Valentines Day, the LoveBites Way!

As we venture into the month of February everywhere you go its all about Valentines Day.... Now I won't lie, its sweet to celebrate and shower each other with affection during this time, but I am one of those people who thinks that you should appreciate the person you love everyday... however, I do still celebrate V-DAY!

Now recently many male friends of mine have been asking me what to get their girlfriends for Valentines Day so I decided to blog about it...

Firstly, suggesting a great gift is going to be hard because everyone is so different, and you want to get something that she will love! I am going to break down my suggestions by the length of time dating... its just easier that way!

1-6 Months

At this point the relationship is still very new, often times you haven't said the L-word yet but its your first Valentines Day together and you don't want to be cheezy.  In my opinion most guys go the very predictable and safe route and get flowers, a card, candy, or a teddy bear.  While all of that is sweet, unless your girl is a pre-teen, none of it is memorable. This is your chance to wow her and to make her remember this Valentines Day, whether you are together or not. 

• Plan a couples activity: This means doing something together, preferably something that you have never done. Go to the spa, go ice skating, plan a picnic, go on a local sight seeing tour in your city, take a pottery class, visit a museum or the zoo. Its your chance to do something she will not expect.

6 Months-1 Year

Around now its possible that you have said the L-Word and you're having sex, this is definitely the Honeymoon phase and you should know enough about your sweetie to get her something that will be special.   She is going to probably expect the usual, its still your first V-Day together and you still want to make an impact but you also want to pull on her heart strings a bit by wowing her with how well you know her, and expressing that you intend to have a future together. 

• Give the gift that keeps on giving.  This shows that you know what she likes and you want to give her something to not only make her smile today but again in the future.  You can buy her something she needs or wants, like an iPod loaded with "your songs", an E-reader if she likes to read, make her a gift basket of wine and snacks for a movie night in the future, buy a package of dance classes for you both, get two open tickets for a trip, buy her tickets to see a show in a few weeks, make her a great dinner and tell her that she owes you one.  These are all ideas that point into the future.

1-3 Years

If you have been together this long then this should be a little easier, you have probably spent a few V-days together so you might know what she likes and dislikes by now.  Now you need to show her that even now, after a few years, that she is still sexy. You need to ignite the spark!

• Buy her some sexy lingerie, plan a romantic evening, get a "toy" for you both to play with, take her out to dinner to a Fondue Restaurant like the Melting Pot, where you can feed each other something sinful and gooey! Offer her a massage, take her out dancing, do whatever you think will make her feel like the sexy woman you know she is.

If you are living together or moving in

This can be at any time in the relationship.  Once you are thinking about or already are living together then you can buy her something special for your home.  I know people always say not to get her something for the house but this is different. You are not going to buy a blender or a vacuum, you are going to buy something that will make her smile every time she even looks at it.

• You can make her some art, get a canvas and some paint and get creative, when she sees this she will always remember how unexpected that gift was.
• Frame a memento, something she might not expect like some old movie stubs, a printed out movie sign from the first movie you ever saw together, the menu from the first dinner out, something special and unique to the both of you.

• Buy a his and her item. I love this idea, there are his and her robes, aprons, tooth brushes, coffee cups, pillow cases (which I love). Just something special that says "you are my other half".
• Get a pet.  This is a touchy suggestion because this is something that you both should have discussed before but if you have been talking about it, its a great time to finally do it! Don't run out and buy a dog but maybe buy her a set of cute doggie bowls and a leash, maybe a dog t-shirt for the pup, and on valentines day make it a date to adopt your new family member.

There's are just a few ideas, and of course they are all generic, as the man you will need to tailor your date and gift to the likes of the lady in your life.  Women love flowers, we love the cards and the candy, and not to mention Jewelry, those are all usually safe bets but my suggestions are a little more unique and definitely more memorable!!

Happy Romancing to Everyone!!

To Gift or Not to Gift? - That is the Question!

With the Holiday season only days away everyone is in a shopping and gift giving frenzy and I had a friend/reader ask me an interesting question that I would like to share with everyone...

Should I buy a Christmas Gift for my "Friend with Benefits"?

Now my answer for this is simple, "If you want", but let me elaborate.  I personally am a Giver. I enjoy giving gifts and I understand that the concept of a gift is to give someone something that you would like them to have.  Its a simple and easy concept to understand.  There might be an occasion or event that creates the gift giving opportunity but the bottom line is still the same, you give a gift because you want someone to have a certain item, NOT because you expect something in return.

Now if understand that the was to give a gift is with an open heart and without expecting anything in return, then you are ready to select a gift.

A friend with benefits is not just a friend, but a friend that you have a sexual relationship with, so selecting a gift might be easy.  If you have been friends for a long time or if you know of something that this person wants, then your job is simple but if you have no idea what to get, or if you aren't very close friends, then here are my tips...

• Buy something naughty - Theres nothing wrong with buying a "FWB" some lingerie or boxers, its cute, inexpensive and its a great way to remind that friend of how much you appreciate the special benefits that you have arranged.
• Buy something that you can "Share" - If you feel uneasy about buying a gift for this person, but you really want to, a sharable gift is a great compromise.  Think a massage for two, a sexy novelty game, a gift basket of yummy bedroom friendly snacks, a bottle of wine and a box of chocolate truffles, something that is a gift for you both to enjoy while you are together.
• Buy a gift for his/her home or office - this is a great neutral gift.  This gift says "I noticed you like movies/books/candles/lamps/throw pillows/pens/figurines of some sort/paperweights etc, so I thought you might like this.  This shows that you pay attention and you just thought the recipient would have interest in the particular gift.
• Steer clear of "relationship" gifts, like keepsakes, couples items (jewelry, ornaments, picture frames)
• Don't spend a lot of money.  A gift for a friend is coming from the heart, not your wallet, therefore shop from the heart as well...

Those are my suggestions, however, when buying any gift, take the recipient and his/her taste, likes, and or dislikes into consideration. 

Happy Holidays!!