Valentine's Gifts They Won't See Coming

There's more to Valentine's Day gift possibilities than chocolate or flowers.

True, these are among the top categories when it comes to gift giving on Feb. 14. But now, the holiday has turned into an excuse to buy just about anything. Kitchen appliance makers promote red-colored gadgets, while hoteliers hawk all sorts of lovey-dovey getaways and pizza chains sell heart-shaped pies.

With that in mind, we decided to assemble a grab-bag category of Valentine's Day gifts that go beyond the obvious. Here are some alternative ways to make your romantic mark.

The Gift of ... Beauty (All Year Long)

It's one thing to buy a bottle of perfume. It's another to keep your beloved in cosmetics all year long. But that's the idea behind Yellow Box Beauty, which bills itself as the "premier Makeup of the Month Club." Each month, a yellow box arrives at your recipient's doorstep. As the club explains: "One month you may get nail polish, another month eye shadow and lip gloss, or even an amazing fizzy bath bomb." A yearlong membership runs $29.95 per month, available through Yellow Box's Web site; shorter-term memberships are also offered. ...