Feather boas, scented wooden fruits and origami penguins are just some of the gifts available this Valentine’s Day. These and many more make for alternatives to the usual flowers, candies and stuffed animals that are often given as tokens of affection.
“You could burn them a CD with all their favorite songs that shows the evolution of your relationship or make a bouquet of their favorite movies to watch together,” freshman Amber Aikwij said. “Or you could make little origami penguins, if they really liked penguins.”
Lacy underwear come in a selection of colors and styles, and are available at West Moon Trading Co., located at 840 E. 13th Ave., at prices more affordable than Victoria’s Secret. Besides lingerie, the boutique also has a wide variety of quirky lampshades and decorative Oriental umbrellas. The lampshades come in modern as well as vintage designs, and the Oriental umbrellas come with different patterns.
Vintage lunchboxes make a nice unisex gift and are available at Hiron’s Drug Store, located at 1950 Franklin Blvd. Scented wooden fruits and nuts, available at Hiron’s in different scents, can add a touch of fragrance to any not-so-clean room. When put into a bowl or funky top hat, they make great one-of-a-kind décor.
Feather boas and huge feathers, also available at West Moon, can be a fun way to tickle that special someone’s fancy.
The Gimp, a small soft toy made from vinyl that comes in two choices, is a less-serious Valentine’s Day gift. The yellow one laughs, giggles and chuckles when squeezed, and the black one spouts up to three different sexual obscenities when pressed.
Try target=” new”>http://www.snapfish.com to make personalized mouse pads, coasters, playing cards and photo books. Ipads at target=” new”>http://www.ipads.com offers notebooks, note cards, stickers and notepads that can be personalized with pictures of loved ones.
“Something related to your memories with that person would be good, like a scrapbook of your photographs together,” freshman Akiko Nakajima said.
For those who need a little peace and quiet, mini Zen gardening kits might help. Mini art sets, pressed flower kits, voodoo kits, aromatherapy kits, spa kits and even a “Takeout for Two” kit are also available online at http://www.runningpress.com. There are many massage parlors and steam bath services in Eugene as well.
There are also creative variations on more traditional gifts. Miniature wooden benches, available at Hiron’s, make a surprising gift, especially with chocolates or flowers placed on the seat. Another alternative is to buy small metal buckets, decorate them and fill them with candies.
If all else fails, there are dozens of roses waiting as backup.