Love Is in the Air

Valentine’s Day: love it or dread it? How can you make a fabulous, lasting impression? Read on.

The Tried and True

Flowers and Dining: Plan early. Great flowers and hot dinner reservations may be scarce at the last minute.  Check with restaurants -- many offer Valentine's Day specials, hand out roses or offer free champagne. Dining in? Let your imagination soar.  

Chocolate, Champagne and Cards: What could be tastier than all three shared together?  Let your date-to-possible-mate know your feelings with a well-worded champagne toast.  Nothing screams Valentine’s Day like a heart-shaped box of chocolates, the most traditional of all the gifts. A funny or romantic card can set the mood, too.  

Lingerie and Jewelry: Best to know how your love will react.  Often Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to pop the question or deepen your relationship. If in doubt, stick with the 3 C’s (above).  Ladies, men might enjoy a gold chain or watch, but maybe just seeing you all dressed up in sexy lingerie fits the bill.  And speaking of fit, guys -- if you’re going to buy her lingerie, make sure it does just that.  Nothing ruins an evening faster than a too-large negligee.

You don't have to stop at traditional gifts. Wy not invent your own?  After all, it is all about what you are expressing, and the way you do it, that will be remembered.

Tried and True with a Twist

How personal do you want to be?  How much can you afford to spend? Think about past Valentine’s Days and what you received or shared that was memorable.  This holiday lets you share your innermost desires, release your emotions, or express your wild side.  Have some fun and don’t be afraid to do something out of the ordinary. 

Flowers: Deliver a bouquet and a rose bush that will last. Dip roses in gold. Deliver flowers to your love's office, or tie tickets to a great show around the bouquet.

Dining: Romantic restaurants are wonderful, but why not get creative in the kitchen,  or begin with breakfast?  How about heart-shaped toast and eggs? Set the table with scented candles, leave a love note in the champagne glass, strew rose petals, decorate with hearts, and make red the dominant color. Plan a picnic --  if it’s too cold, picnicking in front of the fireplace? Now is the time to express yourself in your presentation food, dÈcor, ambiance, and theme.

Chocolate: Who doesn't love it? What about cocoa, chocolate kisses, or body chocolate?  Make a chocolate martini. Chocolate doesn’t always have to be for dessert!  And you know that many believe chocolate is an aphrodisiac.

Champagne: A bit of bubbly allows the words to flow. Purchase some fancy goblets and fill them full of red hots before you pour the champagne. If this is going to be a special night, use the champagne to set the mood or help deliver your well-prepared speech.  Tie a ribbon around the glass and attach something fun a wrapped gift, jewelry or tickets.

Cards: Spend some time to express your exact thoughts or email a special card.  If you are nervous, let the card do the talking for you.  Cards can express your thoughts and break the ice a bit.  And what about expressing yourself with a well-written poem? Roll it up and tie it with a red ribbon and place in the champagne glass.

Lingerie: Depending on your relationship status this can be a great and romantic gift which will probably lead to a passion filled night. Add some chocolate, champagne and candles, and you’re good to go.

Try it with a Twist

Download and create a CD of love songs. Purchase a romantic novel for the reader. Give a heart-shaped frame with your picture in it. Send a romantic gift on Feb. 1st, two on Feb. 2nd and so on and finish Feb 14th with, you guessed it, 14 gifts or roses! Plan a romantic getaway or book a couples massage for you both. The options are endless for creating a special memory with that special someone.

Hope cupid’s arrow finds you on this special day!