Whether celebrating Valentine’s Day with a good friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance or spouse, there are gifts to suit anyone’s tastes.
“One year we decided to make gifts for each other,” said Meagan Macmenamie, freshman.
The February issue of Woman’s Day suggests making crafts for a loved one.
Homemade magnets, photo tote bags, Valentine card mailboxes, heart trivets and aphrodisiac chocolate desserts are ways to spend more time than money.
Mixed CD’s, collages, memory books, home-made gift baskets and poetry are always another way to go.
“I’ve recorded every memory since I started dating my boyfriend. I save every ticket stub and card,” said Jamie Branch, freshman. “I made him a collage last year and he loved it.”
“This year I made my boyfriend a coupon book with free hugs,” said BethAnne Myarick, freshman.
Not feeling crafty? Build-a-Bear and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company allow customers to create their own stuffed animals, without having to sew a thread.
For those who are relying on the Quinnipiac shuttle to bring them to purchase gifts, Wal-Mart has a broad selection of sweetheart gifts.
The shelves are stocked with Valentine’s Day stuffed animals, potted flowers, jewelry, gift baskets, fragrances, romantic music, picture albums/frames, vases and gourmet chocolates.
Given between one and two business days, Wal-Mart can deliver a dozen roses, right to the dorm of a special someone.
“Surprises are always great,” said Michelle Arthur, junior. “I love the mystery and it makes me feel good when he is creative.”
Although delivery may require a larger fee, florists, candy companies and the Cookie Basket Company deliver as well.
For those couples with a wild side, plenty of racy gift ideas are available, including a strip poker game, naughty dice, erotic fortune cookies, gourmet body paint and toy handcuffs.
For those couples wanting to get friskier still, the Red Hot Secret Stash Pillow may be the perfect gift idea.
This pillow includes a hidden zipper, which reveals a red fur and leather paddle key, pleasure feather, teaser whip and leather blindfold.
“No way would I buy anything like that. I think my girlfriend would laugh in my face, and then smack it,” said Tyler Ramsey, sophomore.
For those like Ramsey, who need to follow more traditional standards, the top five romantic gifts have been long been flowers, chocolate, balloons, jewelry and lingerie.
“Oldies, but goodies, I must say. I am an old fashioned girl and I love the basics,” said Shenie Patterson, junior.
If money is not an issue, then Valentine’s Day is a nice excuse to spoil a loved one.
“My wife tends to like jewelry,” said Mark Thompson Ph.D, Dean, School of Business.
“I’m going to get [my girlfriend] something from Tiffany’s,” said Jonathan Berger, freshman.
While diamonds are a girl’s best friend, many agree that the card means more than or at least as much as the gift.
“[My husband and I] have only been married for three years, but we’ve known each other since 1979,” said Barbara Baker, administrative assistant. “We don’t do extravagant [gifts] because you don’t need a lot of money to show how much you love the other person.”
Other couples rely on tradition to decide these holiday gifts.
“For the 27 years we’ve been together, every year on Valentine’s Day I have bought her a white chocolate rabbit,” said Russell Barclay, Ph.D., Associate professor of communications, married for 25 years.
Regardless of price or special tradition, sometimes just being together can be gift enough. At the root of all, most couples realize this by the end of the day.
