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2014 SPECIAL VALENTINE GUIDE BY THE GIANT NICKEL

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5 Thoughtful Gifts that Don't Require Much ThoughtValentine’s Day is prime season for florists, with floral sales capturing 40 percent of holiday dollar volume, accord-ing to data collected by IPSOS-Insight Flo-ralTrends Consumer Tracking Study. While flowers -- particularly mixed flower and red rose bouquets -- may comprise the lead-ing gifts for romantic gifters, many others are looking to buck the flowers-and-chocolate trend this year and of-fer something more unique.On the heels of the holiday giving season, most gift-givers realize how difficult it can be

finding the “perfect” gift for a recipient. That gift may be even more difficult to find when the intention is to con-vey love and affection. But Valentine’s Day giv-ers can look to a num-ber of gifts that are very thoughtful but needn’t take more than a little forethought.* Gift card: You may be thinking a gift card doesn’t sound that thoughtful. However, when paired with a listing of gift items, it’s easy to illustrate the thought that went into the gift. It may make sense to simply pur-chase one of those interesting items, but

this way you’re giving the recipient the choice of what he or she really wants to select.* Something engraved or monogrammed: A simple scarf turns into something more spe-cial when it includes monogrammed initials or a special saying. The same can be said for anything from a picture frame to candle hold-ers. Taking the time to have something mono-grammed or engraved imparts thoughtfulness into the gift.* Pet accessories: Peo-ple view their pets as members of the family and often as small chil-dren (when small chil-

dren are not yet pres-ent). Especially during the dating stage, pro-viding an adorable gift for his or her pet may be seen as a heartfelt gesture. Be sure to pick up a little some-thing for the pet parent as well, though.* Hobby gifts: Recog-nizing the interests of a loved one is a clear sign that you’re in tune with what he or she en-joys to do. If you have an avid reader on your hands, a new e-reader or some e-books may be ideal. Sports fans could appreciate tick-ets to the next home game of their favorite team. Someone who

dabbles in culinary creations may delight over a gift basket full of - Continued on page 4 -

Valentine Guide - Page 4

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top-of-the-line cooking utensils.* A spending spree: Take your Valentine to his or her favorite store and encourage him or her to pick out a few favorite items. Set a price limit or let them choose regardless of price. This way you can spend time together and see the joy on your Valentine’s face when he or she is choosing treasured items.

5 thoughtful gifts that don’t require much

thought.- Continued from page 3 -

Getting a handwrit-ten letter nowadays is extraordinary, as people often do not take the time to write letters in an age when emailing, texting and tweeting have revolutionized the way people com-municate with one another. However, writing notes, letters and exclamations of love can be more in-timate, especially on Valentine’s Day.In France, love let-ters are called billet doux. The French are known to be ro-

Revive the Art of Letter-Writingmantics at heart, but that doesn’t mean people from all over the globe can’t put pen to paper to ex-press their feelings. Handwritten letters are often seen as thoughtful gestures, especially when those letters are ex-pressing intimate sentiment. Here are some guidelines for writing a love note or letter.* Visit a stationery store and find a nice piece of stationery and envelope to use for the letter. If you are putting forth the effort to create a beautiful, handwrit-ten letter, you can add to the experi-ence by selecting a fine paper on which to write. There are many different types of paper, including some that are em-bossed. Some may

even feature flower petals or leaves em-bedded in the paper.* Brush up on your penmanship. A letter will be rendered use-less if it isn’t legible. Therefore, practice penmanship before sitting down to write your letter. * Have a picture of the person to whom you will be address-ing the letter nearby. This may provide some inspiration.* Jot down ideas on a piece of scrap paper. Think about how your romantic partner makes you feel and the qualities he or she possesses that you find appeal-ing, and use con-crete examples why you love and care for this person. * Write a rough draft of the letter and be sure to proofread it for misspellings and grammatical errors. * Always write from the heart and be sin-

cere in what you say. Try to call out specif-ic examples that re-call particularly fond memories.* Write your final copy of the letter on the good paper. Make sure it is neat and legible. Be sure you date it because it is likely the note will be saved. * You may want to wait a day or two before sending the letter to be sure the sentiments you ex-pressed are truly what you want to say. If so, mail or hand deliver the note.

Love letters and oth-er handwritten notes are quickly becom-ing a thing of the past, as technology has largely replaced pen and paper. Yet, those who want to add a special touch to any occasion can choose to write a let-ter and make a last-ing impression.

Gone are the days where Valentine’s Day notes were handwritten. Today we rely more on mass-produced greeting cards. Time to revive an old tradition!

Valentine Guide - Page 5

February, when Val-entine’s Day serves as the official day of love and affection, is a great day to embark on a romantic vaca-tion, especially if that getaway is to a warm-er locale that can help men and women mo-mentarily forget about the snowstorms and colder temperatures back home.Some resorts and travel-based busi-nesses take advan-tage of Valentine’s Day by inflating prices to capitalize on gift-giving. How-ever, many others use this time of year to offer specialized sales and discounts to help boost busi-ness through the re-mainder of the winter season. It is possible to enjoy an indulgent trip without having to spend a fortune.* Consider cruising. There are cruises that depart from various ports all year long. All it takes is a call to a cruise line or logging on to their Web sites to check the sched-uling. For those un-opposed to flying to

Cruising is often a romantic option for Valentine’s Day vacations.

