5 Non-Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts

It’s time to get creative with your Valentine’s Day gift.

Red roses, chocolates and adorable stuffed animals are traditionally safe, but none really leave a lasting impression. Your loved one is a unique individual; therefore, giving him or her a unique gift is only fitting. Many of us have this intention in mind, but often a “gift block” occurs when it’s time to brew up some creativity.

Begin by deciphering the unique qualities of the person you love. Are they a music buff, a pampered princess or prince, a hopeless romantic, adventurous, obsessively athletic or all of the above? Then you can tailor your gift to his or her personality instead of society’s generic notion.
 
An increasing trend presently is the gift of experiences. Unlike material possessions, the memories shared through experiences live on indefinitely. For each of the personalities mentioned above, here are some ideas to inspire or provide you with your gift of choice!
 
Music Buff:
An excellent experience would be getting tickets to go see your boo’s favorite musical group, such as Coldplay, who will be in Canada throughout April. Make sure to grab two tickets, of course, that way you both have something to look forward to together. Coldplay plays Rexall Place in Edmonton on April 17, the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary on April 18 and Rogers Arena in Vancouver on April 20 and 21, 2012.
 
A Pampered Princess (or Prince):
For this type of person, a day at the spa would be thoroughly enjoyable. Unfortunately, this can get expensive so on the less expensive side, try creating your own at-home spa. You can provide the services for this delightful treat.
 
Hopeless Romantic:
If the one you love is hopelessly romantic, then they will most definitely have a favourite romantic movie. To take their breath away and make their heart melt, reenact a scene from this movie. Beware though: the result of this will be uttermost appreciation and lots of displays of affection.
 
Adventurous:
When gifting an adventurous person, plan something they haven't done before. Depending on their past experiences and desires, they may enjoy scuba diving lessons, a trip for two skydiving, cooking classes or even a balloon ride. The possibilities are endless; just ensure you're there to enjoy the adventure as well.
 
Athletic:
If your special someone is athletic, you can surprise him or her with tickets to a sporting event – or he or she may even prefer that you incorporate exercise into your romantic day. In B.C. and Alberta, there is always snow at this time of year (at least up the mountains). Go tobogganing, cross-country skiing or ice skating – that way you’re simultaneously revealing your heart while strengthening it.
 
It’s easy to fall into the trap of traditional go-to gift ideas on Valentine’s Day, but if you’re looking to truly show the one you love how much you care, take some time to think. A gift from the heart always takes into consideration that special someone’s personality. Chocolate is eaten, flowers die and teddies collect dust, but an experience leaves a lasting mark in the mind.