Once again Valentine's Day has come around, that special day on the calendar to be celebrated by all those whose desire for one another has drawn them in to a romantic union.

To many a gentleman this is a perfect opportunity to show the lady in his life weather she be wife or other how deeply his feelings of adoration run. After all is this not a day set aside for such a purpose? Did the man who would go on to be dubbed Saint Valentine not risk and even give his life for those who find themselves entangled in love's web to be as one?

This Saint Valentine did and now it is in our hands and wills to keep alive the spirit of he who so many centuries ago was selfless to the point of being martyred for others to be together.

However it is the ideas or perhaps lack of which that may lead many a male to ask "How should this day be spent with this lady (weather she be young or not) whose eye has been caught by the man that he be?". There are those who might respond by claiming that it is appropriate to present their damsels with flowers or chocolates that be accompanied by cards that like he so many centuries ago come signed "your Valentine" and it is not I that I would dispute this notion but encourage it.

However some may ask does this truly suffice to demonstrate to that special lady in our lives how she stirs up our emotions of adulation? How her mere presence not only in our eyes but in our lives serves us for inspiration that we feed upon to get us through the day till we join her for those moments of intimacy that give meaning to our lives? To those who inquire along these lines I would retort that it be not a matter of magnitude but of the eminence we show in the mode we express our feelings. It is for them that I have the following suggestions on how they might allow all the tenderness that be inside them to radiate to the one they wish to share it with.

1 First let us begin with what presents should be gotten? To this question I would say that Saint Valentine's day by nature is not a day that requires expensive presents, not that they be out of place should they come but let us not forget that this day is for romance so if presents should come they need not be in the costly category. May they be something that be not only an item but one that sends a message such as flowers. However for those wishing to express their desire for ardor deeper then might I suggest perfume that when combined with the scent of the lady in mind will emit a fragrance of splendor which would be uniquely hers in its influence of seduction. Of course there are those whose taste and daring may run them in to what we shall call the more direct approach of togetherness so it is to them that I suggest lingerie. This being what is reserved for certain eyes exclusively such as stockings of silk that when seen by others give not their intent but when exposed to our eye become a lure for our desires. I naturally understand that there are those whose financial situation or ideas may lead them to buying jewelry such as diamond rings or tiaras that shine and sparkle on their beloved but to those I advice to save such lovely souvenirs for anniversaries as basically that is when they be more in season.

2 Many perhaps who find themselves in a couple do not have ideas of romance on what activities they may engage in with their partner other then the obvious acts of carnality. I for my part am not attempting to dissuade any from those sensuous moments for this is the whole idea of Saint Valentine's day. It is in my esteem however that these actions which might be performed on any other day take on an added significance on Saint Valentine's day. Bearing this in mind I suggest that our actions should lead up to it. When making this past statement I speak not of what is commonly referred to as foreplay but perhaps what guides us to it in the form of a meal that be illuminated solely by the light of candle. This ambiance might lend flavor to even those vitals which under circumstances that differ would be barely palatable but I ask if the settings that surround the meal be special should not what we force our stomachs digest be equally? With this in mind why not take some time to get a cookbook that will open the world of the finer dishes. Naturally these books would not be needed by those whose gastronomic abilities match their longing for those dishes of the gourmet kind nor for the ones who prefer to reserve a table at their favorite restaurant. I unsurprisingly lean in favor of Italian cuisine my name being Gianni Truvianni.

3 Entertainment is also something we might consider but this should come in the form of something that allows for intimate contact and by this I mean not activities of an outdoor nature but of another. Watching a film of a romantic temperament while cuddling on a loveseat. Many people have diverse believes as to what romantic films are and it would not be for me to say if they are right or otherwise with regards to their believes. Nonetheless my emotions tell me that films which I would label as romantic are those that make us long with all our being to see those who the screen has placed in front of us end up happily in love, though this may actually not occur in the scenario that we should be the recipients of a "sad ending" as opposed to a happy one. As a personal recommendation (me being the author of a book entitled "New York's Opera Society") why not substitute a film with a passionate opera such as "La Traviata" or "La Boheme". It is these anecdotes though tragic in finale to the point of creating tears in those of sensitivity that may actually liven spirits by allowing us to contrast them to our own reality which hopefully will not match the heartbreak of "Aida". Passion let us never forget means suffering so to men who in my outlook be truly gallant then let me suggest that they through embraces and other forms of physical stimuli be the ones to alleviate the distress in their lady companions that opera may have induced.

Entertainment also need not by necessity be limited to the home. After all many are the places where we may take that special someone for instance restaurants after which our day might end with an interlude in our chambers of sleep. For my own however I would not have the soiree conclude after dinning and would extend it to include attending the opera where we see true romance as might not be witnessed elsewhere.

4 Our attire for this day like all else should be set on pleasing the one who does likewise for us so with regards to this I leave it up to each couple to decide what they wish that certain someone to see them in. As for myself however I have always preferred the elegant touch when the subject be clothing. This elegance manifesting itself in the form of a suit that allows us men to display not only the finer features of our physique but also the gentler side of our qualities and though most ladies will not say. We who are of an observant nature will notice their reaction when our look be aided by the grandeur of graceful attire.

5 In all this advise I leave this for last precisely because it is not least but most. It being if we allow our inner feelings for that one we cherish to take over our deeds on this day then all the above suggestions will take on a higher tonality of sentiments in our hearts.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. As for the details regarding my life I would say that there is nothing that lifts them above the ordinary. I was born in New York City in 1967 on May 21st and am presently living in Warsaw, Poland where I wrote my first book "New York's Opera Society" now Available on Amazon.

VALENTINE / LOVE

Celebrated on February 14 every year, Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is the traditional day on which lovers convey their love to each other by sending Valentine's cards, sometimes even anonymously. The most common feature of Valentines Day these days is the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Popular Valentine symbols of modern times include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, mass produced greeting cards have largely replaced handwritten notes. It is believed that nearly one billion Valentines Day cards are sent each year worldwide, making it only the second largest card-sending holiday next to Christmas. Women are believed to purchase approximately 85 percent of all "valentines".

Stories of many Valentines

Opinions differ about who St Valentine was. Early martyrologies mention at least three St Valentines under the date of 14 February. One is a priest at Rome, another a Bishop of Interamna (now Terni in Italy) and the other lived and died in Africa. Many, however, are of the opinion that the first two are the same person.

It is, however, widely believed that Valentine's Day has perhaps originated from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. A festival was held on February 15 in honor of one of their gods Lupercus, who was called upon by the Romans to ward off the threats of those fierce wolves that roamed the adjacent forests. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, a love lottery was organized in which the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man then drew a slip and the girl whose name he picked up was to be his sweetheart for the year.

The holiday subsequently became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. At that time when Christianity was still a new religion, Valentine was a priest in Rome. The then Emperor Claudius II, had issued an order forbidding the Roman soldiers to marry or become engaged. The emperor believed that once they got married, his soldiers would want to stay home rather than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was finally arrested, imprisoned, and beheaded on February 14, the eve of Lupercalia. Valentine was posthumously named a saint. As Christianity grew stronger in Rome, the priests moved the Lupercalia or spring holiday from February 15 to February 14, i.e., Valentine's Day. Since then the holiday began honoring Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus.

"From your Valentine"

According to another story, Valentine was one of the early Christians who was seized and dragged before the Prefect of Rome and jailed for helping some Christian martyrs. He cured the jailor's daughter of blindness while in jail. When the emperor learned of this miracle he ordered the beheading of Valentine. Valentine is said to have sent the jailor's daughter a farewell message signed, "From your Valentine".

In 1969, as part of a larger effort to reduce the number of saint days of purely legendary origin, the Church removed St. Valentine's Day as an official holiday from its calendar. At present, February 14 is dedicated only to Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.

This article is written by Arindam Bose for It is a free article and can be used by any webmaster on their website, provided they will keep the link intact with the article ( for sending Valentine's Day greeting cards to loved and near and dear ones, please check out this page ).

With life's pace quickening everyday, people are looking to escape from the rat race and relax to rejuvenate their body. For life to be revitalising, it is necessary to have a good flow of life force energy in your home to welcome your valentine or "your beloved one". You can get good energy in your love and life by just making a few changes in your room.

Did you know that Red Roses with thorns are not a happy ending sign if you were to give them to your loved ones? The colour red, unless it is used in marriage, represents bleeding. Red roses with thorns are even more undesirable; thorns represent hardship, so avoid sending your loved ones. In fact, pink, yellow, peach or cream roses (with thorns removed) are wonderful symbols associated with young love!

Did you know that you could face the right direction and find the right love? When using Feng Shui, you can find your sweetheart by sitting in the right direction. Everyone has a personal love (Nien Yen) direction depending on the date they were born. According to the Feng Shui 8 Mansions Formula, each person's personal Nien Yen reaction brings them happiness and good luck associated with marriage and matriarchal presence.

