Top Eight Ideas for Plan a Romantic Valentine's Day Date

This post is aimed at assisting you with how to set about making a romantic date for the one you love. It is especially appropriate for the less romantically inclined who just can't think of these ideas without prompting!

Steps :

1. Make a list of what you will need before you begin. For example, roses, chocolates, candles, stuffed animals (plushies), food, and romantic music.
2. Select something for dinner that you know you'll both like, so you can enjoy the meal together. If you haven't time to cook, order ahead at a good food store that specializes in take-home dinners (not just fast food). Order a special cake from a bakery (pâtisserie) and get some special wine or alcohol substitute that both of you love to share.
3. Shop for the roses, candles and stuffed animal(s). Choose them in pink, red, or white; or try a combination of all three colors if you like. Include a card in which you can write a personal, heartfelt message. Make the card yourself if you have the time, for that extra personal touch.
4. Arrange the roses, candles and stuffed animals in strategic places in your home. Make them appear in unexpected places to delight your loved one. Leave a sweet post-it note message stuck behind the bathroom door, next to the soap dispenser or on the coat rack. It's also a nice touch to scatter some rose petals around your home, perhaps on a staircase or on the welcome mat at the front door. Write a love note in the steam on the bathroom mirror so they see it when they get out the shower.
5. Start cooking your specially planned meal (if you're doing it) or put the purchased quality meals into warming-up containers ready to heat. Make sure that you have something sweet and romantic to finish the meal with.
6. Think of some heartfelt ways of presenting the food - arrange the salad in the shape of a heart; use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out bread pieces, pour a berry coulis for a cake in a heart shape.
7. Set the table with your favorite things, a candle, some flowers and put on softly playing music in the background. Leave a sweet message in the place that your loved one will be sitting.
8. After the meal is over, have chocolates and out-of-the-ordinary warm drinks planned ( for example, hot chocolate with a dash of liqueur or fruit syrup; latte coffee etc). Dim the lights and tell your loved one all the reasons why they are so special to you. Go beyond ordinary and think deeply about why this person really matters to you - stretch that word "love" into something with real meaning.

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11 Ways To Make Valentine's Day Special on a Budget

Love with diamonds and a five star meal is neither a necessity nor necessarily a meaningful expression of love for Valentine's Day. Having the means to pay for expensive gifts and experiences does not relieve the giver from expressing love personally, nor does it relieve the recipient from returning such love personally.

If you're worried that your funds can't stretch far enough to give your beloved a Valentine's Day to remember, realize that the best experience on Valentine's Day is having your partner come away from it with the absolute knowledge that they're loved, cared about, and wanted. Save your money and still have a great Valentine's Day.

Steps

1. Avoid equating love with consumption. It's easy to get bogged down in the buying frenzy surrounding Valentine's Day, as retailers vie to rake in some decent profits from romance-inspired lovers. Love isn't about what you give in goods though; it's about what you give by way of time, attention, and acknowledgment of the other person. And none of those can be purchased. Once you view Valentine's Day from the perspective of it being about acknowledging and celebrating your love by spending time together, it's easier to realize that a budget Valentine is still a perfect date opportunity.

2. Minimize rather than do without. One of the tricks to saving money on Valentine's Day is to still indulge in some of the traditional Valentine's accessories but to reduce them. For example, instead giving her a dozen red roses, give her one, held in your teeth, and accompanied by your best impression of a Spanish dancer. Or, give him a special brand of chocolate bar instead of a whole box of expensive chocolates. In this way, you can still participate in the essence of Valentine's Day but spend very little.

 

3. Make your own. A homemade card is always more meaningful than a purchased one. It says not only what you write in it but also "I took the time to make this because I care enough about you to give that time." As far as mementos go, it's likely the card will be kept for many years to come! Other things can be made too, for gifts. Draw on your own skills when making gifts; for example, if you're a keen gardener, give something from the garden; if you're a keen cook, make something delectable; if you're a keen outdoor enthusiast, give a fully guided nature walk or a lesson in your favorite sport.

