DON'T BUY THESE THIS YEAR

FIVE VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS TO AVOID:

#1.) A HEART-SHAPED BOX OF CHOCOLATES. It's completely unoriginal and something her parents probably gave her when she was in elementary school. And it'll look like you stopped at K-mart THAT NIGHT to get her something.

Chocolate can be a good Valentine's Day gift . . . if you make the effort to find something unique. Try decorated cupcakes, or a box of her favorite cookies.

#2.) LINGERIE. You want to let her know she's hot, but lingerie just isn't the way to go, unless you've been dating for a while. She may think it's too forward . . . or, worse, you might get the WRONG SIZE.

If you just can't resist getting her something to sleep in, ease into the process by getting something that's focused more on her comfort. Try giving her a satin sleep set in her favorite color.

#3.) FAKE JEWELRY. Women spend WAY more time thinking about jewelry, talking about jewelry, and looking at jewelry, than men do. More than likely, if you get something that's a cheap knockoff, she's going to know.

Instead, get her something that's stylish, like a colorful necklace or a simple bracelet. If picking out jewelry just ISN'T your thing, consider getting her a small jewelry box to store what she already has.

#4.) BATH SOAPS. A basket of bath soaps and lotions is unoriginal. And if you get her the wrong scent, your gift is probably going to end up under her bathroom sink. If you really want a gift that'll help her relax, put her in the hands of professionals. Get her a gift certificate for a massage at a spa.

#5.) KITCHEN STUFF. While you may see this as a sweet way to hone her domestic skills, she might get the impression that you either don't like her cooking . . . or you think of her as cook first, girlfriend second.

You're better off hiring a personal chef for the evening. It's a very thoughtful . . . and original . . . way to go. (Happen Magazine)