By Charlotte Goodwin, Money Maven
Valentine’s Day gifts can be very difficult to shop for. Different people like different types of gifts and not everyone is happy with dinner or chocolates and a greeting card. The Money Maven has put together a list of unique and exciting Valentine’s Day presents and exciting experiences that you can share with you partner without having to worry about breaking the budget.
Is your lover the creative type? Or are you the one who enjoys giving gifts that you make yourself? Well then Kikki K has some gorgeous and affordable gifts perfect for you! Fill the Kikki K Moments With You Memory Book ($29.95) with your favourite photographs and stories! The memory book comes with a secret envelope to hide a special surprise for your Valentine and includes four pages of love-themed stickers for you to decorate your memory book with. Also in the Kikki K My Valentine range, the My Valentine Wooden Stamp Set ($24.95) – eight beautiful wooden stamps featuring phrases for your sweetheart and a glossy red ink pad.
Flowers are a staple Valentine’s gift for guys to give their gals… But most women wouldn’t ever think to give their man a bouquet! But there is a very tasty alternative to flowers, to surprise your man with this February 14, which can still come wrapped in cello and ribbons! Why not treat your sweetheart to a Lollypots For Him “He’s A Star” Liquor Pot ($49.50). That way your Valentine can have their gift and eat it too with 20 milk chocolates and three Crown Lagers styled in a beautiful and tasty potted arrangement. Lollypots have a wide range of affordable candy and liquor bouquets and boxes that can be delivered direct to their door!
Australian Intimates Boutique, Honey Birdette, offers a whole lot more than bras and panties… Honey Birdette offer an entire range of potions and lotions under $50 perfect for a very sexy Valentine’s Day, and night… Deadly Sins Collection Soy Massage Candles ($29.95) are the perfect gift, offering both a gorgeous aroma for setting the mood and pour the warm wax onto your lover & it instantly becomes moisturising massage oil. The candles are available in two delectable scents, Lust (Vanilla & Fig) and Greed (Whiskey, Oak & Burnt Caramel).
There isn’t a more gorgeous or personal way of declaring your love for your significant other than in a heartfelt, love letter. This Valentine’s Day gift won’t cost you a cent if you use materials you’ve got laying around your office! Break out the gel pens and cardboard and make one grade school style! Or you could hop online and create one 21st century style. Using Moonpig.com you can design and personalize a paper greeting card that will be send directly to your sweetheart’s mailbox, just in time for the day of love. Or send a fun and interactive e-card love letter. Send your sweetheart a Facebook gift that you can schedule to be opened on February 14. For something a little quirky (or for the secret admirer Valentine), send a virtual candy heart their way! Show your love with your artsy side and make this origami heart!
They say the way to a man’s heart it through his stomach… So why not bake him some scrumptious cupcakes and decorate them together! For a romantic Valentine’s night dessert experience, use icing pens to write romantic messages to each other. This recipe is made from everyday ingredients that you mostly likely already have in your fridge so you can save your money on the cakes and spend a little extra on the decorations!
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
3 & 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
3/4 cup sour cream
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1/2 cup cream cheese
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 teaspoon rose pink food colouring
Fresh raspberries
Preheat Oven: 180 degrees Celsius.
Makes: Approx 24 cupcakes.
Preparation: Line pans with Wilton Sweetheart Valentine Patty Tins ($6.90).
1. Cream the sugar and butter. Whisk eggs together in separate bowl and add to sugar/butter mixture gradually.
2. Fold in the vanilla and sour cream until the mixture is light and creamy. Stir in the buttermilk.
3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients together.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, starting and finishing with the dry mixture. Fold the mixture together until completely combined.
5. Using a teaspoon, spoon the batter into the patty tins, making sure that you don’t fill the tins more than 3/4 of the way full. Add one teaspoon of raspberry jam to each patty tin and using a clean teaspoon, gently swirl the jam into the cupcake batter.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking that each cake is rising correctly with a round, domed top. Check each cake is cooked properly by inserting a toothpick or metal skewer into the centre of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean they are done and ready to remove from the oven.
7. Allow each cake to cool to room temperature before frosting and decorating (otherwise the thick and creamy frosting will melt).
8. Place softened cream cheese in a bowl and mash until it is a smooth consistency. Add butter gradually, folding until all lumps are smoothed out.
9. Sift the icing sugar into the butter/cheese mixture and beat together until smooth.
10. Lastly, add vanilla and food colouring. Stir until combined.
11. Use a piping bag to swirl frosting onto each room temperature cupcake. Start piping at the centre of the cake and swirl out into a tight rosette spiral. Place a fresh raspberry in the centre of the frosting.
12. Place the cakes in the fridge to set the icing and store them in the fridge also, to keep the cakes fresh for the entire week!
Rescu. Tip: For a romantic touch, decorate with CK Products Mini Hearts Edible Sprinkles ($5.95).