Affordable Getaway Ideas for Valentine's Daya different port, you may be able to broad-en your options with regard to cruise desti-nations and departing dates. Cruises are ad-vantageous because they are all-inclusive, self-contained vaca-tions. Couples who don’t want the hassle of packing and un-packing several times and want their meals and entertainment planned out ahead of time might find cruis-ing is their trip. There also is the ability to visit different ports of call all in one trip, en-suring there is never a dull moment.* Look into winery packages. Wineries may be doing their planting and harvest-ing in the warmer weather, but come the winter they may be facing a slow-down in foot traffic and may be eager to attract business. Sampling different vintages and spending time in an often adults-only en-vironment can be an ideal way to spend a Valentine’s Day weekend. Make it an overnight trip and

stay nearby in a hotel. Some wineries may offer a restaurant on premises or work with a local establishment to provide package deals.* Visit your closest city. Many people liv-ing in the suburbs seldom make trips into downtown unless they are regular com-muters for work. Even those who spend their weekdays in an ur-ban area may never have experienced all of the little gems that attract tourists. For Valentine’s Day, you may want to see your urban center through the eyes of a visitor, taking advantage of the museums, cultural centers and build-ings that attract tour-ists throughout the year. Chances are the trip will not be costly, and you’ll be close to home.* Take in live music. There’s something romantic about listen-ing to music together. Investigate upcoming concerts in your area. Some coffee shops and bars host open-mic nights when bud-

ding artists can be heard. Check to see if any smaller venues are hosting intimate, acoustic concerts by popular bands. It can be a memorable night and one that doesn’t break the bank.* Trade time-share dates with others. Time shares are great ways to have a dedi-cated vacation spot that you are guaran-teed during a cer-tain time each year. There are time-share swapping sites like TimeShareJuice.com. Find out if you can ex-change your requisite time with another and take your vacation in honor of Valentine’s Day.* Consider a private rental situation. Many

people who own vaca-tion homes list them for rent when they are unoccupied. You may be able to stay in a larger condo or space than a traditional ho-tel room for a smaller cost than going to a hotel. If you develop a rapport with a par-ticular renter, you may have preference of dates and can make visiting a tropical is-land or another retreat a yearly Valentine’s Day adventure. Try VRBO.com to find a rental property in your desired location.Going away for Valen-tine’s Day need not be an expensive venture. There are many ways to save money and enjoy a much-needed romantic escape.

Valentine Guide - Page 6

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Some relationships are easier than others. Long-distance relation-ships tend to require a little more effort, typically demanding strong levels of trust and communication.Many people avoid long-distance relation-ships because they take much more effort than a more traditional partnership. However, sometimes people find themselves in a situa-tion where their partner is forced to relocate, be it for school, a mili-tary deployment or a temporary work trans-fer. Rather than give up on the partnership,

Helpful ideas to make a long-distance relationship workmany couples try to make their now long-distance relationship work. The following are a handful of ways cou-ples can do just that.* Set goals. Establish a plan with your part-ner that puts you both on the same page. If you haven’t already done so, talk about how you see this re-lationship continuing and what you have in mind for the future. If you both are striving for the same goals, the distance between you may strengthen your commitment to each other.* Establish rules and

guidelines. Figure out how you want to steer this long-distance re-lationship. Address is-sues like how will you split the traveling and lodging during visits and how often will you get together. * Maintain contact. Because you simply cannot pop in for a visit on a whim, put the bevy of technological tools at your disposal to good use. Video chats are a popular way to bridge the dis-tance. Make every at-tempt to talk each day or even just send a brief text message that you’re thinking about

your significant other. * Do things together. This may seem im-possible because of the distance between you, but you can make “dates” where you do the same things at the same time -- only in different locations. Rent the same movie and watch it simulta-neously, then discuss. Start a book club and debate about the plot and characters. Com-pete in a digital version of Scrabble or another game. Turn on Skype or Facetime and enjoy a meal together while discussing your day. There are many dif-ferent ways you can remain in each other’s lives even when miles separate you.* Send surprise care packages. Maybe he enjoys cookies from that bakery down the road. Perhaps she is missing the java you used to get together at

the local coffee shop. Ship a care package with favorite goodies and pack it with an item that is your own and carries your signature scent.* Set up a half-way meeting point. Perhaps you cannot always get all the way to each oth-er’s home bases. Plan a vacation that is mid-way between where you both reside so it’s neutral and undiscov-ered territory in which you can make special memories together.* Focus on the positive. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Think about the positive things in your relationship rather than what may bring you down. Keep in mind that time will be limited when you visit each other, which means you may be less likely to fight and more likely to enjoy all the mo-ments spent together fully. Long-distance relationships can still be romantic. The dis-tance may create an air of mystery. If you enjoy your private time and space, a long-distance relationship enables you to spend time with your partner and then go back to your normal schedule.Although long-distance relationships are chal-lenging, many people do make them work un-til they can be reunited once again.

Being reunited after an ab-sence may make a couple appreciate their relationship even more.

Valentine Guide - Page 7

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Valentine's Day QuizTest your knowledge of all things related to the day of love.

1. How many martyred saints are believed to be named St. Valen-tine?

a. 12b. 14c. 7d. 16

2. Ancient Egyptians used to mummify people with this organ intact because they believed it was the only part of the body neces-sary for the trip through eternity.

a. heartb. liverc. lungd. eye

3. This February holi-day was originally ob-served on February 14th.

a. Lincoln’s birthdayb. Washington’s birthdayc. Mardi Grasd. Groundhog Day

4. Which confectionary company produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800s?

a. Hersheyb. Nestlec. Cadburyd. Mars

5. Approximately 110 million of these will be sold and delivered within the three days

surrounding Valentine’s Day.

a. chocolatesb. rosesc. cardsd. emails

6. Who receives the most Valentine’s Day cards?

a. teachersb. wivesc. mothersd. children

7. This Italian city was where Romeo and Juliet lived in Shake-speare’s tale.

a. Romeb. Naplesc. Tuscanyd. Verona

8. In what year did Hall-mark launch its first Val-entine’s Day product?

a. 1913b. 1915c. 1917d. 1919

9. Which Roman god-dess was known as the goddess of love?

a. Vestab. Junoc. Venusd. Diana

10. Which monument was given as the ulti-mate gift of love?a. Egyptian pyramidsb. Taj Mahalc. Eiffel Towerd. Palace of Versailles

