It seems that Valentine’s Day has become another holiday that is all about commercialism. Retailers anticipate the event and decorate their windows with hearts, cupids, and other memorabilia, while flower shops make sure that they have thousands of roses and other types of flowers ready for sale. But it’s possible to bring the romance back to this holiday when you head out for the big date and still make it one of the most memorable ever.
One way to make the holiday more romantic without having all the added commercialism is to have a picnic. Depending on where you live in the country, it may not be possible to have the picnic outdoors as it will be right in the middle of winter. But plan a picnic indoors somewhere, such as at your house or at his. You can decorate the surroundings to look like the place you met, or where you went on your first date. For example, if your first date was at the beach, bring in some sand and lay it around on a blanket in the living room.
Another great way to spend Valentine’s Day without buying into all the marketing is to go to a museum. There are many cities that have museums that will have “Free” nights one day a week. Find out which museum is holding one of these nights on Valentine’s Day and go check it out. Not only will it be something that you can do for free, but also it will give you quality time with your date and add some variety to the old “going out for dinner” routine on Valentine’s Day.
To make Valentine’s Day even more thoughtful and romantic, tell your date that you will not buy each other gifts. This does not mean that you can’t exchange gifts; you just can’t buy them. Promise each other that if you do give gifts, they will be something from the heart that each of you have made. These could include things like heart-shaped cookies or chocolates, a love letter, poems, or a mixed tape filled with romantic love songs.
Along with making your own gifts, be sure to make your own cards as well. This is easy enough to do with any word processing software. Many of these programs include greeting card templates and they can have clip art, photos, and romantic verses and poems inserted into them. To make it really special, find a picture of the two of you and have this be the face of the card. If you’re not especially computer literate, or you want the entire work to be done by your hand, make the card from construction paper just as you used to in elementary school. It makes it that much more fun and special!
Celebrating Valentine’s Day in a way that brings in the romance and leaves out the commercialism may take a little more thought than just buying flowers and going out for dinner. But it will most certainly be one of the more memorable Valentine’s Day and it is a whole lot more fun too!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Going Out on the Big Night: Make it Romantic, Not Commercial
14 Days of Love
14 Days of Love
Celebrate Valentine's Day right from the 1st of February upto Valentine's Day i.e. the 14th of Feb by giving your Valentine a surprise each day. A pretty jar containing 14 unique gift ideas is the perfect way to show your love.
Materials Needed:
1 Glass Jar
Scraps of White, Red and Pink Paper
Thin White Organza Ribbon
Thin Red Ribbon
Pen to write messages
Directions:
1. Cut out 14 rectangles of same size from the red, pink and white paper.
2. Write out one gift idea on each rectangle. Use our ideas (below) for an example.
3. Roll each paper on a pencil or a similar shaped object. Tie each with ribbon.
4. Fill the jar with the rolled gift messages. Place the lid and tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar.
5. Place the jar on a conspicuous place on the night of January 31st and watch your partner's reaction upon finding it.
Ideas for Gifts:
1. You are entitled to a Sensual Massage.
2. Dinner to a place of your choice.
3. Your favorite home-cooked meal.
4. You get a free evening for Golf (or other favorite activity).
5. You get excused from doing the dishes (or other work) today.
6. You are entitled to a Scented Rose Petal Bath. Venue: Our Bathroom. Time: ___.
7. Pizza and Movie of your choice tonight!
Last Minute Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Men
Still not come up with a gift idea for your Man for Valentine's Day? Choose one from these ideas, buy them on your way to the evening dinner or sneak while he is not home, add a thoughtful note and a rose and you are all set for a lovely evening.
1. Classic Men's Gifts - Ties, Shirts, Handkerchiefs, Watches, Cigarette Lighters, Cuff Links etc.
2. Champagne or Beer - This one never fails!
3. CDs or DVDs - Romantic Music or Movies that you will enjoy seeing/listening to together.
4. Cakes - Make a quick trip to the nearby bakery and choose 4 little heart-shaped cakes (they are sure to have them at this time of the year) and get them gift-wrapped in a neat, square box.
5. Last-Minute Gift Basket - It will take all but an hour or two to buy some of his favorite things like perfumes, cosmetics etc. or gadgets (you know him best). Buy some of his favorites things around a theme and a pretty basket to put them in. Bring these home, arrange things in the basket, wrap with cellophane, tie a bow, add a love note and you are ready with a personalized gift for him in no time!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A Valentine Striptease for Him
This year, give your man a present he'll never forget - a surprise Valentine striptease! It's the perfect unexpected Valentine treat, and is something he's sure to remember better than any box of candy or stuffed animal. And don't worry...any woman can give a great striptease, even if your body isn't "perfect" or you're naturally shy. The following tips will help make certain that your sexy Valentine surprise will be an enormous success!
First let's address what to wear...
Choose clothing that accentuates your most beautiful body parts. This is one time that it’s appropriate to show a lot of skin. Anything from elegant gowns, baby-dolls, sexy lingerie, cute two-piece sets, or little dresses are great to wear.
