Give Something Different This Valentine’s Day

Are you tired of giving and receiving all the same old boring gifts for Valentine’s Day?  If you are like most people, you get the same basic gifts each year which include candy, flowers, and some underwear.  But, you don’t have to have such a boring Valentine’s Day.

You can use these gift ideas, not only for Valentine’s Day, but for every time that you need to purchase a gift for your loved ones.  This year, your loved ones will be bragging at work about what you gave them for Valentine’s Day.

* First, pay attention on shopping trips.  This is a good tip for the guys.  Watch what she looks at and seems to like.  What books, what type of kitchen product would she like, or what type of movie does she enjoy?  If she won’t buy it for herself, it’s up to you to make sure that she gets it.  Ladies should do the same thing.  What projects does he like to do and what does he need to do them?  What sports items would he enjoy?  What does he look at in the store?

* Gift Basket Ideas for the ladies.  This is a great way to spoil her a little.  For the cook in the family, go with gadgets that she loves and needs, things like ergonomically correct vegetable peelers and beautiful napkin rings are great.  Fill the basket with an apron and maybe a cookbook too.  For the girl that needs pampering, fill a basket with bath and body products.  Make sure to know the scent that she enjoys though and then fill the basket with all sorts of things that she would love such as bath salts, lotions, add in a nice luxury robe for her too.  For the craft lover, go with a basket filled with all the things at the craft store that she needs.  Great scissors, papers, and fabric that she would love.  How about a manicure gift basket that is filled with nail polish, filers, clippers and a wide range of cosmetic items.  You can often purchase a gift basket filled with all that is needed too.

* Coffee and tea gift baskets.  This would work well for both the guys and the girls that love coffee.  Add a coffee mug or a tea cup to the basket.  Line it with a beautiful cloth and then add flavored coffees, gourmets and even some decadent candies to go with it. You can even add a Gourmet Candle to the basket.
 
* Wine.  For the wine lover, create a gift basket with their favorite wines, wine glasses, and some good quality cheeses and crackers.  Perhaps add a bouquet of flowers to it as well.

* The Sports Guy.  If you have a guy that loves sports, you can create the perfect gift for him.  If you have a fisherman, for example, give him the things he needs such as hooks, fishing line, and accessories.  Make sure to purchase what he will use and if you don’t know, ask the salesman for help.  For the hunter, things like camouflage gear, binoculars, heavy socks and sunglasses are necessary.  Add to them whatever else he may need.  For the golfer, give him new golf balls, gloves and maybe even a membership to the local golf course or gift certificates to the local driving range.

Any of these gifts could  be the perfect gift for the loved one in your life.  Think about what they would like, what they would enjoy and then find a way to make it personal for them.  Purchasing gifts that work well for them will be gifts that they appreciate that much more.

3 Romantic Ways To Propose On Valentine’s Day

Many men use Valentine’s Day as the day to propose to their loved one.  After all, it is the most romantic day of the year and6 is a day you will always remember as the special day that you decided to become one.  So, what are some romantic ways to propose?  Here is a list of three ways to propose on Valentine’s Day that will definitely thrill your girlfriend.

1.  Do it in front of her family

This all depends on how traditional your girlfriend is, of course.  If she does not get along well with her family, this is a bad plan.  But, if you know she is very close to her mother, father, siblings, grandparents, cousins, etc., this can be a great idea.  Have them help you plan the special day. 

Assign one of them to ask her to come to a family reunion on Valentine’s Day in order to get everyone together.  Inform them of the real plan, but have them keep the secret from your girlfriend.  When she tells you about the “reunion”, complain a bit about the “reunion” being on Valentine’s Day, but do not over do it to the point where she decides not to go. 

If that happens, remind her that family is important and even though you would rather take her to a romantic dinner alone, you will go to the “reunion”.  If you are very traditional, ask her parents for her hand in marriage before the party.  Let the “reunion” go on for a while, so she really believes it is real.  Designate a time when you are going to pop the question and inform the others beforehand (so they know it is going to happen) like when you put on a certain song or say something in particular. 

