It's important to honor the new/expecting/amazing wife in your life with an appropriate Valentine's gift, but the economy has the dads at DadLabs thinking about inexpensive solutions. In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad seek out the opinion of moms and give you some great Valentine's Day gift ideas that won't break the bank. A handwritten note, romantic music on an iPod playlist, a slideshow with your favorite family photos, and even Valentines day cards are all simple presents that she is sure to love. DadLabs ep 461 brought to you by BabyBjorn.

BRAD With the economy like it is, the last thing I need is Cupid shooting his little arrow into my piggy bank.

CLAY Dude. Anyway, that is why this week were talking about great, inexpensive Valentine’s gifts for the new or expectant mom that she is going to love.

BRAD Might even help get you some.

CLAY This show is brought to you by BabyBjorn. One of the coolest things about BabyBjorn products -- so many colors you can always be seasonally appropriate. BabyBjorn.

BRAD As guys, when it comes to Valentine’s day, we usually think first of the big ticket items -- roses, a night out to
dinner, fancy chocolates. CLAY But our decidedly non-scientific poll of local moms yielded a surprising result. What moms report they want is something simple and personal, handmade even.

BRAD Which fits even a Depression Era budget. Are we talking paper mache?

CLAY Nope. Some tech ideas. Also this thing called a hand written note.

CLAY One thoughtful and inexpensive Valentine’s day gift is to create a playlist for your wife’s iPod, or burn her a CD of music that are “your songs.” For my wife and I, we go way back when we hear Indigo Girls, Nancy Griffith, Sara Hickman, REM. But you’ll also want to mix in something new. Maybe something a little romantic. I suggest one those soulful folksie crooners like Amos Lee, Ray Lamontagne, Alexi Murdoch or even Tift Meritt. Or if you’re trying to set a mood, you can just stick with what works. Roxy Music -- worked in college, why not now?

CLAY Another low-budget tech solution, create a slideshow. Bust out the shoebox and the scanner. Start with the earliest pictures you have as a couple, dating pictures, wedding, travel before you had kids, the birth, cute kid pics,end with something including the whole family.
Picking a song is key. Oz’s “Over the Rainbow” is a classic, Satchmo’s “Wonderful World” is a standby, or try something up to date with “Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop” by Landon Pigg. Cute pics of your life together, set music? How can she resist?

BRAD Of all the moms and experts we asked, the number one request for a Valentine’s present was...a handwritten letter. Which is great news if you are trying to economize, but there are still a lot of our left brained brothers out there that would rather mortgage the kids to buy a diamond necklace that write a letter about their feelings. For those guys, take a cue from Letterman,a nd go with a top 10. Top 10 reasons why you love your wife. Top 10 reasons she’s the best mom ever. Top 10 reasons why having to deal with your mother in law is worth it. Whatever. And if you want to get style points, go get a pack of the cheap Valentines, like we used to get in school, Hello Kitty or Spiderman, and do your top 10, 10 thru 1, countdown on these. Put them all in a big envelope and let her open all ten. And go ahead an put Skittles in all 10, cause you can probably eat most of them later. Works like a charm.

CLAY If you have any great ideas on inexpensive but thoughtful Valentine’s, join the conversation over at DadLabs dot com.

BRAD And let us know if it...you know...works. You know.

CLAY Dude. And thanks again to our sponsor BabyBjorn. The best designed baby gear on the planet: BabyBjorn.