Should You Propose on Valentine’s Day?

January 17, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Valentine’s Day is a day that simply says “romance” to so many couples. It’s easy to see why this day might be a popular choice for a marriage proposal. But with Valentine’s Day being one of the most romantic days of the year – is the really the best day to pick for your marriage proposal? Or are expectations running a bit too high? Should you propose on Valentine’s Day? Let’s talk about the pro’s and the con’s for proposing on Valentine’s Day.

PRO With romance on everyone’s mind, Valentine’s Day very well could be the perfect day. Many women receive marriage proposals on Valentine’s Day. There is simply romance in the air everywhere you go. Most restaurants offer romantic dinner specials. Flowers are plentiful and easy to find. Romance is all in the air – all around you. Why, we think some of these marriage proposals may simply be inspired by the romantic day itself!

CON A proposal on Valentine’s Day ruins the surprise experience. Many men say they want to see that look of joy and happiness as they surprise their love with a marriage proposal. On Valentine’s Day a marriage proposal may even be expected by some couples – as they have reached that point in their relationships. For many men they look forward to surprising their mates nearly as much as they do proposing to her. To propose on Valentine’s Day means there is a lot less surprise factor. Something to keep in mind if you choose this date.

CON A Valentine’s Day proposal is usually costly. From restaurants, florists and other entertainment know they are at a premium for the day. They can charge up to 50% higher costs on this day than they could a week ago or a week later – simply because of that romantic Valentine’s Day. By proposing earlier or later your proposal could be more extravagant or elegant in the way that you choose. Valentine’s day prices are sadly, always higher and not always for a good reason that the consumer can understand except for supply and demand.

A Memorable Valentine’s Day Without Going Broke

January 16, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Valentine’s Day is soon upon us. Couples and singles alike are looking for creative and romantic Valentine’s Day ideas. One of the biggest challenges faced is the great expense of Valentine’s Day. It seems as if restaurant costs, florist and even boxes of chocolates cost so much more during this very romantic time of year. How can you say “I love you” and “You’re special” without spending all you’ve got for that special moment?

The best tip to making Valentine’s Day memorable is thinking about what would be special specifically for your sweetie. What do they like or what stands out in your courtship? Did you eat special foods or go special places that the two of you enjoyed? Do you have pet names for each other that could easily translate into fun Valentine’s Day gifts? Spend a little time brainstorming about what your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband would find the most thoughtful and you’ll have a real winner.

A very successful Valentine’s Day idea is to have dinner at the restaurant you went to for your very first date. Or even a restaurant that was important in your relationship, perhaps you said “I love you” there. Even if it was your favorite pizza joint, this could actually be a much better Valentine’s Day than going for the classic romantic meal with candlelight.

Some people think they have to spend a fortune on Valentine’s Day gifts. They really make an effort to get the biggest, brightest and most over-the-top Valentine’s Day gift they can find. The most ironic thing is that often these gifts are easily forgotten. What our romantic partners usually want from us is thoughtfulness. Try writing a love letter or giving them a rose – one for every month you have been together.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about taking out a bank loan to be a special and wonderful day. Taking the time to listen to your romantic partner and express your true feelings is the most important thing. Doing something special for them to show just how much you care can make a great difference. It will mean so much to them.

Valentine’s Day Goodies for the Non Sweets Lover

January 15, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

When many think of Valentine’s Day – one of their first thoughts is “chocolate!” It’s easy to see why: chocolate and sweet treats are literally everywhere. You’ll see the classic satin covered chocolate hearts filled with chocolate candies, and many other chocolate sweet treats for lovers for Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate has long been considered an aphrodisiac and is very popular with both men and women as a snack or an indulgent dessert. For Valentine’s Day many love to receive the gift of chocolate. But in some cases this gift of chocolate is not as welcome as we would hope. Whether your love is on a diet, has dietary restrictions, doesn’t like chocolate or would prefer something else – it is important to realize that there are other choices besides the classic satin covered chocolate heart to give on Valentine’s Day. Let’s talk about some of our favorite choices when you don’t want to give sweets for Valentine’s Day.