Whatever you wear, make sure it can be removed easily. Don’t wear a corset that you have to unbutton, or a tight dress that’s difficult to slip out off. Avoid anything too complicated that you will have to fidget with to get off. Clothing that zips in back or fitted clothing that doesn’t stretch can also be difficult to remove.
Make sure that your panties frame your cheeks and show off your shape. We all wear those comfy panties that no one else should see, but for the purpose of seducing your man, the guidelines are: the top of the back of your panties should reach no more than two inches above your cheeks. Any higher than that and they give the illusion that your caboose is a lot longer than it is. Try on booty shorts, full bottomed panties, thongs, and g-strings to see which you feel best in. Also, if they leave lines on your body after you take them off, they are too tight.
The choice to wear shoes or not is a personal preference, as both looks are sexy. If you do choose to wear shoes, choose them wisely. Stilettos are the perfect choice if you can handle them, as the high heel makes your legs look much longer. If moving gracefully in stilettos is too daunting, dancing with bare feet can also be very seductive. You should stay away from short, one-inch heels. They look great with pants and skirts, but give the illusion of shortening naked legs. Shoes that are too high will also inhibit your movement and may make you fall, so choose shoes that you feel confident wearing. Strapless shoes can be removed gracefully, but if yours need to be buckled, you'll probably want to remove your clothing without taking off your shoes. Almost anything stretchy can be taken off over your shoes, but it would be a good idea to practice first.
Stockings are a sexy addition to almost any outfit. They can be knee high or thigh high, worn with or without garters. Whichever you choose, make sure to get a large enough size. It can help to get a size too large so that they don't constrict your legs and cause unsightly bulges while you're moving. A tip: it can be really sexy to leave your stockings and garter belt on for a while after your dance. If you'd like to do this, wear a thong or g-string on the outside so that they can be removed without having to unhook your garters.
The seductive addition of props...
Use a rose or a large feather to entice and tease him. During your dance, take the feather and gently tickle him from his cheek and neck down his shoulder to his fingertips without letting him touch you back. Sit on a chair and while holding your frame tall, slide your feet apart enough to tease him, and gently dust yourself from neck to thigh with the feather.
Even though the goal is to take off your clothes, covering up is still very sexy. Use a nice shawl, wrap, or piece of sheer fabric, to tease him. Wrap it around yourself while giving him peeks. Use it during your dance or when you get up close and personal. This can also double as a great cover up if you feel more comfortable being a little less exposed.
If you want to try using a retractable pole, you can also purchase a how-to video for tricks, but the best part of using a pole is that it is a fun addition to your ambiance.
Whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or any other "dessert on you" accessories are great if you want to let him be more than a spectator. Use these sweets as a segue into the interactive portion of your show.
Setting the stage for ambiance...
After you choose the songs you want, make a mix CD or playlist and pay attention to the order of the songs so that you can choreograph your routine and not have to change songs in the middle.
Use low, indirect lighting because it is both flattering (making you more comfortable) and more intimate. Achieve the perfect lighting by mixing candles with lamps and colored bulbs.
If your room is lacking intimacy, dress it up by draping deep colored valances or adding velvet or satin throws and pillows to your furniture.
Get comfortable with these dancing tips...
Practice in the mirror, or better yet, videotape yourself dancing so that you can look at yourself and see which moves you like.
Use low, indirect lighting because it is both flattering (making you more comfortable) and more intimate. Achieve the perfect lighting by mixing candles with lamps and colored bulbs.
Dance on your feet and on the floor. On the floor, try opening and closing your legs or leaning your knees from one side to the other. Experiment with different angles. Try caressing yourself when you don't know what else to do.
Move in time to the music. Turn around and walk seductively.
Some moves always look good. One is lying on your back with your knees bent, another is arching your back and the last is bending over from the waist, a little or a lot, with your backside towards your partner. You can also try this from the side angle or while leaning on a chair or against a wall.
In any standing poses, give yourself a little spank and wink at your guy. It's naughty, but cute.
Try sliding down a wall and then back up. Slide your hands along the wall beside you or let them go to your thighs, both very sexy.
Use your hair. Men love women's hair. While standing up, kneeling, or sitting, stretch your torso while you pull your hair up and let it fall again. If you have really long hair, arch your back while standing and tilt your head back letting your hair swish your backside.
Skim your fingertips over any part of you and he'll be begging for more. Try caressing your breasts the way you like him to do. It will blow his mind.
Smile at him; use your lips and your eyes to seduce him. Blow kisses, wink, and give him those bedroom eyes. Don't be afraid to laugh, talk, or even growl if you feel like it. Even if you don't feel confident, the more confidence you can portray the more erotic it will feel for him.
Point your toes whenever your foot is not on the floor. It is more feminine and graceful than a flexed foot.
Extra stripping tips...
Removing your clothes gracefully can be a challenge. Avoid taking your top off like a man takes off his t-shirt. While it may be sexy to watch them do it, it is quite the opposite for a woman. If you chose something that needs to be removed by slipping it over your head, seductively slip it off by pulling it from the bottom on the sides while standing up tall; don't hunch over.
