Are you hoping to woo a special someone? Looking for gifts that convey how much you care this Valentines day? Look no further–we’ve got some ideas to help even the most befuddled shopper come through like a hero this Valentines day!

Donation to charity in your sweetie’s name. This gift is perfect for the person that has it all, or the person that won’t be impressed by trinkets without conscience (hey, we all know one person like this). We personally donate in our mom or grandma’s names at Valentines–but we’re sure to give a little trinket on the side as well, and we recommend that tactic with anyone you’re not sure about! Some charitable organizations include: American Red Cross, Universal Giving, and Animal Charities of America, to name a few.

Buy a charitable gift. Etsy, also known as our reason for living, has a lot of amazing sellers that are making a difference in the world. EtsyforAnimals, MorningGloryDesigns, AuntMarysLegacy, and Itswhimsy are just a few that donate a percentage to 100% of all profits to various charities. There’s sure to be one on Etsy with beautiful goodies with a cause you care about. This way, you don’t show up empty handed, and you help those that need it!

Give something Hand Made. Ok, here’s what you’ve got to do: create something! Write a poem or a love letter. This might be difficult, and might come out cheesy, but there’s nothing more personal. To jump start your creative mojo, you can think of your favorite songs or favorite movies–the things mean something to you as a couple. You can also make a scrapbook about the story of your lives together, or a story of your courtship. We tried this and we still love looking back at it fondly. You’ll need pictures, glue, a scrapbook, some paper, and a story idea. It should come fairly easily, since you’ve lived it! You can photograph a special place that reminds you of your loved one and present it in a nice frame. The idea is to think about things that are significant to your special person and capture them in a meaningful way. Some online DIY idea resources include: Coolhunting, and Craftbits. Check them out and see what you can come up with!

A commissioned portrait by Lavatican. Yes, we’ve blogged about this before, but did you know that Lauren Pope can do a couple’s portrait? If you’d like a token that will be cherished for life, a portrait of you and your sweet patootie could be the way to go. You can have a portrait made from a few photographs that you can email to her directly, and from there, she can work her magic. Portraits in oil take 3-4 weeks, while Acrylic and watercolor works take a week. Graphite portraits take a few days and ACEO portraits one day. Check out her portraiture on Flickr.

If all else fails, cook a nice dinner. Nothing says romance like a home cooked meal. If you’re not the one that normally cooks, so much the better. If you’re lost in the kitchen, keep it simple–salad, soup and main dish, such as spaghetti or risotto. You can make the simplest meal romantic with pre-planned music (your favorite non-intrusive tunes), and cozy lighting–simple touches that make the night feel relaxed and different from the rest of the week. We like to start with a glass of wine while the food cooks–it sets a leisurely pace, and makes the meal last longer, which is always more romantic than wolfing the goodies down in one bite. Bonus romance points for: a love note hidden in a napkin, I love you written on a cupcake, and a slow dance around the kitchen. Some dinner recipe resources: Simply Recipes, VegWeb, and Food Network.

Happy Valentine’s Day!