11. Which of the follow-ing birds DO NOT mate for life?

a. Doveb. Bald Eaglec. Cardinald. California Condor

12. What letter has be-come the symbol for a “kiss”?

a. Xb. Oc. Kd. Y

13. This confection is made from sugar or honey and almond meal.

a. fondantb. chocolate

c. carameld. marzipan

14. Some people be-lieve Valentine’s Day was created to super-cede this Roman pa-gan holiday.

a. Sementivaeb. Floraliac. Lupercaliad. Vestalia

Answers: 1. b 2. a 3. d 4. c 5. b 6. a 7. d 8. a 9. c 10. b 11. c 12. a. 13. d 14. c

Valentine Guide - Page 8

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Millions of cards are exchanged each Val-entine’s Day, which, according to the Greet-ing Card Association, is the second most popular holiday to ex-change cards, trailing only Christmas. While thousands of greeting cards per-fectly express person-al sentiments, many individuals still prefer to craft their own per-sonalized valentines. Papercrafting creates

Papercrafting for Valentine's Day Did you know?

Did you know?

something unique and worthy of saving. An art form in which pa-per is used to create three-dimensional ob-jects, such as models or sculptures, paper-crafting’s most widely known manifestation is origami, in which pa-per is folded and ma-nipulated into various forms. Papercraft also can be used to make pop-up cards and oth-er elaborate creations. Papercrafting can be enjoyable and chal-lenging and generally requires a good eye for design. But computer software programs and templates exist to make papercrafting a more viable option for those without a flare for design. One of the advan-tages to papercrafting is it tends to be inex-pensive. All a person needs is paper, a cre-ative idea, a cutting

tool, and an adhesive. Various projects can be created to make heart sculptures, homemade paper gift boxes, cupids, cards, and three-dimensional flowers ideal for Valen-tine’s Day. Web sites like pepakuracorner.blogspot.com, www.papercraftsquare.com or kelleighratzlaff.com are great resources for prospective paper-crafters.Craft stores such as Michaels, A.C. Moore and Hobby Lobby also may offer tutori-als on how to design and build various pa-percrafts. Visit a lo-cal store and inquire about classes. Such stores also may have books on papercraft-ing that often come with templates to help beginners get started. Books worth investi-gating include “Paper + Craft: 25 Charm-ing Gifts, Accents, and Accessories to Make from Paper,” by Min-hee and Truman Cho; “Paper Made!: 101 Ex-ceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper,” by Kayte Terry; and “Decorating with Papercraft: 25 Fresh and Eco-Friendly Proj-ects for the Home,” by Clare Youngs.Papercrafting allows men, women and chil-dren to put personal touches on crafty Val-entine’s Day projects.

Papercrafting is an inexpen-sive hobby that can produce beautiful creations for vari-ous occasions

Approximately 110 million roses, mostly red, will be sold and delivered in three days surrounding Valentine’s Day. The reason red roses are so popular is because they were the favorite flowers of Juno, the Ro-man goddess of love. There are nearly 900 acres of greenhouse dedicated to the production of fresh-cut roses in the United States. One acre of greenhouse rose pro-duction in the United States is valued at about one million dollars, which includes the value of the plants, greenhouse struc-ture and land. Although California grows 60 percent of the roses in the United States, the majority of those bought for Valentine’s day will have been shipped from South America.

“Love” is a powerful word that de-scribes one of the most potent human emotions. The word is believed to have evolved from the Proto-Indo-Europe-an’s word “leubh,” which described care and desire nearly five thousand years ago. The word was incorporated into Old English as “lufu,” a noun mean-ing “deep affection” and a verb “lufian” meaning “to be very fond of.”

Valentine Guide - Page 9

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14 Romantic Movies to ShareDinner and a movie have been a dating sta-ple for generations. On Valentine’s Day, couples often opt to stick with what works and dine out and then catch a flick -- either at the theater or curled up on the sofa at home.Choosing the right movie may take some compromise. He may believe a sexy James Bond-type girl dodging explosives and sports cars is the ultimate in cinematic excellence. She may believe it isn’t a good movie unless you’ve used a full box of tissues.However, the movie in-dustry and others may have their own thoughts on what constitutes an ideal Valentine’s Day movie, or one that can be enjoyed when you desire to put a little ro-mance in the air. Here are 14 movies deemed very romantic. See if they will be the right fit for your movie night.1. Dirty Dancing: This 1980s flick stands the test of time 25 years later. Baby, a good girl from an affluent family, falls in love with Johnny, a drifter dance instruc-tor, while she’s on a fam-ily vacation at a Catskills summer resort. This movie showcases that sometimes love tran-scends prestige, per-sonal status and well-meaning fathers.2. Titanic: In another classic movie where love trumps social class, Rose and Jack fall in love aboard the doomed ship. Their passionate

connection survives a tragedy and the ultimate separation.3. Princess Bride: A Rob Reiner movie, this fairytale tells the story of Buttercup and Wes-ley, a poor farm boy who wins the love of his employer. When Wesley is presumed dead and Buttercup becomes en-gaged to an area prince whom she doesn’t love, viewers are taken on an adventure that shows that even death cannot stop true love.4. Gone With the Wind: If a classic romance is what you desire, look no further than this epic film. Scarlett O’Hara is a conspiring woman who wants to choose her own husband, but ends up in the arms of rascal Rhett Butler amid the drama of the Civil War.5. Pretty Woman: De-spite a controversial sto-ryline that puts Richard Gere and Julia Roberts together -- he’s a busi-nessman and she’s a prostitute -- the theme of the movie is how love has no social boundar-ies, and sometimes it’s better to look beyond one’s own backyard for the love of your life.6. Legends of the Fall: A tragic but inspiring tale of three brothers who all fall in love with the same woman, Susannah, for different reasons, al-though only one even-tually marries her in the end. Family strife and complications show the darker side of love.7. A Room With a View: Lucy vacations in Italy,