When taking your bottoms off, try slipping them off over your shoes or bare feet while standing straight-legged. Do this by bending over from the waist and guiding them off all the way to the floor and then stepping out of them. If this isn't easy for you, try bending your knees or taking your bottoms off while lying on your back.
It is not imperative to remove all of your clothing. Stripping down to a little something sexy is equally as alluring. Remember to do as much as you are comfortable with. It should be a fun and exciting experience for both of you.
Lap Dance 101...
The point is of a lap dance is to tease him, but still making it more interactive by letting him get in a little snuggling, touching, and kissing in.
You can sit next to him and then lean over him with your chest touching his, turn toward the ceiling and caress yourself a little, or turn facedown with your shoulder and side rubbing across his tummy and chest.
Position yourself on top of him, sitting on your knees on his thighs. This allows you to rise up and down. When rising up, let his nose graze your chest and tummy. You can give him a little squeeze with your breasts as well. When you come down, bring your legs together and slide down to the floor.
"Dancing" close to him like this is great fully clothed, partially clothes, in the nude, or partially covered with a wrap. Move your body in time to the music. Simulate what you might do in the bedroom once in a while to really heat things up.
Turn around and sit in his lap. Pull up your hair and let yourself lean back to where your shoulders and neck are close to his face. Get creative, caressing yourself and him.
Stroke his hair, the back of his neck, and his chest. Kiss him and let him kiss you.
The most important thing to remember is to be yourself. Having fun being sexy for him is more arousing than any of the particular moves or tricks. Pick and choose the tips from this guide that help you to feel confident and go for it! Your Valentine striptease will be a gift he'll never forget, and one he'll hope to get every year after.
Valentine’s Day Trivia
How did Valentine’s Day originate?
The holiday has evolved from Roman mythology to a religious holiday to a day of celebrating love. Romans had the feast of Lupercalia, named after Lupercus, the god of fertility. It happened every year in February and had many parts. There was a sacrificial slaughtering of goats and young dogs, both known for their strong sexual instincts. The sacrifice was to please Lupercus. If the god was happy, he would spare their sheep from his wolves. Another piece of the celebration was the tradition of matching young couples. Each teen boy would choose a girl’s name from a lottery. The two would be paired up for the festivities and remain sexual partners for the following year. This too was done trusting that it was the will of the gods. Also during that era, February 14th was a celebration of Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses, and had nothing in common with Valentine’s Day other than sharing the date.
Much later, in the early days of Christianity, some bishops took the name of Valentine. One of them, who we now call St. Valentine, was arrested at the order of Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor had forbidden his soldiers to marry because he believed their emotional ties to women and children would weaken their ability to fight. Valentine ignored his ruling and was sent to jail for presiding over a marriage involving a soldier. The Emperor was impressed with Valentine’s conviction, and was unable to sway his Christian beliefs, and therefore Valentine was declared a martyr after his death. It is said that February 14th is the day of either Valentine’s death or his burial. During his imprisonment, rumor has it that the priest performed a miracle and healed the jailer’s blind daughter. Another rumor is that he fell in love with her and would send her love notes signed, “Your Valentine.” The stories of St. Valentine’s valiant defiance of the Emperor and of his jailhouse love captivated all who heard it.
Some time later, the Pope declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day to commemorate the life of St. Valentine. The pope’s purpose was to rid society of the pagan holiday and to cleanse it from sexual immorality while honoring the saints. While practical, the religious aspects of the holiday did not take on like he’d planned.
Many versions of Lupercalia gained popularity over the years in small social groups, but faded out just as quickly. However, the elements of the much evolved holiday are attributed to the sensual history of February 14th as well as the romantic story of St. Valentine. Surely, the priest’s signature on his love note is the inspiration for the classic Valentine's Day question, “Will you be my Valentine?” Just as other myths throughout history, the stories have spread, melded, and developed into one of today’s most celebrated holidays.
Who is Cupid?
Cupid is associated with Valentine’s Day because he is a symbol of love. His parentage is unclear, but many believe the Greek and Roman god was son of Venus (or Aphrodite), goddess of love. The mischievous winged child was known to shoot people through the heart with his magic arrow, causing them to fall deeply in love. In one story, Cupid himself fell in love with a mortal named Psyche, who eventually became a goddess because of his love and devotion. The fantasy that Cupid’s arrow could shoot through your heart at any moment is alluring for singles everywhere, making it a perfect match for Valentine’s Day!
Why is the heart a symbol of love?
It is true that the physical side-effect of heartache feels like actual pain in your chest, but it is not because your heart is “feeling” the pain. It is in fact the brain that processes emotions and “feels” love. It sends signals to every part of the body in reaction to stress and emotion, causing physical reactions. So, why does the heart get all the credit? The Bible says to “love with all your heart.” In medieval times, people believed that a person’s soul lived in their heart. It has had a spiritual and emotional connotation since the beginning of time, and that's not likely to change.
The heart’s shape has a unique history. There are two possible theories. The first is simply that scientists came up with the shape in attempt to draw something they had never seen. The smooth edged, symmetrical shape is much more aesthetically pleasing than the actual shape, so it would make sense that the image would be accepted even after science revealed the heart's true shape.