Then, drop to one knee; tell her how special she is and that you’ve already received her parent’s permission to ask for her hand.  Tell her you love her, ask her to marry you and give her the ring.  Chances are she will say yes and the whole room will burst into applause.  Make sure in advance that you have spoken to someone in the family about taking photos or a video when you ask so you will have the moment preserved on film.

2.  Plan a weekend getaway

If Valentine’s Day is on the weekend, plan a getaway destination such as Las Vegas or Miami.  This is a great way to propose if she likes doing spontaneous things and loves to travel.  Don’t tell her until Friday afternoon when she gets off work.  Pick her up at the office and say she has 30 minutes to get packed, that you have planned a weekend trip.  To do this you will need to plan several things in advance. 

You will need to get either airline tickets, train tickets (traveling by train can be very romantic), or get the driving directions.  Make sure you have reservations at a romantic hotel.  For example, if you are going to Miami, try to get a room on the beach.  If you are going to Las Vegas, try to get a suite on the Strip at one of the nice hotels.  You will have to have the stuff you will need for the weekend packed – including the ring.  Hopefully, she will be so excited by the trip, she will think that is what the weekend is about.  But, at a great romantic moment, like a walk on the beach or in front of the Bellagio when the fountains are going off, propose to her.  If you are in Las Vegas, you can even get married there the same weekend.
 
3.  Borrow from her favorite chick flick

Most women love romantic chick flicks and many include a proposal.  If you know a movie she loves that has a romantic proposal scene, re-enact it with her.  If My Best Friend’s Wedding is her favorite movie, just holler out “Will you marry me?” as she is getting in her car to drive away.  It is even better if she is getting on the train (which is how the movie version actually goes).  If An Officer and a Gentleman is her favorite movie, walk in to her office, just pick her up in your arms, and carry her out.  As you are carrying her out, ask her to marry you. 

For this, you should probably consult her boss first.  If she loves Sex and the City and you have a dog, take the dog out for a walk with her.  When you stop to bend over and scoop the poop, pull out the ring just like Aidan did for Carrie.  If you are not sure what her favorite chick flick is, ask.  You can always use the premise that you are thinking about buying her the DVD copy for Valentine’s Day.  Be sure to ask for a few of her favorites to be sure to find one that has a romantic proposal.

Proposing on Valentine’s Day is a great idea and one that your girlfriend will surely love.  If you have the right setting, it can be very romantic and something that you both will tell your grandchildren about one day.

How To Make A Candy Bouquet For Valentine’s Day

Bouquets are usually made just from flowers, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
You can make your bouquet more interesting by adding other items, such as candy.

Yeah, you read correctly, I said, Candy!

Candy Bouquets are fun to make, they look great, and they are a fantastic conversation piece. I
promise that everyone that sees your candy bouquet will feel compelled to comment
on it.  They are also a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.

To make a candy bouquet, you will need:

• 5 Silk Rose Buds
• 1 Bunch of pearlies
• 2 Thin Gauge wires
• 1 Thick Gauge wire
• 9 Lollipops.
• Silk Leaves
• Stem tape (green or white)
• Ribbon

Step 1: Trimming the lollipops

Trim the lollipop sticks to about an inch or two in length, or just below the wrapper.
Later, we will wire and tape the sticks just like normal flowers. We do this so that the
lollipops can be moved around and positioned more easily.

Step 2: Trimming the Rose Buds

Trim the stems on the rose bud heads, and then wire and tape them.

Step 3: Wire the lollipops

To wire the lollipops you will have to put a twist in the wire around the stick of the
lollipop. You will probably have to do this twice, to make sure that the wire is tight
and will not come loose. The easiest way to do this is by using long-nosed plyers, and
squeeze the wire around the stick.

Step 4: Wire and Tape the Pearlies

Although you don’t need pearlies in your candy bouquet, they work well to
soften the bouquet, and make it appear more like an everyday floral bouquet.

Wire and tape the pearlies. Place the wire alongside the white part of the pearly
strand, and then tape the wire stem in place.

Step 5: Assemble the Candy Bouquet

Now start to assemble the candy bouquet. Start the bouquet by holding the lollipops in a
bunch in one hand.

Then slowly insert the leaves between the lollipops.

Fan the lollipops into a circular shape, with the leaves facing out.

Place the flowers in next, keeping two lollipops between each flower.

