Romantic Gifts

A new vacuum may be just what's needed, but there's a time and a place for everything. The whole point about romance is that you should be spending time together and celebrating your relationship. Practical presents may be fine for birthdays and Christmas, but keep them away from Valentine's Day, anniversaries and the like.

Flowers , especially roses, are probably the most traditional romantic present. Why not have a bouquet delivered out of the blue ?

Chocolates , especially heart-shaped ones, will always go down well. It's worth thinking about the packaging as well as the chocolates , though.

Champagne is something you can share at home or in a romantic setting - how about a pair of glasses to go with it, and arranging to drink it together on a hilltop/lake/other romantic place? Or put a personalized label on it.

Jewellery is an alternative way of demonstrating appreciation for outward appearance. Certain types of jewellery are traditional for specific events (e.g. eternity ring), and different stones have different meanings, so pick one appropriate, and then tell your partner what it means when you give it to them.

Flowers

Good news, guys. When it comes to flowers -like so many other things in life-size doesn't matter as much as you'd think. Remember: It's the thought that counts. On the other hand, you won't exactly win your honey over with a wilted bunch of flowers from your neighbor's lawn.

Why can't she get them herself?
If it was just about the flowers, we women would buy them ourselves, thank you very much. The reason we'd rather have them from you is that it shows you're thinking about us instead of just stocks and sports scores. And that's the key to melting our heats . We want to know you have us on the mind all day long and not just at the booty-call hour. "Sending flowers is sweet and traditional, and it's a nice little gesture that shows how a guy feels about you," says Alexana, 26. And don't just think about sending flowers on the obvious occasions, like Valentine's Day, birthdays, and anniversaries (although we want flowers then, too). "The best flowers are when you're not expecting them," says Angie, 28.

How soon is too soon?
Most women would say it's never too soon to send flowers , but getting them from someone you don't really like can be creepy. So wait until you know she likes you (if she's agreed to a second date, she probably likes you.) Or, wait for the right occasion. "My beau sent me flowers a week into our relationship because he had to go to Arizona on business, and he was worried I'd get another boyfriend while he was gone," says Ambika, 26. "It worked. I looked at the flowers every day that he was away and I was just putty in his hands when he got back."

Where should I send them?
Since the whole point of sending flowers is to make a woman feel special and loved, send them to her office. Plus, she'll be bragging about you to all her coworkers-extra bonus points. "It's fun to get flowers at work because everyone says, 'Oooooh, who sent you those?'" says Ambika. "Definitely send them to the office," agrees Alexana, 26. "It's inconvenient if you want to take them home, but you'll be the center of attention, and who doesn't want that?"

Of coure, if your woman isn't the type to hog the spotlight, dispatching flowers to her office could make her blush as deep a red as the roses you selected. If that's the case, you're better off sending them to where she lives.

How do I write a decent love note?
A tiny note tucked into an arrangement is not the place to pour out your heart or confess your love . Keep the note simple and direct, and save the mushy stuff for in person. Never, ever write: "Thanks for a good time." A simple, "I saw these flowers and thought of you" or "Thinking of you" will do.

Humor also goes a long way. Scribble a witticism that picks up on something you talked about on your date. "A stupid inside joke is cool," says Amy. "I like it when my boyfriend changes his name to something silly like Raoul or Elvis ." But this only works when you've been in a relationship for a while and she'll figure out it's you. Otherwise, she might think you're a stalker.

Capture the Romance with GivingGallery's Valentine's Day Contest!