Valentine’s Day No-No’s

With Valentine’s Day speeding around the corner like a derailed train, it might just be time to start thinking about that perfect gift. (Wait…I could have sworn we just get done shopping for the holidays…)

Anyway, rather than offer a tired old list of potential gifts to get your sweetie, I’ve decided it will be much more helpful (and humorous) to offer a very different kind of list.

Consider the following your NOT to-do list—a list of horrendously un-thoughtful, un-romantic, and downright awful gifts to give on this day of love. Learn from others’ mistakes, and avoid these types of gifts at all costs.

-Vacuum Cleaner, or Other Cleaning Paraphernalia
Ahhh, nothing says I love you like a solid, dependable vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, nothing also says “clean the house woman” like a solid, dependable vacuum cleaner.
Even if your better half happens to need a vacuum cleaner, consider the possibility that Valentine’s Day is not the day to spring it on her.
As a general rule your gift should not remind the person how much work they have to do around the house.

-I Could Have Sworn You Liked Basketball!
This category of gifts is basically anything and everything that you never actually the intend the other person to use. A prime example would be tickets to a basketball game you’ve been dying to see when you know for an incontrovertible fact that your partner absolutely, unequivocally detests the game.
The entire premise behind a successful gift is that it’s personal and that you’ve put some serious time and effort into thinking about what the other person wants. Don’t cop out and buy something for yourself. Trust me, the person will know.

-Insincere (or Premature) Professions of Love
With that tense four letter word floating around the air it might be difficult to find a gift that doesn’t shout “love” from the rooftops. But if you’re in a young or not so serious relationship, perhaps you’re not ready to throw that word around.
If that’s the case, avoid gifts that profess your undying, eternal love. (Unless of course you actually mean it.)
Even if it’s love hinted at through a gift, the person might get the wrong idea.

And remember, if you’re staring to panic the best gifts are sincere gifts. In other words, don’t immediately run for that generic stuffed animal.

Good luck and happy shopping!

by Liz Herrin