Bath and shower products are an excellent choice for both men and women. Try shower or bath gel, body lotion or fancy soaps. Not gifts that tell someone to “get clean” – but gifts that encourage them to indulge themselves. Today’s bath and shower products often have natural ingredients that are wonderful for your skin and body and feel and smell wonderful. These are excellent choices when you want to indulge someone – but they really don’t want those extra calories.

A massage at a spa is another great choice as a Valentine’s Day gift. What could be more delicious and indulgent than a massage? There are quite a few types of massage, from relaxation, sports, aromatherapy and even pregnancy massage. A massage is the perfect gift for someone who needs to unwind. This is a great way to treat someone who has been working hard or has been training for an athletic event – or who is expecting a child. Massage is beneficial for most people. There are some circumstances you should not have a massage – ask your massage therapist before reserving your appointment and talk about your medical background.

Romantic Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day

January 14, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Valentine’s Day is for many considered to be one of the most romantic date nights of the year. Whether you are single and dating or married and part of a couple – you’ll want to have a special date night on Valentine’s Day. You don’t have to settle for going to an expensive restaurant. There are many choices to choose from when it comes to romantic date ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Try recreating your first date or even one of your favorite dates. Sometimes this isn’t even a very expensive date – but more of one that brings back a lot of happy memories for the two of you. That’s the whole point! Imagine going to your favorite inexpensive Italian restaurant for spaghetti and meatballs or for a night of bowling with rented shoes. That night got your relationship started to where it is now. Best of all, choosing a different type of activity is likely to be less crowded and the costs will be much cheaper than going to an expensive restaurant.

An excellent choice for many couples is trying a physical activity they’ve always wanted to try. Doing something new together can be very bonding and bring you closer together. Try beginner ballroom dance lessons or a massage class. Or even a couples yoga class. There are so many choices to select from – you’ll easily find something that tickles your fancy. A physical activity often involves touching each other or simply becoming more conscious of your body. That can help your romantic life in many ways, especially for long term couples looking for a little extra sizzle.

A new cuisine is also a fun choice on Valentine’s Day. The key to this experience is that it is something the two of you both want to try – not simply something one of you wants to do and the other is putting up with. When you try a new experience, this newness reminds you of how you were as a new couple and can take you out of a rut. Trying a new experience like a different cuisine is most often a “safe” choice because it is a small decision but it can lead to making bigger choices you desire in your relationship.

Popular Romantic Gifts for Valentine’s Day

January 14, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Valentine’s Day is the ideal time for a romantic gesture for your sweetie. What could be more perfect than to show the person you love the most how much you care for them. There are some very classic romantic gestures that are ideal for Valentine’s Day. Keep in mind that there are many romantic gestures – but some of these have become classics ideal for Valentine’s Day because so many people enjoy them. If you choose one of these, it is sure to be a big hit!

Flowers are a wonderful gift to give your love on Valentine’s Day. Roses are the classic gift for romantic love, especially red or pink roses. At times these can be hard to find at the florist, so it truly pays to reserve them ahead of time if you wish to give them to your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. For some women, the gift of flowers means more than anything else. They saw their mother get flowers when they were little and to them this means romance above everything else. A dozen red roses is the classic lover’s gift.

Perfume is another classic romantic Valentine’s Day choice. Many men will select their wives favorite perfume and buy them a fresh bottle. Or perhaps buy them a bottle of the latest perfume available this year in all of the fashion magazines. Perfume in some ways is like giving a woman flowers every day. This is a way for a woman to smell like flowers every day she chooses to wear it. Many women have a signature perfume scent or they enjoy wearing a number of perfumes.

Chocolates are a very special Valentine’s Day gift. A pound or two of chocolates in a red satin covered heart is considered to be the most classic Valentine’s Day gift. Some women have a preference for a specific brand or type of chocolate – such as dark chocolate or milk chocolate. Chocolate is an aphrodisiac and many find chocolate romantic.

Lingerie is another popular Valentine’s Day gift. Valentine’s Day is a day and night of romance and the gift of lingerie shows this more than any other gift. Whether black, red, pink or white – lacy lingerie is a sweet and romantic gift shows that special woman just how much you care for her.

A Romantic Gift Idea for Your Valentine!