For men, the Nien Yen direction helps you attract a good and gentle wife who will bear you many sons and take care of your parents. For women, the Nien Yen direction brings you more opportunities to establish yourself as the loved wife of a household, and attract a man who will bring you happiness and prosperity through marriage. So if you've managed to ask someone special out for a dinner date, make sure you're sitting and facing your Nien Yen direction to maximize your Feng Shui luck for happiness! Who knows? the man you dating sitting in the right direction might be the one you have been looking for!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Did you know that mirrors in the bedroom are the most effective tools to destroy the relationship? Mirrors in the bedroom are really not advised for any type of relationship whether you're starting out or reliving a romance especially if you're pretty serious about this person! Mirrors are often said to reflect a third party in the relationship. Mirrors represent another person always coming in between two people. This often means an extra-marital affair but sometimes the third person can be anyone such as a discouraging relative etc? Ever heard of "Two's Company, Three's a crowd! So remove your mirrors, hide them or cover them up!

And remember to hold on to your Valentine's love. Always have everything displayed in your home in pairs; a pair of love birds or a pair of love ducks. Ever heard of 'Love comes in pairs, single comes in despair'? Make your loved one feel welcome by removing all solitude figures and all lonely pictures of a man or woman. Have fresh flowers in your love and relationship corner (Southwest), and clean out your closets to make room for your significant other to enter into your life.

Once you've created peace and harmony in your home with the changes mentioned above, that will nourish your body, mind, heart and spirit, you can have a Valentine's Day for all 365 days of the year!!

Michael Douglas is a relationship expert and he owns a website Love-L where he offers healthy relationship advice for relationship problems and provides tips to bring in more love, passion and harmony into one's love life and relationships.

If you're reading this article, you're probably a gift-phobic guy, or at least "gift challenged". Not sure? Try this quiz to find out:

• Have you missed your partner's birthday?

• Have you missed your anniversary?

• Did you forget at least one Valentine's Day?

• How about Mother's Day?

• Do you give the same type of gift year after year?

• Do you avoid shopping for your partner until the last minute?

• Do you feel anxiety when your partner opens her present?

If you answered "yes" to more than three of the questions, you need a little help in the gift-giving department. Listen, it's perfectly understandable. After all, it's not like they offered a class in how to buy for your girlfriend or wife in college.

The most important thing is to let go of past gift-giving disasters. While you're at it, let go of the anxiety too. The following three gift-giving tips will help you do just that. If you follow them, you will be a pro in no time.

1. Have Her Make a "Life List". A Life List is a list of experiences you would like to have in your lifetime. It might be something as grand as traveling to India, or something as simple as learning to make sushi. This tip has a bonus benefit: your partner will be so thrilled that you asked her to make a Life List with you, she will be in a good mood for days. And you just might get closer in the process. Remember, you need to make the list too!

Now that you know what her ultimate dreams and secret desires are, you can use the list for clues as to what she might like to receive for a gift. Of course, you could just go all out and make it happen by actually taking her to India, or signing her up for Japanese cooking class. But you could also use the things on her list as inspiration.

For example, you might give her a beautiful photography book on India so she can imagine she is there, or a travel guidebook so she can plan her trip. A sushi-making video or a night out at a famous sushi restaurant would also be fun ideas that will show her you are paying attention. That is the key to great gift giving. Being thoughtful.

2. Ask Her Best Friend. If anyone knows what your partner wants more than anything else, it's her best friend. Give her pal a call (email is too informal), and ask for ideas. Phrase your request something like this: "I would really love to get ____ something she really wants, but doesn't think is practical and so she might not have mentioned it to me. Do you have an idea of anything she is really pining for?"

Of course you can put it in your words, but the idea is to show her best friend that you want to do something special, and to make sure he or she knows you are not trying to pump them for information because you're stumped!

If you do use one of the ideas her best friend gives you, send a thank you note (they're in the greeting card aisle) with a short message. No need to call again, and stay away from meeting to discuss the gift before and after. You don't want to make your partner nervous or jealous.

3. When in Doubt, Pamper Her. A surefire way to make your partner happy on any occasion is to give her the gift of relaxation. Women today are overloaded with responsibilities and rarely have time for some much needed pampering.

If you know which high-end bath products your wife covets, go ahead and purchase a basket of goodies for her. If not, don't try to guess. Scents are very personal, and you want her to be able to use what you give her right away.

If you aren't sure what to buy, go the spa route. Do a search online for day spas in your area. Not a Google or Yellow Pages search, because that just gives you contact information. Instead, go to your local newspaper or magazine's website and search for a top ten list or "best of" list which includes spas.

Book a half-day or full-day spa experience, which allows her to choose from various treatments. Let her schedule the day she will attend, and if the two of you have children, promise to take them out for the day.

When you give your partner a gift of a day spa experience, make sure you choose at least one of the treatments for her. It will make her feel as though you are giving her the treatment yourself. Ask her about it later, so that she knows you were paying attention.

By following these three simple strategies, you will rise to the level of gift-giving dynamo in no time. Soon, instead of teasing you about your gift phobia, your partner will be bragging about the wonderful, thoughtful gifts she receives from you. You could stand that, right?

Karen Fusco is co-founder of SilkB which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. She is also co-founder of WellnessA , a directory of articles covering many areas of wellness. Karen can be reached directly at: karen@SilkB

This Valentine's Day, millions of couples will feel the heat-a burning passion from cooking up something sensuous to share with their love.

Couples can find out which foods really sizzle with the new, 10th anniversary edition of a smash-hit cookbook. "InterCourses: an aphrodisiac cookbook" (Terrace Publishing) features 145 couple-tested recipes, including 65 entirely new romantic recipes in the anniversary edition. It'll be a hot time in the kitchen tonight when recipes meet romance, for a different kind of fire that can melt the coldest winter.

Organized by aphrodisiacs, the book covers 19 sensual foods ranging from traditional favorites such as oysters and strawberries, to lesser-known, but just as potent ones, such as pine nuts and asparagus. Intimate, yet playful, the "InterCourses" approach to cooking livens up relationships, whether just starting out or 50 years in the making. Here's an example:

Baked Artichoke and Crab Dip

Yields 2 to 3 servings

Consider this elegant alternative to chips and queso-its creamy warmth is a sure recipe for romance.

1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for greasing

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped

1 pickled jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1/4 cup chopped pimiento

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Juice of 1 small lemon

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 pound crab meat, picked over for bits of shell

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Preheat oven to 375° F and grease a 6x9-inch baking dish. Set a small skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and sauté the bell pepper until tender.

Combine artichokes, jalapeño, mayonnaise, scallions, pimiento, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and sautéed bell pepper in a large bowl. Fold in crab meat. Place mixture in baking dish and sprinkle with almonds. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve with tricolored tortilla chips.

With recipes for romance, a popular cookbook really helps couples turn up the heat.

Roses, daffodils, tulips, violets, chrysanthemums. The perfect way to melt the heart of every woman in your life is with flowers. Flowers touch that special place inside of every woman and lets them know that you care. Whether it is your wife, girlfriend, or mom, flowers speak the universal language of affection and appreciation. Sending flowers is a tangible way to show your love and regard.

In this day and age, there are many ways to give flowers to the woman in your life and the Chicago area is a wonderful hub of different options. No matter your style or budget, you can send flowers to the woman you love. Flowers can be found in arrangements or can be purchased singly. Baskets and bouquets are other ways to express how you feel to that special woman. You can combine flowers with candy or balloons to create a unique arrangement. Flower arrangements come a rainbow of colors and styles.

If the internet purchases are your style then there are a number of options available. Search for your favorite florist and flowers for that special woman are right at your fingertips. It couldn't be easier. Make your selection from a huge variety of options and then have them delivered right to that special lady's door. Here in Chicago where our lives are hectic and time is short, delivery is often the best option. Just a few moments at your computer and you can let the women in your life know that you care.

Each of online flower shops offer you a variety of convenient options. You can choose from a variety of arrangements or design one yourself. Each flower arrangement can be personalized with a note that shows you care.

What variety of flower should you send? Each flower has a symbolic meaning. You can send one specific kind of flower or create a bouquet that shows an array of feelings. For you mom, you might give Larkspur, which symbolizes laughter or perhaps Daffodils, which symbolize regard. For a new relationship, Lilacs represent first love and Violets stand for affection. If you wish to honor your wife, you might choose Blue Violets, which are a symbol of faithfulness or Red and White Roses, which represent unity.

Flowers truly are the way to a woman's heart. Tell your girlfriend you care, let your wife know how much she means to you; thank your mom for all her years of care. Sending flowers is an easy and heartfelt way to express your feelings for that special woman in your life.

Muzrak Maksidov runs the website which is provide information related to flowers. This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and link is hyperlinked.

So what can you do to celebrate this Valentine's Day? With the right intention, a few simple ingredients and a little effort, you will be richly rewarded as you express your true devotion to the one you love. I have been working with Aromatherapy Essential Oils for many years, so I'm very familiar with creating the right romantic setting that will make that magical space in your own home a rewarding experience.

