Taj Mahal Love

Taj Mahal Love & Valentine's Day!

Does true love really exists?

History says Yes!

Taj Mahal- The Symbol of Trule Love!

Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is just a three hours journey from New Delhi, the capital of India. It has been one of the most attractive tourist spots in India for foreigners for years. Taj Mahal, the “best-ever symbol of eternal love” stands on the bank of river Jamuna at Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Taj Mahal, one of India's best architectural wonders was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Arjumand Banu who was later known as Mumtaz Mahal, (The meaning of the word Mumtaz Mahal is the Distinguished of the Palace).

Taj, the famous dome rests on a huge white marble terrace rising from a high red sandstone base (186x186 feet ) is flanked by four tapering minarets. Shahjahan consulted experts from the Middle East and Europe as he planned his legacy, which took Twenty Thousand people over Twenty-Two years to build. Cheap Travel modes are available to reach Taj Mahal, which used to serve as a wide moat defense of the Great Red Fort of Agra, the capital of the Mughal empire in those days.

Three names pop up as the designer of Taj Mahal, Geronimo Veroneo an Italian, Silversmith Austin de Bordeaux – French and Ustad Ahmad - the Persian Engineer cum Astrologer. It is heard that materials were collected from various corners of the world, like hills of Markana, Chinese Turkestan, Tibet, Burma, Afghanistan, Egypt and the Himalayas.

Cheap Travel Packages are available to intrude into the thrilling interior of this magnificent Mughal architecture, which comprises a domed ceiling, lofty central chamber, four octagonal corner rooms, the cenotaphs of Sha Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal in the center, an ever-glowing Cairene lamp.

Despite the controversy, whether it’s a tomb or a Shiva Temple, known as Tejo Mahalaya (acquired by Shah Jahan from the then Maharaja of Jaipur), Taj sparkles when the white marble basks in the moonlight. One may stay at cheap travel hotels to witness this mesmerizing beauty especially on a full moon night.

Plan your journey through cheap travel to visit one of the world's most famous monuments, Taj Mahal, which has just celebrated its 350th birthday.

Taj Mahal is said to express the different moods of a woman. It looks pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden when the moon shines. So, the travel freaks and romantic couples planning their trip to India through cheap travel should not give the Taj a miss!

Valentine's Day Origins

The origins of Valentines Day

Every year February 14th is celebrated as a day for love, exchange of gifts, promises of eternal passion, and more. The inspired pen poems inspired by their love and admiration for the women of their dreams while others just go to shops and buy commercially available verses.

Valentines means candy, chocolates, perfume, red hearts, balloons, and more. Have you ever wondered when the celebration first originated? Well in ancient Rome, February heralded the coming to spring a time for rejuvenation, fertility, and growth.

In ancient times, Romans celebrated in February a festival to honor the god of fertility who provided them with progeny and ensured a god crop. In Rome February 15th was celebrated as the feast of Lupercalla and Feb 14th as a holiday in honor of Juno the queen of Roman gods and goddesses. On the eve of Lupercalla a glass jar was filled to the brim with chits on which were penned the names of all eligible girls. Then young men would draw a chit each from the jar and the girl whose name was on the chit would be his partner for the celebration. This was a method by which ancient Romans introduced eligible boys and girls to one another.

Much later in the 3rd century BCE when Emperor Claudius II ruled Rome there lived a priest called Valentine. And when Claudius passed a decree that young men in his empire were not to marry, Valentine defied him and used to consecrate marriages secretly. He was sentenced to death and thrown into prison. While awaiting his execution Valentine penned a letter to his love and signed it "from your Valentine." After his death Valentine became a martyr and saint and was popularly known as St Valentine.

Wonderful legends are woven around Valentine's Day. In Wales young people exchanged as gifts wooden spoons which were hand carved with decorations of hearts and key holes. The decorations conveyed "you hold the key to my heart or you unlock my heart." In other places women were given gifts of clothes and if they accepted the gift then it conveyed that they were wiling to marry the man who has sent the gift.

In 1415, Charles, the Duke of Orleans is known to have penned, from his prison in the tower of London , what were known as "poetical amorous addresses" to his wife in France, he is believed to be one of the earliest creators of valentines.

Just as companies like Hallmark sell cards for Valentines Day in the 15th century people bought little booklets with verse in them ---they then made their own valentines using the verse to express their thoughts. For example a valentine could have the hand drawn illustration of a knight and his lady with Cupid the god of love shooting arrows into the knight's heart. In the US it was after 1723, that popularity of the celebration grew. People imported the "booklets of verse" all the way from England and copied the verses on to gilt edged papers. Then a Ms. Ester Howard in around 1830 decided to be original and create American Valentines that were marketed as Worcester Valentines.

