by Hannah Wolf

Boyfriend

• mixed CD
• This shows just how much you know each other. It’s clear you put time and thought into it, and it is a personalized and unique gift. The CD doesn’t have to be mushy love songs like James Taylor’s “How Sweet it is,” but can be songs that you both like or that are inside jokes between the two of you.
• go the extra mile and get concert tickets to go along with one of the songs on the CD, like Head and the Heart tickets (March 4, Granada Theater, $15) or Drake tickets (March 1, Sprint Center, $38.75 – $78.75)
• don’t get him a $15 gift card to Target. This shows little to no effort and looks like you grabbed it while you were waiting in the check out line with your mom the day before Valentine’s Day.

Crush

• set up a group date and invite your most recent crush to a movie like “The Vow” or “This Means War,” $10/ticket
• This may not be a big gift, but personally texting or Facebook chating and asking your crush to the movie shows your interest in him. A group setting will help avoid any awkward, quiet moments and relieve any pressure to “make a move.” And hey, if you’re lucky, he may even buy your ticket!
• go the extra mile and offer to share a bag of popcorn with him, because then you’re obligated to sit by each other. Which means your obligated to touch each others hand when reaching into the bag, and he may even want to put his arm around your shoulders during a scary moment.
• don’t get him a teddy bear or chocolate. This may come off as too aggressive or too serious, and you aren’t necessarily to that point yet. Plus, he’s probably too embarrassed to have a cute little teddy bear sitting in his room from a girl he can’t even tell his Mom is his girlfriend.

Mom

• small cosmetic bag from Vera Bradley, $22 dollars, rosey posey print
• This shows you actually went out of the house and thought about getting your mom a gift. It’s still affordable, and it’s something she can use longer than a box of chocolate or flowers. Whether she uses it at home or takes it on vacation, it’s another way she will think of you and remember how much you actually love her.
• go the extra mile and buy your mom her favorite type of lip gloss or nail polish and place it in the bag.
• don’t get her chocolate. This looks like you grabbed a box on your way out of Target with a store bought hallmark card. Make your gift more personalized with a homemade card and a thoughtful gift. She won’t complain that you made her gain any weight from a big box of chocolate and you won’t be tempted to steal any of the gift you gave to her.

Dad

• Father of the Bride DVD, $10, Target
• according to kaboose.com, this is the number one movie to watch with your father. He’ll love Steve Martin, you’ll love a good romantic comedy, and it might even be a tear jerker when thinking about your dad walking you down the aisle in a big white dress. Schedule a night that you will actually watch the movie with him, so you’re not just giving him the present, but giving him the gift of your time and presence. It’s a nice way to set up some father-daughter bonding.
• go the extra mile for your dad and wrap up a bag of popcorn and his favorite box of candy to share.
• don’t get him golf balls. Sure, you may be thinking about a hobby of his and it seems personal, but its not a gift you can enjoy with him. That may sound selfish, but your father would probably rather receive a gift of spending time with his teenage daughter than wearing tacky plaid pants on a golf course alone all day.