A much more romantic theory is that the shape originates from silphium, very popular in ancient Egypt. Silphium is an extinct and very large relative of fennel. Its seeds are heart shaped, and were widely used as contraceptive. It was so popular that the Egyptian even put the heart shape was on their coins! Greek mythology also referred to silphium in sensual ways. One story tells of a girl who was seduced. When her parents looked for her, they found a pile of silphium on a table, the girl and her girlish belongings were nowhere to be found.
Why are doves a part of Valentine’s Day?
Doves are one of the few animals on earth that mate for life, making them a romantic symbol. They even care for their children together. Doves are released at weddings for the same reason. Lovebirds are also associated with love because they mate for life. They get their name because Lovebirds sit very close together, suggesting that they have much affection for each other. Some say that when a male lovebird begins to sing, the female will join in and they will sway together to the rhythm of the song.
Why does XO mean hugs and kisses?
The X was once a symbol of honesty and the Christian cross. It was used in pre-modern era to sign documents because the majority of people were illiterate. Along with the X, one would kiss the page to show their sincerity, therefore the connection between an X and a kiss.
The O is much less interesting. It was coupled with the X many years later by Americans to signify hugs. It is unclear who first added the O, but it is generally accepted that it signifies one’s arms reaching around another, making their arms into the shape of an O.
What Women Really Want For Valentine's Day
There are many ways to make your partner’s Valentine’s Day one to remember. You don’t necessarily have to follow the Dinner/Movie/Present routine that has become so cliché over the years. Maybe a quiet, romantic night alone will have her falling for you all over again. Perhaps you can fill the day with tiny reminders of your feelings for her. This might even be the year for you to go all out and give her the most extravagant Valentine she’s ever had. Regardless of what you decide on, make sure you put your whole heart into it and give her the love and attention she deserves. Below are a few ideas from LYC for your Valentine’s Day. Feel free to take these ideas for yourself, or use them as guidelines for your own Valentine celebration.
Romantic Dinner for Two
Last Valentine's Day, I informed my wife that the basement was off limits. I cooked Beef Wellington, and topped it with pastry hearts. After dinner, I blindfolded her and led her to the basement. When I took the blindfold off, she found a bed with twelve dozen rose petals on white silk sheets. I’d also filled the room with candles on pedestals. She burst into tears of joy the second she saw it.
--submitted by Anonymous
Five Guys in the Kitchen
My friends and I are planning our 3rd annual “Guys in the Kitchen” Valentine’s Day celebration. The five of us have been friends for a long time, and all of our wives are friends, too. Each year we prepare a homemade Valentine dinner for our ladies, and we make sure to go all out. We make the childcare arrangements. We send invitations to their offices tied to a dozen roses. At dinner, we set the table with matching plates, candles, and wine. The menus are printed on antiqued paper, and we laminate them so the girls can keep them as keepsakes. This year, there will be chocolates and singing stuffed animals sitting in each of their seats when they come in. We even serve them specialty coffees after dinner. All of their other friends’ husbands hate us. It’s great!
--submitted by 5 Guys in the Kitchen
A Risky Valentine
Last year, I decided to get a little more risky with Valentine's Day. I skipped the day altogether (intentionally, and much to my wife's shock and horror). Instead, I planned a short cruise to Mexico through Expedia.com, but didn't tell her about it. Then I ordered a dozen flowers and I had them delivered to her at work the day we were leaving for the cruise. The flowers were nice, but I’m sure she barely noticed them when she saw the cruise ticket hanging from the vase. When we got on the boat, she discovered a few more surprises waiting for her -- some awesome chocolates from Godiva and a few more “frisky” goodies, including a pair of vibrating panties. She loved the trip, and she also loved the fact that I had thought outside the box. So next year, skip the usual flowers and candy and do something she’ll never forget!
--submitted by Anonymous
A Special Love Song
I don't play an instrument or sing very well, so for Valentine’s Day I wrote a song for my girlfriend and had a friend who's an aspiring musician sing it for me. I had it professionally recorded, and I designed labels for the CD and the case. I went to our favorite radio station and got them to agree to play it for me that night. I brought my girl down to our favorite beach just in time to watch the sun set. I wish you could have seen her face when they read the dedication and played the song! It’s been five years now, and she still listens to that song.
--submitted by Robb
Advertising Your Love
I had an early morning college class on Valentine’s Day. As I walked toward the building, I noticed that there were flyers posted everywhere. At first I thought that someone was really trying to advertise something, but as I got closer I realized that they all said, "I love you, Jama! Will you be mine? Love, Brian." They were everywhere, in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Everyone that saw them was
--submitted by Jama Cornelius
Arcade Romance
Last year for Valentine's Day, my husband took me to a local arcade. I have to admit, that was not exactly my idea of a romantic outing, but it actually ended up being one of the greatest dates we have ever had. I will never forget it. It was on a school day, so the arcade was a ghost town. It was as if he rented the place just for the two of us. We rode go karts, played laser tag, and spent a fortune on arcade games. Then we ended the date with hot dogs and soda. It was so amazing, because 90% of the time we were the only ones in there besides the workers.
