4 Ways to Ruin Valentine's Day -- and How to Avoid Them By David Zinczenko - Posted Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 11:22 am PST

1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:10 pm PST

I'm sorry, but where in the world does this guy gets his MISINFORMATION? An e-mail instead of a card? Cheap! Orchids? I don't get it, what do they even mean? Finger foods instead of a restaurant? Again, cheap! The only thing that makes any sense from all the crap this guy wrote, is the substitutes for the all so cheesee lingerie, which is true, is more a gift for ourselves than for her. Some women may complain about the traditional gifts of every year, but in the end, that's what they have come to expect. I say, don't substitute, just improve. If you write a card, use a calligraphy pen to give it a touch of class. Don't choose YOUR favorite restaurant, choose hers. Flowers? Don't have the arrangement delivered, bring it yourself! And as for the lingerie, some women actually like it, but this time, get her a gift card from her favorite lingerie store, AND offer to go with her to choose something together. Remember, don't substitute, just improve.

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2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:17 pm PST

I think it's crazy to spend a lot of money on a holiday - I'm all for the romantic email though :) ...of course that could be written out by hand inside a pretty card... as for the orchid, I'd stick to tradition unless you know she has a favorite flower! I got carnations one v-day and I was NOT impressed!

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3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:39 pm PST

I liked all these ideas. Find out what your girls favorite flower is. We all have one, and it's not always roses. My favorite is sunflowers. Crowded restaurants have never appealed to me, I'd rather be alone with my man. I always appreciate it more when I can tell he put some thought into it.

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4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:56 pm PST

robinpogo- I'm with you on the carnations. Ugh!

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5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:56 pm PST

robinpogo- I'm with you on the carnations. Ugh!

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6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 2:59 pm PST

robinpogo- I'm with you on the carnations. Ugh!

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7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:11 pm PST

I think all of the suggestions from David are right on the money! I would absolutely love it if my fiance' read this article and followed his advise.

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8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:28 pm PST

I say orchids trump the red roses but depending on the woman, her favorite flower may trump the orchid. Orchids are sexy, wild, exotic, and come in many different varieties.

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9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:30 pm PST

robinpogo & ahseybert23: Carnations say "hi friend" and that's about it!!

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10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:35 pm PST

robinpogo- I'm with you on the carnations. Ugh!

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11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:36 pm PST

I agree catnap! (I really hope this only posts once, I got so much grief over the last time it posted multiple times!)

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12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:38 pm PST

ACK!!! Make it stop!!

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13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:40 pm PST

#1 cheverejd: I think many women would agree w/ David. Restaurants on V-day are romantic a few times but then it gets OLD & cheesy. The sushi, egg rolls, & chocolate dipped fruit are not cheap unless you get them from the supermarket. The calligraphy pen to sign the usual card? Sorry, that's just a different pen, nothing especially thoughtful.

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14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 3:56 pm PST

Ladies, you have to be kidding me, or yourselves for that matter. "David is right on the money..."? Please, just be honest with yourselves. I believe that there are certain things that you may like a little, or radically different, but the moment a guy does something like that, all you can see are all the things that are wrong about it. Plus I never said that you couldn't get some great together time, away from the crowds. But when that is all you get, you definitely complain because that is what you can get any time, and you DO want that day to be special.

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15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Tue, Jan 30, 2007, 4:01 pm PST

I strongly agree with the common thread on all these ideas: SHOP FOR YOUR PARTNER, NOT FOR YOURSELF. When picking a gift, imagine the recipient asking you "What do I do, or have I done/said/worn to make you think I would love this gift or enjoy this activity?" If your are picking lingerie, pick a color she wears often. If you are having a picnic, does she enjoy the outdoors, or is that your thing? With the flowers, go with the favorites suggestion, or, if you really want it to be roses, pick her favorite color of rose. If you are buying jewelry, don't buy her dolphin earrings unless you are pretty darn sure her parents aren't tuna fishers. And if you pick wrong, at least you can say why you picked wrong, and prove that you were trying. Then you can offer to make it up to her.

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