Vancouver-born designer Tobias Wong is one of those designers who understands beautiful things as well as he does the affairs of the heart. He designed a floral-shaped brooch made out of black heavy-duty nylon Kevlar fabric called the Ballistic Rose. The bulletproof bloom is meant to be worn over the heart to guard it, crafted as "a high tech talisman for the tender hearted." Consider the conflict avoidance corsage as a wry fashion statement (that's a whopping 5 inches in diameter for maximum protection) - it's gorgeous, dark and filled with irony, kinda like how we prefer our men. Available at Up to You, 416-778-6487.

Chocolates melt, flowers wilt and don't count on that Tiffany rock anytime soon. At this point, you've come to accept that Valentine's Day is pretty much total crap. You've also come to accept that you have a weakness for consumer-driven holidays. The solution: treat yourself then to a little retail amour with Louis Vuitton's "Pomme d'Amour" coin purse/keychain. It translates to apple of love, en francais. (Because really, who says love better than Louis?) Its glossy shade is dazzling enough to melt even the most stone-cold of hearts. And when you're ready, you'll give the fabulously accessorized key to your heart to just the right guy. At Louis Vuitton, 416-944-8725.

We know, being single on Valentine's Day can be rough. But if you're flying solo this Valentine's Day, don't dive into a tub of Chunky Monkey. Instead of boycotting this glaring post-Christmas gift-buying void, may we suggest checking out the singles mash-up at the Drake. For only $20, you can help yourself and the guys out there, because half the cash goes to support Central Tech's boys basketball team with tutors, study groups and reading material. Definitely the kind of night to give you that warm fuzzy feeling, because (as you very well know), do-gooders fall in love too. For more information, visit http://vsquaredv.com

No need to wait for that fat cherub this V-day. Cut straight to the heart of the matter with a piece of stunning jewelry from the Sydney Evan collection. Created by designer Rosanne Karmes, the line of necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets is inspired by the designer's passion for spirituality, sentiment and simplicity. Our favorite, the 14K gold pavé diamond bow and arrow necklace: the perfect shot through the heart. And since diamonds are a girl's best friend, it's not surprising that A-listers such as Gwen, J.Lo and the Duff are BFF with Sydney Evan. Available at Fabrice, 416-967-6590.

Valentine's Day. A holiday that can elicit paroxysms of the most unpleasant kind and that's second only to New Year's Eve in its expectation/expense-to-disappointment/denial ratio. For all you on-the-go singles, why not take the high road and reclaim romance for the real world? This year, instead of playing the part of she-who-doth-protest-too-much, try Fast Life, the world's leading speed-dating service. We know, we know, sounds a bit cliché and desperate? We swear this one is different: sophisticated, stylish and super fun, you get to enjoy scintillating conversation with stand-up guys in a seriously sexy environment (I tried out the love fest at Foundation Room, with their delicious cocktails and luscious libations). Registration is free, which lands it firmly in the nothing-to-lose but your single girl status category.