Things Not to Get Your Sweetie for Valentine's Day (adapted from a posting at www.yahoo.com) Valentine's Day is almost upon us. For help navigating the chaos, we went to Dany Levy, founder of a free daily email delivering news on the latest and greatest in 12 cities nationwide. She shares her thoughts on what NOT to get your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day. Write “Him” after gifts that you think would be a mistake to give to a man on Valentine’s Day, and “Her” for gifts inappropriate for a woman. (You can write both words, or neither, if that’s what you think.) Prepare to explain your answers to the group. soaps and lotions __________ a magazine subscription __________ toys __________ a DVD box set of your favorite TV show __________ CDs __________ flowers __________ home-cooked food __________ boxer shorts __________ unfun tools __________ a bathing suit __________ gym memberships __________ self help books __________ a gift certificate __________ a tie __________ an electric razor __________ dinner __________ homemade coupons __________ tickets to the "big game" __________ home appliances __________ any gift you once bought for an ex __________ Things Not to Get Your Sweetie for Valentine's Day (adapted from a posting at www.yahoo.com) For Him: 1. Avoid soaps, lotions, potions, anything that smells like candy. Unless it's actually candy. 2. Flowers. He just doesn't understand why you would buy him something that he has to nurture. If you simply must, a cactus might pass. 3. Unfun tools. Yeah, he gets it. You want him to shovel the snow. Do not buy him a shovel to drive the point home. (Large noisemaking power tools excluded.) 4. Dinner. Saving him the 80 bucks is not romantic. A gift should come in a box. (Unless it is a kitty or a pup, which are other things you should not get him. See rule #2). 5. An electric razor. If he wanted one, he would have bought it for himself. Ask yourself: Do you want him to buy you a razor? 6. Boxer shorts. To men, they're truly utilitarian. No frills. No styles. (Same goes for socks.) 7. A tie. He's not your dad. For Her: 1. Anything that even remotely implies that she is not physically perfect: gym memberships, Botox, diet plan subscriptions, self help books and the like. 2. A bathing suit. Unless it comes with a trip to the Bahamas, she does not want your input on this personal matter. What's more, you're likely to give her an anxiety attack when she thinks about trying it on. 3. Toys. Women usually do not want video games. We might occasionally like to kick your butt in Wii, but that does not mean we want Street Fighter II (or whatever game it is you're playing). 4. Homemade coupons. Whether they're for washing dishes, garbage duty, dinner, or something else, she's not likely to be impressed. Did your high school girlfriend ever use hers? 5. A gift certificate. Get something a little more personal--unless it's for 300 dollars and you can't wait to take her to the store and shop. All day. 6. Food. Unless you're the Iron Chef or Francois Payard, skip anything home-baked. When her friends ask what you got her for V-day, she does not want to have to regurgitate. Literally. 7. A magazine subscription. Boring. 8. Tickets to the "big game." Hate to break it to you, but when she said she loved football, she was lying. Save the sports stuff for your buddies. 9. A DVD box set of your favorite show. You've both already seen every episode. It will just accumulate dust with the rest of the collection. 10. Same goes for CDs. Hello, iTunes. 11. Home appliances. Every man has made this mistake. Just because she says, "I need a new vacuum" does not mean you should buy her a vacuum. 12. Any gift you once bought for an ex-girlfriend. She will find out – and punish you. Does that sound like a Happy Valentine's Day to you?
