Here is a web link I found on roses.

http://www.squidoo.com/roses-bouquet

The Prezzi Magazine public forum is always an eye opener. The questions and answers that people post give me a good insight into gift trends and gift giving habits of Australians.

This year for Valentines Day, I've noticed that people in our forum seem to be moving away from expensive gifts and focusing more on fun gifts and home-made gifts for Valentines Day and other occasions.

Some of our forum users think Valentines Day is just a big commercial con... and have opted out of gift giving altogether. Others are just having a nice meal together.

But what about the women who ARE buying presents - which gifts do they have in mind?

One of our forum users, 'Jody', posted a question about what other women are buying their husbands or boyfriends this year for Valentines Day and I thought I'd share some of these gift ideas with you.

So here are ten Valentines Day gift ideas from our public forum. Thanks to everyone who contributed!

1. Haviana thongs

2. Silk boxer shorts

3. Dark Knight DVD

4. Hugo Boss cufflinks

5. Mr Men mug

6. Mr Men book

7. Home-made gifts

8. Book on the history of tattoos

9. Prada sunnies

10. Music festival tickets

The Mr Men characters came up a few times in the forum. They seem to be very popular gifts for men at the moment. I guess you can choose the Mr Men character who best reflects the traits of your boyfriend or husband and buy a mug, t-shirt or even one of the books. It's a cheap, simple and fun gift option.

I hope you've enjoyed our little peek into the gift giving habits of women around Australia this Valentines Day. I surely have!

Guys - Valentines Day is fast approaching!

I know there's lots of good cricket and tennis on TV at the moment, so naturally you don't have the time to think about what to do for Valentines Day :) 

So I've come up with a list of Valentines Day gift ideas that are low cost and will really impress the ladies in your life.

These Valentines Day gift ideas that will help make the most romantic day of the year that extra bit special.

1. Write Her a Poem

If it's written from the heart, a poem is the ultimate Valentines Day gift. The time you spent writing the poem and the heartfelt emotions are two gifts that many women cherish... and they can keep it forever.

2. Write Her a Song

If poems aren't your style, but you like music, why not write her a love song.  I can't think of many women who wouldn't like to be serenaded with a beautiful song written especially for them.  It's a VERY romantic gift.

3. Give Her a Massage

Your girlfriend's or wife's response to the global economic crisis may involve cutting back on non-essential trips to the beautician for things like eyelash tints and waxing. It may not be very romantic to offer THESE services as a Valentines Day gift, but a massage by candlelight and soft music would be! Choose a sensual oil like Jasmin or Ylang Ylang and give her the gift of relaxation and bliss.

4. Cook Her A Scrumptious Dinner

If you're the sort of man who doesn't usually cook, this is a great Valentine's Day gift to consider.  Spend some time thinking about what your girlfriend or wife likes to eat, prepare the menu and serve her some of her favourite food. She'll love you for it and really appreciate the time and effort that's gone into the preparation. Don't forget to do the washing up as well!

5. Do Something Different.

If the two of you tend to go to the same restaurants and do the same leisure activities all the time, doing something you've never tried before might be a Valentines Day gift worth considering.  If you always go out for Italian, why not try a Mongolian BBQ. If the two of you like surfing and the beach, organise some horse riding through the bush. Or if you like staying home and watching DVDs, how about skydiving! That's a bit extreme, but you get the idea.  The more removed from your normal activities, the better - and as a Valentines Gift, it's one your girlfriend won't forget in a hurry.

So now there's no excuse guys - I've given you a list of Valentines Day gift ideas to choose from AND they're all low cost.  Just spend a little bit of time organising it and you could well be on your way to the most romantic Valentines Day ever!

You can go back to the cricket now.      

I've just returned from a week in the Margaret River region in Western Australia and was amazed at all the beautiful beaches and romantic hideaways there are in the region - as well as all the yummy restaurants and wineries.

A surprise weekend away in this region would be a truly romantic gift.... and since Valentines Day is coming up, I thought  I'd check out some romantic weekend ideas in the Margaret River area.

Firstly I had a look around the Empire Retreat in Yallingup, just 20 minutes from Margaret River.  Crisp white sheets and sleek lines, this oasis is well known for its stylish suites and sumptuous spa.  They have a range of retreat packages. For a romantic Valentines Day gift the 'Indulgent Rendevous' package sounds perfect, with its massages, a degustation dinner at Clairault winery, plus some Empire Estate wines.