January 26, 2009 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Valentine’s Day is absolutely meaningless without romantic gifts. After all, how else would you express your love for your beloved except by means of gifts? The type of gifts you would offer to your beloved has changed over the course of time; in good old days a simple handwritten note expressing love for the other were sufficient; but in the modern age, this is simply not enough! You need to top it with candies, sweets, flowers, or even expensive jewelry. If you are stuck with Valentine’s Day gift ideas and don’t know what would please your soulmate, this article would help you out!

Some people are legitimately worried about what gift to buy which would not only please their partners but also suit their pockets. Let’s face it, in these times of recession and unemployment, who doesn’t want to save money! But let me tell you that there is nothing to worry about it. Remember that Valentine’s Day gifts are supposed to express your love for your beloved, so they needn’t be something too costly or luxurious! In fact, your sweetheart would be happy even if you simply invite them to a romantic warm bath with you! You know, nothing is more pleasing than bathing with one’s soulmate after a day of humdrum work.

So here is what you can do to prepare for the bath: first, fill your bathtub with warm water. While the warm water is still in motion, make sure to pour a cupful of fragrant bubble bath into it, so that the bathtub becomes full of sweet-smelling bubbles! After that, light some red candles and place them all around the bathtub; you may also scatter rose petals all around the tub to express your love for your partner. If you are in a more romantic mood, you can even surprise your partner by scattering rose petals all the way from the entrance door to the bathroom. That would really make him your slave!

Some people don’t like the idea of bubble bath because it is old-fashioned and clichéd; if you too are of the same opinion then you have another option. Instead of bubbles, you can pour Epsom salts and dry powered milk in the bathtub water. After both of you are done with the bath, you will want to message your partner’s body with a fragrant oil so as to get him into a romantic mood!

Did I tell you that you could extend the romantic atmosphere from the bathroom to bedroom by scattering rose petals and placing candles around your bed as well! It would be one Valentine’s Day which none of you would be able to forget!

As you can see, making your partner happy on Valentine’s Day needn’t be complicated or expensive; it can be something as simple and inexpensive as a romantic bath!

2 Simple and Easy Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas!

January 20, 2009 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Some people cynically say that the Valentine’s Day is just another day commercial businesses use to make money. However, this is not true at all. I am sure everyone will agree that love is something which is worth celebrating at least once in a year. With that in mind, I am going to list some great gifts you can buy your Valentine this year!

So far as the origin of Valentine’s Day is concerned, many legends abound, some of which may or may not be truths!

Historians believe that as early as 4th Century B.C., young Roman boys and girls indulged in a cruel and abhorrent practice. The boys would carve the names of the young girls on a box. The young boy would then indulge in sexual activities with the girl of his choice. Needless to say, this was an abhorrent practice and was banned by the Church some eight hundred years later. As an alternative, it found in St. Valentine the perfect patron of love.

Now there are varying theories regarding St. Valentine. Some people say that when St. Valentine was imprisoned for daring to defy Roman Emperor Claudius by secretly getting couples married, he fell in love with the daughter of the jailer. Just a day before he was supposed to be put to death, he wrote her beloved a note which was signed “From Your Valentine”. That was how the custom of Valentine’s Day started!

Another version says that since St. Valentine was beheaded on 14th February, the day was announced to be the day of lovers, as a mark of respect to the patron saint of love.

Regardless of whatever the legends say, we all know that Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, and if you are not ready to do something fantabulous for your ladylove, then you really don’t deserve her love. Here are just a few fun gift ideas to get you started!

1. Jewelry: Jewelry has always been a women’s weakness, and if you could gift her a diamond ring, then you could win her love for life! Ask your jeweler to carve something really romantic on the ring, something like St. Valentine wrote: “From Your Valentine”. It would really make your gift look special to her!

2. Dinner: You neither need to spend too much money on a romantic dinner nor wait patiently at a restaurant for hours! Why not cook something at your home instead? It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Make sure that you decorate your dinner table with fragrant candles, rose petals, and a fancy table cloth. Also don’t forget to include a sweet dessert such as chocolate in the dinner; in fact I would go so far as to inscribe my love message on the chocolate itself, so that my partner sees it as long as she is eating it!

2 Fun Valentine’s Day Games You May Not Know About.

January 20, 2009 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

A Valentine’s Day party without games is like eating salad without its delicious topping or a pizza without its cheese! In short, games and Valentine’s Day party are inseparable! Whether you want to pass time, enjoy your time with your sweetheart or amuse your friends and guests, these games are perfect!

