Valentine’s Day celebrated in the traditional way is stupid. There, I said it.

In “Hamlet”, Shakespeare romanticized the day with an old superstition: if you met someone on Valentine’s Day, you would likely marry him or her. For whatever reason, nearly 400 years later Americans still follow suit, giving cheesy, heart shaped boxes of chocolates, sappy Hallmark cards and red roses every February 14^th.

These thoughtless gifts mean very little (unless, of course, roses are your favorite flowers or you are really into sappiness, which in that case more power to you). However, if you are not going to be personal or original with your gift giving, don’t bother.

Thoughtful gifts are more difficult. So, here are some ideas to help kick start your creativity!

To Give:                                                          Not to Give:

1. Favorite flowers                                  1. Standard red roses (with exceptions)
2. Favorite candy                                                2. Standard heart shaped box of chocolates
3. Handwritten card/ letter                     3. Hallmark card (with few exceptions)
4. Meaningful jewelry                             4. Typical jewelry (with some exceptions)
5. Well planned date                               5. Balloons
6. Gift referencing an inside joke           6. A breakup (obviously, its just heartless)
7. Certificate/ tickets to somewhere/

something you both can enjoy together

Try to think of Valentine’s Day as a day to make someone you love smile, rather than a lovey dovey, sappy holiday smothered in red and pink.