Be my Valentine
\nDaily Citizen-News<\/p>\n
Traditional gifts like chocolate and roses remain a popular buy for your sweetheart
\nBy Daniel Bell
\nDalton Daily Citizen<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Amber Brown says her favorite Valentine memory is from when she was in college and her boyfriend \u00e2\u20ac\u201d now husband \u00e2\u20ac\u201d drove 10 and a half hours overnight to surprise her with breakfast in bed.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I was depressed because I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d be seeing him that year,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Brown, of Dalton, said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But he had arranged with my roommate to get into my apartment and he woke me up with food from Hardees.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
Since most people do not have to cross state lines to impress their significant other, they get into the spirit of Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day by exchanging the traditional gifts: flowers, candy, jewelry \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and bright red stuffed gorillas that sing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Wild Thing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d when squeezed.<\/p>\n
More adventurous shoppers turn to the Internet when looking for unique gift ideas.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My boyfriend and I always try to buy each other something strange. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s almost like a contest to see who can out-do the other,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Jessica Roberts, a Dalton State College student who does \u00e2\u20ac\u0153about 75 percent\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of her shopping online. She would not say what she bought her boyfriend this year, but said she uses google.com to do her searching.<\/p>\n
A Google search for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day gifts\u00e2\u20ac\u009d returns 41 million hits, with links to most anything someone would want to purchase.<\/p>\n
Clever online shoppers can design their own teddy bears (vermontteddybear.com), name a star after their sweetheart (www.starregistry.com) or send their loved ones a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153pajama-gram\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (www.pajamagram.com).<\/p>\n
Those who have yet to buy something for that special someone need not worry. Most sites offer one- or two-day shipping, so there is still time to get a gift by Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Anyone looking for last-minute traditional gift ideas should not have trouble finding something local.<\/p>\n
Gloria Neal, owner of Davies Gifts and Jewelry on Thornton Avenue, said Feb. 14 is one of the productive holidays of the year for her business, second only to Christmas, and the most popular items are heart-shaped pendants.<\/p>\n
Neal said many people end up waiting until the last minute.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The busiest day (in the store) is the day before Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.<\/p>\n
For those buying for someone with a sweet tooth, one of the most popular gifts is candy, while many people enjoy receiving a heart-shaped box full of sweets.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Chocolate is what people give,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Irene Wheat, owner of Irene\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Cake and Candy Supply on Walnut Avenue Wheat said her business always increases a little around Valentine’s Day.<\/p>\n
And what would Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day be without red roses?<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We go through about 300 to 400 roses around this time,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Kelly Gowin, floral designer at Dalton Florist on Melrose Drive. A dozen roses at Dalton Florist costs about $70 to $75 and is the most popular floral gift, according to Gowin.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Most people give flowers with chocolate, or with jewelry,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said.<\/p>\n
Then again, some romantic-minded people think food is the quickest way to the heart.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You want to win a woman over? Cook her a special meal and serve it in candlelight,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d advises John Jones, a Dalton resident who has been married 20 years. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I fix something special for my wife every year.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
For those who want to go out for dinner, the Dalton Depot on Depot Street plans to offer a special Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day menu and discounts on lobster, while Little Rome on North Third Avenue in Chatsworth will make couples a heart-shaped pizza.<\/p>\n
Another way to pamper the one you love is with a day at the spa. AOG Aesthetics, on Burleyson Road, offers 20 percent discounts for Valentine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Day and throughout the month of February.<\/p>\n
Still, Brown says the gift does not matter as much as the time and thought put into it.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I know it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a cliche, but it really is the thought that counts,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153All we want to know is that you care. The harder it was for you to find the right gift, the more we appreciate your efforts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Be my Valentine Daily Citizen-News Traditional gifts like chocolate and roses remain a popular buy for your sweetheart By Daniel Bell Dalton Daily Citizen Amber Brown says her favorite Valentine memory is from when she was in college and her boyfriend \u00e2\u20ac\u201d now husband \u00e2\u20ac\u201d drove 10 and a half hours overnight to surprise her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n