 

4. Think of something you can do for your love. An excellent way to show your love can be through making love coupons or vouchers. These can contain promises that range from the mundane to the downright sexy, all depending on your willingness to do things for your love. Make a large heart from construction paper, attach as many coupons as you're willing to give. Some examples include:

• This voucher is good for one week of dish washing by me, no questions asked.
• This voucher is good for guaranteeing one season of your favorite TV show to be shared with me. And a promise that there will be no channel surfing during said show.
• This voucher is good for one loving foot massage. To be redeemed any time.
• This voucher is good for one massage in a bubble bath. Any time of day or night.
• This voucher is good for a long snog in front of a movie of your choice.
• This voucher is good for the night of your wildest dreams. To be redeemed when you're in the mood.

5. Exchange cheesy but sweet gifts that remind you of one another, for whatever reason. You can either initiate this yourself, or suggest it as a Valentine's tradition for the two of you. The item should be very affordable, and recall some experience that the two of you have had together. Make a nice card that explains the gift but don't be too cheesy in what you write. For example:

• A cheap plastic snow globe with two hearts inside. Write that it reminds you of the night when she fell in the snow, and that when you came to pick her up, you couldn't help noticing how adorable she looked surrounded by snow.
• A plastic surfboard keyring. Write that it reminds you of the month the two of you spent surfing in Bali and how it was there that you realized you wanted to surf the rest of your life with him.
• A brooch featuring a computer and mouse. Write that it is a reminder of how the two of you met online and how you'll never forget the beauty of her first smile by video chat.

6. Give time. Giving time is the ultimate romantic gesture. It will mean a great deal if you're usually stretched for time and you choose to give up the whole day to spend with your beloved, doing things together that have nothing to do with work, raising a family, paying bills, etc. Banish the mundane and just allow the day to be about the two of you together. As part of this, be thoroughly attentive, listen, and take the chance to share dreams and hopes for the future, including renewing dreams that might have been taken for granted over time.

• If you can, find babysitters for the kids so that you're truly alone. If not, let the kids know that this is a day for "mom and dad" and get them helping in making it special.

7.  Create a special evening at home together. Make a meal in which you go to extra trouble. It doesn't have to be expensive food; just spend time making it more complicated and interesting than the usual daily meals. Look online for recipe ideas to help you turn ordinary ingredients into something fabulous. If you're going to watch a special DVD together, be sure to make some tasty popcorn to share.

• Spell "I love you" on the plate using food! Use your beloved's favorite food if you can.
• Make a love heart pizza.
• Playing boardgames is another entertaining option for passing the evening in fun rivalry. Or, set up a video or online game that the two of you can get deeply involved in, provided both of you really enjoy such games.

8. Stargaze. Put on warm clothes and step out to check out the night sky. If you have to travel, add picnic rugs, a thermos of warm drink, some snack bars, and a full tank of fuel. Find somewhere on the city outskirts where the sky is clear. Take along a star chart and look for stars that you know. Choose a star just for the two of you and make a promise to look for it every Valentine's Day.

9. Be spontaneous. Do the unexpected and thrill your beloved. Secretly learn a few dance moves and surprise her by taking out to dance. Memorize his favorite poem and recite it after dinner, then present him with a rose you've grown yourself. Make it appear as if the two of you are set to have a movie night in, then suddenly gasp: "Oh my! We mustn't miss ......" And drag her out the door to see the sun set, watch a movie, listen to a visiting band, or whatever else you think is most appropriate.

10. Take a walk down memory lane together. Take your beloved to somewhere they told you was special to them as a child. Spend time walking around it and asking questions about their feelings. Explain that it might not be the same as when your beloved was young but that now your beloved has two memories of the special place – one without you and one with you. Be sure to take a photo of the two of you there! Another way of remembering the past is to dig out old photos and go through them together. Look at photos from both your childhood times and your times together. It's great to have an excuse to enjoy all those photos that get stowed away and forgotten about!

11. Say "I love you". It doesn't cost anything but it says and means a great deal. Don't be shy; say it a lot during the day. Tell your love how you really feel. He or she will appreciate your honesty and it will mean more than any gift could.