--submitted by Milla
Candy Love-Lib
On Valentine's Day, I wrote my girlfriend a letter, but I left a bunch of blank spaces. The spaces were left open for candy conversation hearts, and each time she got to a blank space I gave her a heart to fill it in. For example, one line read “I am pretty happy to have you”. It had her read it in the evening, and we were on a porch swing out in the peaceful country, so the mood was perfect. I had other gifts, but according to her, this was the "most thoughtful."
--submitted by Joel Thompson
Hearts of Love
Since it was our first Valentine’s Day together, I knew that I had to do something sweet and special for my girl. I cut about 100 hearts out of pink, purple, and red construction paper. I wrote little sayings on each one, kind of like conversation hearts, but more personal. Some were compliments, others were terms of endearment, and some were just short notes like “I love the way you kiss me.” On the back of each one, I printed “S.W.L. loves H.D.B.” I had them delivered to her throughout the month of February in fun and surprising ways. Her friends delivered some of them for me. Some, I left in places I knew she would find them, like inside the medicine cabinet, in the refrigerator, or on the pillow. One day I convinced complete strangers to walk up to her and just hand her one without saying a word. One was even given to her by one of our waiters at a local restaurant. She really loved it!!
--submitted by Stacey L
Romantic Surprise
For Valentine’s Day, my boyfriend went all-out to make one of my dreams come true. He picked me up from my house and, without telling me anything about what was going on, drove me to the airport. There, we got on an airplane (he wouldn’t let me look to see where we were going). After about 4 hours, we touched down in Toronto. I still had no idea what was going on, but when the rental car pulled into the parking lot of the theater, I knew. He had brought me to see “The Phantom of the Opera”! I had been talking about seeing it for months, but had never found the time. Then, during the intermission, he gave me the most beautiful long-stemmed rose I’d ever seen. It was the best Valentine’s Day ever!
--submitted by Anonymous
Roses to Remember
My husband and I had been married for about a year. He knew what a romantic I was and how much I love surprises. I worked as a secretary at a hospital, and one of my job duties was to go across the street into another building to retrieve the day's mail. When I went to get the mail that Valentine’s Day, there was a large package addressed to me. It was awkward to carry, even though it was fairly light. I lugged it back to my desk with all the other mail. Everyone I walked past stopped what they were doing and followed me to my desk, wanting to know what the package contained. So I opened it in front of everyone. It was a framed poster of a little boy (in black and white) holding a dozen roses (in red). Of course, my husband planned it perfectly, because he knew that I had to take the train home. The poster brought a lot of smiles from everyone I ran into on the way home. To this day, the sight of it brings a smile to my face.
--submitted by Tricia
As you can see, it is the feeling in which your Valentine surprise is delivered, the emotion it evokes, and the memories it makes that matter to a woman. Give your lover something to brag to her friends about this year, and she’ll fall in love with you all over again.
Ideas: Amazing Race Valentine
Amazing Race Valentine
My girlfriend loves the show Amazing Race, so I decided to mix a few elements of the show in with my Valentine's Day plans last year. I came up with a rather elaborate plan to make sure every portion of the entire evening had an element of surprise to it. I started by telling my girlfriend to meet me at my house, but she was greeted instead by a single rose with a romantic poem and directions to one of our favorite restaurants. I'd gotten to the restaurant ahead of her to put our name on the list. By the time she arrived, there wasn't too much of a wait left. At the end of dinner, I gave her another single rose with another poem attached along with directions to our next stop. She read that while I drove ahead. That stop was really just a midpoint to the movie theater, a parking lot outside a tavern. I wanted to drag out the surprise as long as possible. I stood there with a third rose and poem and directions to the theater, which I handed to her and quickly sped off. After the movie, she got yet another rose, poem, and directions, this time to a coffee place. When she arrived at the coffee shop, instead of going in, I told her that it was really just another midpoint. I gave her a fifth rose and poem, then had her put on a blindfold while I drove her to our final stop for the evening, all the while hinting that this would be the last stop before we'd go back to my place. The final stop was just down the road. I helped her out of the car and through the door, down the hall, then into the room. I lit the candles and grabbed the 6th rose, read her the sixth and final poem for the night, the sweetest of them all, and then let her remove her blindfold to see that I'd gotten a hotel room with a Jacuzzi for the night. The rest of her first dozen flowers were strewn around the Jacuzzi, which I'd filled with water earlier in the day, with silk rose petals and floating candles. And there were a second set of roses in a vase on the table. She's in charge of planning Valentine's Day this year! :)
--submitted by Paul
9 complete valentine's day theme ideas for your love
Honeymoon Valentine
Give your love the honeymoon you have both always wanted! Arrange to stay at a hotel in an exotic location, or recreate it in your own bedroom! Gift ideas include: a ticket to a romantic destination, marriage proposal, an item from country you're recreating, or a gift basket with food or snacks from the same country.
