Last-Second Valentine Gifts

Pam Pfiffner

Whether you believe in Saint Valentine or Cupid, whether you likes hearts or roses, whether you’re in a committed relationship or not, someone you know will be expecting a token of love today. As a creative professional you may feel under even more pressure than most folks to come up with a gift that’s, well, creative.
While it’s too late to create something as magnificent as the Taj Mahal — built by Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal — you can still give your loved one something better than an off-the-rack Hallmark card.
You’ll have to hustle to secure this gift, but go for it: get a personalized Valentine video featuring “golden-voiced” Ted Williams by tweeting your heart-shaped wishes to #VoiceOfLove. For more details, check out AdRants.
Flavorwire put together an MP3 mix-tape about those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. From Taylor Swift to The Smiths, it’s an eclectic bunch. The songs are posted on the site for you to stream for your loved one while eating dark chocolate or something equally libidinous.
One song missing from Flavorwire’s playlist — surprisingly — is Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” This Goth-metal song describes R&J as “together in eternity.” Play the song on your stereo (vinyl really is better in this case) and give your object of affection a cowbell to recreate the famous Saturday Night Live sketch “More Cowbell.”
Of course you can compile your own Valentine’s playlist. Buy a headphone splitter that lets you plug in two sets of ear buds at the same time. Then put your heads together and…
Nothing seduces like knowledge, so read up on the history of sweetheart candies, the pastel-colored hearts that bear such inscriptions as “Be Mine” or “Oh You Kid.” Neatorama has the info or better yet, follow its lead to the Smithsonian Magazine’s feature about the history of these Necco candies and how the sentiments on them have stayed hip to changing times.

For more nostalgic fun, fire up the iPad or laptop and look at “The Top 100 Most Strange, Odd, Perplexing and Unintentionally Funny Vintage Valentine Cards EVER!” posted by Mitch O’Connell. Perhaps the two of you can reenact some of them, like the one shown. Thanks to Boing Boing for pointing this out.
If your loved one is a Mac-lovin’ geek, then download the Mac Love Bundle from Cult of Mac. It includes nine apps that usually cost $300, all for the low price of $39. Hopefully this gesture you won’t get you deleted from his or her contact list.
If you’re feeling crafty, P.S. I Made This shows how to make a bangle bracelet festooned with sweet nothings. It’s an easy project that you can whip up after work and before dinner. All you need is a pre-made bangle, spray paint and a Sharpie.
This crafty gift may take a little more time, but it’s worth it. Make a bouquet of roses out of duct tape. Neatorama repeats the words of a commenter: “… nothing says, ‘Let’s stick together,'” like a duct tape rose.