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Write a Valentine Poem That Rhymes

Be original and write your own funny but endearing Valentine's poem. You'll want to aim for a poem that flows well and more importantly, makes the object of your affection think you're the most intelligent, creative and downright gorgeous person they've ever known!

Steps

1. Choose your Valentine. This technique can be used on anybody: long-term partners, someone you've been dating for a few weeks, or someone you've got a secret crush on. The main thing is to make it rhyme and to include plenty of compliments.
2. Change the old to new. The old cliché of 'roses are red, violets are blue' is too retro and not so original. Nevertheless, it's a great basis for starting your own poem with; you just need to give it a modern twist. For example: 
   # 'Lilies are white, Daffodils are yella, I lie in bed at night, Feeling smug you're my fella!' etc.
   # You can pick any flower and any colour you like.
3. Find the rhyme. You can make anything rhyme; it's not as hard as it sounds. Just think of a sentence you might want to write to your loved one such as: 'You always make me smile'. Then just go through the alphabet trying out every letter that could rhyme with smile, for example: dial, file, I'll, mile, Nile, pile and so forth, until you find something that could begin to make sense in the third sentence. After working that out, build your next line around finishing with that word. For example:
   #'You always make me smile, When I'm down you come 'round, Your number I just dial, You lift my chin off the ground.'
4. Keep to the same theme. The theme should flow smoothly and not jolt from one metaphor to another without a smooth transition. For example, don't talk about how great your love is in bed on the one line, and how lucky you are to breathe the same air as them on the next. To avoid such a disjointed approach, look for ways to keep concepts together over at least two lines at a time. 
5. Decide your own length. There's no word limit, and once you get in the swing of things you might want to write pages and pages of witty yet touching prose, or you can just stick with four lines.
   # Note: Shorter versions are advised if you're in a new relationship or you're being a 'secret admirer' – you don't want to scare away with all the hundreds of obsessive things you've noticed about them while you were spying or making out!
   
6. Be genuine, not poetically perfect. You don't have to be clever or try and give Shakespeare a run for his money. As long as the poem sounds like you wrote it, then that's great. For instance, if you and your partner spend your time going clubbing and eating take-out food, lying around with one another and having a laugh, it might be a bit weird if you start mentioning how the sun shines on everything now you've met them, or that your heart beats to the sound of a thousand drums when you're together, etc. Keep it real.
7. Don't get hung up on rhyming. Not everything has to strictly rhyme. You're not doing English literature, you're just writing a love poem. And with that, enjoy writing it!

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Simple Way to Say Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Message

Softly the leaves of memories will fall,
i’ll pick them up & gather them all,
coz 2day, 2moro & til my life is through
i’ll cherish having sum1 like u!

Valentine's Day SMS

Never waste an opportunity 2 say
‘I love U’ to someone U really like
B’coz it is not everyday U’ll meet the person
Who has the magic to let U fall in love.

Valentine's Day Quotes

Smile in Pleasure
Smile in Pain
Smile when trouble pours like Rain
Smile when someone Hurts U
Smile becoz SOMEONE still
Loves to see u Smiling!!

Valentine's Day Saying

No shadows 2 depress u
only joys 2 surround u
many friends 2 luv u
God himself 2 bless u
These are my wishes 4 u,
for today, tommorrow & everyday

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Top 12 Best Valentine's Gift Ideas For Men 2011

A practical gift might be exactly what he's looking for. Is he a home body? Would he rather fix something for you to show his love, then cuddle or hold you? If you've answered yes to these questions, then maybe new tools, electronics, or clothes would be the perfect solution. 

