Smart Valentine's day gifts could finally

More men need help staying out of the doghouse around Valentine's Day and anniversary season than any other time of the year. Gift giving has long been a source of confusion for men. Even those men who once made romance a priority in the early stages of their relationship, often slip into the uncreative rut of practical or downright odd gifts — flowers and romantic dinners give way to household appliances and weed whackers.

Wanting to keep men out of the doghouse, Blue Nile, the online leader in the diamond and fine jewelry category, and Dr. Drew Pinsky, a noted intimacy and relationship expert, have come together to help men understand what women want. They've created a collection of romantic tips and gift ideas, coupled with inspirational advice from Dr. Drew himself. Armed with this knowledge, every man should be able to score some points with his sweetheart this Valentine's Day, bring romance back to their relationship, and make his true love the envy of all of her friends.

Whether you're the rare man who's got it all figured out or the man still in the doghouse from last year, Dr. Drew can provide the knowledge needed to make this Valentine's Day one she will always remember. Dr. Drew is a trusted source of relationship and intimacy information and advice for millions of Americans.

Men need a little nudging when it comes to understanding that women wish to be cherished and made to feel special, Pinsky says. If they only knew how simple it was — men would remain as attentive at the 15th anniversary as they are on the first.

After all, a little listening and a romantic gift on special occasions go a long way to sustaining all aspects of a healthy, lengthy, successful relationship. Yet, buying that romantic gift continues to be a source of stress for men, so they tend to stick with the predictable Valentine's gift: the standard card, a rose, some candy, or a nice dinner. But what women really want is for their men to surprise them with something romantic, ideally something they will treasure in years to come. In fact, a recent survey by The NPD Group showed 56 percent of women report they like to be surprised with gifts of jewelry.

However, this same survey shows that nearly 60 percent of men find jewelry buying — of any kind — stressful, and only 25 percent of men have any idea what they're doing when it comes to a jewelry purchase. What's more, men are worried that they have to give up on quality to meet their budget, or that jewelry buying is just too inconvenient or filled with pressure to enjoy.

Blue Nile's Robin Codner, a diamond-buying expert with more than 20 years experience, often offers up advice and counsel to help men in need. Codner believes that once men are armed with knowledge, it can empower them to make confident purchasing decisions and help them understand what they are getting for their money. Blue Nile provides in-depth education and guidance in a no-pressure environment and carries the highest quality diamonds and fine jewelry at the lowest prices available, which allows men to maximize the impact of their gift while staying within their budget.

Men undertake countless hours of research when contemplating the purchase of a car; with the right information and tools, they can easily apply the same level of competency to purchasing jewelry in a fraction of the time," Codner says. Diamond stud earrings are a great example of a sure fire gift idea: one size fits all, they match everything, and inspire appreciation that can last a lifetime. If you have been together for a while, they're the perfect gift: serious but not too serious, and, if you are already married, well, the only thing better than a diamond is two diamonds.

A sampling of romantic gift tips from Blue Nile and Dr. Drew include:

# Gift vs. Present. Know the difference between the two. A gift is something you give to someone that you think they will enjoy and appreciate. A present is something you give under the pretense that they will enjoy it, but secretly you chose it because you wanted it. A great rule of thumb to remember: a gift given within the confines of a romantic relationship should speak directly to that intimacy — make the ordinary extraordinary. Some examples include: send flowers because it's Tuesday, a candlelit dinner, asking how her day was, or perhaps a simple I love you.

# Valentine's Day. You can go the traditional route with items that never go out of style — chocolate or flowers. But if you want to make a great impression, think jewelry. Gift buying for your relationship should be no different than communicating in your relationship. The more frequently you do it, the more comfortable you will become in knowing what your loved one likes and dislikes.

# Engagement. Listen to your heart. The moment has to be special for the two of you. Try to pick a memorable place you've shared. She'll be telling the story of the proposal to friends and strangers for the rest of her life, so pull back your Cupid's arrow and give her your best shot.

# Anniversary. Tradition dictates that a gift of paper be given on the first anniversary. Get your wife a gift of paper and you may not make it to the prestigious cotton anniversary of year two. Instead, give her a gift from your heart and keep the paper for the wrapping. A hint to men: if you want to understand how much jewelry means to your beloved, ask her what she remembers about each piece of jewelry she owns. She'll know the history of each piece (I inherited this from my grandmother; My mother gave this to me on our wedding day; You gave me these on our fifth anniversary) because to a woman, jewelry carries very strong sentimental attachments.

# Simplicity is often the answer. There is no one formula for how to have and maintain a healthy, long-term relationship. Like a diamond, every couple is different, and unique; however, if you trust your instincts, communicate honestly, and openly show your affection … you should have no trouble staying out of the doghouse.

About The Author:

Cora Omar is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.wedding-rings-n-bands.com. Find beautiful weddings rings and bands including diamond, titanium, celtic, platinum and special designs.