Games play a crucial function at a Valentine’s Day party! It acts like an ice breaker by entertaining and amusing your party guests. When your party guests are entertained, they feel more at ease with themselves and their host! However, you need to select the best games based on the age-group of your party guests or the games would act as a complete party dampener.

For example, you won’t want to have kids’ games at an ‘all-adults’ party or adults’ games in an ‘all-kids’ party! Sounds like plain commonsense I know, but if I wouldn’t have noticed people making such silly mistakes, I wouldn’t have mentioned it here! Assuming that your chosen games are tailor-made for your party guests based on their age-group, here are some tips on which games to play to create a romantic and lovely ambience at your Valentine’s Day party.

1. Game#1: The Chin game: This game is a bit tough but also very amusing, which is why it remains my top favorite. First, create a heart-shaped pillow or have someone do it for you. Then divide the participants in five or six smaller groups and ask each group to stand in a circle. The rule is that each group’s members must pass the pillow to the other, but WITHOUT using their hands!

Each group’s members should hold the pillow in-between their chins and chests and then pass it along to the next group in similar fashion; the next group’s members also have to receive the pillow in between their chins and chests.  As you can imagine, this game is quite exciting enough to keep your guests extremely tensed up. But that is not where it ends!

In the process of passing the pillow, if it falls on to the ground, once again one would have to pick it up without using their hands! Then the game would start from scratch all over again! The group which first successfully passes the pillow from first to the last group becomes the winner!

2. Game#2: Keep them guessing: Just imagine how fun would it be to keep your guests guessing the answer to something simple! You can, for example, fill up a glass jar with several candies and then ask your guests to count them; the one whose answer matches exactly or at least comes closest to the right answer becomes the winner. The winner takes away the jar full of candies!

Before starting the game, make sure that you know the right answer by counting those candies beforehand (you won’t want to look like a fool in front of your guests, would you?).

This game can also be played with other types of foods such as biscuits, cakes, etc. In case of biscuits, you may ask your guests to count the number of biscuits in the jar, while in case of cakes, you may ask them to guess its weight!

2 Valentine’s Day Love Quotes You Cannot Do Without.

January 20, 2009 by  
Filed under Advice for Relationships

Do you want to create a special Valentine’s day card for your sweetheart, but don’t know where to start? You don’t probably want the language of your card to be mundane and commonplace, but your problem is that you don’t know how to write romantic poetry either! If this describes you then there is nothing to be worried about.

Remember that even the smartest of Casanovas have used the great poetry of classical poets to woo their beloveds, so why cannot you? In this article I will list two great love quotes you can use for your Valentine’s day card!

1. Love Quote#1: “Love those who love you“- by Voltaire

Are you sure that your partner really loves you or is just being a parasite feeding on your strengths? In life, we would generally meet two kinds of people: one who would melt your heart by confessing their love loudly, and then keep asking for various kinds of favors from you.

Their love is as hollow as their mode of expressing it; a real lover would seldom confess love so explicitly; rather, they often communicate through their eyes. Fake lovers would neither appreciate all that you are doing for them, nor reciprocate your feelings. On the contrary, they would constantly try to hurt your feelings at every given opportunity. Do these people deserve to be your life partners? Definitely not! The faster you distance yourself from such people, the quicker you would be able to find true love.

So what is true love? True love is often unconditional, meaning that neither lover would ask for anything in return of love. A real lover would appreciate all that you are doing for them! If they think that a certain truth might hurt your feelings, they would rather suppress it than hurt you! So as Voltaire says, you should love only those who truly love you, as well as remove yourself from the fake lovers who are nothing but parasites!

2.  Love Quote#2: “The heart that loves is always young“- Greek proverb

Your hair might turn grey, wrinkles might appear on your skin, your bones and muscles might become frail owing to the impact of age, but that shouldn’t affect the depth of your beloved’s love for you! True love doesn’t diminish with passing time; rather it increases with every passing moment you spend with your partner! Moreover, when you are in love, your partner would always see you as the young person they fell in love with in the past, so no matter how old you become, you would always remain young in their eyes!