Guys-Valentine's Day Will Be Heaven Or Hell For You

By Andrew Jamaz

Guys, I know it's not fashionable to get ahead of yourself for holidays. I don't buy Christmas gifts until the last minute and I find that actually makes it more fun... weaving in and out of frantic people weighed down by kids and hundreds of shopping bags. I just make a bee-line for what I need to buy, grab it, and head for the "ten items or less" checkouts. Easy peasy. Christmas shopping done in 10 minutes... guy style. :-)

But, here's a big tip guys... don't leave shopping for a Valentine's gift until the last minute. It's a mistake of galactic proportions. If the shop happens to be sold out of the specific fragrance your significant other desires, you may as well move into the dog-house and board it up from the inside. :-)

There's not much you can do to buy flowers in advance... perhaps that's why flowers seem to double in price the week before Valentine's Day... so make sure you put a "post it" note reminder on your monitor, keyboard, bathroom mirror, fridge door and each bottle of beer in the fridge so that you remember to have flowers delivered on Valentine's Day. Even better, try going online weeks beforehand and book the flowers to be delivered on Valentine's Day. You could even book the flowers in January and then you won't have to remember to write yourself post-it notes. :-)



So, book the flowers early, be sure to get the exact fragrance she wants before the shops run out, get a nice card and READ it! You'd be amazed at how many guys pay no attention to what's written inside the card... it's about the same percentage as women who DO read the inside of the card carefully... they like scrutinizing every line for hidden messages! At the very least, make sure the message is suitable for your relationship. :-)

If you want to add icing to the cake, buy some nice chocolates. You can get them months in advance if you like. Women love chocolates, but usually try not to buy chocolates for themselves because they're worried about putting on weight. Luckily, chocolates they receive can be eaten guilt-free, which is why they make excellent gifts!

OK, so now you've got every base covered. You're all set for Valentine's Day, and it's still January! Time to put your feet up, relax and look forward to having a happy girlfriend or wife on February 14th. :-)

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10 Kid-Friendly Valentine Gift Ideas from the Heart

With February 14th just around the corner there’s no better time than now to start thinking about creative ways to express your affection.

This Valentines Day take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and surprise your children with something that speaks volumes about how much they’re loved.

All you need is a few supplies, a couple of different sized ‘heart’ cookie cutters and lots of imagination.

Send a Secret Valentine

Cut a heart shape out of white construction paper. Write a message in white crayon. Then put the heart in an envelope along with a note explaining to your child that she needs to paint the valentine red for the words to appear. Go one step further and drop it in the mail.

Start Your Morning Off With Some “I Love You” Toast

Instead of ordinary toast make French or ‘toaster’ toast special by cutting the bread with a large cookie cutter. Top your bread ‘hearts’ with strawberry syrup or jam.

Make Heart-Shaped Sandwiches

By Sherrie Le Masurier

Spread strawberry jam on one slice of bread then cut a heart shape out of a second slice. When you put the two slices together you have a beautiful red heart jam sandwich.

Pour a Secret Love Potion

Add a little cranberry juice or red food colouring to your children’s apple juice and drop in some ice cubes made of the same liquid. Toss a few cinnamon hearts into each ice cube section before you put the mixture into the freezer. Or simply add a few cinnamon hearts to a bowl of apple sauce.

For more kid-friendly Valentines Day ideas visit http://www.familysanitysavers.com/valentinesdayfun.html

Hide “I Love You” Coupons

Surprise your kids with heart-shaped coupons tucked under their pillow or under their dinner plates. Ideas could include: an impromptu tickle fest, an extra storybook reading, a back rub, a cookie baking session, a movie and some cuddle time on the couch etc.

Prepare Some ‘Love’ Pasta

Serve spaghetti noodles shaped into a big heart with a tomato sauce centre and heart-shaped garlic toast. Cut heart shapes out of several pieces of white bread. Spread on a little butter mixed with some garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and some dried Parsley. Broil until brown.

Make a Heart-Shaped Pizza

Creatively work your dough into a heart shape and top with pepperoni or salami hearts made from sandwich slices.

Hugs & Kisses (Hershey style)

Purchase a bag of Hershey Hugs and a bag of Hershey Kisses and go wild hiding them all over your home. Attach love notes or clues as to where more can be found.

