Top 10 Best Gifts for Valentine's Day

Women love things that make them look and feel pretty, and men love to see their wives and girlfriends all dolled up in lace. A trip to Victoria's Secret is always a winner, but remember to stay within your lady's style. Buying something french and frilly for a flannel girl is a bit too over the top and will only make her feel uncomfortable. And buying a cotton nighty for a gal that loves lace and frill will just plain piss her off. Think from her perspective before you whip out the Amex!

Maybe you've been with your girl for a while now and you're ready to pop the question. Good for you, congratulations! I wish you both all the happiness in the world. Now, do you have any idea what you're doing while picking out a ring? Remember your 4 C's:

Color - Red and green are the rarest followed by orange, pink, violet, blue and purple. Brown and yellow are most common. "Colorless" is most associated with engagement rings.

Clarity - Fairly straightforward. Blemishes within or outwith the diamond are detrimental to its value. The more pure it is, the more valuable it is.

Cut - The cut is what truly makes a diamond shine, by reflecting light and giving sparkle. Popular cuts are "heart", "round", "pear", "princess" and "emerald".

Carat - A carat is a unit of measurement used for diamonds, with 1 carat = 1/5 of a gram. The bigger the diamond, the more it weighs, and the more it weighs, the more you pay.

Of course you'll want to keep that pesky fifth C in mind, too: COST!

That Pocket Kama Sutra that women buy year after year thinking their mates will love is always a boner of a gift. Men hate that crap. Unless they're gay, and then really - you're barking up the wrong tree anyway, aren't you?

No matter how old the guy, chances are he'd be much happier with an XBox or a new telecom toy. You would garner far more favor from your lad if you give him an iPhone with your number pre-programmed into it, rather than a diary or a book of poems. Trust me on this one.

A holiday on some foreign beach sounds nice in the middle of dreary, cold February, doesn't it? This is the kind of gift you can plan together and give each other. A chance to get away, to sit in the sun, to be a couple away from the hustle and bustle of daily life... it's a grand fantasy.

Throw your toothbrush and your bikini in an overnight bag and head to the airport. Let the little mouseboys refill your included libations and spend your days smearing suntan oil on each other. Mmmmm... bliss.

Whether you book months in advance or through a last minute website, there are always deals to be had on 4 and 5 star resorts. You just have to invest a little time looking for the right deal for the two of you. Bon voyage!

Skip the mall and find a unique gift in an antique shop or on EBay. Perhaps he collects ships in bottles. Maybe she's always wanted an ivory cameo brooch. Whatever your loved one's heart desires can probabaly be found for a bargain on EBay, and at least you'll know that 10,000 other people won't be receiving the same thing on Valentine's Day.

Make your day into something extrordinary by going beyond the ordinary.

Most women and some men are fanatical about chocolate. It's hormonal, and eating chocolate releases the same happy hormones as having sex does. Who can resist??

That said, chocolate shouldn't be the main gift. It is nice to give as part of a gift, but it doesn't exactly last (especially not in my house!).

Also, quality counts. A small box from Leonides or Lindt is better than a large box from Sam's Club! Quality over quantity should be the rule for anything related to gift giving. A chocolatier who still practices his craft by hand can make exquisite chocolates that will thrill the tastebuds of your mate.

That old standby, the red rose, still has a place on Valentine's Day. Especially at the start of a relationship, when you may not know that much about each other, flowers say "thinking of you" better than anything else. They are beautiful and fresh and bursting with promise.

Red: Love & Passion

Pink: Joy & Admiration

Yellow: Friendship

White: Innocence, honor & remembrance

Lavender: Enchantment

Experience is something that is unique, can be enjoyed together, and will be remembered always. Jump out of a plane. Go snorkeling. Learn to fly a helicopter. Spend the day at a spa. Ski in Banff. Whale watch off the coast of Newfoundland. Rent a Lambourghini for a day.

The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and your wallet. That said, there is something for almost every price range, from theatre tickets to a weekend in Monte Carlo.

(by the way, that's me skydiving in Hawaii!)

Perhaps you've been together a while, and have many cherished memories. Why not frame one of them? Pick out a beautiful picture of the two of you on a special date, or maybe a pic of your smiling infant, and have it matted and framed. It's an inexpensive way to give a timeless and heartfelt gift.

Food is an aphrodisiac. It doesn't matter if you take your lover out for a swank night on the town or prepare a sumptuous feast in your own home. A great bottle of wine can top the night perfectly, by adding to the flavor and richness of the meal. If you go out to dine, ask the sommelier to recommend something based on your meal choices. If you stay in, talk to people and do a bit of research to find out what goes best with your meal.

The old "red with red meat" and "white with white meat" rule no longer applies in this free-for-all of taste.