where she meets people who are more passion-driven than those in her native Britain. When she meets Julian, a Brit who has been in Italy a while and has learned the wiles of romance, she is drawn into a liaison that she soon regrets.8. Sleepless in Seattle: Sam loses his wife Mag-gie and has to raise his son, Jonah alone in their new hometown of Seattle. Annie, a Bal-timore reporter, hears his heartbreaking tale when Jonah calls into a self-help radio talk show on Christmas Eve. An-nie becomes fascinated with Sam’s story and

wonders if they should meet. 9. Bridget Jones’s Dia-ry: A modern day “Pride and Prejudice,” Bridget is a single woman in her 30s who has a poor self-image and is also in a pseudo-relationship with her scoundrel boss, played by Hugh Grant. Bridget is consistently thrown into circum-stances that involve a family friend, Mark Dar-cy, whom Bridget sees as uptight and boring. Eventually, however, she sees a different side of the supposedly bor-ing lawyer. If you prefer the original tale, watch “Pride and Prejudice”

starring Keira Knightly.10. 50 First Dates: This quirky movie tells the tale of Henry, a bachelor and player who meets Lucy, a person with short-term memory am-nesia who forgets every-thing from the day once she goes to sleep. Reliv-ing day after day, Lucy starts to fall for Henry, who does his best to be memorable.11. An Affair to Remem-ber: Handsome playboy Nicky falls in love with Terry, a nightclub singer, while on a cruise from Europe to New York, despite each’s engage-ment to other people. - Continued on page 11 -

Valentine Guide - Page 10

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Popular Love Songs stand the test of timeThere are many dif-ferent ways to convey feelings of affection. Some people pen po-etry, others bestow gifts, while still others feel moved by music and lyrics. Songs have long been a popular way to convey emo-tions, and love songs have been performed by artists from nearly every musical genre at some point in time. Although music is subjective, some love songs have stood out as fan favorites. Commonly featured at weddings or as the backdrop on romantic evenings, the follow-ing songs are consid-ered some of the more popular love songs of all time.* “Love Theme From

‘A Star Is Born’” (Ev-ergreen): This Barbara Streisand classic from the hit film helped Streisand earn both an Academy Award for Best Song from a Mo-tion Picture and Gram-my Award for Song of the Year.* “Up Where We Be-long”: Few people can forget the ending scene of “An Officer and a Gentleman” when Richard Gere sweeps Debra Winger off of her feet. The song “Up Where We Belong” by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cock-er from the movie will always be a romantic favorite.* “All My Life”: Former Jodeci members K-Ci and JoJo created an enduring romantic

song with this pop hit.* “Save the Best for Last”: This song be-came Vanessa Wil-liam’s signature song and a smash hit.* “Be With You”: Soul singer Mary J. Blige emphasizes sticking with the one you love by being loyal.* “I Do It for You”: This Bryan Adams hit was nominated for an Os-car as the theme for the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”* “I’ll Make Love to You”: This Boyz II Men song was one of the longest-running No. 1 hits of all time.* “Lovesong”: The Cure’s Robert Smith penned this song as a present to his wife, Mary, in 1988.

* “Sweet Love”: Anita Baker’s soulful hit helped turn her from a budding R&B sing-er into a household name.* “Love Me Tender”: His good looks and gyrating hips helped thousands of women fall in love with Elvis Presley. However, this signature love song endeared the famed crooner to many oth-ers.* “My Heart Will Go On”: Celine Dion’s theme from “Titanic” became one of the most popular love songs of all time after the film’s 1997 debut.* “I’ll Stand by You”: This 1994 hit from The Pretenders can be in-terpreted as a song of romantic devotion or a

commitment to friends.* “You Are So Beauti-ful”: Joe Cocker makes the list again with this soulful 1975 hit.* “Have I Told You Late-ly”: Originally written and recorded by Van Morrison, this song gained new life and no-toriety when recorded by Rod Stewart.* “My Girl”: Beloved R&B group The Temp-tations deliver a song about sunshine on a cloudy day in this clas-sic.* “I Will Always Love You”: Witten and per-formed by Dolly Par-ton, this song is per-haps most known for the version performed by Whitney Houston for the soundtrack of her 1992 film “The Bodyguard.”* “Time After Time”: A song of devotion, Cyn-di Lauper earned her first No. 1 single with this hit.* “Hey There, Deli-lah”: A simple song of young love by the Plain White T’s.* “Unchained Melody”: The Righteous Broth-ers delivered the best-known version of this song, which helped create movie magic be-tween Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the 1990 film “Ghost.”* “Just the Way You Are”: Billy Joel’s clas-sic in which he tells his beloved she is perfect as-is.* “Your Song”: A sim-ple, eloquently written song of love from Elton John.

Valentine Guide - Page 11

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They agree to reconnect in six months atop the Empire State Building to see if they should con-tinue their relationship. But Terry experiences a situation that keeps her from their meeting, leav-ing Nicky to wonder if her love has waned.12. The Notebook: Allie and Noah meet at a car-nival and fall in love but are kept from each other by Allie’s disapproving parents who move her away. Allie waits several years to hear from Noah before getting engaged to another, but then must satisfy her curiosity whether Noah is alright.13. The Holiday: Two women from differ-ent parts of the world agree to swap homes for Christmas and en-joy a vacation from their own lives. Iris travels from London to Bev-erly Hills, while Amanda goes from her opulent life to Iris’ small cottage in Surrey. Both eventu-ally meet their romantic matches in their new lo-cales but fret over what to do once the holiday ends.14. Ever After: An in-terpretation of the clas-sic Cinderella story, the movie follows Danielle, who is treated poorly by her stepmother and stepsisters after her fa-ther suddenly passes away. A bit of a hellion, Danielle catches the eye of Prince Henry, who be-lieves her to be a court-ess and not the lowly servant girl she really is.

