Romance is in the Air

If you’ve got a special loved one in your life, there’s no skimping out of a special treat on Valentine’s Day. But what do you do exactly? Flowers? Chocolates? Teddy bears? Dinner? If you think Valentine’s Day is kind of silly or a bit of a non-event – or if you’re stumped on what to do, here are 5 tips to make sure you come out on top in the eyes of your favorite girl.

1. Don’t Ignore It
Whatever you do, don’t ignore Valentine’s Day by pretending it doesn’t exist. Even if you’re busy at work, a total lack of phone calls or emails or sweet one-liners will get you nowhere. And what’s worse, your girl will probably sit around for most of the day wondering when she’s going to hear from you. You may not be the sensitive type, but if you simply ignore the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day, you’ll probably be coming home to some icy-cold stares.

2. Don’t Spend It With Your Mates
This is probably the worst thing you can do and is somewhat on par with forgetting her birthday or your anniversary. If you decide to spend Valentine’s Day with your mates instead of your girl, you are probably committing relationship suicide and what’s more, she’ll be hurt and disappointed, even if she pretends otherwise. If hanging with your boys seems more alluring than spending it with her, perhaps you need to consider how committed you really are to your relationship.

3. Get Her Something
All girls love gifts and no matter what you think, a girl will still swoon if you get her something on Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers, a rose, a surprise dinner or even a new necklace, make sure you get her something. Even when she might say she doesn’t want anything or that she thinks Valentine’s Day is not a big deal, she’ll still love the gesture because it means you’ve made an effort for her – which is what girls really want!Tip: Don’t buy cheap or thoughtless gifts – sending her a card or buying her a new pair of oven mitts will not go down well. Even something like a book by her favorite author or a voucher for some shoes she’s had her eye on will be better than something you haven’t thought about. When in doubt though, stick to flowers.

4. Surprise Her
Yes, girls love surprises! Surprises can come in many forms and they don’t have to require lots of effort or money from you. Surprise her with a romantic dinner, a chick-flick or even tell her that you’re going to cook for her tonight (assuming your home cooking’s not awful!). Better yet, book a romantic weekend! You don't have to go far to have a good time. Try a cozy cabin. Leave your cell phones off and spend the weekend reconnecting. Surprising her also means NOT doing the exact same thing you did last year. Still can’t be bothered? Sending flowers to her workplace will always go down well – it’s unexpected and no doubt she’ll be sitting around watching all the other girls receive their flower deliveries.

5. Your Undivided Attention
Even if you do get her some flowers or a gift or take her to dinner, it’s not going to mean anything if you spend half the night with your mind elsewhere. No girl wants a bunch of flowers only to find you’re going to spend the evening watching your favorite TV show, nor does she want a romantic dinner where her man is texting and emailing the whole time. Give her the time and attention she deserves and you’re almost guaranteed she’ll be smiling non-stop, which in the long run will score you some serious boyfriend brownie points.