Six Valentine's Day Ideas

Valentine's Day is coming up - if you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, you may be under a bit of pressure. Even if you don't really celebrate Valentine's Day, I still think it's nice to do a little something. It isn't fun being the only girl (or guy) who doesn't get even a thought for Valentine's Day. So I have compiled a list of things you can do for your special someone this Valentine's Day.

Remember, for anything you do, make sure to give a card! You can buy a card or make a card, either one, but a card is always nice!

1. Homemade cookies or chocolate. It's my personal favourite. I probably suggest it too much but think it is just a great gift. First, it shows you put some time into it. And second, it's delicious! My favourite for Valentine's Day is just making regular chocolate chip cookies and putting red or pink dye in it.

2. If you really can't bake, a box of chocolates. It is more expensive than baking cookies but a box of chocolates is sweet as well.

3. An item of clothing. Depending on your significant other, it could be a t-shirt, a hoodie, boxers, lingerie, PJ set, belt, etc. You know your partner. You know what he or she would like the best.

4. A photograph (with a nice picture frame) or photo album of the two of you. Valentine's Day is a romantic day so you should emphasize the relationship, and each other, and something like this would do the trick!

5. A bottle of wine. Bring over some dinner too. The two of you can have a romantic night together!

6. If you want to splurge a little, get tickets. It could be to a concert, a play, a sports event, a romantic getaway. Something where the two of you can spend some time together (yes, make sure you buy two). If the tickets seem a bit much, remember that you would buy your half anyway! The event depends on his or her interests and, of course, your budget. But you can usually find something that your partner will find fun!

Remember - there are a gazillion options for you! Put a little bit of time into it and your partner will be happy! Make sure to spend some time with him or her on that day and enjoy yourself!

How was your Christmas?

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays ... whatever you celebrate!). I know I did. I got to spent time with some family I haven't seen for a while. It certainly was nice.

Did you exchange gifts with your family/friends? One of my favourite gifts this year was a new camera from my dad. I've been out looking for a new camera for the past few months so I was excited to get one from him! He knows cameras very well so I'm sure he picked out a good one for me! I'm excited to start using it! Some other cool gifts that I got included a computer game, a movie, and some clothes. I gave out a lot of homemade calendars this year which was fun! I also gave out a couple tickets. I gave my boyfriend tickets to a concert later on this year (also one for me, so I can go with him!!). I got my parents tickets for a comedy show. They are really big on comedy. I can't say it's my favourite thing, but they enjoy it, so they will have a great time together. I promised my sister a shopping trip. Mostly because I'm the one of us with some style, and I'm hoping she'll pick up on it soon!

We also had some delicious food! My aunt made some turkey and mashed potatoes - it was amazing! I'm still full from the meal, and it's two day later!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas! I hope that you at least got to spend some time with loved ones.

Soon it's New Years Eve! Does anyone have any plans yet? I am hanging out with my boyfriend and we're probably going out clubbing or something (typical). I'm sure it'll be a good time. And I will definitely report back!

Merry Christmas ... and Happy New Year ... it's almost 2011! Feel free to post about how you spent your Christmas or your plans for New Years Eve!

How To Find A Perfect Last Minute Gift

Face it, Christmas arrives before you even realize it's coming up. I start planning for Christmas months early but there are always a couple of last minute gifts to get. The gifts I"m talking about here are more "a 'week before Christmas" rather than "a day before Christmas" ideas.

1. Buy tickets. This can be for almost anyone on your list. Remembert to buy two tickets though. He or she will want to go with someone! Unless you know this person's schedule though, make sure you book it for at least a month after Christmas, so he or she can book it off work or change plans if necessary. It works great for a boyfriend, giflriend, spouse, parent, or sibling.

2. Donate to charity. Giving $30 - $50 to a charity in someone's name is especially nice. You can often give specific gifts which are lots of fun. I donated a goat from CHF to my parents one year. It is nice to pair this with a small gift as well (so the receiver actually gets something). But it is a perfect gift for someone who has everything they need, like parents!

3. Purchase a spa kit. Spa kits are very popular around Christmas time and you can get them in most department stores. Everything is prepackaged and put together so you don't have to do any work. It is a great gift for almost any female.

4. Gift a bottle of wine. Or another type of alcohol that is preferred (maybe your dad loves Crown Royal? maybe your sister loves Jack Daniels?). Go for that. Wine is a safe bet though because, even if the receiver doesn't like that wine, it is still good for guests and dinner parties. Great for anyone of age and who enjoys a bit of drinking.

5. Pick up a gift certificate. It isn't too hard to pick up a $30 - $50 gift certificate to a clothing store, electronic store, or even a department store. For someone who is hard to shop for, it is a great idea because he or she will be able to choose her own gift. This is not a good idea for a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or parent. It is recommended for a sibling, friend, child, niece, nephew, or grandchild.

6. Homemade cookies or chocolate. Yum! If you can bake, this is the way to go. Who can resist chewy homemade chocolate chip cookies? Fresh, rich chocolate mints? This is a great gift for anyone on your list but I have found that it is usually a winner for a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.

Happy Shopping!