love to your partner on Facebook by using one of your favorite songs which is likely on YouTube. Your woman will blush as news of your love goes viral in a matter minutes.
4. Write and Record a Love Song- For those of you who are a little more adventurous and are gifted with writing abilities, you can write your own love song for your significant other. If you fortunate enough to have a friend (or a music student at a local college), who knows music production then you might be able to record your masterpiece. I promise you that the odds are favorable that no one has ever done this for that woman in your life. Which means you could be well on your way to scoring some major BP (brownie points).
5. Create a Romantic Scavenger Hunt-Women love to be surprised especially in the romance area. So, get a few RELIABLE friends together and create a love conspiracy for your woman.First plan a romantic night out (find an overnight babysitter if you can). Then get 5-7 friends together and have them each hand deliver a classy sealed envelope to your love with specific instructions on what she needs to do for your night out. EXAMPLES:" Clue#1 --Pack an overnight bag with 2 outfits (1 formal and 1 casual). Clue #2--Arrive at the airport's departure terminal by 5pm and wait by the check-in."
Now, you might not have the time to put some of these ideas together this year, but shoot me an email and I can have one created for you at a very good price for next year. You also don't have to wait until Valentine's Day since these ideas can be used anytime.
1. Valentine's Day Virtual Card- I really loathe the cold insensitive feel that store bought cards. So, last year I decided to use my MacBook Pro to create a very personal Virtual Valentine's Day Card. I took a few pictures taken over the years and created a slideshow set to an appropriate song by Wayne Brady. I dedicated it to my bride as "our song" and my ticket to the Romance Hall of Fame was secured!
2. Valentine's Day Comic Book of Love- One thing I found that women hate is a boring routine. So instead of just handing someone a generic card that some stranger wrote, why not get super creative. We all have millions of digital pictures lying around on our computers just waiting to be used. Comic Life by plasq.com is a great tool to help you get started. I used it to create a Valentine's Day Comic Book of Love from my 1-year old to my then pregnant (with our second child) wife. She LOVED IT! The best part for me was that she bragged about it to all of her friends. It was also cool because this didn't cost a fortune and yet it means more to her than some "big ticket" options out there.
3. Song Dedication on Facebook via Youtube-Most of us that are in our 30's can remember a time during our teen years where we called into the radio station to dedicate a song to someone we cared about. Obviously, the day of radio dedications is pretty uncool, but social media on the other hand is the hot ticket. So, why not dedicate your undying love to your partner on Facebook by using one of your favorite songs which is likely on YouTube. Your woman will blush as news of your love goes viral in a matter minutes.
4. Write and Record a Love Song- For those of you who are a little more adventurous and are gifted with writing abilities, you can write your own love song for your significant other. If you fortunate enough to have a friend (or a music student at a local college), who knows music production then you might be able to record your masterpiece. I promise you that the odds are favorable that no one has ever done this for that woman in your life. Which means you could be well on your way to scoring some major BP (brownie points).
5. Create a Romantic Scavenger Hunt-Women love to be surprised especially in the romance area. So, get a few RELIABLE friends together and create a love conspiracy for your woman.First plan a romantic night out (find an overnight babysitter if you can). Then get 5-7 friends together and have them each hand deliver a classy sealed envelope to your love with specific instructions on what she needs to do for your night out. EXAMPLES:" Clue#1 --Pack an overnight bag with 2 outfits (1 formal and 1 casual). Clue #2--Arrive at the airport's departure terminal by 5pm and wait by the check-in."
Now, you might not have the time to put some of these ideas together this year, but shoot me an email and I can have one created for you at a very good price for next year. You also don't have to wait until Valentine's Day since these ideas can be used anytime.