Here are my 2011 Valentine's gift ideas for men:

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Top Best Valentine's Gift Ideas For Men

Without further adieu, here are my 2011 Valentine's gift ideas for men:

	Nautica Blue By Nautica For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz Amazon Price: $13.99 List Price: $55.00
	Cool Water By Davidoff For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Ounces Amazon Price: $27.75 List Price: $65.00
	Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces Amazon Price: $58.00 List Price: $71.00
	A Taste for Love: A Romantic Cookbook for Two Amazon Price: $64.84 List Price: $13.99
	The New InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook Amazon Price: $18.06 List Price: $29.95
	Grand Ghirardelli Chocolate Gift Basket Amazon Price: $39.99
	Simply Delicious Gourmet Meat and Cheese Tray Amazon Price: $35.97

Cologne - Valentine's Gift Ideas for Men 2011

Before showing you some options for a romantic gift idea for Valentine's day, consider your special someone. What would be romantic to them, may not be romantic to you at all. That doesn't mean you aren't compatible and it's not even a bad thing, but when purchasing for someone else consider their tastes.
Romantic Fragrances for Men - Why His Scent is So Intimate
Cologne always makes a good Valentine's Day gift for both you and him. If he knows that he's wearing a scent that is special to the two of you it not only boosts his confidence, it allows you to attach and enjoy that fragrance to him. Jay A. Gottfried of Northwestern University mentions that smell "is embedded within the brain’s limbic system and amygdala, where emotions are born and emotional memories stored." So a good scent not only makes it easier to be closer to him, it brings the two of you closer as well.

Does he enjoy your food?

They say that the way to every man's heart is through his stomach. In my case, this is completely true!

A home cooked meal

Is your man the type that enjoys a home cooked meal? Taking your time to make a meal that will make his mouth water might be the perfect idea!

Chocolates or Meat and Cheese Basket?

Does your Valentine keep candy in his car, at his office, or next to his bed? If so, then you might just have a candy freak on your hands. Consider spending a little extra and have him try something that will make his mouth water.

If he's more of a meat and cheese guy than a candy man, then consider a gourmet gift basket of assorted meats and cheeses. *Personally, I, like many men prefer the meat and cheese gift basket.

A New Restaurant or That Favorite Spot

If he loves going out, then consider a reservation at a restaurant you've never been to before or returning to a spot that means something to both of you.

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3 Easy Cake Recipes for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day cakes do not have to be hard to make or expensive to buy.Your sweetheart will thank you when you try one or all of these 3 easy recipes. Two of them use a box cake mix as the base.

Cheese Cherry Cake Recipe - This is not your typical Cherry Cheesecake this is a basic cake mix recipe.

You will Need:

* 1 box white cake mix
* 2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
* 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
* 1 tub whipped topping
* 2 cans cherry pie filling (21 ounce size)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degree farenheit.
2. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions.
3. Lightly grease 2 baking pans that are 13 x 9.
4. Pour the cake mix batter into the pans.
5. Bake at 350 degree f. for 20 minutes or until golden brown and baked through.
6. In a bowl mix the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
7. Fold in the whipped topping.
8. Spread the mixture over the top of each cake.
9. Top each cake with the cherry pie filling.
10. Chill the cakes for about 4 hours until set.
11. Serve.

 

Strawberry Cake

You Will Need:

* 1 box white cake mix
* 1 box strawberry gelatine
* 4 eggs
* 3/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 cup strawberries, fresh and sliced
* Powdered sugar for dusting the cake top

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree farenheit.
2. Lightly grease two square baking pans that are 8 inch each. Combine cake mix and gelatin in large mixing bowl.
3. Add the eggs, oil, water and half of the sliced strawberries. Beat until well blended.
4. Divide the batter evenly and pour into the baking pans.
5. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown and baked through. Cool for 5 minutes in pans
6. Then remove the cakes onto a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Top the cakes with remaining sliced strawberries and dust with the powdered sugar.
8. Serve.

Sweetheart Cake Recipe

 

You Will Need:

* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2/3 cup light brown sugar
* 3/4 cup butter
* 3 eggs
* 1 large bar baking chocolate, chopped coarsely
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degree farenheit.
2. Lightly grease a baking pan that is 13 x 9 inches.
3. In a large bowl beat the butter, white sugar, light brown sugar and vanilla until creamy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time.
5. Beat well after each egg is added.
6. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
7. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.
8. Stir in the milk a little at a time and mix well after each time the milk is added.
9. Fold in coarsely chopped chocolate bar.
10. Pour batter into pan.
11. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until cake is golden brown and baked through.

You can decorate these cakes with a few heart shaped sprinkles or colored sugar in red or pink. These are a tasty treat for any love celebration.

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