14 Romantic Movies to Share

- Continued from page 9 -Valentine's Day Facts and SuperstitionsEvery February 14th people around the world exchange gifts, chocolates and ro-mantic greetings for a day set aside for lov-ers. Many traditions are followed, all in the name of St. Valentine. Still, people may not understand why such customs are upheld. Much of the history of Valentine’s Day and St. Valentine himself is shrouded in mystery, and much of what’s widely accepted is in-accurate. To set the re-cord straight, here are some facts about the holiday.

* Valentine’s Day is be-lieved to have originat-ed from a celebration in Rome during the fifth century. This celebra-tion paid tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic priest. Other historians surmise it was a way to “Christianize” the pa-gan holiday of Luper-calia, which was a fer-tility festival. Included in the traditions were boys and girls drawing names from a box and exchanging gifts.

* The Catholic Church acknowledges at least three different saints named Valentine or Val-entinus.

* All of the stories sur-rounding St. Valentine -- whether they are disputed or not -- paint him as a sympathetic and heroic individual.

* Valentine’s Day greet-ings have been popular from the Middle Ages onward, though they have been usually ver-bal in nature.

* The oldest known written valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Or-leans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.* Valentine’s Day is cel-ebrated in the United States, Canada, Mex-ico, the United King-dom, France, and Aus-tralia.

* Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the most popular holidays to give flowers.* According to Hall-mark, women pur-chase 85 percent of all valentines.* According to the Greeting Card Associa-tion, an estimated one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valen-tine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year be-hind Christmas.

* Candy was among the earliest Valentine’s Day gifts and remains a popular gift today.

* Some tales suggest that the type of bird a girl watches on Valen-tine’s Day predicts her future husband. A blue-

bird indicates a happy man, while a sparrow indicates a poor man.

* In Medieval times, girls consumed un-usual foods on Valen-tine’s Day in the belief it would make them dream of their future husbands.

Did you know?Valentine’s Day is a popular time of the year to send greeting cards. According to the Greeting Card Association, around 145 mil-lion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually. While that is an impressive num-ber, Valentine’s Day actually comes in sec-ond as the most popular card-giving occa-sion. Christmas tops the list with some 1.6 billion cards purchased, including boxed card varieties. Other popular occasions to send greeting cards include Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick’s Day.

Valentine Guide - Page 12

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The many benefits of massage therapyAdvertisements for vacation destina-tions often paint couples’ massages as the premier ro-mantic activity. It’s true that massages can be relaxing and sensual, making such sessions ideal gifts come Valen-

tine’s Day. Yet, mas-sages aren’t just sultry oils and New Age music. They can actually be very good for overall health.Massage therapy is beneficial in vari-

ous ways. Massage is no longer just available in upscale health clubs or lux-ury spas. Massage spas have cropped up in malls, hos-pitals, clinics, and even office build-ings, making mas-sage therapy that

much more acces-sible.The Mayo Clinic notes that while more research is needed to confirm the benefits of mas-sage, it may be helpful for a variety

of health ailments. In addition to eas-ing sore muscles, reducing joint pain and helping soft tis-sue strains or inju-ries, massage can promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and calm feelings of stress. Massage reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This helps to lift spirits and can often lower blood pressure. Massage also may help to boost the neurotransmitters dopamine and se-rotonin, which are associated with de-pression.According to Health magazine, mas-sage also can help promote healthy sleep. It has some-thing to do with the effect of massage on delta waves, which are the brain waves connected to deep sleep. There is some evidence that massage can also increase white blood cell counts, promoting im-proved immunity.Many people rely on massages to

relieve pain. Ac-cording to a report published in 2011 in the American Col-lege of Physicians’ “Annals of Internal Medicine,” mas-sage helps people in pain feel and function better than those who do not receive treatment. Massage can alle-viate stiffness and pain and promote a better range of motion. And pain relief is not just for the back, arms and legs. Massage can reduce risk for migraines and de-crease pain from tension headaches.Massage even has beauty benefits. Rubbing the face and scalp can pro-mote blood flow and encourage lymphatic drainage. This can add vitality to the complexion and plump up the skin. Dull hair may appear more shiny and revitalized.People can explore different types of massage and ex-periment with what works best for their ailments. Every-

thing from Swedish massage to reflex-ology is offered at massage clinics.Because massage involves being par-tially or completely undressed and having a massage therapist touch various areas of the body, it is important to find a therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Make sure that the thera-pist is fully certified and qualified. It also helps if he or she is properly vetted by the spa or clinic. Therapists will heed a person’s prefer-ences with regard to the massage, only concentrat-ing on the areas specified. If any-thing feels uncom-fortable or a client prefers not to have an area of the body touched, he or she simply needs to ad-dress that with the therapist at the be-ginning of the ses-sion.The gift of a mas-sage session can be romantic and improve one’s over-all health.

The gift of a massage session can be romantic and improve one’s overall health.

Valentine Guide - Page 13

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Amazing facts about the human heartEvery Valentine’s Day homes and busi-nesses dress up the decor with cupids and hearts to cele-brate a day all about love and affection. The heart shape has been used to sym-bolically represent the human heart as the center of emotion and romantic love. Hearts symbolizing love can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Those familiar with human anatomy re-alize that an actual heart bares very little resemblance to the ideographic heart shape used in art and imagery. Similar-ly, the human heart really has nothing to do with human emo-tions. Despite this, there are many inter-esting components of the heart, and a man or woman truly cannot love or live without one.The heart as an organ is relatively small in size. It is roughly the size of a fist and weighs only 11 ounces on aver-age. Although di-minutive, the heart is responsible for pumping 2,000 gal-lons of blood through

