A modern love potion

I am about to share with you perhaps the most powerful dating technique ever devised. Do this, and she will be yours, and may God have pity on your soul.

No woman can resist the adult Easter Basket, carefully considered and crafted to her individual interests. Start with one of those girl baskets; don't use one of those cheap Wal-Mart baskets you'd give to a kid. Go to Pier-1 or other craftsy store you hate but she loves and get a basket that will have some value after the holiday, perhaps for display, for instance. Examples include a grapevine basket, a Nantucket-type woven basket, an antique picnic basket, etc. If practical, laboriously interweaving dried flowers (not plastic!) along the rim and maybe the handle, if applicable, is a nice touch.

For the contents, start with the basics. A nice bottle of wine, a cute stuffed animal, a book, a romantic card (NEVER get a joke card), maybe some perfume, and pretentious chocolates (you know, Godiva or some other over-rated brand) and truffles are good for starters. You should know her tastes and what's appropriate here, but if you don't, stay with the safe choices.

Now you begin the individual tailoring. This is where you go beyond just being sensitive and romantic and demonstrate that you've listened, understand, and care. Big points here. This requires imagination and creativity, as well as some familiarity with her life and interests. As it is probably still relatively early in the relationship, odds are you're still listening to her so you may actually know things about her. The important point is that these items are individual to her needs and interests and perhaps out of the ordinary. Tickets to a show, a new rear view mirror to replace the broken one in her car, a pendant with her birthstone, a CD of her favorite music, a flash drive for her work, items for the garden, or any of a million things that tell her you noticed. Stay away from lingerie or anything related to sex. Similarly, avoid anything that smacks of self-improvement.

Now if there's any room left, fill with traditional but upgraded traditional Easter items. Gourmet jelly beans, "peeps" if she's one of those, a single rose, and fun little stuff. This elaborate basket might run a couple of hundred dollars, though you could spend a lot less or a lot more, but the result is inestimably powerful. But you must be certain that you can control that power, as there are inevitable repercussions.

Most women have an "up or out" mentality regarding relationships, and you have just taken the relationship way up. Are you prepared for the expectation of a long-term relationship with the possibility of marriage? Also, next year she will be expecting another fantastic romantic Easter basket; will you be up to it? The adult Easter basket is nothing less than a modern love potion, and as the cliche says, be careful what you wish for.