Since then with changing centuries and tastes the celebration has taken on new hues with young men and women, children, as well as older couples creating newer ways to celebrate and declare their undying love.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888PressRelease.com/Lifestyle-0-24.html, the premier website to Submit Free Press Release for any announcements including launching of new product or services, new website, announcing new hires, sponsoring a special event or seminar and more. He also freelances for http://www.1888Articles.com/love-articles-178_19.html

Valentine's Day in USA

Valentine's Day, a Peek inside Us


"It's a Hallmark holiday" claim the skeptics. You need a card, a present, a meal in a restaurant. You're obliged to spend, spend, spend.

But Valentine's Day precedes consumerism, corporations, greeting cards, civilisation and even Christianity. It is an expression of what it is to be human. While every day pressures squeeze the romance out of life, Valentine's day is an island of corny indulgence in a giant sea of cynicism.

One early attempt at valentine romance, saw me commit several days to preparation. Roses, a three course meal, as exotic as a slightly green eighteen year old could muster and on top of that a singing waiter (an extroverted mate dressed up) to serve the food.

In retrospect the menu was bizarre. Raw cauliflower and carrots with a mayonnaise and curry powder dip. For the main course a slightly watery stir fried rice dish (I didn't have a strainer to strain the rice). This was laced with an over generous helping of chilli peppers, all teenage boys first learn to cook with chilli peppers. For dessert strawberries and bananas with a chocolate dip. Ah the deep hormonal motivations of eighteen year old boys. Everything was in place and my mate, the singing waiter completed my love trap.

Maybe the fascination and intrigues of being in love and particularly the physical side of it are not the preserve of eighteen year old boys. Valentines day has its origins in ancient Rome and it has survived centuries of religious interference and censorship to return to resemble what it originally was - a celebration of love and pairings.

The Lupercalia was a Roman festival celebrated on the 15th Day of February. In the Roman calendar February was later in the year and so the Lupercalia was a spring festival.

This festival was even old to the Romans, they were unsure of which deity it honoured. It emerged from the days when Rome was a small shepherding community on a hill called the Palantine and could have honoured Lupercus, who protected flocks against wolves, Rumina whose temple overlooked the place where the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus or Faunus the god of shepherds and agriculture.

Before the times of the great city of Rome the Lupercalia was a very joyous occasion. The foreheads of two youths were smeared with the blood of a sacrificed dog and goat. They then made their way around the perimeter of the city of Rome followed by priests lightly tapping women on the way with strips of the goats skin. This act was to protect them against infertility.

As Rome became the dominant civilisation of the era, the Lupercalia continued as an important part of the calendar. The seeds of the modern St. Valentine's Day were sewn by Roman soldiers who took the Lupercalia customs with them to countries they conquered and occupied. One such custom was the pairing of men with women whose names they selected from a bowl. The pairing continued for the length of the festival and sometimes beyond.

As Christianity gradually advanced through Europe the church replaced pagan festivals with festivals more suited to the new faith. They kept the days of the festivals the same to ease the introduction of the new religion but they changed the name and the reason for the festival. The Lupercalia's pairing of men and women went against the teachings of Christianity. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius ended the festival of Lupercalia and replaced it with St. Valentine's Day. St. Valentine was declared the patron saint of lovers. The pairing of couples was replaced and people were, instead, paired with a saint. The name of a saint would be drawn from a bowl and the person who chose it would then learn about, and try to emulate that saint for the following year.

Pairing with a saint and the churches concept of St. Valentine's Day lasted hundreds of years, but the spirit of the Lupercalia lived on in hearts, minds and spirits of the people. By the 15th Century eligible singles began pairing again. Medieval knights drew the names of their valentines from bowls and wore the names on their sleeves swearing to honour and protect them. They would sing love songs and profess their love with poetry. Eventually it became customary to write the verses down for your lover to read and by the 1600's Valentine cards had become quite elaborate. Possibly due to the fact that most people were unable to read or write intricate handmade paper valentines became a normal mode of exchange between lovers on Valentines Day and the first of what could be recognised as a valentines card appeared.

Their popularity was sufficient that by the early 1800's commercially produced Valentines were available. Initially they were hand painted by factory workers but by 1900 valentines were made entirely by machines using woodcuts and then eventually lithographs.

Today's Valentine cards are frequently anonymous. They emphasise either a sense of humour, reputed to be the greatest aphrodisiac, or a sense of romance - and occasionally both. Modern valentine cards can be rude, suggestive, funny and cheeky as often as romantic. There anonimity adds to the intrigue, hopes and fantasies. Love and romance are a deep part of the human condition, despite the church's early attempts to change its meaning the spirit of the Lupercalia lives on today. It has survived thousands of years and it is likely to be around for many more.

As for the success of my early romantic dabblings. Well the waiter was flat; the food was uncomfortable on the palette, and my date? Well, she was polite, ate as much as she could stomach and made her excuses and left, probably for home and a pint of Gaviscon.