60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. It accomplishes this by beating 72 times a minute in a healthy adult. All of the cells in the body receive blood except for the corneas in the eye. The heart works harder than any other muscle in the body. In a fetus, it be-gins beating at four weeks after concep-tion and will not stop until a person’s time of death. Even then, sometimes the heart can be revived. A heart can also con-tinue to beat outside of the body provided it has an adequate oxygen supply.Although many people refer to all of the blood vessels in their body as “veins,” they’re actually a combination of veins and arteries. Veins carry fresh, oxygen-ated blood to the body through arter-ies. The main artery leaving the left heart ventricle is called the aorta, while the main artery leaving the right ventricle is known as the pul-monary artery. Blood traveling back to the heart flows through veins after it has

passed the lungs to pick up oxygen. The thumping noise that is heard while the heart is beating is ac-tually the chambers of the heart clos-ing and opening as blood flows through.While the heart may not be the corner-stone of emotions, it can be affected by feelings. Stud-ies have shown that a “broken heart” is a real occurrence, according to Live Science. Bad news or a breakup with a loved one can put a person at increased risk for heart attack. This type of trauma releases stress hor-mones into the body that can stun the heart. Chest pain and shortness of breath ensue but can be remedied after some rest.Conversely, laughter and positive feelings can be beneficial for the heart. Research has shown that a good laughing fit can cause the lining of the blood vessel walls -- called the endothe-lium -- to relax. This helps increase blood flow for up to 45 min-utes afterward. Although having a

big heart colloquially means that a person is loving and goes out of their way for others, physically speaking, a big heart is unhealthy. An en-larged heart can be a sign of heart disease and compromise the heart’s ability to pump blood effec-tively. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure.There is good rea-son to get amorous with a loved one on Valentine’s Day or other times during the month. Being in-timate can provide a physical workout, in some instances dou-bling a person’s heart rate and burning up to 200 calories. That’s the equivalent of a brisk 15-minute run. Also, a study of 2,500 men aged 49 to 54 found having an orgasm at least three times a week

can cut the likelihood of death from coro-nary disease in half, according to The New England Jour-nal of Medicine.The heart is an amaz-ing organ responsi-ble for sustaining life. Although it is not di-rectly tied to love and emotions, without the heart such feelings wouldn’t be possible.

Valentine Guide - Page 14

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Turn Up the Chocolate on Valentine's DayFew desserts are more universally en-joyed and coveted than chocolate. It is the flavoring for sweet and savory cakes, cookies and pies, and choco-late can be enjoyed entirely on its own. Chocolate is particu-larly prized on Valen-tine’s Day, when it is enjoyed as a special treat, whether it is giv-en as a gift or eaten as an aphrodisiac.With so many vari-eties of chocolate desserts available to tempt the taste buds, it can be dif-ficult to decide on which treat to serve to that special some-one. Cheesecake is versatile and works well with chocolate as the centerpiece.

It also can be pre-pared in advance and enjoyed later on for the best taste and results.

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Preheat the oven to 350oF. Prepare the crust by

melting 1 stick of but-ter over low heat on the stove or by us-ing the microwave. Do not overcook. Separate the halves of cookies and re-move the cream fill-ing. Put the choco-late cookies into a large zipper-top bag and use a rolling pin to crush the cook-ies into crumbs. You may also pulse the cookies in a food processor to create crumbs, if available. Mix the crumbs with the melted butter in a bowl until they be-gin to clump. Press the cookie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, coming a little bit up on the sides. Allow the crust to set in the refrigerator.Soften the cream

cheese by leaving it at room tempera-ture for a little while and massaging the unopened packages with your hands. Oth-erwise, microwave the cream cheese on low power until slightly warm and softened.Add the cream cheese, sour cream, eggs and vanilla to a large bowl. Using a stand or hand mixer, blend the cheese mixture until all in-gredients are well incorporated. Then continue to mix for 2 or 3 minutes more to make the mixture more creamy.In a microwave-safe bowl, place the squares of baking chocolate and use low to medium power to melt the chocolate. Mix thoroughly until all the chocolate has liquified. Let the melt-ed chocolate cool off before adding it to

the mixture, so the hot chocolate will not curdle the eggs and cream when added to the cream cheese mix.Blend the choco-late with the cream cheese batter until thoroughly incor-porated. (Note: If you prefer marble cheesecake, swirl the chocolate through the cream cheese in-stead of mixing thor-oughly.)Pour the batter into the pie plate over the crust. Bake for around 1 hour, checking the cheese cake to see if it is firm and set. Place the finished pie into the refrigerator and allow to cool for 3-4 hours, or overnight.Do not worry if cracks have formed in the top. Use the cherry filling to top the pie. If desired, decorate with chocolate curls. Serve and enjoy.

Valentine Guide - Page 15

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Celebrate Valentine's Day with kids in towRomantic nights out on the town are how many couples cel-ebrate Valentine’s Day. Restaurants and resorts book quickly come Valentine’s Day, while movie theaters tend to be packed as well. Even babysitters cash in come Feb-ruary 14, as parents look to enjoy a roman-tic night away from the kids. Parents who do not secure a babysitter well in advance of the holiday will have to spend Valentine’s Day with kids in tow. Many parents actually prefer to spend Val-entine’s Day with their children, and there are plenty of family-friendly Valentine’s Day activities to keep everyone occupied.Dessert spreeValentine’s Day is the one day of the year to fully engage your sweet tooth. And what child doesn’t enjoy sampling plenty of sweet treats? Create a sundae station after dinner, complete with different flavors of ice cream and various toppings. Include mix-ins, like brownie bits or small chunks of pound cake. Everyone can create their own sun-dae, topped off with

whipped cream and a cherry.This is also a time to ex-periment with different dessert recipes. En-courage kids to come into the kitchen and dabble in pastry arts. Bake and decorate heart-shaped cakes and cookies. Whip up healthy, pink-tinged strawberry-banana smoothies. Create ed-ible candy-and-choc-olate bouquets to use as the centerpiece on a dining table. The op-portunities for fun with sweets are endless.Get craftyFamilies also can use this Valentine’s Day as a chance turn off their electronic devices and have fun with crafts and hobbies. While heart-shaped paper crafts are requisite for the day, that doesn’t mean you need to be limited to all frilly cre-ations. Boys can con-struct their own Cupid bows from twigs and some yarn. Everyone can whip up a batch of fizzing, scented bath salts. Homemade craft dough also makes for a fun proj-ect, and the dough can be turned into all different shapes, including hearts and bows.Fancy dinner at

homeWho says you have to venture out for fine dining? Plan an in-timate dinner right in your own dining room. Have the en-tire family dress up in semi-formal clothing and enjoy a candle-lit meal on fine china. The meal need not be fancy, as long as everyone enjoys what they are eating. Plan for dessert afterward.