My second pick for a romantic Valentines Day gift that will really impress is a weekend at the famous Cape Lodge... which is considered one of the best hotels in Australia, if not the world. When I drove in to check out the surroundings, there were some seriously expensive cars in the car park, so as a romantic Valentines Gift, this won't be a cheap option!

The two night Romantic Luxury Escape' starts at $1290 including a dinner for 2 and some wine. The estate and the buildings reminds me of New England, which is probably because there were loads of rich Americans walking around when I was there. It is beautiful though and would be an amazing gift for your Valentine.

Perhaps my favourite choice for a romantic Valentines Day gift is a night (or 2 or 3!) at Bunker Bay Resort. Not only is the resort very stylish, it is on one of the most amazing beaches I have ever seen. It is perfect for a romantic getaway. Strolls along the beach, sunset swims and divine accommodation. For a romantic Valentines Day gift, this has it all.

If your love knows no ends, but your budget does, there are plenty of lower cost accommodation options in the region and most of them are fantastic.  For restaurant recommendations, Wise Winery has a view, and food that can't be beaten. The barramundi was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had and the chocolate tart was so rich, it took me nearly 20 minutes to finish it! It was prolonged ecstasy.

There are plenty of romantic wineries in the area. The bigger ones are all worth a visit, but for that extra special romantic touch for Valentines Day, I've picked out a few special favourites.  Virgin Block has a terrace with a view that could rival anything in Provence or Tuscany. You can order a cheese platter, a glass of their scrummy wine and just soak in the beauty all around.

Across the road from Virgin Block is Guinea Run, a small boutique family-run winery.  It has a rustic setting, great wine, fabulous cheeses and a lovely dog called Henry. If that's not a recipe for romance, I don't know what is!

These are just a few ideas for Valentines Day gifts in the Margaret River region. It really is a wonderful area and I can't wait to return.

Ladies it depends on your kind of man as to whether you can buy him a pair of sexy boxers or some aftershave or chocolates. But a teddy bear or some flowers? Well that depends on your man I suppose.

Sometimes I think we should wander down to the local auto shop and get something mechanically related.

Why?

Well most "boys" like their toys, so why not indulge their passions - after all we like to receive things that relate to our hobbies and things we like to do, so why shouldn't we buy things our men would like? Romantic presents aren't just about the gift - it's everything that says, I know what you like and I've bought you something - because I can.

Believe me when I say this - but the traditional type of gifts do work at times like this.

So - lingerie, perfume, chocolate, jewellery, crystal (I was given a crystal clown on a second date - still have him too), cuddly creatures and so on. Just until you get to know the person better, then of course you can buy a more personal romantic gift for her.

So what is the first thing they think about? Apart from you know what? Well flowers and undies are the first things that spring to most people's minds. Come on, you know I'm right - what says ROMANCE to you - apart from red roses and something to wear, and preferably to bed that is?

As with all gifts, what one couple would find incredibly romantic and thoughtful, others would say - you bought what for him / her? So I suppose it really does depend on the person you like and knowing what they do like that will make the difference.

Romance isn't just about gifts though. It's all the little things that go with it. The touching, the messages, the phone calls in the middle of the day. But how about poetry - either your own or a book of them? I love to mail unexpected gifts. There is something wonderful (IMHO) about opening up the mail box and finding a card or note from someone, and even more so if that someone is the person you love. What do you do? Well you smile and then pick up the phone and call them to say thank you. Well I do at any rate.

Romance is a wondrous thing.

So - if you are planning any kind of romantic gift. It's a good idea to remember, the gift is only a small part of the total package. It is your emotions, your thoughts and thoughtfulness that changes a gift into a romantic present.

But what kind of romantic gifts can you buy for your girlfriend? Well there are flowers of every colour, but red roses are always a favourite with the ladies.  Add some perfume, chocolate and champagne. Or how about those cuddly creatures, or the lacy and racy lingerie and jewellery. Or you can go completely over the top and take her away for a romantic weekend, or dinner - where the food is good, the service discreet and lighting almost non-existent.

Romance is alive and well.

Which rules out quite a lot of things if you think about it. Forget the socks, the undies - the basic sort at any rate, and please don't even think about things like slippers. Imagine setting up a romantic dinner for 2 at home. You remembered the flowers, the champagne and the chocolate.

You sit the love of your life down and say "darling I've got you a present"

They look at you with surprise and maybe even give you a hug and a kiss for being so thoughtful...and then it goes horribly wrong when they open up the gift to find a pair of slippers. You'd be lucky if they ever spoke to you again.

Now I'm not saying you shouldn't give "normal" presents to people. But please pick the right place and time to give those items, and never over a planned romantic evening.