10 Geeky Valentine's Day Gifts For Under $25

It's the season for love.  While long walks on the beach and romantic visions under the stars are stuff movies are made of, some of us have come to love partners that are a little less Mack Daddy and a little more McFly.  Isn't it about time we embrace our geeky significant others with a gift that shows we truly appreciate them?  Check out this list of 10 innovative and heartfelt gifts to give this Valentine's Day.  (We're pretty certain that they'll <3 them).

1. Detangle Your Love Lines

Things had to change when my RPG-ing husband would sneak into bed late at night, catching his toe on my iPhone's charging cord, and sending my beloved smartphone (and a few choice words) flying through the air.  By replacing my cord with the D-lo Wall Dock charging shelf ($24 from Amazon), my iPhone now sits (and charges) snugly upright at any outlet, regardless of how far it is from a convenient nightstand.  Easy to tuck into a laptop bag for biz trips and outlet-deprived hotel stays, this one-piece solution may have saved my marriage (and my iPhone screen) from certain tragedy.

2. A Girl's Guide to Dating a Geek

We're assuming you're at least a tiny bit geeky if you're reading this list, but even those of us "tuned in" to the geekiness of our loved ones need a little help.  A Girl's Guide to Dating a Geek (Amazon $14) takes a hard and humorous look at what makes your new beau tick, and even provides a geek litmus test to determine what level of geekishnish you should be prepared to deal with.  For those of us who have already come to know that "geek = chic" this book may just be a way to dust up on our appreciation for the man we've already come to know and love.  (And we'll keep holding our breath for the Guy's Guide to be released in the near future.)

3. DigiBling Original

What do you get when you mix a handful of beautiful used transistors with the styling genius of Etsy creator DigiBling? The top item on my wish list this year!  This simple chain necklace costs a mere $16 and boasts the benefits of true design skill with the aesthetic beauty of deep purple transistors.  Packed in anti-static bags, this creation is just one of many offered by DigiBling, and I can honestly say that I'd sport the jewelry as a viable alternative to my sometimes over-done, black freshwater pearls.

4. Welcome to the Dark Side... of Chocolates

What Valentine's Day would be complete without a gift of chocolate?  We suggest you skip the run-of-the-mill box of assorted cream-filled centers and get a bit more high-tech with your cocoa bean fix.  San Francisco-based TCHO (founded by a Space Shuttle technologist) offers a TCHO-a-Day container of assorted fruity, nutty, and citrusy dark chocolates in 8 gram "doses" - all guaranteed to help you get the body and brain benefits of dark chocolate.  (The curious and the bored may also enjoy TCHO's collection of 35+ research articles linking chocolate to an overall healthier lifestyle - found underneath the product description at the TCHO-a-Day product page.) TCHO-a-Day costs $20 for a 30-day "supply."

5. Superhero Underoos

While many of us pine for the days when Underoos were fitting, there is an adult alternative that lets any girl be Wonder Woman for a day (or night.)  These $8 girlboxers  from TopShop come in a variety of comic-inspired designs, including Batgirl comics, Wonder Woman Pop prints, and Super Girl Electric blue briefs.  (Because nothing says "hot" like true girl power.)

6. This Cake is Not a Lie

Gifts made by hand are definitely in style this year, especially when they are inspired by such tech staples as Google, Mac, and Digg.  This lucky guy was surprised by a Reddit-themed Birthday Cake (which could easily be presented as an intuitive Valentine's Day gift from the sweetie on a budget.)  Check out a variety of Geeky themed cake creations in this You Tube montage:

7. Geek Love Poems

Nothing quite says "love" like a dreamy ballad or an inspired poem.  When you can throw in a few clever lines of code, however, you've got yourself the ultimate geek's ode to romance.  This Geek Love Poem T-shirt can express how you feel in a way that your geek god will understand.  Available in a range of sizes (for geeks of all body-types), it runs a mere $18 at Amazon.

8. Anime-Me Portraits

Have you always wanted to star in your own anime movie or comic book?  This year may be your lucky year (provided your sweetheart reads this.)  Anime-Me Portraits offers custom Anime designs based off of your likeness, which means you can make yourself (or your crush) look like someone that just stepped out of a much-tamer Akira redux.  With custom-made products for every budget, you can opt for a large digital image (around $40), or a set of 3 bookmarks for a mere ten bucks.

9. TerraCycle Picture Frames

Thinking about going "green" this Valentine's Day? The TerraCycle picture frame (made from recycled circuit board materials) is perfect for the eco-geek on your gift list and costs less than $13. You'll feel good knowing that you saved these computer scraps from a landfill death, and the aesthetically-pleasing frame design will compliment that portrait you've been waiting to give.  (Love the circuit-board look? TerraCycle also offers coasters and a clock from the same materials!)

10. The IT Crowd

Before you get tempted to snag a pre-filled gift basket from an expensive cookie chain, consider giving your own affordable creation: a goody-laden coffee mug!  We love this cup inspired by the BBC comedy The IT Crowd and adorned with the witty slogan "Have you tried turning it off and again?"  Stuff it full of chocolate kisses or candy hearts, and you've got a sentimental gift for well under $15.

Going geeky doesn't mean you have to spend a small fortune.  Before you considering showing your love by pre-ordering a hot piece of gear from the recent CES show, downgrade your expectations and make it more personal.  What can you get your geek guy or girl for under $25?