Fill any gaps left over at the end, with leaves and pearlies.

Step 6: Add Bows

Make eight figure-of-eight bows, for the last layer of the candy bouquet, and fan
them around the base. You can use normal ribbons or curling ribbon.

Step 7: Prepare the handle

The last step in making a candy bouquet is to trim and tape the handle.

That’s it! Simple isn’t it?

All you have to do now, is resist eating the bouquet long enough to give as a gift!

Valentine’s Day Is Still For Married Couples

Valentine’s Day is the day of lovers and for lovers. But, what significance does it have for married couples? Imagine getting up early, getting ready for work and rushing off as usual. On the way, you realize that it is Valentine’s Day! But you have many other worries of office and home. The worries and the daily grind of life kills the joy. The day that used to be awaited by you goes away without any celebration. Why? Where has the spirit gone? Has age made any difference? Has life changed for you? Have the priorities shifted? Is it that you have a thousand other worries that get in the way of thinking of celebrating Valentine’s Day?

As we grow, we change. What used to give us joy during our childhood, stops doing so when we are older. How many teens make sand castles? And as we grow older, the objects of joy during the youth become equally insignificant. Why?

A thing of joy is forever. Why cant an old person enjoy making sand castles, running behind a butterfly to catch it, or trying to win hearts as he/she used to do in young age? Why do we lose our life and become dead bodies going around doing routine work? Why can’t we bring back the days of childhood and youth. Why can’t we be happy and feel elated at all the times? The same goes for married couples. After few years, and in some cases, few months, the romance goes away from their life.

Some things are life giving. Love is one such magic. It can give new life and joy to anyone. How do we recapture this magic after marriage? Can it be recaptured? It can be to a certain extent. Because one cannot go back to enjoy the thrill of wooing one’s sweetheart again, as he/she has already been conquered. Yet, new thrills can be had together. How about sitting together and watching the moon? How about walking together in the rain? How about sharing ice cream from the same cone? How about buying clothes for each other with the same passion? How about feeling bad when alone and feeling extreme joy when together? How about reciting poetry? Make a list of all the things you did together when you fell in love. Find out what all you have stopped. Redo them with more vigor and bring your love back to your lives.

A marriage can be a very happy marriage if the partners love each other every moment, if their heartbeats increase when they look at each other. Sounds silly? But this can also be done. Go back to your love and say Happy Valentine’s Day to your spouse with the same passion as you did when you were dating.

Why should we watch passively and see our love dying? Why should we not make every effort to love with the same romance that we experienced when we met our sweetheart for the first time? Love does not have to become boring just because you are married. With a little help from you, it can be more exciting than it ever was.

Why Is The Rose The Preferred Flower For Valentine’s Day?

Our world is full of flowers. Visit any place on the internet dedicated to flowers and you will be amazed at all the different types of flowers, and the facts about them. Flowers come in all shapes, and colors. Some of them can intoxicate you with their lovely perfume. Some are so delicate that one fears touching them. Yet all of them are stunningly beautiful. However, it is the Rose which is preferred around the world as a flower of choice on the Valentine’s day. I wonder about this. I also wonder why we can get Roses in many colors but still it is the dark red that is preferred as the flower of love.

Let us first think about the color choice. I think that dark red must be the preferred color for love as it looks like red. And every true lover is ready to shed his/her blood for their beloved. Also love is associated with the heart, and heart pumps blood. So red signifies love. All colors have their own significance. Looking at any white color, the first thought is of purity, which is the meaning of a white rose. Same way red means love.

Why a Rose for Valentine’s Day? A Rose has thorns. But the thorns are below the Rose. The Rose represents life beautifully. It has very soft petals, that tell us about the soft side of living and thorns to convey that life is not all a “bed of Roses” without thorns. What does a lover do? A true lover will always take the thorns and give only the soft flowers to his/her darling. That is love and love demands that one give only comfort to one’s darling.

Love demands sacrifice. Love demands giving of joy. Love demands that all pain be kept away from the beloved. That is also the message a lover sends across to his/her beloved with a Rose, “I have kept the thorns with myself and I am sending you these soft flowers”. I think this must be the reason why on Valentine’s day, the red Rose is the flower of choice.

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