Friday, January 28, 2000
14 ideas for the 14th
Make your sweetheart's heart beat faster with Valentine's Day surprises
BY REON CARTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Pajama bottoms: $16.50.
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When it comes to shopping for Valentine's Day gifts, men are more generous than women, but tend to get a slow start.
The average male will shell out as much as $64 on his sweetheart this year, while the average female will spend $25, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corp. International.
Men are more likely to wait until the last 24 hours before Valentine's Day to shop, which doesn't give them as much time to ponder, peruse and thoroughly sift through the vast array of options at their fingertips. To jump start the hunt, we enlisted help.
Cupid had an unlisted number, so we phoned other guys with names that evoked great romantic expectations.
Here's what they said when asked for memorable Valentine's Day gift ideas:
Socks with toes: $2.99.
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• Gregory Valentine, Pendleton County: “Chocolate. Other things come and go, but chocolate never goes out of style.”
• George Kiss, East Walnut Hills: “Forget the roses. Azaleas were the flowers I gave when I still did romantic things like that.”
• Aldo Romeo, Anderson Township: “A romantic trip, some place really nice, like San Francisco.”
• Justin Sweetman, Batavia: “Three hours of spa pampering — including a full body massage. I did that for my girlfriend last Valentine's Day. It must have worked because she's my wife now.”
• Jonathan Love, Silverton: “Time. Because it's precious. Spend as much time as possible with your companion. And if money is no object, turn Valentine's Day into a whole week. Whisk her off to Venice for a moonlit gondola ride. Dine in Rome the next night. Then it's off to Egypt for a stroll around the pyramids — if the weather is not too hot. Valentine's week should end in the States with a Broadway, no make that an off-Broadway, show that has a romantic or intimate theme.”
For those not able to think as big as Mr. Love, here's our roundup of 14 Feb. 14 gifts for everyone on your shopping list.
• Primal Elements Valentine's Soap ($5.50-$6 per slice) — Vegetable glycerin soaps with flowers, hearts or red, pink and white candy hearts with messages floating inside. Soaps have a sweet melon fragrance. Primal Elements products are at Contemporary Habitat in Tower Place Mall or Originalities in Mount Lookout. Bath & Body Works locations have pretty heart-shaped glycerin soaps with cucumber and melon scents and hearts inside ($5).
• Betty Boop Musical Water Globe ($40-$45) — Two sizes, several designs. All play “I Wanna Be Loved by You.” One features Betty Boop with the New York skyline as a backdrop and glitter snow. Another has Betty with Cupid's wings, bow and aluminum hearts snow. Available at San Francisco Music Box & Gift Co. in Tri-County Mall, Kenwood Towne Centre and Florence Mall.
• Valentine Fortune Cookies by Robinwood ($10) — These treats are stuffed with mild or spicy romantic messages for your significant other. Ten cookies are packaged in a Chinese takeout-style container. Available at Contemporary Habitat in Tower Place Mall.
• Heart Ceramic Bowl ($19.98) — This bowl (101/2-inch diameter, 31/2 inches high) holds everything from pasta to popcorn, salad to dessert. The glazed white background is covered with sponge-painted pink and red hearts inside and out. It's in the latest Lillian Vernon catalog (800) 545-5426.
• Chocolate-Scented Cologne (Three bottle set, $15) — The calorie-free way to enjoy chocolate. Scents include chocolate black raspberry, white vanilla chocolate and chocolate mint. Each bottle holds 15 ml. Available at the Body Shop stores or catalog, (800) 263-9746.
• Pajama Bottoms ($16.50) — Cotton pants with roomy legs and drawstring waists in four fun Valentine's Day patterns and color combinations. In men's, women's and girl's sizes. Available at Old Navy.
• Body Sense Heart ($14.95) — A soft, red bean-bag heart that can be used hot or cold. Place it in the refrigerator or microwave. It emits peppermint and chamomile fragrances. At Bankhardt's in Kenwood Towne Centre.
• Valentine's Lip Balm Kit ($10) — Chocolate Cherry and White Chocolate Orange lip balm packaged in a red velvet box. Available at the Body Shop stores or catalog, (800) 263-9746.
• Socks with Toes ($2.99) — Pink cotton socks stamped with “Happy Hearts Day” on the bottom and studded with shiny plastic hearts on each toe. At Linens & Things in Kenwood.
• Rose-Scented Wristwatch ($69.99) — This LAKS brand timepiece has an exclusive rose scent developed by Italian perfume designer Lorenzo Dante Ferro. Each watch is a hand-numbered limited edition. It has a nickel-free stainless steel case and rose-printed leather band. To order: (800) 356-9377, or www.1800flowers.com (keyword: watch).
• Romeo the “Talking” Bear ($59.99) — Too shy to tell her how you feel? Romeo, a white 18-inch plush teddy bear, will do your talking. Record a personalized message in your own voice, which is heard each time Romeo gets a squeeze. He comes wearing a bow tie and holding a single red rose. Order: (800) 356-9377 or www.1800flowers.com.
• Valentine-Themed Boxer Shorts ($10-$35) — Available in dozens of styles from cotton to silk at most stores (Lazarus, Structure, Old Navy to CVS). There are splashy to subtle patterns to suit every taste.
• Heart House Slippers ($9.50) — Pink heart-print flip-flops with a thick and cushy sole. In women's and girl's sizes. Available at Old Navy.
• Grow-A-Date ($1.99) — For the unattached person who sent off for Sea Monkeys thinking they'd look as cute as they did in those comic book ads. There's a bikini-clad female and boxer-clad male. Both are red and 3 inches tall. When immersed in water for several hours, each grew to about 5 inches, turned watermelon pink and noticeably puffier. Remove Grow-A-Date from the water and he or she is supposed to slowly shrink back to original size to be “grown” again and again, according to the instructions. However, the one we tested was still bloated three days later. Linens & Things in Kenwood.
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14 ideas for the 14th
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