This is a Guest Post by Nazneen Saifuddin

So V- Day has sneaked up on us AGAIN, and almost everyone is in a frenzy to make somebody feel special. The ideal ones have planned/bought perfect surprises by over a month in advance. For the non-ideal and imperfect ones (I presume most of us fall into this abysmal class), fret not! You have just enough time to get your act straight and scamper up before the DEADLINE.

To assist you, here’s a list of the DEFINITE DEBACLES you need to evade this season. Steer clear of these and you will have a just about perfect valentine.

1. A Bouquet of Flowers

Are you seriously serious…that’s it? Perhaps you just plucked them off from the neighbor’s garden and even if not, flowers don’t count as exclusive gifts. People give them at funerals even.

IF you want to give flowers still, the least you can do is customize them for your beloved.

2. Jewelry & Accessories

Unless its diamonds or possibly gold, no one’s interested! Don’t try to win someone’s heart with cheap road side accessories or ornaments. If you’re thinking of gifting a mobile keychain accessory – NO ways …one can purchase that personally (it doesn’t cost a fortune). Nobody wants to be given a flimsy decorative key- chain as a gift unless it hugs keys to a car or a stunning bike.

3. Stuffed Animals

These have got to be the ugliest things ever made on planet E. Teddy Bears, dolls, bunnies- all of these are bizarrely creepy and utterly revolting. Their unblinking stares are bound to give many nightmares. And face it, unless you’re 5 or below (if you were, you wouldn’t be reading this right now), you shouldn’t even deem Point 4 as a potential gift for anyone.

4. Catastrophic C ³

Dodge the chocolates, cakes and cookies sector entirely. If you consider this as a compensation for not getting him/her anything else on Valentine…you are so wrong. Even if your mate doesn’t voice out their opinion, you have to understand that there’s nothing extra ordinary about gifting someone a galore of sugar and fat, except maybe if you have made an effort to bake it yourself.(Warning : if they pile on the pounds, they will indefinitely blame you for it ).

5. Regular Greeting Cards

Remember, any card you pick off the aisle for your beau has been chosen by probably 2000 others if not more to be given to their special someones. What’s so great about that? A handmade card on the other hand, speaks volumes about how much one means to the other- since someone has spent time to create something for you.

6. Retail -Sale Items

So it was on sale and you thought it would be easy on your wallet? That doesn’t qualify for a valentine’s gift by 100 yards. It simply highlights your tight tackiness. And the very fact that the item was on sale is a pre-requisite of ineligibility for this season. If you are low on cash, there are several other ways you can make this day special.

image by steenface!

PLEASE be wary of these time and again tested and trampled to death valentine Ideas. NO one’s asking you to construct a Taj Mahal! For once step out of the damn dud box and take an initiative to make someone actually feel special. Buck up and Innovate…it’s the month of LOVE!

About Author: Nazneen is an architect by profession and a cynical critic cum visual designer by interest, but an avid conversationalist foremost.