His And Her's Valentine
Start the occasion by wearing your "his and her's pajamas" (one wears the top, the other wears the bottoms). Then watch his movie, followed by her's. Grab take out from his favorite place and her's. Decide to get his and her gifts as well. Gift ideas include: his and her's towels, his and her's watches, champagne and glasses, his and her's pajamas, etc.
Pamper Me Valentine
Pamper your Valentine with the ultimate in romance! The ideal setting for this idea is an ultra-clean bathroom and bedroom with a TV and VCR. If you don't feel like cleaning, or have time to create the ambiance, splurge and book a hotel for the night. Start by lighting as many tea light candles in your bathroom as possible. Also, burn some incense and have some background mood music playing. If you don't have a place to rest things in your bathroom, bring in a chair. On it, place a fluffy washcloth, a plate of chocolates and strawberries, and a glass of champagne. (Make sure it's within the reach of your sweetheart.) Then get a warm bubble bath ready. Once your partner is in the bath, give them a foot massage while you wash their feet to relax them. Next, wash and condition their hair. When they are ready to get out, dry them off, give them something comfy to wear and send them off to the bedroom. Once there, brush out your partner's hair and give them a shoulder massage. After that, cuddle up on the bed and watch a romantic movie you've picked out. Gift ideas include: bath robe, sexy pajamas, bubble bath, trip to a day spa or a gift certificate for a professional massage.
Romantic Movie Night Valentine
Rent all of your favorite romantic movies. Set up an airbed on your living room floor with a comforter and pillows. Stock up on your favorite munchies, while you cuddle together during your love-a-thon. Gift ideas include: tickets to the movies, a video rental gift certificate, romantic videos, a soundtrack from a favorite movie, a video of you, a gift basket of munchies, or your love story written in screenplay format.
Famous Couples Valentine
Choose a famous couple, like Antony and Cleopatra, and create a romantic encounter like they would have celebrated. You'll need to get costumes, food, decorations, theme music and something for entertainment. Gift ideas include: a famous couples love story book, a love diary or journal, memory book, or tickets to the place the couple reside(d).
A Gourmet's Valentine
Whether you or your partner is the gourmet, you'll both enjoy this idea! Plan and create a 5 course love meal followed by an evening of wine and relaxation, or a romantic movie. If you're not great at cooking, but love good food, find a 5-star restaurant nearby and order the food to go. Gift ideas include: gift certificate to a 5-star restaurant, subscription to Gourmet or Bon Appettit magazines, or a gift basket of delectible treats.
Pamper Me II Valentine
Take a few classes or read up on the art of Tantric massage. Start the occasion with an hour-long massage, followed by a round of romantic game play with games like Romantic Rendezvous or SexPlay. Gift ideas include: Kama Sutra gift set, massage oils, gift certificate for a professional massage or a romantic board game.
An Artisan's Valentine
Get a set of body paints, or create your own using products around the house like chocolate syrup, cherry filling, etc. Lay out a large sheet, one that is okay to get stained, on the floor. Spend the evening painting each other! Follow up with a steamy shower to rinse each other off. Gift ideas include: chocolate syrup and a paintbrush (for next time!), more body paints, a sensual poetry book, love coupons good for a sensual act, or a couple's board game.
Room By Room Valentine
Take advantage of the space you have! Create a meal to be eaten in each room, or create a romantic activity to happen in each room. Even better -- do both! Gift ideas include: a gift that coordinates with each room.
Get Involved!! Are you spending Valentine's Day alone this year? If so, what are you planning to do? Let us know and it could be featured here!!
a long distance valentine
Gift Ideas....
Care Packages.
Send your love a Valentine's Day care package! What is a care package? A care package is a collection of gifts or items that you send to someone special. For more information and care package ideas, click here.
10 Inexpensive Gifts To Send
Romantic gifts do not have to be expensive. For a list of 10 great inexpensive gifts to include as part of your care package, or on their own, click here.
3 Weeks Of Gifts
When my boyfriend got an invitation to attend an honors academy for three weeks, I was very happy for him, but I also couldn't believe I'd have to live without him that long. I wanted to send something special with him to remind him how much I love him. I spent the whole week before he left making a surprise box for him to take. In the box were 21 little boxes. Every box contained a small homemade token of love and a note. They were just silly little things like miniature paintings and cards, but he loved it. When he got home, he said that all of the guys at the academy were jealous!!
~ Submitted by Sarah Alouf.
A True Love Song
One night my husband and I stayed up talking and writing poetry for each other expressing our love. Since I was more of the writer, I was able to finish mine and I presented it to him. I never realized that he kept it with him for over a year and spent a few months with a song writer and music artist who put the words to music, which my husband sang himself. On our anniversary, he was gone for hours and when he finally came home, I was a bit upset with him because I didn't know where he was and it was our anniversary. He was like a kid with a secret! He smiled and took me for a ride in our car and just told me to listen. He put the cassette in the tape player and this beautiful melody came on and this familiar voice started to sing. At first, I was confused because the song sounded familiar and then it hit me - it was my poem that I had written for him - he put it to music. He even went through the trouble of recording the hours and hours of discussions that were going on within the studio of what it took to make and finish the song. Till this day I still haven't been able to even finish listening to just that! It was one of the best gifts I ever got!