Give a ‘Krispie’ Kiss

Mix up a batch of Rice Krispie squares but instead of using a pan, mould the rice cereal mixture with the aid of funnel coated with butter or margarine. Depending on the size of funnel used you should be able to make between six and twelve Rice Krispie kisses. To resemble a Hershey’s Kiss, wrap in foil and insert a little note that sticks out a little from the top.

Serve Up Some Heart-Shaped Brownies

Make up your favorite brownie recipe but instead of cutting into small squares cut into hearts. Enjoy all the little leftover pieces yourself – I won’t tell.

Remember the most cherished gifts are usually the ones which are given from the heart not the pocketbook. Be creative and have fun. If nothing else, I hope the above suggestions have inspired some fun ideas of your own. Happy Valentines Day!

Sherrie Le Masurier is a lifestyle columnist, organizing consultant and a member of Professional Organizers in Canada. She offers up smart solutions for busy families via http://www.familysanitysavers.com - Copyright 2007.

Valentines Day Crafts

By Eric Morris

Valentine’s Day is adorned with numerous craft specialties. Handmade crafts infuse Valentine’s Day with a special color. Numerous easy-to-make craft ideas swarm the mind long before the advent of the day.

A simple and unique craft item could enrich the special bonds between two lovers. Valentine’s Day candles are a popular item in the craft bag collection. All one needs to do is melt some paraffin inside a can placed in a pan of hot water. One could then paste the melted paraffin over some construction paper cut out the shape of hearts. This could be glued to a candle and as a finishing touch a ribbon could be tied around the base of candle. A collage of special memoirs could comprise the craft theme for lovers on Valentine’s Day. It could be a collection of photographs, simple treasures like gift wrappers, old cards or any other special memory.

Crafts for Valentine’s Day also include special wall hangings. The main features of these wall hangings are heart-shaped paper designs and images of cupid with a bow and arrow. These wall hangings could also incorporate some special personalized messages. Another creative craft item for the day is a Valentine’s Day address book. A simple address book can be enwrapped in a decorated piece of fabric cloth. The edges of this could be stitched, and a red ribbon with a few heart-shaped trinkets can be tied around it. This gives the address book a perfect Valentine’s Day touch to it.

For children, a great Valentine’s Day craft idea is the making of a Valentine’s Day heart crown. This can be easily prepared from a paper plate and construction paper. As accessories, strings of hearts and beads could be attached to it. The exquisite crown would surely excite the children with a princely and fairytale touch on Valentine’s Day.

Another wonderful craft idea for children would be to fill an empty baby food jar with a cinnamon-sugar mixture and candies. The lid of this jar is covered with paper cupcake holders and red hearts that are placed on it. “Happy Valentine's Day!” is written on an address label that is stuck at the outside of the jar. Besides this, a fuzzy bear craft would keep the kids busy for Valentine’s Day.

There are many more crafts for Valentine’s Day. The list is unending. In short, any simple handwork could be transformed as a craftwork for Valentine’s Day. In an age where ready-made crafts and gifts are the order of the day, and time is a constraint, simple and unique handmade crafts could add that special touch of exclusivity to Valentine’s Day.

Valentines Day provides detailed information on Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Valentine's Day Gift Baskets, Valentine's Day Cards and more. Valentines Day is affiliated with Mexican Holidays.

How To Negotiate With Your Valentine.

By Mary Greenwood

Ever notice that you get into a fight or argument with your beloved on Valentine’s Day? Somehow on the most romantic day of the year, you end up having a heated discussion when you had expected a romantic candle-lit dinner. Here are some tips for negotiating with your Valentine this year.

1. You Don’t Have To Be Right to Settle

Did you know that there are three words we want to hear, even more than “I love you?” We love to here those three magic words, “You are right.” For some this is even harder to say than “I love you.” And if you say, “You are absolutely right”, that is even sweeter. When someone says, “It is the principal that counts”, that usually means that being right is more important that resolving the dispute. You have to get beyond who is right and who is wrong and get to what is going to resolve the negotiation. Feeling that you are right can be a heady emotion, but it has no place in a negotiation, especially with a loved one. Try saying, “You are absolutely right” and see what happens.

2. Don’t get distracted by your emotions.

This may be sound contradictory but negotiating with your spouse or loved ones can sometimes be more difficult that negotiating with business colleagues. It is easier to get your feelings hurt because of the emotional investment in the relationship. If you want to have a successful Valentine’s Day, it is important to check your emotions at the door, even if you are upset about something your spouse has said or done. You need to get past this stage if you are going to have a nice Valentine season. Try to put those feelings of anger or resentment aside for a couple of days. You can always revisit those issues in March.

