1) Make a slideshow with Lovestagram. Kaitlyn Trigger, girlfriend of
Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, launched Lovestagram in 2012 as a sort of
interactive Valentine's Day card maker. The app takes all of the Instagram
photos you and your loved one share (via mutual username tags, the same
locations within an hour and exchanged comments) and puts them together in a
slideshow, complete with love-themed frames.
2) Generate a love poem.
Love poems aren't easy. Even if you're a regular Pablo Neruda, they almost
always sound too sappy, or otherwise don't make sense at all (please refrain
from using "thou" and "shall;" you're not a 17th century bard). If your special
someone enjoys a good verse or two, but you don't know where to start, there are
online poem generators that you can personalize with specific names and even
hint at other gifts.
3) Revamp "dinner and a movie." Modernize the
classic date night by searching through the most romantic recipes online.
Websites like AllRecipes.com and TasteofHome.com have specific Valentine's Day
selections sure to make your mouth water and your loved one's heart flutter. As
for the movie aspect, you can customize your Netflix Instant Queue to reflect
the mood of the evening. No lines, no fighting to get the perfect seats -- a
feel-good rom-com is only a click away.
4) Bring the mixtape into the
21st century. Admit it -- you still find the concept of mixtapes romantic,
and for good reason. The thoughtfulness behind curating a special playlist is
evident, which is why you shouldn't automatically count it out. With Spotify,
you can find virtually any song, including the one that played when you met, the
one you danced to on your first date, and even the one you played when
serenading her below her window when she broke up with you that one time (maybe
leave that one out). You can even make a Pandora playlist based on your special
someone's favorite music, and play it in the background during dinner. You
romantic, you.
5) DIY crafts through Pinterest and YouTube. Homemade
gifts are the ultimate way to communicate your love -- because you slaved over a
hot glue gun and sparkly felt for six hours. In all seriousness, making
something yourself really does show you care. But what should you make?
6)
Create a custom animated video. This one's sort of goofy, but it can work
for the right person. Free sites like Go!Animate help you put together animated
videos with characters, scripts, dialogue and more. Recreate your first date, or
send a video to your loved one while he or she is at work, and have the
characters hint at what you have planned that night.
7) Name a star.
Naming a star after someone is cliché (and scientifically unfounded), but it can
be a sweet gift for the sentimental type -- or, you know, a space nerd. While
you can't officially name a star after your significant other, sites like Name a
Star and International Star Registry go to the trouble of making it look
official, with a fancy certificate and specific telescope coordinates. This will
show your loved one that the sky isn't the limit for your love, or something
equally mawkish.