Valentine's Day - Different ways to spoil your loved ones

By Andrea Cox

Valentine's Day is a day for romance. Traditionally a day when we hope to receive cards, flowers and maybe a gift from those that we love or admire. Cards are usually given anonymously. It's great fun to try and disguise your token of appreciation and maddening trying to work out who the sender of your's is. It is always a thrill to receive a Valentine from someone we have feelings for, particularly if it is a new potential relationship.

The story goes that in the 3rd century St Valentine married a couple in secret at a time when it was banned by Emporer Cladius 11. For this he was sentenced to death and while in prison he fell in love with the jailer's blind daughter (allegedly the power of his love restored her sight). Just before he died he sent her a message signed "from your Valentine".

Gifts for your loved ones

Long-established symbols of love are hearts, red roses and kisses and traditional gifts of flowers, chocolates and perfume are given at Valentines. Heart shaped gifts or items decorated with Hearts are also popular. If you've been with your sweetheart for some time then you may be past flowers and chocolate and need inspiration for a more original gift. Heart shaped pottery or pottery decorated with hearts would be a long-lasting token. Your partner would think of you each morning as he or she sipped their morning tea from their Heart covered mug or serve a romantic breakfast in bed on Hearts pottery. You could fill a jug with flowers or add a personal message or their pet-name to a mug or teapot.

It is traditional to give your partners gifts for Valentine's but it's also a nice gesture to show your other loved ones how you feel about them on this special day. Secret cards to confuse your children (my grandfather always used to send me a card from whoever my love of the moment was be it David Cassidy or David Soul). Anonymous cards to friends, but with a clue that it might be from their best friend so that their hopes aren't raised too much, nobody wants to be cruel.

Surprise someone

I know we show our appreciation on Mother's and Father's Day but still, particularly if people are on their own, it's nice to feel that you are loved - send flowers to your mum or an "I Love You" mug to your dad. They won't expect it and will be thrilled to be thought of.

Restaurants are always packed on Valentine's Day - full of little tables for two. Your favourite local never feels the same on this night. If you are determined to go out together for a romantic meal why not try something different. What about a picnic (I know it's winter) but if it's a bright, dry day nothing could be nicer. You could take hot chicken or sausages, flasks of soup and a bottle of red wine. Find a sheltered spot somewhere beautiful and tuck in. You can always drop into the local pub for something warming once you've had your lunch.

Whatever you do for Valentines Day do it with the ones you love.

Andrea Cox writes editorial for Emma Bridgewater UK, a company that specialises in handmade pottery and kitchen accessories that are ideal as Valentine's gifts.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Singles Want More Online Dating Website Features

By Lynn Gerino

Do Your Research: Pick the website with the best features

Instant Contact - There's no doubt the instant messenger services provide the best and most accessible way to find people on the internet. However easy and convenient the messengers are they in of themselves don't guarantee that singles are easily found on these services. Enter the online dating services. Most of the better online services provide a method of contact either in a chatroom setting or an instant messenger solution. Some of the better sites allow you to use your favorite instant messenger onsite.

"Send a Rose"- a great way to let someone know that you are interested. Some sites call them "icebreakers" or "kisses" or "winks". Some of the better sites allow you to send multiple icebreaker messages with the ability to block unwanted messages.

Custom Search - search with as many criteria as you like. Choose from a location, sex, sexual preference, age, ethnicity, as well as profession, appearance and even personal qualities. Not many websites allow you do that. Most allow you to search by gender and you spend a lot of your time paging through profiles that you aren't interested in Look for a good advanced search system because it will save you lots of time.

Singles Events - Speed dating parties, traveling agencies for singles and other entertainment events. Great for those who live in a big city, so there are many single people in your area. Only your most top quality sites have the resources to sponsor travel events or speed dating events.

Video Dating - they use live video technology and/or you can record your own audio and video clips via your webcam and upload them to your profile. It's a fairly new service offered only by the better quality dating websites.

Audio and Video Chat - live audio chat rooms where you can talk to many at once or privately one-to-one all without exchanging telephone numbers and incurring long distance charges using the internet's newest technology Voip (voice over IP). Video chats using the same technology as the audio with the added component of live video. It's a new service offered only by top-quality dating websites.

©Lynn Gerino - resource articles for topics in family, lifestyle, religion, relationships and more.
Online Dating Singles Personals Ads, Video and Speed Dating

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Gerino