To get the right ambiance, start by lighting some candles in your favourite room and play some relaxing music that you both like. The setting is not complete without the subtle effect of aroma. The sense of smell is one of the subtlest and oldest ways of communicating that we possess, the mechanism of which still remains a mystery today. Creating the desired mood with essential oils has been around for centuries. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians made aromatherapy a way of life with the use of perfumed oils, scented barks and resins being recorded as far back as 4500BC. Perfumes were used by lovers to heighten the forces of attraction that existed between them. According to history, Cleopatra wooed Antony by ordering that her bedroom be carpeted an inch deep in rose petals. Imagine that!!

Now to create your romantic ritual…. Place either a single essential oil or blend in your aromatherapy burner with a tea light beneath. (I prefer to use an essential oil burner with a deep bowl so that it takes longer to diffuse without overheating and drying out).

For a 'sensual interlude' add 1 drop of orange, 2 drops ylang ylang and 3 drops frankincense to your burner. Around 5 to 6 drops is enough. Orange is a joyful and playful scent that blends well with the sweet, heady fragrance of ylang ylang. With the added connection that frankincense gives to heighten your senses you will be well on your way to enjoying a sensually euphoric evening!!

For the true romantic, rose helps us feel more deeply. It is a gentle aphrodisiac with a spiritual quality that you may use on its own or in a blend. Or if you're feeling a little more bold try Jasmine, a wonderful oil that brings with it the rare qualities of strength and softness, yin and yang , making it a powerful aphrodisiac!

So this Valentine's Day open your heart to love and romance by embracing the gentle art of Aromatherapy and add some essential oils into your life!

Angela Power has a background spanning 25 years as a health professional profiling a career in medical nursing for over 15 years and as a Natural Therapist since 1988. She is renowned for her ability to provide knowledge through her real life experiences & her website, Aromatherapy and Essential Oils at the Garden Apothecary provides information on the benefits of aromatherapy and the therapeutic use of essential oils.

It seems love has gone to the dogs-and the cats, birds, fish and other pets across America.

A recent survey of pet owners found that about 9 million people plan to give a Valentine's Day gift to their pet.

That may explain why a plethora of posh, pink pet products is hitting store shelves this year. But many of these gifts have a twist: In addition to their focus on style, fashion and fun, part of their proceeds are donated to charities.

So which gifts will be hot this year, and which will help you donate to a worthy cause? The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) offers this list:

• Celltei offers pink Swarovski heart-shaped pet charms with matching human necklaces and earrings as well as a pink heart-shaped leather carrier.

• Petmate's Pampered Pink products include a heart-shaped bed, portable pet home, kennel cab and stainless style bowls, all in pink, of course.

• With Planet Dog's Pink Ribbon Ringo ball, you can give a gift twice. For each Ribbon Ringo sold, Planet Dog will donate a minimum of 45 cents to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with a minimum guaranteed donation of $10,000.

• Similarly, Veterinary Ventures, Inc. donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its new pink Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The product is the only pet fountain developed by a veterinarian and features a free-falling stream of water that encourages pets to drink more water, helping to keep them happy, healthy and hydrated.

• Casco's BABY biOrb smart aquarium requires just four gallons of water, making it ideal for people with limited space. The tank is virtually self-cleaning, acrylic and comes with stylish tops and bottoms in four different colors, including pastel pink.

• Crunchkins has released a line of pink and red Crunch Cards for Valentine's Day. The edible greeting cards are made from a flattened rawhide panel and printed with edible ink. They feature sentiments such as "Love and Licks" and "I Ruff You."

• Pink and white Love EEEKs! cat toys from Fat Cat, Inc. are designed especially for the Valentine's Day holiday. The cat toys are the perfect size to toss and chase, and they've been packed with organic zoom-around-the- room catnip and a teensy little rattle.

• Doggles Comfort Heart is a pink, heart-shaped pillow that is digitally enhanced to replicate a mother's heartbeat set on a 30-minute timer. The pillow is great for comforting new puppies or providing extra emotional support to adult dogs that might suffer from separation anxiety. The company also offers pink human-and-pet- matching sunglasses, hats and more.

• Park Avenue Paws (Paws Wholesale) has released an Engraved Sweetheart, a beautiful, fully customizable charm. Small and large hearts with red Swarovski crystals are ideal for Valentine's Day but many shapes and colored stones are available.

• Cain & Able Collection offers a line of Doggie Dental Products, entitled "Kiss-Able." They'll feature a toothbrush and an all-natural vanilla toothpaste just in time to make your dog lovable and kissable for Valentine's Day.

• Pets may benefit from LoveDrops, the natural alternative for dogs and cats from Brewers Yeast Specialists. These premium, heart-shaped supplements are enriched with brewers yeast, omega-3 fatty acids, rose hips, garlic, antioxidants and zinc.

• Show your pet how much she is loved with a gift from Sherpa's Pink Passion collection. The line features carriers, collars, coats, frames and even a treat jar.

About 9 million people plan to give a Valentine's Day gift to their pet, according to a recent survey.

For more ideas, you can visit

Sure, common wisdom says that Valentine's Day was invented by greeting card companies to bring in sales during a slow time of year, but Valentine's Day means love and if you don't celebrate it with that special person if your life, you're going to be in a lot of trouble!

Speaking of trouble, let me keep you out of it. Don't waste your time and money buying red roses and a box of chocolates for your sweetheart. Rather than being a no-imagination lover, do something incredible this Valentine's Day.

Here Are 5 Fabulous Ways To to Show Your Valentine How Much You Care

1. Celebrate Valentine's Day At Home With A Catered Dinner For Two

Call you favorite restaurant and order ahead. Hire a waiter for the night to serve your meal, complete with candlelight and fine china, and then have him whisk away the mess before he leaves the two of you alone - where the romance begins.

2. Spend The Day At A Spa Before Going To Dinner

A nice steamy bath followed by a couple's massage and a pedicure for two is a great way to relax and get ready for a night of love. If you book a room at a nice hotel with a spa, you don't even have to travel far to dine before retiring to your suite.

3. Make Valentine's Day Exciting and Adventurous

Arrange for a romantic picnic hundreds of feet up in the air courtesy of your local Hot Air Balloon rental company. You'll waft along in the breeze, laughing at all of the people running in and out of the flower shops below you.

4. Make Your Valentine's Fantasy Dream Come True

Who knows what fantasy lives in the mind of your Valentine? I bet you do, so go ahead and make that special fantasy come true.

5. Spend A Couple Of Days At A Romantic Bed & Breakfast Inn

If mountains and snow is your idea of romance, stay at a cozy inn up North in the mountains where crackling fires warm the two of you as you sip hot chocolate laced with a bit of Baily's Irish Cream.

If hot summer nights are more your style, head down South and claim a bit of beach in Florida. Get fired up as you dance the night away to steel drums, and then celebrate the new day with a romantic breakfast for two as you watch the sun rise over the ocean.

If these Top 5 Valentine ideas aren't quite right for you, hopefully they will inspire you to find the perfect way to spend Valentine's Day and really WOW your sweetheart!

For more great Valentine ideas and to download free Valentine wallpaper, visit

Who says that married couples can't enjoy Valentine's Day? If you would like to make this day a little more special than others have been in the past, you'll need to think about a few things, make a few plans and make this day a great day.

Keep It Exciting!

Use all of the tools that you have to remind yourself of the day. Set up your palm pilot or your computer to remind you of the day. And, not just on that day but several weeks before. This way, you can easily remember to do something for the day.

* Make dinner reservations.

* Buy a new outfit for the day.

* Plan what you will be serving for dinner.

* Find a way to get the kids out of the house for a few hours.

* Head out on the town for several hours.

* Plan out your meal for the night and test new recipes before then.

One of the biggest problems for the evening is with the kids. Where can they go or do? Find a sitter for them so that you two will have time on your own. Make sure to leave them someplace that they will enjoy themselves so that you don't have to worry about them all evening. And, doing this will allow you to spend better quality time with your loved one too.

Gifts should be purchased well in advance. First of all, more and more individuals are turning to the internet to purchase gifts. If this is your plan, do it well in advance of the day, as it may take several weeks to receive a package. If you plan to purchase something, make sure that you know the tastes of the individual and their size. If you visit local department stores, they may even wrap them up for you on this day.

Go For Something Different!

Go ahead and get something more unique this year. For example a singing telegram is sure to surprise her. Surprise her with something like this that you purchase through the local florist.

Making Valentine's Day special is important for each of you to really enjoy the day. Do something different, set aside a block of time and make it mean something to each of you. Then, it will be a day to remember even though you are married.

Nicola Kennedy really enjoys Valentines Day. It's because she and her husband are always thinking of fantastic Valentines Day ideas. Visit her site for more great Valentines ideas to make Valentines 2006 a special one.

In my 15 years as an educator, poet, and poetry community webmaster, I know the pains and purgatory of poetry research. So many poetry sites these days result in dead links, pop-up prison, or supply only a chunk of the information you seek. Read on to learn how I made sense of the poetry research jungle.

