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. :-)

Article by Andrew Jamaz, on behalf of http://www.RefreshArticles.com/articles/ At http://www.RefreshArticles.com we add a new quality article every 30 minutes. Visit us now for quality tips and information on every topic!

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.

Feng Shui Love Tips For Valentine's Day

By Michael Douglas

Throwing Oranges into the Lake (To Fetch a Husband)

On 15th Day of Chinese New Year, single ladies should obtain 3 mandarins and on each one, write the three most important traits of a man they want to marry, asking the God of Marriage (who resides on the Moon) to send a beau and then throw them into the lake.

Introducing Feminine Energy in a Male Bedroom

A man's room with objects, like guns, ships, etc. will only attract other male friends into your home, not a woman you would like to get married with! Introduce some female or Yin energy into the room with soft furnishings, and colours, posters of the dream girls you'd like to be with. If you're looking seriously for a woman to marry then be careful not to display types of women that you're likely NOT to marry.

Avoid Dark Red Roses with Thorns

Dark red roses with thorns actually have quite negative feng shui meaning, contrary to the traditional belief which finds them symbol of love! The colour red (apart from being used in marriage) symbolises bleeding and has negative connotations on occasions celebrating love, companionship and happiness. Pink, yellow, peach or cream roses (with thorns removed) have wonderful symbolic meanings associated with young love!

Red Lights in the Southwest

Energising the Southwest of your Living Room and Bedroom with Red lights is the ultimate conjugal secret for more active social life inside & outside the bedroom! To double the effect go for Rose Quartz crystal mandarin ducks and paintings of Red Peonies in the Southwest.

Facing Your Love Direction on a Date

If you're going out with someone special out for a dinner date on Valentine's day, make sure you're sitting facing your Nien Yen direction, depending on your date of birth to maximise your feng shui luck for happiness!

Remove Mirrors from Bedroom

Mirrors are often said to reflect another person always coming in between two people. This often means an 'extra marital affair' but sometimes it can be anyone such as a discouraging relative , a green-eyed friend etc... So remove or cover mirrors in bedroom.

Visit Love-Lectures.com for more romance tips, valentine day ideas, romantic picnic, romantic date advice, gift ideas, love and relationship quiz and much, much more...