Flowers and chocolate. Maybe a stuffed animal, or even some jewelry if you have the budget to spare. That describes the vast majority of Valentine's Day gifts, and they're popular for good reason. But then there's also a reason that "variety is the spice of life" is a popular saying, and every once in a while it's good to think up something new to offer your loved one on Valentine's Day.

Vacation Plans

There's really nothing like a romantic getaway with just you and your significant other. But mid-February isn't the best time to go traveling, especially if you live in a northern state like Washington. Plus it takes all the surprise out of the present if you have to ask your loved one to clear his or her Valentine's Day week back in January or December. But what you can do is use something concrete as proof you'll be taking some time off together, like plane tickets or Salish Lodge reservations.

Hobby Accessories

Everybody has some way they like to pass the time. It may not be the most romantic gift, especially if it's not a hobby the two of you share, but nothing says you care about someone like giving them something that lets them enjoy their favorite hobby even more. For example, a book reader can always use more books or a new e-reader, and amateur musicians need all kinds of things like cleaning supplies and cables that don't cost as much as a new instrument.

Go Out for the Day

When you live in a major city like Seattle, you can visit events of every size and description in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day. There are comedy shows where the comedians' acts are all about their love life. TeKu Tavern hosts the Pucker Up Fest every year and serves the sourest beers around, the cruise ships that launch from Seattle offer Valentine's Day cruises on the Saturday before, and the Foundry by Herban Feast hosts Rotary First Harvest's Hearts and Wine event every year.

A Craft Project

Buy something that has a lot of assembly required, like a kit or just a bunch of raw materials and an instruction book. It shouldn't be too hard to put together, but it should also be something both of you have about the same skill level in making. Working together to build this project will give you lasting proof of how well the two of you work together, it could give you both a hobby to share in common, and you won't need to care for it for the next 18 years. You can show how much you care with chocolate and flowers, especially if you personalize the order for your significant other, but every now and then it's good to spice things up with something unusual and unexpected. It could be something the two of you can share, or it could be something that shows how much you care about your loved one's happiness, but either way it's good to be unpredictable now and then.   Image via Flickr by prana@neoprana.net, used under CC BY 2.0