As founder and creator of World of Poets dot com, I realized early on that my poets deserved the best possible poetry features. So, I created two poetry sites in one:

a. An Online Poetry Community—this is the section my poets can post their works, receive and submit reviews, qualify for contests, promote their own publications, chat, win awards, etc. It's a fun and lively bunch.

b. An Online Poetry Database—Links to over 1,300 poetry research resources. And every link—at publication—works!

This is where my methodologies may come into play for you. First, I decided on many different poetry categories. Second, I copied as many poetry links as possible. Third, I then clicked on each and every link—I think I ended up with over 5,000—to verify its web presence. Last, I identified the quality of the content, the presence or absence of pop-ups or ads, and then I chose the 1,300 or so best ones. This took me over two years to accomplish.

Here are the categories with a brief description of each:

1. Poetry Devices—I ended up finding about 80 different ones.

2. Poetry Forms—I am sure there are more, but I link to 78.

3. Poetry Articles—Talk about nearly impossible, but I managed to find 60 or so quality sources, and I am always looking for more.

4. History Of American Literature—From Colonial Times to Contemporary time, I managed to link to one place for everything.

5. Timeline Of English Literature—Not quite as in depth as the American Literature section, but it lists every major event.

6. History Of Poetry—Do you know how to spell Wikipedia?

7. Poetry Movements—Even to someone with my experience, I was surprised to find over 60! I think I got the complete history of them all.

8. Poetry Magazines, Ezines, Journals—I am sure there are many, many more, but with 370 WORKING links, I am proud of this section.

9. Poets Through History—Here is where I had to choose different poets to profile and to link for further research, I broke them down as follows:

a. Classic Poets—105 links to poems, history, and research.

b. Modern Poets—115 links to poems, history, and research.

c. Contemporary Poets—115 links to poems, history, and research.

d. World Poets—50 links to biographies. As many works not in English.

e. American Poet Laureates—Cool section profiling all the American Poets Laureates throughout its history.

10. Best American Poetry Series—With links to over 1,500 of the best American poems and their poets since 1988, this is a great resource.

11. Best Resources—50 of the internets BEST poetry research sites.

12. Tools of The Trade—120 links to categories I broke down as follows:

a. Copyrighting and Publishing—real publishers.

b. Libraries and Collections—incredible database within a database.

c. Bookstores and Booksellers—anyone of importance here.

d. General Reference—20 quality reference guides.

e. Rhyming Dictionaries and Thesauri—20 different ones!

f. Esteemed Contest Sites—literary contests, not scams and rip-offs.

g. Poetry Fun—20 fun places to discover poetry, many for children.

h. A World Of Dictionaries—20 different types of dictionaries.

i. Etymology and Origins—20 places for linguistic study.

j. A World Of Encyclopedias—20 different ones.

k. Quotable Quotes—if you need a quote, look no further.

I would like to remind you that finding links to poetry research is not that difficult. However, finding quality, content-driven, active links, without pop-ups and eternal link purgatory, is quite another story. I approximate that I sifted through over 5,000 links to get the 1,300 superior links I provide my members.

Bottom Line: Check out the World of Poets dot com Poetry Database, and you will never use another source for your poetry research, ever.

About Author:

Rob Levasseur is a former English Teacher, published poet, owner, creator, and operator of WorldofP an online poetry writing community built for, and by, its online poets. For Poetry Contest, visit

What can be more romantic than sending a handwritten love letter to your loved one, full of romantic words and genuine feelings you have for him/her? Love letters are one of the best ways to show your special loved ones how you feel for them and how much you love them.

A heartfelt love letter also makes the perfect gift for Valentine's Day, but you don't have to just limit yourself to that specific day. Every day is a great opportunity to make your loved one happy by sharing your deepest feelings with him/her.

The great thing about love letters is that you don't have to be a poet or a skilled "writer" to be able to write them. Everyone - and I really mean "everyone" - can do it.

Because they are just about putting your romantic feelings into words genuinely - even in very simple words. This openness is what makes love letters special.

To write a more romantic and heart warming letter, here are some questions that will give you good ideas to write about:

Idea #1:

What was the first time you felt you were in love with him/her? Did anything special happen that made you realize your love?

You can describe in clear details how it happened and how you felt and it will mean the world to your loved one. I promise. :-)

Idea #2:

What is the #1 thing he/she has that makes you feel so much in love with him/her whenever you think about it? It could be about looks or about personality.

For example you may say "the way her face shines when she smiles", or "the way his eyes always bring peace and love to me when I look into them."

Idea #3:

What positive changes have you made since he/she has entered your life? What valuable lessons have you learned from him/her?

For example it could be that before you met him/her, you were pretty shy and didn't fully believe in yourself and your unique abilities, but he/she helped you love yourself more and be proud of who you are.

When your loved one reads this, she will practically feel on clouds because he/she sees what a big difference he/she had made in your life.

Idea #4:

It's also a good idea to include a heartfelt romantic love poem at the end or the beginning of your letter. Sometimes nothing can show how we feel better and deeper than a good poem.

Idea #5:

And as the last tip: Don't forget to say "I Love You" at the end of your letter. This simple yet effective sentence will really seal the deal in your loved one's mind.

Wish you a wonderful life full of love,

Ladan Lashkari

About the Author:

Ladan Lashkari is giving away a FREE collection of beautiful

romantic love poems

that are perfect for including in your love letters. To grab your copy of these

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Have a look at a selection of these gifts ideal for Fathers Day, birthdays or just to spoil yourself.

Desktop Golf Set - Executive Golf Putting Green - The Desktop Golf set is perfect of office putting practise. Made for desk-bound golf addicts, this executive golf kit contains a tiny fold-out putting mat with sand trap and sand, putters and wooden stand, mini golf-balls and a booklet of hints and tips to help you on the green (including explanations of golfing terms).

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Remote Control Golf Ball - The Incred-a-ball

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Golf Ball Mouse and Putting Green Matt - Enjoy Golf On Your Desktop with this Golf Optical 3D Mouse and Putting Green Mouse Matt a must have golf gift, Three delicate balls, a flag, a mini-putter, and the mouse pad are the accessories of golf mouse, along with the golf mouse, the whole structure looks like the miniature Golf Green.

Potty Putter - Introducing Potty Putter! The toilet time golf game that lets you practice your putting while going to the bathroom. If you're a golfer who can't get enough practice time, then Potty Putter is for you! Now you can sink putts where no one else has sunk them before - in the bathroom!

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Are you confused of the type of gift you would like to gift your friend for his birthday, engagement or wedding? Selecting a gift for someone can actually be a difficult task. Sometimes you might find a gift at one go but sometimes it may take hours before you could actually find one.

Gift something that can make the person a shopping spree. Take into consideration the persons like and dislikes before deciding over the gift. Gifts make everyone feel special. Hence it's important that you be selective in your choice. Don't just give away something as you couldn't find time to shop.

Gift Ideas

Receiving and buying gift for some one can be a great experience. Gifts are meant to be given whether it's a birthday, engagement, wedding party or any other special occasion. You need to find a descriptive gift that can be perfect for the occasion. For instance, if it's your friend's engagement party you need to gift the couple something useful for the home. You could gift them a champagne bottle or may be a candle gift basket. You could also gift the couple a wedding planner, wedding survival kit or even a wedding countdown clock.

Candle gift baskets are becoming quite popular. They are available in both scented as well as unscented forms. You can find candle gift baskets for different occasions mainly

• Christmas gift basket

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• Valentine gift basket

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Online gifts store

Today one can find enumerable shopping outlets online. All you have to do is perform a search of the type of gift you would like to gift for your friend. You need to calculate prices and compare with different sites to check which one is more suitable one for you.

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When you cook for Valentine's Day, love radiates from your heart, pours into the food and gives it the magical quality that ignites the soul. When you serve your Valentine an elegant meal do it with some beautiful candles, good champagne or wine if you like, and a loving and warm smile. Remember the real aphrodisiac is you!

Cream of Courgette soup with tarragon

Ingredients:

1 chicken bouillon (stock) cube

2 sprigs of tarragon washed and drained

1 large tablespoon creme fraiche

500 g small courgettes (zucchini) firm and a shiny green

1/2 teaspoon of crushed peppercorns

salt to taste

Wash trim and slice the zuchinnis/courgettes. Fill a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups of water, add the bouillon/stock cube and bring to the boil. Add the sliced courgettes/zuchinnis. Cook for 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender, add the creme fraiche, peppercorns, and salt, and then blend. Pour into soup bowls and add the sprigs of tarragon as a garnish.

