What Girls REALLY Want for Valentines! Listen up Boys!

At Valentines, we are supposed to do something, give something, and have a card that says just the right thing about how we feel about our significant other. I think many guys get all bent out of shape over this because they really just don't know what to do.

Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates? Do I buy her jewelry? Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special? Does she really care if I buy her roses? Will an I.O.U suffice because I simply had no idea what to do, or ran out of time??

Lets address each of those individually....

Do I give her the same ole' teddy bear and box of chocolates?
     What did you give her last year? If you did this  last year, then NO. Spice it up! Do something different! But, if you do give her this, find the biggest teddy bear you can! If it doesn't already have ribbon, find some pretty sparkly, thick, ribbon and tie it around the bears kneck. Include a hand written love note tied on to the ribbon. If you buy chocolates, make sure you get the kind she likes! I personally do not like nuts, so any candy with nuts would not be a good pick. If you don't know, then buy truffles from a specialty candy store! What girl doesn't like Milk Chocolate Truffles??

Do I buy her jewelry?
   Unless you are planning on proposing, do NOT buy a ring. Because as soon as she see's that box, that's the first thing she will think! What a let down that would be!  Buy a necklace, or a bracelet. And you must spend at least $100. Don't buy something cheap or not real. If you can't afford this much, then don't bother. Why? Because in a girls mind, your jewelry cost defines how much you love her. And yes, every girl finds a way to find out how much you spent and what its worth!

Do I make something because I'm creative and want to show her that something from the heart is more important than throwing money down on something and calling it special?
   This is a tricky one. Something hand made, and from the heart is very special. If you really do put a lot of time and brain power into this, you can pull it off fairly well. But, if it looks cheap, like it took no more than 5 minutes to create, then it will probably appear you did not want to spend the money and went cheap on her. This is always a good option for those guys who don't have a lot of money to spend. If you do this, make it LOOK like you spent money and time on it.
   Don't give her a poem on regular paper. Type it up, use pretty paper, place the paper on a piece of pink or red construction paper or card stock to create a boarder. Spray it with your cologne. If you've got a little extra cash, buy a pretty frame to put it in. You need at least one rose to go with this. And give it to her as soon as you greet her at the door.
   If you're musically inclined, Sing the poem to her. Bonus points for sure!!

Does she really care if I buy her roses?
  YES. Yes. And YES. The only exception to this would be if you knew her favorite flower and wanted to show her you "noticed" her likes. This can mean a lot to know you cared more about getting her something special to her liking, than going with the traditional flower. Also, the MORE flowers the BETTER. This is like jewelry, the more you spend shows just how big your love is. If you can't afford a whole dozen, or two, or three, then even ONE rose can get the point across to the right girl. But it all has to do with how you present it. Dress it up. Add ribbon and maybe baby's breath. Wrap the stem in a pretty tissue paper. Never include a vase, because it will look like you bought it that way. If you go with only one rose, include a little card that says something like; "Two hearts, One rose, One love" or something sappy like that ;)
   Even if you buy her something expensive, you should include at least one rose. If you can afford to spend the money on the gift, then a few extra dollars for a flower will show her you went the extra mile :)

Will and I.O.U suffice because I simply didn't know what to do or ran out of time?
     Um...NO! DUH!  Every girl in America thinks "If you couldn't take time out of your day, just ONE day a year, to do something special for me, then that means you really could care less about my feelings or our relationship".  You appear thoughtless, or careless. She may say different, but she thinks it.  Don't get caught that last day without even thinking about what you want to do, and empty handed. Take time to really think about it, and prepare. The more you procrastinate, the less thoughtful your gift is going to appear.
   Now, if you really do get stuck in this situation because of things out of your control- Run by a spa, or her favorite jewelry store, department store, or specialty shop and buy her a gift certificate. If you go this route, $50 should be the minimum! You can't buy ANYTHING nice for less than $50 these days. If she doesn't get the immediate gratification from your gift on Valentines, she needs to look forward to spending it. She's going to feel cheated if you give her anything less.
   Then, on your way to her house stop by a flower shop or even gas station for at least one flower. At this point, you may not be able to find any roses, so the nicest flower you can find may be the best shot you got!

   In all the hustle and bustle today, we might forget to show our loved ones just how special they are, and how much we love them. Don't let Valentines get caught up in the business of life. Set that day apart and try your best to WOW her and make her feel special. If you can't go out and buy the expensive stuff, then do something simple, but MEANINGFUL.  Leave a rose on her pillow, or on her windshield, with a hand written note expressing your feelings. Make a pic-nick and take a stroll in a park. Take her to her favorite restaurant or rent her favorite movie and snuggle in on the couch.

   All the things listed above are superficial, materialistic. Some girls really go for that, or even require it. But, I say it's all about SHOWING your love, than it is how much money you spend. If you can afford to do an expensive gift along with just doing something special, great! But, if not, any good girl is going to appreciate the thought you put into making the day special without spending a bunch of money. If you do something simple, and actually put some thought into it, and she gets upset because you didn't spend- then you probably need to rethink that relationship. If she really cares about you, she cares about what you DID do for her, not what you DIDNT.

Here are a few bible verses that speak to healthy relationships. Read each one. It might help you in deciding how to express your love this Valentines Day, and you might can even use one on your hand written card :)

Romans 12:9-10                           

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.       

Proverbs 31:10          
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.     

Mark 10:9         
What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.

Ephesians 5:33                     
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.