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Just-right Valentine’s gifts
Your present sends a big message. Don’t
screw it up!
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Michael Hathaway I
for NOISE
A nice dinner is never a bad idea at a
restaurant like Evergreen Grill, 327 Abbott
Road in East Lansing. That’s where our
models, Kristen Hecksel and Zac Lownds, both
of Lansing, dined.
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Holiday History
To read about the history of
Valentine’s Day, head over to the History
Channel’s Web site.
www.historychannel.com/
exhibits/valentine/
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Nicole Jacques | NOISE
You might think Valentine’s Day is nothing more than a
holiday invented by Hallmark. But consider its legendary
origins before you and your partner decide not to
celebrate this year.
Saint Valentine was a rebellious priest in third century
Rome, who fought for the right of couples to marry. See,
Emperor Claudius II wanted all the young guys to leave
the family life to be grunts in his army, so he banned
all weddings. Valentine was captured, jailed and
beheaded on Feb. 14 for helping lovebirds tie the knot
in secret. They say this romantic’s last correspondence
was a love letter to his jailor’s daughter, hence, why
we send cards today. Aren’t you starting to feel the
warm fuzzies?
The holiday also has ties to a Roman festival of
fertility held in February, Lupercalia, where young men
and women entered a lottery and were paired up for the
coming year — pairings that often ended in marriage. The
Christian church wasn’t too keen on that festival,
replacing it with one deemed more morally suitable,
naming Valentine as the patron saint of love.
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So, yes, centuries of time and
commercialization may have tarnished the meaning of Valentine’s
Day. But do you want to go against history? Now that you’re
convinced, you still have to buy the right gift. And that
decision can be downright nerve-wracking, depending on your
particular relationship.
We talked to dating expert Laura Dawn Lewis of the Couples
Company (www.couplescompany.com) for the lowdown on what the
length of your relationship means for gift-giving. Then we
scoured some local shops and Web sites for some great gift
ideas:
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0-3 months |
| Lewis said the best
advice at this stage is to keep it light, especially if the
two of you don’t consider yourself exclusive yet. It’s best
to spend no more than $25 at this point; definitely don’t
fork out more than $50. |
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For Her
Hallmark’s featured Valentine’s Gift this year is
actually pretty darn cute. The “From my heart” bear
holds a zippered heart-shaped pouch in which you can
hide money, candy or even a small piece of jewelry.
She’ll love finding the little surprise. It’s only $5.95
when you buy three cards at one of their Gold Crown
stores.
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For Him
Get your new guy a book by his favorite author or the
newest CD by his favorite artist. It’ll show him you’re
getting to know him, and hint that you want to get to
know him more. Or you can go with a book of romantic
poetry, like this collection of lyrics from ’70s and
’80s love songs. Who doesn’t melt when they hear “More
than Words” by Extreme. And don’t forget the classic
serenaders like Al Green. He’ll think of you every time
he listens to those songs.
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3-6 months |
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Lewis said this is the most
precarious time for new lovers, about 70 percent of
relationships end before they reach seven months. This is
when your lives are starting to intertwine, and you’re
beginning to see more and more faults. Keep the gift-giving
subdued and fun. Don’t spend more than $75.
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For Her
Get her flowers and have them delivered at work with a
sweet note. It’s a classic that won’t be risky. Choose
something other than the traditional red roses, though,
especially a dozen of them, which can be overwhelming.
We like these magenta cyclamens from Bancroft Flowers
and Gifts, at 1417 E. Michigan Ave., for $21.95. They’re
pretty, plus they’ll last for a couple of weeks to
remind her of the gesture.
Another good idea for this stage
is a picture frame, with a picture of the two of you, of
course. It says you think you look cute together. Glass
bead frames from The Mole Hole, 234 S. Washington
Square, are awesome.
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For Him
What guy wouldn’t love to receive some homemade goodies?
It’s something they may be missing out on, living as
bachelors. And it shows you’re willing to give something
of your sweet side to him. We found this mini-heart
baking pan, $26, and chocolate cherry quick bread mix,
$8.50, at Williams-Sonoma in the Eastwood Towne Center.
Make them on your own, then surprise him with dessert
after you treat him to dinner.
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6-9 months |
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If you’ve
made it to this stage, you’re becoming a more intimate,
committed couple and you can plan to spend more cash. Lewis
said $200 or less works at this point. |
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For Her
This is the time for lingerie, according to Lewis, even
if your sexual encounters have already gotten hot and
heavy. Give your purchase to her early in the night and
let the anticipation grow. We found this sexy ensemble
at Bottom’s Up, 2137 Hamilton Road in Okemos. Both
pieces are made of washable 100 percent silk, and tie
with a satin ribbon. It goes for $34.
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For Him
Get him something manly, but personalize it. These
stainless steel flasks from Things Remembered are retro
but popular, and can become a sentimental keepsake. The
circular flask, $24.95 plus the cost of engraving, is
especially cool because you can see the Jack Daniels
through a little window. Have a little love note
engraved on the back and he’ll be glad he’s kept you
around.
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9-12 months |
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Lewis said this is the final stage of
a new relationship and the time when the two of you are
making concrete plans for the future. You can spend even
more money at this point, but what matters most is that the
gift reflects the longevity of your relationship. |
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For Her
This may be the best time to surprise your lady with
jewelry. Something that suggests Valentine’s Day without
being too cheesy is a good choice. We like this white
gold necklace and heart pendant set with Pavé diamonds
from Wheat Jewelers, 2285 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos.
Plus it comes with a nice jewelry box for only $125.
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For Him
We found these sterling silver mongrammed cuff links at
Red
Envelope.. Even if your guy doesn’t wear a
suit every day, these will come in handy anytime the two
of you dress up for a special occasion. And the best
part is, they are actually little lockets that open up
to reveal two tiny pictures — one of you and one of him
if you choose. They cost $125 and ship in three days.
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Over a year |
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After a year, the art of romantic
gift-giving is much easier. There’s no need to follow any
guidelines other than your own knowledge of where the
relationship is going and what your lover wants and needs.
But here are two ideas that reflect a celebration of the
first year. It doesn’t hurt to call it an anniversary even
though you’re not married.
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For Her
This time, don’t get her real roses. Buy her paper
flowers. Paper is the classic gift for the first-year
anniversary, and the item will last much longer than
flowers. This shadow box version can serve as a great
addition to her home decor. And she’ll be reminded of
its meaning every time she sees it. Available for $55 at
Red
Envelope.
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For Him
It might sound cheesy, but make him a personalized
calendar. You’ve already made it more than 12 months
together, you can highlight the year with pictures and
important dates — like the first time you took a trip
together — inserted throughout the calendar. There are
lots of Web sites to order from, such as
Personalized Photo Calendar.com. Or you can get one at
any Meijer Photo Lab.
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Long-term |
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For Her
Chances are, you’ve delivered both roses and gold
jewelry at some point during your relationship. Why not
give her both this year? These are real roses covered
with 14K gold from Wheat Jewelers, 2285 W. Grand River
Ave. The all-gold rose goes for $49 and the red and gold
combo is $60.
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For Him
It’s always good to go do something fun together as a
gift, especially if you’ve given him everything a guy
needs — a watch, wallet, cologne, boxers — by now. So
buy him tickets to a favorite sporting event or concert
and give them to him Feb. 14. Even if the date is weeks
away, his anticipation will make it worth it.
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