Yeah, yeah, we know. "Valentine's Day is stupid! A manufactured holiday designed to sell stuff! If you love someone you should show them every day!" Blah, blah, blah! Celebrate, or don't, but for those who do--and who are scrambling for gift ideas--we have some suggestions.
For starters, if your S.O. isn't into flowers or candy, skip the flowers and candy--they're too generic for someone who doesn't really like either. We looked around Houston and found a few better options than a box of Whitman's and a bouquet of gas station flowers.
It Looks Good on Paper
How about a journal, with a love poem in your hand inscribed on inside cover or front page? PH Design Shop over in Rice Village has lots of super-cute, unique paper gifts (it might be a little late for bespoke stationary)--and one of the owners' last names is Valentine. So, that's kind of perfect.
Love Takes Root
Cut flowers aren't everyone's cup of tea, especially if they love actual, live, growing things. So why not try a potted plant or flower that will grow and bloom throughout the year? Orchids are a beautiful choice, and they have a bad reputation for being tough to grow. Check out this slideshow of ten, easy-to-grow orchids.
Staycation
There are a lot of fabulous hotels in Houston, so if you can't manage an extended vacation a weekend at right here in the city--Hotel Zaza, Hotel Sorella, or The St. Regis, to name a few--might just hit the spot. Throw in dinner and a spa treatment or two to round out the romance factor.
Bring Forth New ... Food
Time together is, in and of itself, a gift. Cooking classes are fun, and they are offered all over the city at restaurants and markets (think Haven, Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen, Central Market). Not a culinary couple? How about a class or lecture at MFAH?
Beautiful Music, Together
Tickets to a show you're both dying to see makes for one of the most perfect gifts for Valentine's Day--or any occasion, really. Check out the music calendars at Fitzgerald's, House of Blues, or McGonigal's Mucky Duck for cool shows to help you woo your lover.
