Is it that time already?

Dear Advice Girl,

As you know, America's second favorite holiday (after Flag Day) is coming up - Valentine's Day. I am in a fairly new relationship - 3.5 months. He's great! But how do I know what is/isn't okay to give him for Valentine's Day? Or should I get him anything at all? I'd like to give him something nice and thoughtful, but am afraid it may make him go running and screaming away from "commitment girl."

What do you think?

-VD Malaise


Dear Malaise,
Advice Girl recommends something edible. Bonus points if they’re homemade yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkles…mmmm…Oh, sorry, that was Advice Girl’s stomach fantasizing after one of her disappointing “New Year’s resolution” lunches.

Honestly, Advice Girl is a terrible gift giver, and usually tries to be out of the country on days such as this. Also, Feb. 14 happens to be her anniversary at work, so she’s often too busy congratulating herself on somehow holding a job for several consecutive years to be bothered with trying to get reservations at a restaurant. And while she does love flowers, she’s just as happy to get them two days later when the metro men are selling them for $6 again instead of $14. And actually, what Advice Girl would really like is for someone to figure out how to get blog settings to quit appearing in freaking Russian. Although, technically Advice Girl is supposed to know Russian, so she’s a little afraid it’s the spirit of Russian-degrees-past haunting her.

But Advice Girl digresses. In your case, she recommends a funny card and a bottle of Trader Joe’s champagne, followed by, well, activities that often follow sharing a bottle of champagne.