Tagliatelle with pancetta and sage

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

200 grams fresh tagliatelle pasta

1/2 bunch fresh sage washed and drained

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 slices pancetta ham

2 tablespoons ricotta cheese

60 grams of grated parmesan cheese

Saute the slices of pancetta and drain on paper towel. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a pan and add the sage leaves and saute for 1 minute. Drain. Cook the pasta according to the directions with 1 tablespoon of oil added to the water to keep the strands of pasta separate during cooking. Drain the pasta and add the butter and ricotta. Stir together. Heap the pasta on two plates and top each pile with the pancetta, sage leaves, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Heart with Raspberries

Ingredients:

150 grams fresh raspberries

100 grams bitter chocolate

1 teaspoon raspberry liqueur

3 eggs

100 grams unsalted butter

100 grams of granulated sugar

1 tablespoon plain flour

Icing sugar to decorate

Preheat oven to 150C or 300F

Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Remove from the heat and whisk in the egg yolks,raspberry liqueur,sugar, butter and flour. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and then fold into the chocolate mixture. Butter a heart-shaped or round cake tin. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 40 minutes. The cake should be slightly runny in the centre. If using a round cake tin then cut a piece of cardboard into a heart-shaped template approximately the same size as the cake. Remove the cake from the tin and place the heart shaped template on top and use a sharp knife to cut out a heart. Cool. Wash and drain the fresh raspberries. Just before serving, arrange the raspberries in an even way over the top of the cake. Sprinkle with icing sugar (use a tea strainer) and serve immediately.

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Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day comes on the 4th Thursday in November. It is a legal holiday celebrated throughout the United States. People of all faiths celebrate this day. They give thanks for the many good things in their lives.

This is a family holiday. Families come together from near and far. In some places special religious services are held in the morning. Then comes the traditional feast. Turkey with stuffing is the main dish. It is served with sweet potatoes, squash, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Apple cider is the drink of the day.

Football is the most popular game on this day. For many schools, the Thanksgiving Day game is the most important one of the year. Usually there are several football games to watch on TV.

Stores, classrooms and homes are decorated with toy turkeys, pilgrims, Indians, wreaths of dried and artificial flowers and vegetables. Charitable organizations serve dinners to needy people.

Halloween

This holiday is celebrated on October 31. Its roots date back hundreds of years to the Druid holiday when the Lord of Dead gathered up the souls of all those who had died during the year to present them to Heavens on October 31, because of November 1 reign of Prince of Darkness.

According to belief all kinds of witches, goblins and ghosts wandered abroad on this night. On that day Druids lit huge bonfires to honor the sun god and to keep away evil spirits. Later this evening was turned into festival of fancy-dress parties for young people. They wear ghost and goblin costumes, masks, witches' hats. Lanterns made of hollow turnips or pumpkins that look like skulls, with a candle in each of them, are hung in the dark. White sheets are widely used to look like ghosts to scare each other. All this is accompanied by story telling – "ghost tales" – and marry-making. Boys and girls go along the streets playing tricks. With the threat of "Treat or Trick!" they knock at the doors of their neighbors asking for a candy.

Another popular activity is telling ghost stories, while eating hot chestnuts roasted in the fire. It's a good idea to tell a chain-story. One person starts a story (he makes it up as he goes along). At a dramatic moment he stops and another person goes on. Again, when everything is getting very exciting, the story-teller stops and another person continues. You could be sitting around the fire all night!

St. Valentine's Day

St. Valentine's Day is the holiday of all the sweethearts.

It's celebrated on February, 14th on the date of an old pagan festival when each young man drew from an urn a decorate love missive with the name of the girl who would be his sweetheart for the coming year.

In the 7th century festival began to be called St. Valentine's day in honor of a Christian martyr, Valentine by name. He was a bishop, who, before he was put to death by the Romans, sent a note of affection to his jailer's blind daughter.

Now it's the day when people in love express their feelings for each other. And the quick and modern way to it is with a Valentine card. You can make a card yourself or bay a ready-made one. You can out your name or send it unsigned.

A card can be either sentimental with love poetry or even secret code like ITALY- I trust and love you, or satirical, like "Here's the key to my heart…Use it before I change the lock!" More than 19 million Valentine's cards are sent on every February, 14 in the United States.

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Saint Valentine's Day rolls around just once a year. And if you've been married as long as I have, your chances for sex don't come much more often. 'There's always next year' is a fine mantra for a Cubs fan or a Libertarian, but not for a lover. So don't miss your amorous opportunity this time around -- heed the following Valentine's Day advice.

Nobody wants to hear the story of Saint Valentine

Simply put, any story that ends with a beheading is not going to get you laid. If you must tell a 'topical' story, try something from 'Penthouse Letters', instead. Much hotter, and the tales there almost never end in decapitations.

Let your partner tell you when it's time to see your underwear

Guys, I know she tells you she likes surprises. I know she wants you to be spontaneous. But greeting her at the door -- or, god forbid, at her office -- wearing nothing but a trenchcoat and a pair of edible undies is not helping anyone. Besides the fact that you look ridiculous, mid-February is still quite cold in many parts of the world. For your own sake, think of the 'shrinkage'.

Ladies... ignore this point altogether. We always want to see your underwear. Or, preferably, your lack thereof. You little vixens, you.

Don't eat the candy hearts

First of all, they taste like styrofoam ass. Chalky styrofoam ass. Who wants to eat chalky styrofoam ass? Nobody, that's who.

Also, remember that a candy approximately as dry as the Sahara will rob you of all the saliva you've managed to produce that week. And your kissy-faced schnookums isn't going to appreciate sucking on your parched, wrinkly tongue. It's not 'Saint French-The-Elderly Day', after all. I think that one's in September.

Finally, realize that the average number of candy hearts a person can eat without ralphing them back up is somewhere in the neighborhood of two. And while the irony of seeing a regurgitated 'I M N2 U!' in the toilet bowl is 'delicious', it is by no means 'romantic'.

Leave the poetry to the professional poets

I tell you this from personal experience. A few years ago, I decided that the best way to express my love was to write my wife a poem, raw and sexy and straight from the heart. Here are the words that ended the odd-numbered lines of said poem:

'rubies'

'ballantine'

'corndog'

'schmenitalia' (the point where I realized I was in over my head)

'blooper'

'labradoodle' (don't ask)

'Georgie'

'angina'

She made me sleep on the couch for a week. Don't go there. Just don't.

Don't give your sweetie an uber-religious greeting card

Yes, she'll be happy you remembered. Yes, it's the thought that counts. And yes, the picture on the front with a single ray of light shining through the stormclouds is certainly inspirational.

But nothing screams 'why don't we just cuddle tonight?' quite like a card containing the line:

'Blessed be our marital bed, shared in love with the bosom of Jesus.'

I'm all for a 'Valentine's threesome' -- particularly one involving bosoms -- but that's just a little too kinky. Steer clear.

If you don't buy your lover chocolate, don't explain why

It's perfectly acceptable to say:

'I bought you these [flowers / massage oils / sexy underpants / strippers] because you're beautiful and I love you.'

It's not acceptable to say:

'I didn't get you any chocolate, because I know you're dieting and I support your goal of being thinner.'

And it's definitely not a good idea to say:

'Besides, you want a gift that'll last for more than three minutes, and you won't cry about later, right?'

Again, personal experience. And another week sleeping on the couch.

Learn from my mistakes, budding Romeos and Juliets. Follow these tips, and you should be randily romancing your lover in no time. Ignore my advice, and... well, 'there's always next year'.

Charlie Hatton is an overzealous blogger and aspiring standup comedian offering smart, sophisticated humor about life, language, and the size of his naughty bits. He writes semi-daily and mostly randomly at Where the Hell Was I?

Well, the dreaded day is almost upon us…

In a few short days, Valentine's Day will arrive. This annual holiday makes most guys cringe.

Either a guy is in a relationship and is forced to buy lavish gifts for his girl. Or he has no woman in his life and this holiday provides an annual reminder that he is alone.

Bottom line is Valentine's Day really sucks for most men.

But there is a way you can make this day become a fun way to meet a woman. In fact, there are a couple of places you can find women and set yourself up with a great night. Below, I have listed three different places you can find a woman for Valentine's Day.

1- Bars or Clubs:

Now I know you might be tired of your local bar or club, but this type of venue is a great place to meet women. On Valentine's Day most bars and clubs sponsor a special night for this holiday. They tend to have giveaways and prizes in the hopes to attract a large gathering of single people.

What you'll usually find at bar or club on Valentine's Day is groups of single women who probably don't have men in their life. Usually these women go out to enjoy themselves on this date and spend time with their friends.

What's interesting about these women is they're not happy that they don't have a man in their life on Valentine's Day. If you play your cards right you can fill this role for the night- perhaps for even longer.

2- Online Dating:

As you've probably noticed, online dating has become a socially acceptable way to meet a woman. If you want date on Valentine's Day the Internet is an excellent place to look.

What you can do is contact a woman on an online dating site and set up a date on this holiday. What's important is to keep the date casual and not go overboard. You should go out for coffee or drink and see if you like each other. You can keep the conversation light and joke about all the guys who get sucked into the craziness of the holiday.

3- Host an Anti-Valentine's Day Party:

One great way to meet a woman on this holiday is to create an Ant-Valentine's Day party with your friends. The key to doing this is to invite a large number of people within your social circle and encourage them to bring every single friend they know.