~ Submitted by Anonymous
Fortune Kisses
Get some Hershey kisses. Take the strip of paper from the kisses and write little notes or fortunes, such as "I can't wait to be with you." Re-wrap the Hershey Kisses with the papers and send them to your love with a little note saying something like, "Whenever you feel lonely, have one of these." They'll love you for the thought and they're not hard to make too!
~ Based on an idea submitted by Cy
Valentines For Your Man
Don’t let them fool you ladies… Men want to feel celebrated and adored on Valentine’s Day, too. They want to be loved and desired just as much as women do. Show your guy sweet sentiments in a way he will appreciate with one of these reader's ideas, and he will look forward to Valentine’s Day every year thereafter.
Heart Shaped Guitar Picks
My boyfriend and I had only been dating a short while before Valentine’s Day, so I didn't really want to get something super expensive. I just wanted to do something small and meaningful. He plays guitar, so I went out and bought a dozen guitar picks. I took a pair of scissors and trimmed them into hearts. Then I filed down the edges and put them all in a little clear bag tied with a ribbon. I made a card and I picked out candy hearts with the messages I liked on them. When we were exchanging our gifts on Valentine's Day, I gave him the picks and he loved them. Then I gave him one candy heart at a time and told him he had to do everything they said on them, like "hold me," "hug me," and "kiss me." He loved the whole thing.
--submitted by Sophie
Gifts on the Hour
For Valentine’s Day one year, I decided to give my fiancé a gift every hour he was at work. When he got to work at 8:30, a simple little card was there waiting for him wishing him a happy Valentine's Day. At 9:30, his breakfast was delivered (an omelet, hash browns, sausage, toast and orange juice). At 10:30, I sent him a huge batch of balloons. I made his favorite cream cheese cookies and had them delivered by one of my good friends wearing a clown costume at 11:30. At 12:30, a pizza and a soda came for his lunch. I sent him a huge gift bag of candy at 1:30. By this time, everyone he worked with congregated in his office on the hour waiting to see what was coming. He felt so special. I think everyone was pretty jealous. At 2:30, a stuffed frog was delivered that said, "I love you" on it. And finally at 3:30, I delivered a dozen red roses in a vase to him to say, “I love you!” I had so much fun planning the whole day, and he really loved it.
--submitted by Kelly
Application For Love
This year’s Valentine’s Day is special because we are finally engaged after a four-year long distance relationship. As a gift for my fiancé, I wrote a cover letter and resume to apply for the position to be his wife. In the cover letter I explained why I wanted to apply for the position, and also what I thought made me qualified for it. My resume was filled with a history of events and good times we’d spent together over the past four years. Under skills, I listed special things I do that please him (adding in a few risqué skills). He loved it and gave me the job!
--submitted by Yoko
Another Love Poem
I wrote my boyfriend a poem for Valentine's Day. He's a Spanish major, so I went online and translated my poem into Spanish. When I gave it to him, he cried and told me it was the best present he's ever recieved. I had to look at my copy in English to remember what I wrote that moved him so much!
--submitted by Kristen
A Memory box for My Man
This year, I’m planning ahead for Valentine’s Day. I am collecting mementos from the things we’ve done all year long to put in a Valentine’s Day box. I’m making it a point to save things that are meaningful to him. For example, I took a cardboard coaster from a pub we visited on the coast. He tried his new favorite beer for the first time that day, and I think he’ll be thrilled that I remembered. Another thing I’ve saved so far is my ticket from a college basketball game we went to with is dad. I’m attaching a little note to each thing saying something about the memorable event. I’m also throwing in a few of the love notes we have left for each other.
--submitted by Anonymous
Commuter Valentine's Gift
My husband used to leave at 5 a.m. every morning to commute to work while I was going to college. One Valentine's Day, I place a few commuter comfort items in his car the night before. I had gotten a good deal on a heated massaging seat cover. I also bought him a CD of his favorite singer, some coffee shop gift certificates and chocolate-covered coffee beans (which he loves). He thought it was a nice surprise on a cold Valentine's Day morning!
--submitted by Joy
Blacklight Paint Night
I surprised my boyfriend of nearly four years last Valentine's Day with a blacklight body painting session. I changed out the light bulb in our room with a black light and set up several white objects and a sheet to cover the floor (the more whites and fluorescents you use, the better). I was ready with a bunch of white body paint when he got home. We had a fun, original night discovering each other’s bodies in a whole new way with upbeat music, paints and black lighting. My boyfriend marveled at the unusual thought, and he participated enthusiastically.
--submitted by Sam
Sexy Picture Show
Last year on Valentine's Day, a couple of friends and I got together and took pictures for our mates. A lady we work with had gone to school for photography, so she took the pictures. They weren't quit nude pictures, but they were close and they were very sexy. We did them all in black and white, which made them turn out even sexier. I had them framed in leopard print and snakeskin frames, which also added to the sexiness of the pictures. Needless to say, he absolutely loved them, and that was a start to an annual portfolio of sexy pictures!
