By Angela Kaye Mason
Jan 27 (THAINDIAN NEWS) In honor of Valentine’s Day, I am writing an article a day on the subject of Valentine’s until February 14th. If you missed yesterday’s article, I gave a little insight into the history of Valentine’s Day. With the economy as bad as it is, I thought I would research and find a few Valentine’s deals for everyone. As I said in yesterday’s article “Use this day to show your love, not just in what you buy, but in who you are.”

While researching this article, I have came across many so called “deals” for Valentine’s Day, however, many of them, such as “Romantic Ski Getaways” and such were obviously not meant for the people who I know, so, for those people,like my friends and family who I know are just like me, and to whom a “Weekend Getaway” even at a 20% discount is still far out of reach, I decided to look for gifts and ideas for under $100.

First, of course, is the chocolate. Amazon has plenty of ideas, anything from Belgian Chocolates, to Chocolate Liqueurs, and all of them under fifty dollars. For those looking for a gift for chocolate lovers, I suggest looking here.

Another website you may want to check out is seventhavenue.com. There are many different Valentine gift ideas there and most of them are under a hundred dollars. My personal favorite is here. What is so great about this site is that they have a “Choose N Charge” payment method that allows you to buy an item, and pay $20 a month payments for it! With this option, you may be able to buy that special someone a gift which costs a little more than you have to spare right now, and simply make the very reasonable monthly payments.

For those of you who are still looking for that romantic getaway, Travelocity has listed “100 Hotels Under $100“. Travelocity is offering this bargain to help offset the high price of gas and airline tickets, so that traveling can be a bit cheaper. Another good incentive:From now under March 8, 2010, anyone who uses their American Express Card to book their hotel will also be entered into a contest to win a promo code that is worth $2000 in traveling with Travelocity. Perhaps you may want to check out the site, and find a location where you can have your Valentine R and R. Before leaving for this trip, place rose petals under the sun-visor of the passenger seat of the car. Add a note which simply says “I love you.” As you travel to the destination, tell your Valentine that there is something on their cheek. When they let the visor down to look in the mirror, they will be showered in rose petals and see the note.

If you are looking to buy your sweetheart roses, I suggest that you may want to check out “Teleflora” who has a beautiful assortment of rose bouquets available for Valentine’s Day. These are under $50 and absoluelty gorgeous.

Would you like some little ideas to make these gifts even more special? For the chocolates, jewelry, and other small gifts, draw a hot bubble bath, and add a few floating candles, which you can buy very cheap. You may also choose rose petals,or flower petals, and these you can often get for free by simply asking at the florist for the petals which have fallen off. Have the gift wrapped prettily, sitting atop the folded towels by the tub.

If you do manage to pull of the Romantic Getaway, buying memorabilia of the trip may be quite costly. One cute yet romantic idea is to pick a a smooth stone or a piece of drift wood somewhere during the trip. Have your names and the year engraved on this keepsake. For the rose and flower bouquets, find a similar but pretty artificial flower and add it to the arrangement before you give it. Add a note telling your love how special they are, and that you will “love them until the last flower fades.” Also,guys, a romantic way to give a gift OR send the invite for the getaway: Take her to a beach or a lake nearby, and take a picnic with you. Inside the picnic basket will be a bottle that you have fixed beforehand, with a treasure map. To make the map look real, burn the edges. When she is not looking drop the bottle, perhaps while on a little walk. Then, while walking hand in hand, “discover” the bottle together. On the map, you will have drawn with dotted line a map to a nearby cafe. Suggest going to the cafe for desert. (You will have already arranged things with the waitress, trust me I used to be a waitress, they are always happy to help a romantic guy surprise his girl.) As the waitress sets out the coffee, have her lay a key under your love’s cup. After desert, you two will continue following the map, to a spot nearby, marked with an X. Help your girl uncover a locked box, or treasure chest. Inside will be her gift, or tickets for the getaway, whichever you have chosen to give her.

AS A SIDENOTE: Even if you have NO money for a gift you can have small slips of paper in the box, telling her on each one a reason that you love her so, and tickets for free massages, or for you to cook dinner, wash dishes, etc. You can also wake her on Valentine’ morning with breakfast in bed. Try cutting French toast into the shape of a heart, serving fruit juice in a wine glass, and putting one rose in a vase. Have a small box which contains colored tissue, and a handmade business card ” Personal Masseur call anytime, no appointment necessary. (xxx)xxx-xxxx (your phone number)”.

Those are a few ideas for Valentine gifts and deals. Between now and Valentine’s I will find more deals for gift ideas, more unique gifts, and even more free ideas. Remember people, it is all about love, and love doesn’t cost a thing. I hope you have enjoyed reading, and please remember to Buzz Up and Retweet. I know you’ll do this for me. Thanks!