What's great is this having a party creates a fun atmosphere where it makes it easy to meet women and approach them. Since you're hosting the party, you'll be in the spotlight and will stand out from the crowd.

Valentine's Day can be a frustrating holiday for many guys. But instead of blowing it off and ignoring it, you should try to use this day as an opportunity to meet women.

If you use one of these three places to find women, you'll easily discover it's easy to locate a woman.

Want to know more places you can meet single women? If so, grab Scott Patterson's free ebook: Seduction Secrets…Revealed!, and learn about how meet women.

What a way to make sure that she remembers Valentine's Day this year! Go ahead and plan a great way for you to propose to her. But, since this is such a wonderfully romantic day, you'll need to find a way to do it in an extra special way to make it that much more enjoyable for you both.

Here are some helpful ideas about how to have a Valentines Day you will remember for the rest of your lives together.

At The Restaurant

One way that you can do this is to let the manager of the location in on what you are doing. If you do, they are sure to make sure that the evening goes well for you. They may be able to provide you with some extra ideas or to make the most of this. Some will even provide you with a cake to go with your special day. In fact, you may be able to take that cake and have the words, "Marry Me" added to it.

Candy

You can use candies to propose in a number of ways. For example, replace one of the candies in a heart shaped box of them with an engagement ring wrapped in red tissue paper. Or, take all of the "Marry Me" candies out of the big bag of candy hearts and present a box full of them to her. Make sure to present her ring and get down on one knee after you give them to her.

On The Air

If she has a special radio station that she always listens to, call in and ask the announcer if you can propose on the air. You may need to actually purchase some air time to do so; you'll need to make sure you have plenty of time to do this.

A Surprise

Not the romantic type? If you aren't, she is sure to catch on when you want to have an especially romantic dinner. Instead, make sure you find a unique way to present the question to her. If you can get the waiter alone, ask them to include the ring in that is tied to a ribbon in her menu. Or, slop it around her drink. There are many ways in which you can make it a surprise. Once she sees the ring, make sure to pop the question!

Another way to go about surprising her is through anything but a romantic dinner. For example, if she reads novels, grab one of the ones that she has read, glue the pages together except for the center and then cut a small hole into the book, just big enough for the ring. Leave it on the nightstand or on her pillow.

Theater

Do you both love to visit the theater? If so, this can be the perfect place to propose. See if the theater will allow you to propose on stage. In fact, you may be able to get the actors and the manager in on it too. Ask them if there is a way that they can help you with the task at hand. Or, perhaps purchase some ad space in the program for that evening. Include your first name, her first name and a "Marry Me" question. Make sure to point it out if she doesn't see it.

Roses

Visit your florist and ask them to tie the ring inside the bouquet, or do it yourself. Then, when you present them, make sure to tell her to look for the ring inside.

These are some special ways that you can make proposals just perfect for your special love. Valentine's Day makes them that much more special!

Nicola Kennedy has become an expert in proposing on St Valentines Day since her husband proposed nine years ago. Visit her site for more great Valentines advice to make Valentines 2006 a special one.

Love and romance, mankind has paired into couples ever since Adam and Eve, but what makes some relationships sizzle and others fizzle? Some say it may well be the romantic nature of the individuals who make up the couple. However, whether you are single, searching or happily married, it is human nature to seek romance and love.

So why don't you take my quiz and test your Cupid Quotient?!?

1. In what country would a man send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name? According to this country's tradition, if the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.

A. Denmark

B. Italy

C. England

D. America

A. Denmark

QQ. In Denmark, a man would send a woman a Valentine letter containing a rhyme and signed with a series of dots to represent his name. If the woman guessed his identity correctly on Valentine's Day he would reward her with a gift.

2. In what country would young ladies awaken before sunrise and look out their window? According to tradition, the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or someone who looked like their future husband.

A. Denmark

B. Italy

C. England

D. America

B. Italy

QQ. In Italy, young ladies would awaken before sunrise and look out their window. Tradition said the first man they saw would be either the man they would marry or look like their future husband.

3. In what country would a suitor leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off?

A. Denmark

B. Italy

C. England

D. America

C. England

QQ. In England, a suitor would leave a basket of gifts on his beloved's doorstep and run off.

4. In what country would young ladies write their names on slips of paper and at Valentine's Day party young men would draw names.

According to this country's tradition, the young man would then wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."

A. Denmark

B. Italy

C. England

D. America

D. America

QQ. In America, young ladies would write their names on slips of paper and at a Valentine's Day party young men would draw names. A young man would wear the name of his lady on his sleeve for days to claim her as his valentine, originating the saying "wearing your heart on your sleeve."

5. The tradition of pairing lovers in February comes from:

A. A pagan festival called Lupercalia when young men and women drew names to choose partners, exchanged gifts and often married after the festival pairing.

B. Geoffrey Chaucer who chose the date because the 14th of February was the day birds began to pair for the spring nesting season.

C. Pope Gelasius chose Feb. 14th as the day to honor St. Valentine.

D. The Romans once honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature, during a festival on Feb. 15.

E. They are all true

E. They are all true

QQ: Interesting how many reasons there are to become a couple on a specific date!

6. Valentine's Day-celebrated Feb. 14-is a festival of love and romance. Its history can be traced back to which civilization?

A. Rome

B. Greece

C. Celts

D. None of the above, it was created by the greedy card, chocolate and flower companies.

A. Rome

QQ: While admittedly the holiday has become excessively commercialized, it is not a manufactured holiday but one with a long tradition extending back to Rome

7. Why was Cupid chosen as the symbol of Valentine's Day and lovers?

A. He was the Roman god of love.

B. A celebrated marksman from Greece, he won the hand of his beloved through an archery match.

C. According to Celtic tradition, Cupid was an unfortunate suitor killed by the arrow of an outraged father who refused to let his daughter wed for love.

D. There is no reason other than the fact greedy card, chocolate and flower moguls thought that was the cutest design created by their marketing staff.

E. All are correct

A. He was the Roman god of love.

QQ: Sometimes we get a little silly

8. The original Valentine, who was sainted after his death, was:

A. A Christian priest who lived in Rome and was jailed and later beheaded for aiding persecuted Christians in 270 AD

B. Was killed on the site of ancient altar to Juno (the Roman goddess of women and marriage).

C. A bishop of Terni who was persecuted for converted Romans to Christianity and performing Christian marriages.

D. Was actually two different Christian martyrs.

E. All are correct

E. All are correct

QQ: You couldn't miss!

9. Deep red carnations tell your loved one that...

A. Your heart is broken.

B. Celibacy

C. Friendship

D. True Love

A. Your heart is broken.

QQ: Your heart is broken because they mean "alas, my poor heart".

10. Roses are among the most popular flowers for lovers to give, but what does the gift mean?

A. Hopeless love

B. Be mine

C. Love

D. Farewell

C. Love

QQ: That one was easy, wasn't it?

11. However, the combination of white and red roses sends what message?

A. Unity

B. Declaration of love

C. Farewell

D. Distrust

A. Unity

QQ: You could get bonus points for that!

12. If you hope to propose, what flowers should make up the bouquet you present to your intended?

A. Ivy

B. Blue violets

C. Globe amaranth

D. Rose

E. Any and All

E. Any and All

QQ: I think combining all these flowers would make a beautiful gesture as: Ivy means fidelity and marriage, Blue violets mean faithfulness, Globe amaranth means unfading love, and Roses mean love

You can find more trivia fun at The QuizQueen and Trivia Tidbit.

Submitted with Article Distributor.

MyCampusDates is awarding up to $5,000 in scholarships to students from Butler University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University, and Indiana State University to represent their campus as the "Date Master." The "Date Master" will represent their university for MyCampusDates as the "go to" person for advice on dating/social issues and the website itself, while creating buzz on campus for other students to join. Each "Date Master" will oversee the functionality of the site, and provide promotional marketing ideas while helping other students become more socially active.Not only will a "Date Master" have great networking opportunities, but they will experience the business aspect of the industry, rewarded by a scholarship and good resume listing. "This is by far the coolest scholarship offer I've ever seen," said Erica Leann, student of Indiana University. A potential "Date Master" is charismatic, easygoing, and has what Simon Cowell calls a "likeability factor." Students interested in this scholarship opportunity can obtain eligibility information and fill out an application at www.MyCampusD Deadline for this opportunity ends March 31st.

About MyCampusDatesMyCampusD is a social dating website bringing friends together. We welcome all students, over the age of 18, seeking to meet other campus singles for relationships ranging from friendships to companionship, party-dates to study-dates, romance to life partners. Our sole purpose is to provide an easy and convenient medium for our members to meet those in their area campuses and across the U.S.

St. Valentine's Day – myth or fact?

We all know that the 14th February has become known as St.Valentines Day and that small keepsakes are supposed to be sent to your heart's desire on that day. It is supposed to be done anonymously but over the years couples and would-be lovers have slightly changed the rules in this interesting 'game'.

