LIFE & TRENDS
Valentine’s Day
Survival Guide
Men can face Feb. 14 without fear — and tears — with a little planning. ::
BY JACK PENMAN E
ach valentine’s day, women everywhere look forward to an expression of love from their men. Men? They’ve learned to dread the holiday
as a potential minefield where a bad choice could spell disaster. But with a little guidance, men can brave Feb. 14 without trepidation. Newsmax talked to the experts for advice on how to do just that. Guys will have to toss their preconceived notions,
however, because there’s one thing the experts all agree on: The old standby of flowers and chocolates doesn’t cut it. “Anything that takes time and planning and effort
has much more meaning for a woman,” said famed relationship guru Stephany Alexander of the dating website
www.womansavers.com. “If a guy suddenly remembers it’s Valentine’s Day on
his drive home from work, and rushes into a convenience store for some candy, his loved one will know he didn’t put much into that. It’s just plain lazy and pretty tacky.” Brenda Della Casa, renowned matchmaker and author
of the best-seller Cinderella Was a Liar: The Real Reason You Can’t Find (or Keep) a Prince, says men just have to remember one golden rule: Put a little thought into it. “There’s never an excuse to purchase a stuffed animal
with the words ‘I Love You’ on it,” says Della Casa, who also runs the popular “I Am Staggered” relationship website. “A thoughtless gift, even an expensive one, is almost worse than no gift at all. Anyone can swipe a credit card.”
STAYING OUT OF THE DOGHOUSE It may seem obvious, but some guys forget that Valentine’s Day is a time for
76 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | FEBRUARY 2012
romance, not practicality. To that end, “household items are big no-no,” Della Casa notes. Adds Alexander: “Want to get your woman mad? Buy
her something like cleaning supplies on Valentine’s Day or anything to do with chores. Whether I need a new vacuum cleaner or not, I don’t want one as a Valentine’s Day gift! “I knew one woman whose husband bought her a new
dishwasher as a Valentine’s gift, and she was not happy! I might need a new apron or oven gloves, but not on Feb. 14. “Candy is another no-no for me. A heart-shaped box of
chocolates is such a cliché and takes such little thought. Plus, the last thing I need is to stuff my face full of candy, especially if I’m watching my weight.” Another Valentine’s staple, lingerie, is also passé, Alexander says. “Lingerie is a gift for the guy, not his lady,” she says. “In
fact, any clothing a guy picks out without a woman’s help is probably a bad idea. Women have very particular tastes. I can see a beautiful pair of shoes or a dress in a store window, but until I try them on I don’t know if they’re going to be flattering.” Alexander says guys should put more into it to get more appreciation out of it.
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