3. Look Forward Not Back. The Past Is Called The Past For A Reason

Do you ever notice that sometimes negotiations with loved ones tend to be the same argument over and over? Valentine’s season is not the time to dredge up old disputes. The past is the called the past for a reason. Refraining from bringing up those past arguments will help you stay in the present. If your loved one is too involved in the past, get them into the present by asking them what they want now to resolve the dispute. By staying in the present, you will have a better chance of resolving today’s negotiation.

4. Familiarity Can Breed Contempt

Sometimes the parties know each other so well that they use that information against each other and push each other’s buttons. This is one reason we have the same arguments over and over. This is called passive hostility. Sometimes we will say something just to get a reaction just because we can. Refrain from baiting your loved one. If your loved one is doing this to you, you need to put a stop to it. Point out what he or she is doing. Ask them for a truce during Valentine season and see what happens.

5. Lower Your Expectations

One reason that romantic plans go awry is that the expectations are too high. First of all, if there is something you want to do or somewhere you want to go, let your Valentine know. Don’t expect the other side to be a mind reader or you will likely be disappointed. If you want to go to a particular restaurant, offer to make the reservations or drop some hints. If your goal is to have a pleasant evening with dinner and a movie, you can probably achieve that. If your goal is to have the most romantic evening of the year, you will inevitably be disappointed.

I hope these tips will help you have a great Valentine’s Day!

Mary Greenwood, Miami Beach Attorney and Mediator has written an award-winning book, How to Negotiate like a Pro, 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, which is available at Books and Books Bookstore and online at http://www.barnesandnoble.com or http://www.amazon.com . To contact Mary, Visit http://www.Marygreenwood.com or email her at Howtonegotiate@aol.com DIY Award 2006, Los Angeles, California, Best “How To” Book

Valentines Day Cards : Choosing The Right Card For Your Sweetheart

By Sajeena Ali

Love is the most powerful emotion of human beings. Valentine's Day is the ideal occasion for people around the world to express their love and innermost feelings to their dear ones. Sending beautiful Valentine's Day cards or e-cards is one of the best ways to wish your friend, family or sweetheart and make their day sweet and extra special. When it comes to choosing the right Valentine's Day card, you have plenty of options to best suit your taste. The following tips will help you to give a perfect Valentine's Day card to your loved one. Buy your card sufficiently early so that you can avoid the crowd and choose the card in a relaxed mood. Valentine's Day cards are available in a variety of colors and designs. Always choose colors that your sweetheart loves the most. Select a design which is simple but stylish enough to attract her. If you are a person with a poetic bent of mind, write a verse expressing your true feelings and desires to her on the blank side of the card. Depict the reasons for your love to her and praise the way she taught you the true meaning of love. Use perfumes and flowers to make your card more attractive and place it under her pillow or the windshield wiper of her car.

Creating your own Valentine's Day card is a great way to surprise your beloved and be more expressive in your love for her. She will admire your creativity and allow it to flower in the spirit of love. Self-made cards are a good alternative to expensive cards you cannot afford to buy. There are many websites that help you to design a card yourself. Many such sites offer variety of covers and writing scripts to choose from. Remember that even if the card you make is not perfect, it's your thought that counts.

E-cards have become a very common way of greeting during special occasions. Valentine's Day is no exception. Sending Valentine e-cards is a very fast, easy and inexpensive method of expressing your love to your sweetheart. Ecards are more attractive than ordinary greeting cards because of the sophisticated graphics and animation techniques used for their creation. From the websites that help you to send e-cards, you can choose the graphics and messages of your liking. A great advantage of e-cards is the opportunity it gives to the recipient to return the gesture to the sender forthwith.

Choosing the right type of card depends a lot on the depth of your relationship with the recipient. Someone to whom you have an intense relationship is different from someone you have dated only a few times. This makes the difference between a card expressing undying love and a casual Valentine's Day card.

The time you spend and the effort you make are more valuable than the money you spend to buy your card. Valentine's Day cards symbolize true love that comes from the heart. Whatever be the type of the card you choose, make sure it is the solemn reflection of your true love towards the recipient.


About the Author
Sajeena Ali is the owner of Valentine's Day Cards Website.

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