Growing up, Valentine’s Day always seemed like the day girls waited around for boys to make the first move. In elementary school we’d decorate empty tissue boxes with romantic pictures clipped from the pages of YM and Seventeen. Using a glue stick, we’d paste up images of women in floaty dresses and red high heels, tubes of pink lipstick and the words “LOVE” and “BOYFRIEND.” Those decorated boxes would sit on our school desks all day just waiting to be filled with secret love messages.

In middle school, it was all about the dance. I’d shop at 5-7-9 for some satin or lace dress in red or pink. Gussied up in Bonnie Bell chapstick, my friends and I would wait near the bleachers until some “cool” boys would ask us to dance. We were waiting a long time.

I’m all grown up now, and I realize that Valentine’s Day isn’t about waiting around for your date to make the first move. It’s nice to find a silly, romantic gift to share with your loved one. For my husband, I’m thinking about these secret message collar stays. This set of 12 stays come with six each of two sizes, 2-1/2″ and 2-3/4″. They say cute things like “You’re so handsome,” “You make me laugh,” and “You keep me warm.” Bonus: they come all wrapped up in a black leather carrying case lined with red faux suede. Oo la la!