For example, the original St. Valentine actually existed – in fact there were seven of them – but no-one knows which the day is named for. Originally the single girls in the villages and towns would put their names on paper and put in a container. The single men would draw out a piece of paper each and would make that girl his 'charge' for the following year. Over time this was abolished – it was considered pagan by some religions – and today, somewhat cynically, we give cards and gifts signed in our own names. After all, wouldn't it be dire if a rival for his or her affections got the appreciation for the gift that you sent!

Over recent years many people have taken to wearing red on the special day and in some countries it is taking on epic proportions even to the point of being treated as a sort of unofficial holiday. People tend to party away as if it was Christmas or some such holiday but of course this was not the original idea of this day.

In current times gifts are given between married couples, children to parent, parent to children etc. All have got in on the act and what better way to show that someone special that you were thinking of them on the day in question. In fact, the 14th February is fast becoming a favorite day for marriages or for official engagement ceremonies.

So how do you show your love or respect for that special person? Well, look no further. At you are virtually spoiled for choice.

There are the more conventional cuddly toys and teddy bears holding messages of undying devotion as well as mugs, leather goods and other knick knacks but if it is something traditional that you have in mind then some of the jewelry is exceptionally stylish with many pieces being suitable for engraving with their, or your, initials.

One rather delightful piece is the cufflinks on offer with room inside for a photo or two. Imagine giving your executive husband this gift with a photo of you in one and your child or children in the other. This man would sure to feel loved every time he had the opportunity to wear them!

Some come in a silver finish while there is a particularly modish set made of brass. Add engraved initials and 'voila' the perfect gift.

For the guy who likes collectables, there are old-fashioned model trucks and tankers filled with sweet things or nuts and the name of the company can be mounted on the side. This is a kind of 'two way' gift since something can be consumed now whilst the container is a great keepsake.

For the lady of the house how about a silver cuff bracelet beautifully engraved with her initials? Or perhaps a silver heart suspended from a rope of pearls?

For the sweet toothed there are boxes of cookies with appropriate messages of love iced onto them and these come in different sizes and overall weight. The children would love this gift – either as the giver or receiver – and the best thing is that the parcel can be shared! Of course, this may not be the ideal gift if the loved one in your life is watching their weight so consider this carefully before ordering.

For the more daring of the lovers amongst you there are candy condom bouquets. Your intentions could not come plainer than this and it is a fun, romantic gift to give to your intended target.

Nothing says 'I love you' better than an extremely personal gift but for those of you who are 'romantically challenged' it could not be easier to find something suitable on this site. These don't have to be costly either. A heavenly scented candle – or basket of candles – would be highly appreciated by the person who would love to relax in a warm bubble bath – with scented candles all around - whilst the kids are being taken care of. Different scents relate to different moods and it is up to you exactly what you wish to convey when choosing this gift.

A most unusual gift is the custom-made sculptures that are made to emulate that special person. You provide the photo of the recipient (by computer) and bluechopsticks provide a five and a half inch caricature of that person. There are many styles of dress to choose from including slinky dresses to baseball outfits – even couples for the top of cakes – and your hardest task would be to choose which one is most suited to the occasion.

Of course it has become somewhat traditional to give chocolates and flowers on this one day of the year but you would stand out more if you took the time to choose something a little different. In fact there are women out there – and guys too - who would be completely disappointed if that bouquet did not arrive at the office for all to see.

But guys beware! No woman wants to get a 'gift' for the house or kitchen even if it is given under the guise of a being a gift from the children to the Mom. Consider what she would appreciate well before the deadline. Nothing says you care more than a well planned gift and you will benefit from the goodwill fall-out for some time to come! After all – a happy wife makes for a happy life!

In fact, practically anything with a heart or flowers on would be acceptable to both sexes and there are many items like this at Just remember to order early to avoid disappointment – particularly for the engraved goods on offer.

Valentine's Day is, of course, the biggest day of the year for love quotes. Whether you've just fallen head-over-heels in love... have been married for 60+ years... or kinda, maybe have a crush on someone, you'll find love quotes can help you this Valentine's Day.

How?

Love quotes are great for Valentine's Day cards and e-cards. You can also use them in emails, scrapbooks, collages, and on gift cards with flowers or other gifts. The sky is the limit!

It's often almost impossible to explain how you feel when you fall in love. Love quotes can help a lot -- they can make your feelings sound romantic, funny... even poetic.

Whether you're looking for funny love quotes, romantic love quotes, famous love quotes, cute love quotes, or even sad love quotes, we have some great ones for you.

Here are ten of my very favorites:

1. "True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked." - Erich Segal

2. "Real love stories never have endings." - Richard Bach

3. "Gravitation can not be held responsible for people falling in love." - Albert Einstein

4. "Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

5. "Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies." - Aristotle

6. "Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart." - Unknown

7. "The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

8. "A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." - Ingrid Bergman

9. "There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart." - Melanie Griffith

10. "You don't marry someone you can live with - you marry the person who you cannot live without." - Unknown

To end on a fun note, here are five of my favorite love quotes from kids:

1. "I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." (Girl, age 10)

2. "Don't forget your wife's name... That will mess up the love." (Boy, age 8)

3. "If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes too long." (Boy, age 7)

4. "When a person gets kissed for the first time, they fall down and they don't get up for at least an hour." (Girl, age 8)

5. "You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Boy, age 10)

Happy Valentine's Day -- and enjoy these love quotes!

For more love quotes for Valentine's Day, check out the popular love quotes section of Famous-Quotes-And-Q a website that specializes in 'Top 10' lists of quotations in dozens of categories.

Ever been on a Mega Date? Wondering what in the world is a mega date? Probably best described as more fun than two people should be allowed to have in one day. A mega date is an all day date taking in all the typical dating activities. It's not for the weak! You need a great sense of humor and a great sense of adventure. Why a mega date? Between working, going to school, taking care of the kids, having any type of social life can be difficult and time consuming. Finding time to date can be next to impossible. You meet someone, maybe meet for lunch one day, go out on a typical Friday night date, take in a movie and dinner, make small talk. Yawn! Life is short! Kick it up a notch! A mega date is a great way to get to know someone new or add spice to a stale relationship. It will take a bit of planning but doesn't have to be expensive, there are plenty of activities you can do that don't cost much. Here is how it works.

You plan out as many activities as you can fit into one day. The mega date day will start at 8am and go to midnight! You will need to figure out how long each activity will last and how far apart they are. You need to allow for travel time between activities and some time for unexpected things that can pop up. It is best to find a number of quick activities that don't take more than an hour or two. For example, instead of playing 9 holes of golf you can just go to a driving range and hit a bucket of balls. Instead of an all day bike ride, ride for a half hour, have a picnic, then ride back. I think you get the idea.

Your day may start with something like a walk around a lake and then going out for breakfast or just a bagel and coffee. Your next few activities should include more physical things like golf, tennis, biking etc. Try and schedule a picnic for lunch. The afternoon might include visiting a local museum, other interesting landmarks or your local "must see" tourist destination.

Try to include things you or your date have never done but had always wanted to. Take in a movie, a show or other current event. Have dinner at some romantic restaurant or local hot spot (as long as the wait isn't too long!, you don't want to get off schedule.) Try a carriage ride, horseback riding, miniature golf, anything on the water, rent a canoe or paddle boat, Go for a swim at a waterpark or beach. Visit an art gallery, Go to a casino, put $10 in a slot machine and see who is the bigger winner. Go bowling. Go hiking in a park, Play Frisbee golf. Go indoor ice skating, Go rollerblading. Get a couples massage, Visit a vineyard. Visit a petting zoo. Plan both indoor and outdoor activities. Have backups if there is a change in weather. Put your thinking cap on and search for fun things to do in your area. Cram in as much fun as you can.

At the end of the day, you and your date will be exhausted but it will be the most fun you have had in a long time. You will both be thinking "I can't believe we did all that!" Don't forget to bring a camera to capture the day, then make a scrapbook of the mega date day.

A Few Mega Date Rules:

Stay on schedule

A sense of humor must be maintained at all times

The person who plans the mega date is in charge.

The person who was invited on the mega date is not to ask what the next activity is. The day is a total surprise for the person invited. All activities must be kept confidential.

No whining.

No napping.

The person invited must be a good sport and go along with all activities.

The person invited must read these rules.

Have fun!!

Find online dating advice, dating ideas, news and links at the Mega Date Cafe

Writing a love poem for the one you love can seem like an impossible task when you've memories of struggling with English in school. But it needn't be.

Even if you remember the correct grammatical terms for verse and rhyme is not important here? Whilst that's great to know when you're studying literature, it might hold you back when you're starting out on your very own love poem.

Only two things are important here.

1. To think from the heart

2. To write from the heart

So how to start?

1. First of all get yourself some paper and a pen and block off a bit of time when you won't be undisturbed. If you want to play some music fine, but let it be inspiring stuff, rather than loud and aggressive. I've often found that setting aside a particular block of time, (say ½ hour) helps.

