Guys often dread Valentine's Day, doing all they can to avoid the hearts and sappy sentiments until it's nearly too late and they realize the big day is right around the corner. Without a clue on what to buy, they're prone to terrible fits of gift cards and cheap trinkets, ruining their chances at romance.
We polled our vast male audience to find out what guys are thinking when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts this year, and with that knowledge, we took it one step further and put together our very own holiday gift guide, full of cool gifts for the cool chick in your life.
Over $100
Apple iPad ($499)
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If your girl's tech-savvy and you're out to burn the real cash this Valentine's Day, here's your solution. The iPad is the big tech hype of 2010, an all-purpose touchscreen media gadget closes the gap between smartphones, laptops and electronic readers with a 10-inch touch-sensitive screen that's part of an integrated ecosystem of services tipped to include functions and content for academics, digital books, newspapers and magazines.
Hayden-Harnett Ibiza Laptop Bag ($150)
The Hayden-Harnett Ibiza model is the perfect laptop bag for the ladies, with a classic chic style and enough space to fit what she needs without looking bulky. You can save yourself about $150 by going with the Hayden-Harnett for Target Flight Tote, but that all depends on your budget and the caliber of dame on your arm.
$51-$100
Swarovski crystal accented earphones ($99)
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In addition to professional-grade sound, the Swarovski crystal accented headphones provide ergonomic, ultrasoft silicon caps which sit comfortably in your ears with a pair of genuine Swarovski crystals embedded in each piece. Let your lady listen in luxury! By Philips.
OhMiBod ($69)
Why beat around the bush? Valentine's Day is for lovin'. The OhMiBod is one of those devices that you'd imagine being awesome, but would never expect to exist in real life. Only here it is! The audio enabled integrated microchip allows the OhMiBod ipod massager to vibrate to the beat and rhythm of your lady's music while she listens.It comes with an additional multi-speed endcap for use without an iPod or music player.
$21-$50
Life Shirts ($49)
ThinkGeek's got the perfect gifts for the girl-geek in your life this Valentine's Day. During your normal activities two and a half pixelated hearts will light up on your shirt. But get within hugging distance of the lucky lady wearing the matching shirt and suddenly the hearts on both start to light up until you're fully powered up. Stray too far from your partner and you'll drop back down to two and a half hearts again.
Sexy lingerie ($30)
Both sets of what these two mindblowing beauties are wearing are available for $30 each on Amazon (black and red). The only thing between you and a lingerie fantasy fulfilled on Valentine's Day is the overnight shipping, but some gifts are worth the extra effort, wouldn't you say?
$1-$20
Valentine's photo collage
Make a photo mosaic of all the pictures you've taken together. A visual mashup can be printed out and framed on the cheap, or publicly professed in a gooey display of social-media affection. There's nothing a girl loves more than to know that you cherish all the little romantic moments you've shared together. Well, maybe diamonds, but it's a close second.
Chocolate!!
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No matter how romantically clueless a guy might be, there are a few reliable old standards that can win him points in the gift department. It's rare to find a woman who wouldn't get weak-kneed for a box of chocolates, but don't cut any corners. See's Candies are for your grandmother. Go Godiva (or another high-end chocolatier) or go home.
Homemade gift
A mixtape
When we were younger, making mixtapes for girls in school was better than any love note or silly little love poem- it was a way to flirt and flash a little cool without tripping over your braces or showing the world how epileptic your handwriting was. Your Valentine could never resist a collection of hand-picked songs to fit your own personal theme, whether it be cheesy '80s hair ballads or songs with sentimental meaning between you two. Bonus points if you make it on casette - but you may have to provide the player.
Get your arts and crafts on
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Use resourceful sites like smashingapps.com to find all kinds of Valentine's designs, logos and creative ideas. A little photoshopping and a printer, and you've got a better V-Day card than anything Hallmark's trying to sell.
