Going beyond roses and a drug store box of chocolates
By Katherine Houstoun CONTRIBUTING WRITER

While red roses are always welcomed, sometimes it's nice to break from tradition on Valentine's Day.

Cupid's favorite day is just around the corner, and it's up to you to shower your lady love with love and affection…and maybe a gift or two. Don't make the mistake of thinking the tiny winged sprite will do the hard work for you - this one's all on you. To give you a head start, we've assembled a few gift suggestions that are sure to make her swoon all over again.

Flowers are a given on Valentine's Day; this year take a step outside the box to deliver nature's bounty in a new and different way. Instead of the typical cut roses, consider gifting an exotic orchid, which offers lovely blooms for up to three months. The Great Big Greenhouse offers a wide range of varietals, allowing you to pick the style and color that best suits your better half. Orchids run anywhere from $20 to $45; a decorative pot will cost $10 to $50 more.

If she has a chocolate-flavored sweet tooth, present her with an assortment of decadent truffles from Richmond's only master chocolatier, de Rochonnet delights. Opt for the ultimate gift in chocolate, a large dark or milk chocolate heart-shaped box filled with eight or nine truffles of your own selection ($35). Once the truffles run out, she can dig right into the top-quality French chocolate heart, or melt it down to make hot chocolate. Yum…

Show her she's the queen of your heart with a small metal rhinestone-encrusted crown from Williams and Sherrill. The decorative crowns, which will add artful elegance to any bookshelf or coffee table, come in a variety of shapes and styles in prices ranging from $36 to $93. Williams and Sherrill hits the romantic jackpot with a shabby chic linen pillow bearing the message "My whole heart for my whole life" in spare block print. At $132, the pillow isn't cheap, but at least she'll get the message loud and clear.

If your significant other has an affinity for the great outdoors, give her a present that will remind her that spring is on its way, like a charming woven insulated picnic basket from Gather ($48 to $58). Fill it with a bottle of quality champagneand strawberries or some luxurious body products like Olivina's body butter and body scrub, both $25 at Gather, for an extra-special treat.

Join in the fun with a couples massage that allows both of you to relax and enjoy a little pampering.

Spa Epidaurus offers a 60-minuteLovebird Package for $165;add a spa (read: healthy) lunch for just $20 more.

Go the more traditional route with a heart-shaped pink leather jewelry box for her collection of baubles and beads, available for $48 at Schoolhouse Gifts and Antiques in Chester. And you might as well throw in another addition to the collection, like an eclectic fair trade papier-mâché beaded necklace, on sale for $17.95 at Schoolhouse Gifts and Antiques.

Whatever you give her, remember to cater to her own desires and preferences. If she loves being wined and dined and abhors clutter, forget the trinkets in favor of a five-star dinner on Valentine's night. If she just joined Weight Watchers, forgo chocolates and treat her to an indulgent spa treatment instead. Valentine's Day is about making the one you love feel special, and all it takes is a little forethought and preparation. Doesn't she deserve it?