Movie nightRather than facing the crowds at area theaters, you can visit your nearest movie quick-serve kiosk or purchase a movie through your cable service provider. Find family-friendly films with love and togeth-erness as the center theme. Then whip up a large bowl of pop-corn, snuggle under the blankets and en-joy a movie marathon.Memory boxPurchase or find a wooden, plastic or metal box that will last for several years. Have all members of the family gather their favorite items or things that are sentimental to them and place them in the box. These can be ticket stubs, pho-tographs, jewelry, or

other trinkets. Place them in the box and seal it. Agree not to open the box until next Valentine’s Day to see how the family has grown and evolved.Get plantingValentine’s Day is fre-quently accompanied by bouquets of roses and other flowers. Be-gin a new family tradi-tion of planting flower seeds on February 14. Use small pots that can be kept indoors

in a bright window for a few weeks until the arrival of spring. Then transplant outdoors and continue to enjoy full-grown flowering

plants for months to come.Plan a family excursionEngage in an activity that everyone enjoys together. Spend a day sledding down a win-try slope or skating at a nearby ice rink. Hike through a town park and witness the landscape during a cold-weather season. Visit a zoo, museum or aquarium and take in all the sights and

sounds.Although Valentine’s Day is billed as a day for couples, the entire family can still enjoy the day together.

Valentine Guide - Page 16

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Explore Poetry for Sentiments of Love

Three little words

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Come Valentine’s Day, many people feel compelled to spout words of love to those they care about. However, it may have been some time since they engaged in a little creative writing. The option to select a mass-produced, store-bought card

instead can be very tempting.

Poetry has long been the means to deliver words of af-fection. Throughout history poets have professed desire and love through the stanzas of their poems. From Em-ily Dickinson to W.H. Auden to Lord Byron to The Bard him-self, William Shake-speare, many writers can base a portion of

their fame on memo-rable love poems.

There are many dif-ferent types of po-ems, but it doesn’t take a lot of knowl-edge to produce an amateur attempt at a love poem this Valen-tine’s Day. Here are some of the better-known types of poet-ry and their rudimen-tary components.

Acrostic: This type of poem is one in which the first letter of each line of poet-ry spells out its own word. These types of poems are often written based on a person’s name or a sentiment, such as love.

Ballad: A short nar-rative poem that features stanzas of two or four lines with a refrain. The last words of the second and fourth lines often rhyme.

Epic: This type of poem is a long narra-tive usually celebrat-ing the adventures and achievements of a hero.

Epigram: If your Val-entine has a sense

of humor, try an epi-gram. This poem is short and satirical, ending with a humor-ous statement or a sarcastic punchline.

Etheree: This poem is 10 lines, where each line has a cer-tain number of syl-lables, from 1 in the first line to 10 in the last.

Free Verse: This type of poem does not have any specific rules, leaving the flow of words and line breaks entirely to the poet.

Haiku: This poetry is formed of unrhymed verses that follow the 5-7-5 pattern of syl-lables.

Limerick: Having originated in Limer-ick, Ireland, this is a rhymed humorous or nonsense poem of five lines.

Quatrain: A poem consisting of four lines of verse with a specific rhyming scheme.

Sonnet: This type of poetry features 14 lines in iambic pentameter with a

particular rhyming scheme.There are many dif-ferent ways to ex-press emotions through poetry. Ex-plore the different styles and find one that fits for you.

Love can be expressed through actions and gifts and simply by say-ing three little words. Those interested in adding a little panache to their loving senti-ments may want to try the words in a new lan-guage.

French: Je t’aime

German: Ich liebe dich

Italian: Ti amo

Portuguese: Eu te amo

Spanish: Te amo

Valentine Guide - Page 17

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While a night in is always a great way to save some mon-ey, couples can still spend a night away from home without straining the wallet. The following are a few ways cost-con-scious couples can save some money this Valentine’s Day.* Avoid prix fixe. Many restaurants offer prix fixe menus on Valentine’s Day. These menus re-duce the amount of options at a couples’ disposal, and cou-ples might be forced to pay for several courses when they would prefer just an entree. If cost is a concern, pick a res-taurant that offers a full menu instead of prix fixe. This allows

you to avoid poten-tially costly appe-tizers and desserts while still affording you the opportunity to share a night out together.

* Avoid going out on Valentine’s Day. Another way to save money is to go out a day or so before or after Valentine’s Day instead of on the holiday itself. Many restaurants are fully booked for dinner on Valen-tine’s Day, so you might be forced to choose a restaurant that stretches your budget. It should be easy to book a reservation a night before or after the holiday, and doing so allows you to choose a restaurant that’s more aligned with your budget.

* Shop ahead of time. It’s customary to exchange gifts with your significant other on Valentine’s Day, but it might be difficult to find a good deal on a gift if you wait until the last minute. Rather than p r o c r a s t i n a t i n g , shop for a gift well in advance of the

holiday. Because of the proximity of Valentine’s Day to the holiday season, you might be able to find a gift when shopping for the holidays. The holi-day shopping sea-son is known for its great deals, so look for something you can save until mid-February. If you go this route, just make sure the gift you buy will still be eligible to be returned or exchanged if need be. Even if you wait until after the holi-day season to find a gift for your valen-tine, the earlier you start shopping the more time you have to comparison shop and hunt for a deal.