2. Sit down quietly, close your eyes and remember all the good things about your loved one. Try to focus on three main areas for the moment (you can choose others if you like). Think about a) How you felt when you first saw them. When and where did you meet them, what was said,and what were they wearing? b) How it felt when you knew you were in love with them. When was the moment? How did you know? How did you feel and how did you let them know? c) How you feel now that you're with them. How do you look forward to the future together? What plans do you have? How do you compare your life now with your partner to times before, without them? What dreams do you share?

4. Now start to write your thought down onto paper. This is called prose. Prose is more every day speech than poetry, and it just describes your thoughts and the facts (for a fuller description see www.wikipedia.com). You could think of prose as just an outpouring of your feelings onto paper. Don't hold back. Just go for it. It can all be edited later. For now, just spill it out and get it down.

5. When you feel that you've written enough (you decide how much that is), it's time to review it. A review is your own chance to really look back at what you've put down on paper.

Are there parts you don't like or areas you want to write more about? Perhaps there are sections, words or sentences that you really don't want in there? Be honest with yourself. No-one's looking at it at this stage, and you're not trying to rival Shakespeare. It's more important that these are your honest feelings, even if you might 'flounce them up', poetically, later on.

6. Most 'love poem' advice now recommends that you replace common nouns with proper nouns. It's not too complicated. It means Instead of saying 'flower' - which is pretty general, be more specific and choose a type of flower - say 'Rose' for example. Make sure your choice of flower begins with a Capital Letter.

7. The next stage is to put a 'strong' verb in place of a 'weak' one. Don't fret too much about this. Instinct should tell you if it sounds right. For a really detailed explanation of our two English types of nouns (no – I didn't know that either) take a look at the website.

8. And finally, the general advice is to bring all these three memories together with a metaphor. Remember them? When you use as… like. It's a comparison. Again Google comes up with a good explanation. This page also has come good poetry metaphors to get your started.

9. The last stage is to re-read your prose – either out loud, or in your head, making note of all those conscious thoughts you have about it. You can make notes on the paper at this stage or just 'feel' what it says to you. This process breaks up the prose into poetry.

10. You may want to give your poem a title. You can either pick something from what you've written or write something general such as 'What you mean to me'.

11. When that's done decide if you want to hand write your poem on a blank card or whether you'd prefer to type it on the computer, and print it. With a bit of placement planning, you can fold and insert your print-off into your card).

Remember that it's love poem. The one you give it to will be more touched by the genuine effort and feeling involved than the 'correct English'. For more inspiration take a look at some of the classic love poems out there.

Geraldine Jozefiak has written extensively about choosing, writing and sending a Love Card. Greeting Card Guide gives you the latest news, trends and products to make your greeting card selection as quick, fun and painless as possible.

Every day I talk to men and women who are facing their fair share of the challenges that face nearly all of us at one time or another in the dating world. That's to be expected, and is part of the human experience…at least nowadays it is.

But man…from time to time I encounter stories and/or situations that are definitely non-standard. Particularly interesting are the brouhahas men and women get themselves into that involve clear passage into the realm of "cognitive dissonance", which is essentially the concept of continuing to believe that something is the case when the evidence is overwhelming that such is indeed NOT the case.

And it's that great desire to have someone we are practically obsessed with "love and accept us for who we are" which leads us into this particular brand of turmoil when it comes to dating. Every time. Unfortunately, when we want so badly to believe that someone who is indifferent (or even flatly uninterested) is going to accept us and become romantically attracted to us we open the door to being manipulated, trifled with or flat-out USED.

Here are some specific scenarios that I have seen in real life. If you can personally relate to any of what follows it's time to WAKE UP and realize that someone you have the "hots" for is being at best opportunistic with you or-at worst-is going to milk his or her relationship with you for all you are worth.

1) Financial Appeals

One time a few years ago I picked up a woman at her home to take her out. She informed me that she would need a few more minutes because she was IMing with a guy two thousand miles away. She said it was important because although she had no interest in ever really meeting this man he "sent her money all the time". So she was essentially leveraging her "feminine wiles" for purely ulterior financial motives (which I referred to immediately as "Typing For Dollar$"). Inexplicably, the lonely guy on the other end of the conversation let this go on and actually sent her checks.

Predictably, this same woman woke up a few days later to an empty driveway, her SUV having been repossessed. I'll never forget the phone call where she demurely purred a request that I "lend her $17,000". I may never forget that phone call, but I forgot her. Fast.

2) Requests For Favors

Unfortunately, situations like unto what I'm about to describe are not rare. Back in my early twenties I lived with several roommates, all of whom attracted women easily and often. One day I came home and a pleasant young woman with a particularly sweet personality was nearly finished with what must have been a monumental task of having deep-cleaned our entire house from top to bottom. Speechless, I asked what prompted her to do such a thing. "Oh", she said, "Your roommate hired me to be your maid." It turns out he "forgot" to pay her the paltry five bucks (!?) agreed upon. Yet, she was back again the next week for more of the same. My roommate never so much as asked her out. Ever.

And I bet you thought I was going to cite a woman doing this sort of thing to a guy, didn't you. Wrong. This is not a gender-specific deal.

3) Invitations To Spend Time And Resources

What if someone invites you to go somewhere or do something that's particularly expensive and/or far away? What if the same person who invited you casually expects you to foot the bill and/or do the driving? I believe the answers to these deep questions are rhetorical. Yet, it's amazing how many single people have a Blackberry full of willing minions.

4) "Coincidental" Timing

This bullet point is particular appropriate to discuss with Valentine's Day rapidly approaching. Old flames have a way of flaring up in early February. There's just something about Valentine's Day that "ignites" dread and frustration there, causing them to pick up the phone. "HEY…you've been on my mind lately for some reason and I kind of miss you…" Yeah, yeah. Next.

The Valentine's Day factor here is readily transparent. But question the intentions of anyone who disappeared off the planet only to suddenly resurface later with a new agenda. No matter what the calendar says.

5) Sexual Bargaining

You would think, were stereotypes accurate, that men would bargain FOR sex and women would bargain WITH sex. Well, allow me to be the first to inform you that such thinking doesn't necessarily apply anymore. Beware the particular danger of being blindsided by this brand of manipulation when the roles are reversed. That's what it is, too-manipulation. And let me tell you, this can creep up on you with such a quickness that when the realization of what is going on whacks you upside the head you don't know whether to stare wide-eyed in the mirror in disbelief or to just burst out in laughter.

I hear at least one guy reading this muttering to himself that he should be so lucky to be "manipulated" as such. To each his own. But once you get total control of your dating life like I've been talking about around here my guess is that you'll develop higher standards. Nice.

6) Pregnancy "False Alarms"

One time I called things off with a woman who I had been spending some time with. That arrangement apparently didn't meet her needs. Three days later she called me up claming that she was "pregnant with my child" and that she was "keeping the baby".

I had never had sex with this woman.

And no, I am not making this up.

If you are left slack jawed at the reality that the above hijinks go on in the real world, count yourself fortunate to have the wherewithal to exercise common wisdom in your own dating life. If you can relate, however, get out of such a poisonous arrangement and do it NOW.

And a final thought, which I would be remiss if I excluded from this conversation. If you are looking in the mirror and realizing that you are in fact the perpetrator of such preposterous dealings with people in your own life, my only message to you is that today is the day to start deserving what you want. Users and manipulators will get used and manipulated in return along the path of a frustrating and fruitless journey to find a partner with whom he or she can enjoy a mutually respectful relationship.

Scot McKay's dating strategies for those who refuse to settle for anything less than the ULTIMATE relationship are found at: Stop by right now and grab a FREE e-book ($20 value) when you sign up for the X & Y Communications Newsletter, which is always packed with unique and practical dating tips.

Women and teens around the world opened small packages during the holiday season, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Valentines Day, and other special occasions that contain a beautiful bottle of designer perfume. It may be their first bottle of designer perfume or it may be a fragrance bought on a regular basis. Why do women enjoy the special aroma of a substance that demands a substantial investment? Discriminating women know that people notice! Whether you are trying to impress someone else or just enjoy the luxurious fragrance, designer perfumes can accomplish the desired results…for all ages. Designer perfumes are worth the investment because of their unique and beautiful blends. These fragrances also last for up to four hours.

Designer perfumes can provide a woman with a subtle, refreshing, or gentle aroma…a beautiful blend of musk, sandalwood, fruits, vanilla, gardenias, amber, orange blossoms, or the hint of spring. Oriental spice blends are popular as well as natural woods, or flowers. Designer fragrances can be fun and flirty, erotic and romantic, sensuous and enticing, and always refreshing, gentle, and clean. Talented chemists spend years formulating just the right ingredients that discriminating women want to enjoy. Each fragrance can have a slight different aroma created by each person's skin chemistry. It only takes a quick spray to give the refreshing and subtle fragrance desired. You do not want to overdo! Many people are allergic to strong smells and you do not want to risk giving a negative impression rather than accomplish the beauty of the scent.

Find the fragrance that fits you….designed for day or evening wear. Seasonal perfumes are also available by many designers. It is always a good idea to keep a small bottle in your purse for the woman on the go.