I have a confession: Nick and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. The reason being is over 15 years ago, we met for the first time a week before Valentine's Day, so our first Valentine's Day was not a day we spent together at all, and well, the tradition of not celebrating has stuck. That said, I write a LOT about Valentine's Day: Last year I gave you some ideas of things to do around Cleveland, I've talked about places to shop, and so on, but this year, I wanted to do something a little different.

If you're going to give a gift on Valentine's Day, it should be something symbolic, meaning that when your loved one looks at said gift, it makes them think of you. Ideally, its something your loved one really enjoys and uses often so they think of you a lot. Because that's the whole point, right?

1. One of my favorite gifts is a S'well water bottle? Why? Because its probably something I use the most. Who isn't drinking water, or carrying water to the gym, or traveling with it? I gifted this exact one to Nick last year, and he uses it almost every single day. Personally, I own a gold one, but it comes in a variety of colors to suit any taste or color palette. I prefer the 17 oz size because its lighter and easier to carry, and fits in your car's cup holder. Prices range from $35-$42.

2, Give the gift of wanderlust. This past year, Nick and I got a year subscription to Conde Nast Traveler, and the day it arrives in the mail is always the best mail day of the month. I've been bitten by the travel bug, and flipping through the magazine makes me want to get my bags and travel the wide world that exists all around us. $6-$10 depending on what subscription you choose.

3. I love flowers. But I don't love how quickly they die. But what if you gifted someone flowers that come back every single year instead? I plated peonies this past fall, but if you're looking for something that can be planted this spring, calla lilies or rose bushes are a great alternative. I love ordering my bulbs at brecks.com - I've been ordering plants from them for a number of years and have never been disappointed by my results (and for the record, I do not have a green thumb). $26-$46

4. Is there anything that says love more than cooking a carefully prepared meal for someone you love? But what if you took it a step further, and then gifted them the book that you cooked from? Of course you could take this in many different directions based on culinary preferences, but given that I'm Indian, I thought you might like to know about my favorite Indian cookbook. I've cooked a number of recipes from this book, and each one has been absolutely delicious. It is available right here via Amazon for about $20.

Source: Culinary Adventures of the Spice Scribe

5. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my favorite gift to give and receive: jewelry. Finding a quality piece of jewelry under $50 can be a challenge, especially if you're looking for something with semi-precious stones. Lucky for you, Bombay Taxi Boutique offers a number of options under $50, most of which include semi-precious stones!

Source: instagram.com/bombaytaxiboutique

I hope this has given you some great ideas for a gift. If you have a more flexible budget, you could also pair any of these gifts with some locally sourced artisan chocolates, or a fancy dessert, because why not?

Wishing you a sweet and happy Valentine's Day!

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