Valentine gifts 2.0-style

By Ed Biado

Tired of the usual flowers and chocolate Valentine ritual? Don?t have time to think of something more personal? Well, that?s what the Internet is for. All you busy (or just plain lazy) gents out there, here?s something to make this year?s Day of Hearts more special for you and your chick?online solutions to your gifting needs. But remember: be extra careful when shopping on the Net.

1. Love-inspired silver jewelries from Patagonia Gifts (www.patagoniagifts.com) are not your usual hearts with mushy designs. Their best-selling Celtic line has chokers, cufflinks and everything else in between.

2. Jacques Torres Chocolate (www.mrchocolate.com) is a Manhattan-based confectioner that specializes in fresh, hand-crafted chocolates. The sweets are favored by the discerning folk who frequent their retail spot on the Upper East Side, as well as chocolate lovers online.

3. Different gift ideas are available at Links 2 Love (www.links2love.com). Their recommended Valentine presents this year are the Tokens of My Affection (Set of 10 Romantic Love Tokens) and the Love Credit Cards.

4. Poetry is a very romantic gift idea, judging by the fame of Shakespeare and Neruda. Poetry Gifts (www.poetrygifts.com) will customize your selected poem with your names, dates, personal messages and images. They will also frame it to your specification. The Web site also has other merchandise like bears and rose domes, all accompanied by poems.

5. If you don?t wanna be too serious, how about some good old cartoon characters to bring back childhood memories? The Snoopy Store (www.cafepress.com/snoopystore) has Peanuts Gang merchandise (apparel, travel mugs, framed tiles, etc.) for all occasions. And their Valentine-themed items are hilarious and weirdly romantic at the same time.

6. For something out of the ordinary, Uncommon Goods (www.uncommongoods.com) has funny, sometimes mildly inappropriate, items as Valentine gifts. Check out their selection of just under 50 different novelties.

7. We don?t really give soaps as presents, do we? Well, think again. SoapCard (www.soapcard.com) makes heart-shaped soaps that can be personalized with a quotation and even a photo. You choose the shape, fragrance and color.

8. Sending gifts abroad is a hassle, for the most part. And you?re sending perishable goods, it gets trickier. Gifts n Ideas (www.giftsnideas.com) solves that problem by providing international nest-day delivery. Gift baskets, flowers, cakes; you name it, they probably have it.

9. Thinking of something naughty? Head on to the Inspirations Store (www.the-inspirations-store.com) and choose from their selection of innuendo-driven products that will surely make her blush. Of course, there are other wholesome things there too.

10. Now, this last idea is for the ladies. How about getting your man the Kama Sutra Bedside Box to really blow his mind? And it?s not hard to find. It?s available on Amazon?s Gifts to Impress (gifts-to-impress-com.amazonwebstore.com).

Parting words: if these material things don?t seem to tickle your fancy, you might want to check out the online community, The Romantic (www.theromantic.com), for more creative ideas?things you can buy, things you can do yourself, etc.?all tried and tested by the members of the Web site.