Hi there, Everyone:
I know the Holiday's have just passed, but there is another gift giving occasion right around the corner. Yes, Valentine's Day is less than a month away, and I thought I should warn you all that it is ALWAYS a good idea to get your Valentine's Day gift shopping done early.
And since there are some people who are still a little romance-challenged when it comes to giving gifts (are you listening, men?), I have included some simple Valentine's Day Gift giving Do's and Dont's to make this a great Valentine's Day for you.
DON'T Give a PRACTICAL Gift for Valentine's Day:
Your sweetheart might NEED a new vacuum cleaner something fierce. Or maybe you can't stand how dirty their car is, so you want to buy them a gift certificate for the auto washing place down the street. DON'T DO IT!!!
Nothing kills romance faster than a practical gift. Save any utilitarian gifts for either long before Valentine's Day, or long after it. Yes, you can buy that much-needed Practical gift, but they SHOULD NOT be given around traditional gift giving days. They should be given "out-of-the-blue," not on special occasions. Nobody wants a Toilet Bowl Plunger for Valentine's Day!!!
DO Wrap the Gift Beautifully:
It doesn't matter if it is a seriously expensive gift, or whether it is a less expensive item that is big on sentimental value; Have the item wrapped and presented nicely, and your sweetheart's eyes will light up with anticipation as they unwrap the gift.
DON'T Brag About Your Incredible Gift:
So you bought a nice gift, had it wrapped well, and your lover is truly impressed by your thoughtfulness and taste. Don't tell him or her how it was such a chore to run around town (or go online) to find the right item, and how many hours or how much money you spent on it. The recipient will, at best, not care about that. At worst, they may feel that they are a burden to you.
If they say something like, "Oh, you must have spent a lot of money on this," or "You must have spent half a day finding this for me," just play it down, saying something sweet like: "Oh, it is nothing compared to the joy I get from seeing you smile," (if you are already lovers), or if you are still not quite that involved, something more mild like, "You know, I had a good time picking out something for you. It gave me an opportunity to think about you."
In short, you want to put a lot of effort into getting the right gift and presenting it nicely, but you want it to APPEAR like it was absolutely easy for you.
DO Give Several Smaller Gifts Throughout the Day In Lieu of a Big Gift:
This works best if you can't afford a single dramatic gift (or don't feel you know them well enough to spend a lot on an item they may not truly like). In general, people will be more happy to have a memorable Valentine's Day EXPERIENCE rather than a memorable gift. So you should strive to create several memorable moments throughout the day. In the morning, can you slip a little something (nicely wrapped, of course) in their jacket pocket or some place else they will easily find? Maybe you can get together for lunch and, after you have ordered but before the food has come, give them another little something as well. And in the evening, maybe while you are at a romantic restaurant that you are going to together for the first time, bring out your final gift of the evening.
DON'T Give Out a 'Panic Gift':
You know you have done this before. Valentine's Day (or your anniversary, or their birthday, or Christmas) is upon you and you have NO CLUE what to give your sweetheart. It's late at night, so you rush down to the nearest store that is still open and get them a Gift Certificate for some abstract amount of money. "Hmm.. If it is too little, she will think I'm not that into her, but if it is too much, will she think I am desperate?" you wonder to yourself...
DO Get Creative:
OK, you are determined to NOT rush out at the last minute and buy your girlfriend a $25 gift certificate at Home Depot like you did last year. Good for you!
Yet, you are still having a hard time figuring out exactly what to get her or him. Don't fret.
Think about them for a moment; What does your lover like to do? What were they doing (or talking about) when you saw them with a big smile on their face. Picture the place that they live; what things do they display prominently in their house? What is important to them?
Call up their friends and ask their ideas, or run your ideas by them. Do you remember the phrase, "It's the THOUGHT that counts,"? That only applies if you actually take the time to THINK about who they are as a person; it only matters if you are actually considerate about who they are.
DO Have Fun:
I know I gave you a few warnings about what not to do, but believe me, gift giving can (and should) be fun. It should be a great opportunity to think about your lover and remember all the wonderful, inspiring things about him or her. It should give you time to reflect on how important that person is to you.
And remember that whimsical gifts are fine too, as long as it is something that would really remind them of you and the great times you have together.
The Siamese Dream Team
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