* Consider a picnic. A day or night away from home doesn’t have to be spent at an expensive res-taurant or on a ro-mantic getaway. If the weather allows, consider a picnic in the park. Cook up your valentine’s favorite meal and bring along a bottle of wine and then enjoy some time together under the warm sun at a frac-tion of the cost of a more traditional Val-entine’s Day date.

* Forgo roses for a rose bush. Roses are a staple of Valen-tine’s Day, but they can also bust a bud-get. Instead of an expensive bouquet, tell your loved one

you will plant him or her a rose bush instead once the weather warms up. This frees up some money in the short term, and once the rose bush blooms this will prove one Valentine’s gift that keeps on giving.

Valentine’s Day is a beloved tradition for many couples, but it doesn’t have to stretch your budget.

Valentine Guide - Page 18

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POP THE QUESTION

Ten Tips for the Most Incredibly Romantic Valentine's ProposalIf you’ve decided that this Valentine’s Day you want to pop the big question, you’ll be in good company.

Ten percent of the re-ported 2.3 million cou-ples who get engaged each year in the USA, actually get engaged on Valentine’s Day (Source: Diamond In-formation Center).

It makes sense.

Valentine’s Day is the most romantic holiday of the year and has al-ways been associated with love and lovers.As simple as it may

sound, the prepara-tions for proposing can be complicated.

You know your bride-to-be would love to have a story to share that will let the whole world know how ro-mantic her future hus-band is.

Here are a few tips to help you come up with the perfect set-ting to propose to your future bride to show how much she means to you...

1. If your sweetheart comes from a tradi-tional family, asking

for her hand in mar-riage may be appro-priate. You can be sure it will go far to raising your future in-laws opinion of you if you make the effort to show them that you respect them enough to care about their blessings on your marriage.

2. You’ve probably witnessed those aw-ful moments when a suitor proposes on national TV...and the answer turns out to be NO! It may seem impossible for you to imagine, but before you go public with a

marriage proposal, sound out the bride-to-be, her family and her friends to make sure that you are reading the signals and the answer to you will be a big smile and a big YES!

3. Prepare ahead of time and make sure your intended will be available for your surprise. Proposing to someone over a romantic dinner is difficult if a business trip takes them out of town for your big day.

4. Use the media... Your local radio, TV

or newspaper may be looking for a roman-tic proposal idea to feature for Valentine’s Day. Everybody loves a lover and on Val-entine’s Day that is a great way to boost rat-ings.

5. There may be mil-lions of couples get-ting engaged on Val-entine’s Day, but you are special and when you propose, it should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. Why not retrace the relationship for the big event?

- Continued on page 19 -

Valentine Guide - Page 19

Make reservations at the restaurant where you had your first dinner together. Get a scrapbook of me-mentos - they can be real or you can fake it - ticket stubs from movies you’ve seen can be made from pieces of colored paper, dried flowers from the first bouquet can be purchased at your local florist...you get the idea.

Think of the roman-tic places you’ve en-joyed and the things you like to do to-gether and add them to your Valentine’s Day Proposal Book. Add a favorite poem or snapshots of the two of you. Get ready and as she comes to the last page in the scrapbook -- which is a page asking her to be your wife -- have your engagement ring ready to slip on her finger. You may even be able to get the waiter to take a picture of you propos-ing and her accepting to add to the scrap-book!

cooke fortune reading will you marry me6. Skywriters are a great way to pop the ques-tion, and they may be impressive, but the idea is not the most original, and a cloudy day can ruin all of your plans. If you decide to put on an airshow for

your future bride, add a little personality to the setting.

Have dinner at your favorite restaurant and have the waiters unfurl a banner asking the all important ques-tion... go to a sports event and have the banner unfurled from the stands across from your seat during a break in the action... go to a favorite ski resort and have the banner unfurled as you come to the top of the ski lift. You’d be surprised at how will-ing people are to help with surprise marriage proposals - especially on St. Valentine’s Day.

7. If you live in an area where outdoor activities in February are comfortable, get tickets to an outdoor event and as the sun begins to set have the MC announce that you would like to know if the woman you love would like to be your wife... If you live in a cooler climate do the same thing at an indoor event.

8. Fortune cook-ies have come to be

a popular place to hide a surprise ring. Steaming them open lets you put the ring inside with a piece of paper that says, “Will you marry me?”If you have a favor-ite Chinese restau-rant this can be the perfect ending to your Valentine’s Day Proposal dinner, but don’t stop there. Add slips of paper that tell your love how special she is. Copy some quotations from fa-mous lovers and add those too.

Since Valentine’s Day is the 14th, fill 14 for-tune cookies with love notes and after she has opened them all present the last one -- with the ring inside. You can also use this idea with other con-tainers.

9. Stop at your local jeweler, or ask the jeweler where you bought your engage-ment ring, for 14 ring boxes to hold your love notes. Make the 15th box the real en-gagement ring. 14 crayon boxes can hold notes telling your love that she adds col-

or to your world; 14 candy boxes telling her how sweet she is; 14 balloons filled with love notes or flower petals make an un-usual bouquet and the 15th balloon with your engagement ring inside makes an unusual way to pro-pose... come up with your own version to tell your special love what she means to you.

10. If you are a cou-ple who likes simple things - keep your marriage proposal simple. A quiet get away, snuggling in front of a warm fire... You on one knee tell-

ing her how much she means to you and that you want her to be in your life forever as your wife... now, that’s romantic!

The bottom line is that proposing doesn’t have to be elaborate to be romantic. As long as you find a way to tell her what she means to you and that you love her enough to ask her to marry you and spend the rest of your lives together... your Val-entine’s Day marriage proposal will be a special memory for-ever...

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Ten Tips for the most...Continued from previous page.

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