ShareThisValentine's Day is here, and if you're in love -- particularly new love -- that probably means the flowers are blooming, birds are singing, and every other Disney cliche is springing to life.If you're not in the throes of romance, don't despair! A recent study shows that Valentine's Day is becoming an increasingly inclusive holiday, with 59 percent of people who celebrate it giving gifts to people other than their significant others. It's kind of a "no single left behind" philosophy. If you're still shopping for those special someones on your list, here are some hot hints:ALL IN THE FAMILY:According to the National Retail Federation, people will be spend more than 4 billion (yes, with a 'b'!) dollars on non-romantic family members and friends this Valentine's Day. If you can't be there with them, consider sending an oh-so-thoughtful dinner delivery. Not only are you giving a loved one the gift of a romantic meal with their honey, you're saving them money and aggravation of going out, plus the shopping and cooking needed to stay in. Now that's a lot of love.SINGLE GAL PALS: It's not a huge secret that Valentine's Day might not be every single woman's favorite day of the year. Consider this your chance to be a true friend and help a friend see the splendid side of single with a gift that celebrates her independence. Try a set of pink tools -- few things say happiness like knowing you can hang a shelf without a man around the house.FELINES & FIDOS:Pets love their people every day of the year, so make sure they know you love them back. Since most pets don't follow calendars, I'm not saying you need to be extravagant; any token is sure to make their day.Maybe a blingy collar for your pampered pooch or a cat-nip-filled trinket for your kitty. If you're feeling silly about buying something for your beloved four-legged friend, remember, you're not alone -- an unbelievable $367 million will be spent on pets for Valentine's Day this year.FOR THE COUPLED:For those of you in a relationship who are feeling the panic that comes when Valentine's Day is closing in, here are a few quick and unique ideas to keep you out of the doghouse. Build-A-Bear has all manner of stuffed animals you can personalize down to a message recorded in your voice.Another lovely gift is a soy candle that melts down into moisturizer and massage oil. That's romance -- no explanation needed.For those of you still shopping, I hope this has helped spark some ideas for what to get your loved ones. And for those who run out of time altogether, remember that a hug for your friend, parent, puppy or mate can show an awful lot of love, too.(Helen Malani is the chief shopping expert for Shopzilla.com, an E.W. Scripps company and the largest comparison-shopping search engine on the Web. Got something to say about shopping? E-mail askhelen(at)shopzilla.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.net)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Gifts that are sure to spread the love
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