so valentine's day is coming up

...must resist posting about jeremy lin (or whitney houston. yes, sad.)...

so instead, i'll write about the next big thing looming around the corner: february 14. the ladies over at disgrasian posted a vlog with romantic gift-giving tips that i thought i'd share here. though it's from 2009, i think the sentiments are still pertinent:

 

i've never been big on gifts on holidays; though i enjoy both giving and receiving gifts, i always find it an awkward dance given the implications behind gifts. if you are given something expensive, then you feel obligated to match it despite how you may really feel about the giver. if you are given something cheap, then you begin to doubt your relationship. and worst of all, if you are given something lame, you are forced to put a grin on your face and list lies as to why you have been in such a need for bedazzled oven mitts, for a $20 giftcard to walgreens, or for an iDog robot pet that neither shits or cuddles with you.

let's not lie, i want all three. but i'd rather avoid the confusion and awkwardness that comes with giving gifts and usually agree to just sharing a good meal and if i'm not too full, some extreme snuggling.

homemade gifts are always nice but if we're being completely honest here, i get really weirded out when people put too much effort into it, like once a guy handed me a box that was wrapped in white paper. on the paper were illustrations of our phone conversation from the night before and inside was a small painting of a peacock crying tears of blood.

it's a mighty fine line between homemade picture frame and bleeding peacock art, so proceed with caution.

have an awesome gift you know is going to get you some lovin' this week? leave it in the comments section so we can all crib your ideas and get laid. or even better---received a gift that trumps the crying peacock? let me know, i need a good laugh because someone didn't get me an iDog and now i have no one but myself to fake-lick my toes.

-melissa