Red roses, video games, balloons, books or jewelry -- these are a few of the items people are picking up for their sweethearts on Valentine's Day this year.

Yadi Aldama, sales representative at Crescent Jewelers, said her store in the Hanford Mall has been very busy lately. She said most of the customers buying for Valentine's Day have been men.

"They come in a little lost, so we guide them," said Aldama. "They usually go for the heart pendants."

She said men spend on average between $500 to $800 on jewelry for Valentine's Day.

Kyle Karras, assistant manager at a video game store in the mall, said he's noticed several women coming in to buy video games for their boyfriends/husbands.

Some of the popular games women have been buying are Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Grand Theft Auto 4 (on pre-order), Devil May Cry 4 and Burnout Paradise.

Women have also come in to buy sports gear for their significant others. Football jackets, T-shirts, Raiders' merchandise, and novelty items have been selling well, said Peter Torres, assistant manager of Sports Fan in the mall.

Books can be popular Valentine's gifts as well.

At Hanford's Borders Express, senior bookseller Donna Marshall said she's seen everything from parents buying Valentine's Day-themed books for their children to adults purchasing sexual-themed books like "Kama Sutra."

Novelty toys like "Grow Your Own Boyfriend" and Grow Your Own Rose" have been popular items as well, said Marshall.

Some people say they don't really have plans to get gifts, but instead just want to spend time with their loved ones.

"I'm going to dinner and a movie after I get off work," said Jayleen Rodriguez, who has been married for eight years. "Anytime we can actually spend time alone is nice. Ideally we'd go somewhere for the weekend, but I have to work."

Serina Trevino, 28, said she plans to go out of town for Valentine's Day with her boyfriend.

"I'm going to the coast," Trevino said. "I've never had lobster before and we were going to go to Red Lobster, but he just said let's go to the coast where it's fresh."

Navy Aviation Ordnanceman Michael Fountain said he didn't want anything fancy from his girlfriend for Valentine's Day.

I'm not picky," Fountain said. "Just hanging out with her -- I don't need anything to be happy."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2427.

(Feb. 13, 2008)