Surprise your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day

Gift ideas that will help you win your loved one’s heart.

KARACHI: Did the flowers you gave her not provoke any excitement? The chocolates didn’t make her happy either? Well then, you must be doing something terribly wrong or maybe s(he) is tired of receiving the same gifts every year.

To save you from making a crash landing this Valentine’s Day, we have gathered ideas that will get you a guaranteed ear-to-ear smile from the one you love.

Instagram coasters to be remembered

A great Instagrammed date is a day well spent! Who doesn’t Instagram their photos, especially when it makes you look attractive. Refresh good times by printing your best Instagram moments and making these DIY Instagram beverage coasters. It may be simple and cheap but a guaranteed heart-melting moment.

Things that you will need:

- White glue

- Instagram photo prints

- Flat cork rounds

- Cardboard paper

Cut your photos and cardboard paper according to the size of the cork rounds. Put glue on both sides of the cardboard paper. Stick one side to the cork round and the other to your picture, making sure the glue isn’t oozing. Let it dry and voila! You have your own, personalised beverage coasters — perfect for his/her office desk.

Cost: Rs150 a piece (for him and her)

Love is in the air? So are balloons!

Balloons can brighten anyone’s day. So take a big box or carton, and wrap it with plain gold or silver paper. Paste or draw a heart on the front face, and write a message if you want to go all out expressing yourself.

A heartfelt message taped with a bunch of balloons in her will say a lot than just a box filled with balloons, so make sure you personalise it. Write to your heart’s content to make sure the words stay with her forever. She will open the box at her doorstep and call you to shout a big thank you!

Cost: Rs250 for a bunch of balloons and a carton (For her)

Love grows in a potted plant

What else would be better than waking up to flowers, not ones you picked out from the roadside florist, but from a small potted plant you surprised your Valentine with? It’s sweet to also include a message saying that you wish your love grows as the plant grows (and pray the plant doesn’t wilt!). If it sounds too cheesy, just know that Valentine’s Day is the one day when cheesiness is forgivable.

Cost: Approximately Rs400, but depends on the plant (For him and her)

Dive into the sea of love

If your Valentine is adventurous, plan a trip to Churna Island, which is tucked 60km away from Hawkes Bay, for scuba diving. Just dive into the water and surprise him/her with a rose or thoughtful message when you are both submerged — it will bring a smile on anyone’s face.

Cost: Approximately Rs5,000 (for him and her)

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2013.            

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