By By Adrienne McKenzie
Ladies, have you ever gotten tired of the traditional roses, cards and balloons on Valentine's Day?
When I think of "sweet" for this particular holiday I think of non-typical things. Ideas that really make you think, "Hmmm, that was a good idea, I wish I would have thought of it." I do not really believe in the stereotypical red roses as being a nice thought, I more or less think of them as being too generic. I am one for some thought and effort.
Unfortunately I am lacking in the Valentine department this year, however; I do have some good ideas for those who are doing better in the "love" area than myself.
Instead of buying a gift certificate from a store for that one you adore, why not make a gift book? Take some construction paper, scissors, a Sharpie and some yarn and get crafty! Have useful things in the book such as "a free dinner at your favorite restaurant" or "a free pass out of an argument." These are the things that will really count in the long run as important and also unforgettable.
Instead of paying $50 for a dozen roses, plant a tree as a symbol of your love. This is more of an idea for men to do for their lady friends. Men, it will surely bring a tear to your sweetheart's eyes as you tell her that the two of you can watch your love blossom as the tree grows. Ladies, I would not do this for your man unless you want to get laughed at or be stared at in total confusion.
Valentine's Day at the beach would be a nice gesture. Again, this is a cheap method of expressing love. By packing a picnic lunch and a blanket and spending the day on the beach, the only money spent will be for gas for the ride there and back.
Instead of going out to an expensive restaurant for dinner, cook. Find out your squeeze's favorite dish, how they like it prepared and cook it. This is a very simple process, unless of course you are like me and barely know how to turn on the oven. However, with some good directions and a little kitchen knowledge, this could turn out to be a nice surprise for your loved one.
If you have even the slightest bit of singing ability, serenade your cutie. This is guaranteed to make even a man's heart melt. However, I would not pull out the electric guitar and play any Led Zeppelin or Guns N' Roses but some romantic music, like Michael Buble' or Sarah McLachlan would be a nice touch.
If flowers are an absolute must, and I know for some men, flowers are the only thing they can think of, try something a little more creative than roses. A simple bunch of red tulips would be beautiful. Also, asking a friend of your sweeties what her favorite flowers are is an acceptable thing to do. This would also make the process easier on you when you go to the flower shop.
The best gift I can think of for a man is two tickets, one for him and one for yourself, to his favorite sporting event or to a concert of his favorite artist. This shows that you do actually pay attention to him and that you care about his interests and are willing to attend something with him that is not exactly your cup of tea.
So, instead of being boring this Valentine's Day, surprise your significant other with a gift that you have never gotten them before!
Adrienne McKenzie is a reporter for the Atmore Advance. She can be reached at 368-2123.