VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEAS
If you’re anything like I am, you haven’t even begun to think of Valentine’s Day gifts or plans. Well, here’s a news flash–it’s exactly one week away, so time to get crackin’! And I’m here to help, with all new suggestions for 2011, including finally something for the boys!
MEN
WILLIAM HENRY STUDIO MONEY CLIP–I’m so excited that I finally found a gift for the guys that I had to feature it first! I’m sorry I’ve never written about gifts for them in the past, but I’ve always drawn a blank on male gifts. Until I found this very manly company at a recent GBK suite, that is. The designer, Matt Conable, is practically a poster boy for macho! It’s perfect that he designs high-end, limited edition, (each piece has a unique serial number engraved on the back ) in-laid knives, pens, golf tools, and money clips.
When I saw Matt’s work, I was at first drawn to the beautiful knives, but then I realized that Mr. X and I should never have sharp weapons easily accessible to us! Not a good idea in our household.
Most guys love special pens, but I think an upscale money clip is the perfect gift to give your man because it reminds him to spend money on you! And he’ll be happy to because he’ll constantly want to be taking it out of his pocket to show it off! And both of you win! There can be no better outcome of a Valentine’s Day gift!
In addition to the body of the William Henry clips being made from tempered surgical stainless steel with a synthetic diamond coating that gives them a black finish, they have 24-carat gold-plated micro-screws (can I think of more hyphenated words in a row?,) and inlaid gemstones. (Each one is unique, so you have to choose which stones you like.)
I especially like how the actual clip works, which the company explains thusly: “There is an embedded magnet hidden under the scale, which holds a few bills with magnetic tension. As the ‘load’ gets heavier/thicker,” [my note: from their mouths to God’s ears!] “the magnet stops working. That’s when you open the hinge and let the lever act as a mechanical ‘cam-lock’ to hold everything in the clip.” They think the best part is that the magnet isn’t strong enough to interfere with credit cards. I say the best part is that the guy’s got cash and credit cards! He deserves this gift! www.williamhenrystudio.com
JEWELRY
MYCHEL RUSSELL-WARD JEWELRY–I’ve been a fan of Mychel Russell-Ward’s special hand-made jewelry since last year, and shared her earrings with you in my last Gift Ideas column. But being that it’s now Valentine’s Day, you might like to get more serious with your lady and step-up to the ring stage. So, I’m really recommending these beautiful rings that Mychel can actually design, render, and have in your hands in a matter of days!
She can make them with big, pretty, rainbow moonstones or labradorite stones, which are of comparable size and flash to the moonstone, but a little less costly, although even the moonstones rings are incredibly affordable, especially for how gorgeous they are.
Mychel really gets into her creations–she knows so much about the stones she uses, and she gives you the low-down on them, which I, for one, really appreciate. For example, about a ring she’s designing for me, she wrote, “The labradorite I set aside for you is from a well known mine in Madagascar. It flashes orange/red/grey like a butterfly’s wing. It will be oriented so that it flashes when you look at it as you wear it.” I can’t wait to pass that knowledge onto the many admirers I know my ring will have.
And, for your Valentine’s relationship purposes, since most of us like to wear Mychel’s art as cocktail rings, rather than on our ring fingers, you get away with thrilling your girlfriend without making a lifetime commitment! It’s the perfect jewelry solution, for both of you!
LINGERIE
STAR CANDY PANTIES–Whether you’re the guy buying these for his girl, or the girl buying them to wear for your guy, you won’t go wrong with these stunners. They even make my, shall we say, less-than-hefty butt look good, and that’s saying something!
These colorful panties are trimmed with lace and feature rhinestone sayings and designs. They’re just adorable. I have a pair or two myself and Mr. X just loves them! As do I because they’re also comfortable.
They’re fun and sexy, a combination that can’t be beaten. (At least, that’s what I’ve always thought when the occasional male admirer has said that about moi!) You can even borrow that line from me, to write on the card accompanying these panties: “They remind me of you–fun and sexy.” What girl wouldn’t melt? And insist on modeling them right away! www.starcandyboutique.com
GAME
LOVOPOLY–I found the perfect gift to give Mr. X, but since he reads this column, I have to wait for our anniversary to surprise him. No matter, though–Lovopoly is the perfect gift for all special occasions!
It’s like a mini-monopoly game, but the buyer 100% customizes it for their situation–you name all the properties with places that are special to you guys, you use pictures of the two of you, and you can even put a lovey-dovey message on the board.
My mouth is watering to order ours. But, since Mr. X is much wittier than I, I want him to name our favorite places. All I’ve come up with so far are “our house,” our house,” and “our house!” (Remember–he’s not big on going out.) My alternate choices are “the emergency room,” and “the police station,” but I’m not sure just how romantic those choices are.
So, whether you work it out together or do all the planning yourself to surprise your loved one with, this is the perfect couples gift. Or, to give to close friends/family members whose special moments you want to celebrate. www.lovopoly.com
CULTURE
In the culture department, which I always feel is a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift idea, I picked out two wonderful local shows for those of you lucky enough to live in the Los Angeles area.
But, alas, they’re both closing the night before, being that Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year. But no problem, as I see it; simply go to one of these kind-of romantic shows the day or night before, and then do like Mr. X and I do on February 14th–RELAX!!! No need to fight the crowds forcing themselves to go out that night–you’ve already had your public fun, so light some candles and have some private fun. Trust me on this one.
I can’t give you better reviews than I already have of these two shows, so here are the links to them, so you know which one to choose for your loved one. And remember, a show is actually a gift to yourself, as well!:
TRACES: http://www.itsnotaboutme.tv/news/2011/01/19/theatre-traces/
BALLROOM WITH A TWIST: http://www.itsnotaboutme.tv/news/2011/01/25/live-production-ballroom-with-a-twist/
No matter what route you choose, enjoy! And, since I’m nuts about all my readers, I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re all my valentines.
