WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2006
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valentine's day gift guide
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9C
is "Steak and a Blowjob Day." A day dedicated to the girl in your life taking you out for dinner and perhaps giving you some sexual healing afterwards.
THE TRADITIONAL
Flowers
Red roses are still the prominent flower to give to the lady in your life. Cinda Garrison, owner of Prairie Patches, 821 Massachusetts St., confirmed the 2-1 ratio of roses over any other flower on Valentine's day.
The variety of the how red the rose is has changed.
"We've ordered the Freedom variety of red which replaces the old Charlotte variety." Garrison said.
She said the Freedom variety is a hotter-red rose.
Not up for roses? Tulips, and tropical flowers, such as orchids are big too.
According to Garrison, college students go for the gerberas, which are comparable to a large daisy.
"Men who are trying to impress women go for the tropical flowers because they have a higher perceived value," she said.
Adding items to flowers is very popular as well. Prairie Patches have add-ons including chocolate truffles, homemade cookies and singing bears.
Just a few suggestions...
If you're looking to give your friend something special for Valentine's Day, you can still go the flower route. Flow
Priscilla's
Grab Bags $20
Lingerie 50% off
Prairie Patches
♥ Dozen Roses $29.95
♥ Tulips in a vase
$39.95
♥ Candy mug $35
Riverfront Chocolates
Half-pound Box of Chocolates $14.90
Riverfront
One-pound Box of Chocolates $24.90
Truffles $1.95 each
Hand-dipped chocolate strawberries $1.75
Chocolate dipped Champagne and wine Bottle $17.95 customer must provide own bottle
Chocolate rimmed champagne flutes $5.00 each
ers set in mugs are a cute idea.
covered champagne and wine glasses. Heidi Windholz, Lawrence freshman, has worked at this downtown confectioner
Locally-owned Riverfront Chocolates, 1 Riverfront Plaza, is preparing for the upcoming holiday by offering limited edition strawberry truffles and chocolate
Chocolates
since 2001 and expects the chocolate-covered strawberries and specialty truffles to be the biggest seller this Valentine's Day.
"We will have one person dipping strawberries all day, that's all they'll do." Windholz said.
Among college students, heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolate and chocolate-covered strawberries are popular. Even though Valentine's Day is considered the ladies' special
day, an even number of men and
women come into the store looking for chocolate, but Windholz said men usually shop last minute.
A little extra
You've got the flowers and the chocolates and now you're looking for something to make your evening a little more romantic.
"Cards, grab bags and lingerie are the biggest sellers for Valentine's Day," said Jessica Wenberg, Olathe Sophomore, who works at an adult novelty shop in Lawrence.
If you want some mood-setting items, "pheromone candles also help set a romantic mood," she said
Even if you're single, she still recommends toys, with a just-do-it-yourself attitude.
One of her pet peeves during this holiday season are the men who come in and expect to get the perfect gift without having any ideas and don't know exactly what to get their girlfriends. Wenberg's advice: "Get her size, guys!"
NON-TRADITIONAL
Go for the gold:
Like to go the road less traveled? The best gift is going to be personal, creative useful, memorable or a combination of the four. If your heart is set on flowers, pick her favorite flower or something unique. Taking time to search makes this a personal and more memorable holiday.
Maybe you're a cook. Jason Ptaszek, Minnetonka, Minn., sophomore said that he would, "probably spend the afternoon cooking her favorite meal and then have a candle lit meal."
He said they would then spend the evening at home watching her favorite movie.
If you don't know her favorite meal, or aren't very skilled in the kitchen, pasta is always an easy way to go. Even if it doesn't turn out perfectly, it's the thought that counts.
Don't forget to buy some wine and light some candles to kick off your romantic evening.
— Edited by Vanessa Pearson