--submitted by Valerie
Pleasure Hunt
For Valentine's Day last year, I sent my man on a "Pleasure Hunt". He woke up to a large box wrapped up with Valentine's paper, I filled it with 5 heart-shaped Mylar balloons, so when he opened the box the balloons would rise and give him his first clue, the clue read, "This is a Pleasure Hunt. Follow the hearts, and if you play your cards right you’ll end the day feeling nothing but pleasure.” The first card led him to a local spa where I treated him to an hour-long massage and an early lunch. When his lunch at the spa was served, he was given his next clue and a gift card. These led him to a local CD store where I had a romantic CD held for him and his next clue, which told him to look in his glove compartment. There he found his next clue, which told him to call me (so I knew when he was on his way) and to bring the CD to the front desk of a local hotel. When he got to the front desk, he was given a package I had held for him, and another clue. It was a key to a room in the hotel with a little tag on it that simply said "I’m Waiting". When he walked into the room, I had candles, rose petals, whipped cream, grapes, strawberries, champagne, cream cheese dip, a heart shaped tub, and me in sexy lingerie, all waiting for him. I gave him his attire for the evening - silk boxers and a matching blindfold. The night was amazing for both of us!
--submitted by Christine
A Funny Valentine
My boyfriend and I are broke students attending different colleges that are four thousand miles apart from each other. We can't be together for Valentine's Day this year, but I have a few ideas as to how I can still make the day special without spending a lot of money. I’m going to send him a box full of little things that will let him know how I feel. First, I’m gonna rip up twelve little pieces of rice paper, put on some dark red lipstick, and kiss every piece. I figure if I can't send him a dozen red roses, I can send him a dozen red kisses. He and I love the song "Funny Valentine," and I love to sing it all the time. But he has never heard me sing at all, so I am going to record myself singing our song and put the CD in the box. And the final addition to my Valentine's Day box will be a little on the seductive side. I have a black satin thong with crystal strings that I bought months ago at Victoria's Secret. I have not worn them yet because I am waiting until I see him. So, I am putting that in the box as a kind of "promise" to wear it as soon as we see each other this summer. I'm sure that he'll absolutely love it!
--submitted by Kasey
A Weekend for Two
This year for Valentine's Day, I gave my boyfriend a romantic weekend for two in Seattle. My travel agent called me with info about a great vacation package that included airline tickets and two nights in a premiere hotel. Seattle is a great city for a romantic weekend! Most of the things that would interest visitors to the city are all downtown and within walking distance of the hotel, so there's no need to hassle with car rentals. We spent the weekend strolling through the Pike's Street Market hand-in-hand and doing some terrific big-city shopping downtown. When he asked why I would give him such an extravagant gift, I told him the truth. I simply wanted to spend a whole weekend with him with no interruptions from the phone or having friends and family just dropping in without warning. To me, it was a small price to pay for some "us" time. It was also a turning point in our relationship, and we are now shopping for our first home together. The wedding is set for next summer!
--submitted by Anonymous
Trade Candy for “Treats”
A week before Valentine’s Day I am going to hide little cinnamon hearts around the house. I’m going to give my boyfriend a decorated jar and explain that he needs to find and collect them throughout the week to “spend” on Valentine’s Day. Then when the day finally comes, I'll give him a menu of options he can use the candies to (i.e. Massage = 10 hearts, Homemade Dinner for Two= 2 hearts, etc.). I think it'll be fun, and it will ensure that he gets the Valentine's Day he wants rather than one I think he wants!
--submitted by Jodi
Personalized Crossword Puzzles
A few years ago I started making my own crossword puzzles for my boyfriend. All the answers have to do with our relationship. I start with one word and then just attach other words until it looks like a game of Scrabble. I give each word a number and a simple clue, and it takes him hours to finish because we talk about memories the entire time. He now looks forward to them every year on his birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and our anniversary.
--submitted by Niki
Picture It!
I'm not very creative when it comes to Valentine's Day, but last year I wanted to do something fro my boyfriend that I knew he would love. So a couple of weeks before the big day, I went to the mall and got some glamour shots done for him. Before he got home from class, I hid the pictures in his room so he'd have to find them. Then I put together a big basket of candy and stuffed animals and set it on his bed. He loved the fact he had to look for his present and when he found it he was totally surprised and loved it!
--submitted by Amanda
Our Very Own Romance Novel
Last year, I ordered a personalized book for my husband. It is a cheesy romance novel starring us (and our dog). There’s a bit about the “authors” on the back along with a photo of us. It was perfect because the story title was something having to do with and island adventure and I sent a picture of us kissing in a waterfall. Unfortunately, because of the weather, the book did not arrive on time. To make up for it, I wrote him a silly love song and performed it for him. I am an awful singer, so he was quite entertained. To my surprise, he had also written me a song. He played his guitar and sang it to me. It was so beautiful. When he finally received his book, he loved it so much that he read it straight through! Then, for a week or so after, he kept saying and doing things like his character in the novel. It was great!
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