Edward Spencer provides articles on holidays and occasions for various gift and greeting card shops, more information on Valentine's day is available.

Valentine's Day Story

Did You Know...? A Little Story About Valentine's Day

Did You Know That...

...Valentine's Day is the second largest card sending holiday of the year, second only to Christmas?

...Women purchase about 85% of Valentine's?

...Valentine's Day is also celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Australia?

...In February 2004, $2.4 billion worth of jewelry was purchased?

While some things can be known about the origins of Valentine's Day, one thing we don't know for sure is just where or when we began celebrating amore, although there have been many stories told over the years. I've been reading a few of the legends and myths and I want to share them with you. I have my favorite. Now you pick yours.

The Stories About Saint Valentine

One story alleges that Valentine was a priest living in the 3rd century in Rome. His story is deeply enmeshed with that of the Emperor Claudius II (aka: Claudius the Cruel), who ruled Rome at this time. Claudius was involved in many wars around Rome, but he could not convince many men to leave their wives and families. His solution was to outlaw marriage and cancel all engagements. The men would then be able to focus on waging war. Valentine, believing this law to be unjust, began marrying couples in secret. When Claudius discovered what Valentine was doing, it is said that he had him executed.

Another story has Claudius killing Valentine for helping Christians escape the Roman prisons, where they were regularly beaten and tortured.

Yet a third story claims that Valentine was put to death for curing the jailor's daughter of her blindness. She frequently visited Valentine while he was jailed. They were said to have fallen in love. In fact, Valentine may have originated the tradition of sending written avowals of love and romance. Prior to being put to death, Valentine allegedly wrote a letter to her, signing it "From your Valentine", an expression we continue to use today. It is believed that he was executed on February 14, 269 A.D. Thus, Saint Valentine became both a romantic and a hero.

The Feast of Lupercalia

The Feast of Lupercalia may have been the first legend told surrounding the beginnings of Valentine's Day. Lupercalia, a fertility festival celebrated on February 15, was a celebration to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture. Lupercalia was also a dedication to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Lupercus was said to watch over the shepherd's flocks, keeping then safe from wolves. The Roman priests would sacrifice both a goat and a dog to begin the festival. The goat represented fertility, while the dog symbolized purification.

The goat's hide was then sliced into strips and dipped into the sacrificial blood. The men went out into the streets, gently slapping the women with the goathide strips. The women welcomed this gesture as they believed it would make them more fertile in the year ahead. Later in the day, all the single women's names were placed in an urn. The bachelor men would pull a name from the urn. The couple would spend much time together over the next year and many of these pairings resulted in marriage.

The Feast of Lupercalia continued for centuries. As Christianity began to take hold though, the priests strived to replace the heathen practices by substituting the names of saints for the girls names. Those drawing from the urn would then aspire to imitate the lives of the saint whose name they had drawn. While the priests wished to abolish the pagan traditions, they sought to keep the festival flavor of feasts and sports. Thus, Lupercalia became Valentine's Day.

Traditions Over the Ages

The origins of our modern valentines most likely date back to the early 1400's. While he was a prisoner in the Tower of London, the French Duke of Orleans wrote many, many poems and valentines to his wife. Some of these remain and are on display at the British Museum in London. Flowers became popular gifts about 200 years later in France.

Americans began the tradition of exchanging hand-made valentine's in the early 1700's. Presently, every February, all across America, we celebrate our love and our loved ones on Valentine's Day with gifts, flowers, candy, and Valentine's greeting cards. Saint Valentine became the patron saint of lovers and we continue to celebrate the spirit of love and sentiment and good feelings.

Patricia Tomaskovic is the Owner of http://www.one-stop-gift-shop.com. We are a fully stocked online shopping mall with over 3500 items, offering a complete line of gifts for every occasion. Copyright 2006.

Valentine's Day History

The History of Valentine's Day

Many people try to complain that Valentine's Day is nothing more than a "Hallmark holiday" dreamed up by businesses seeking to profit from the desperate masses seeking love. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Valentine's Day traces its history back to ancient Rome, long before any such businesses started looking towards their bottom line.

In ancient Rome, February 14th was declared to be a celebration for Juno, queen of all the Roman gods and goddesses. Boys and girls who were segregated throughout the year would come together and draw names from a jar, and would pair up with the chosen person throughout the Festival of Lupercalia. Often, as a result of these pairings, the couples would fall in love and sometimes get married.

There are many legends of how Valentine's Day came to be at this point in Ancient Rome. Some believe that St. Valentine helped prisoners of harsh Roman prisons escape and thus was imprisoned by the Roman Empire. This legend continues that, while in prison, St. Valentine fell in love with his jailor's daughter and began to send her written love letters signed "From your valentine."

The prevailing legend is that St. Valentine was a Roman priest who began to secretly marry couples against the direct orders of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius believed that he was having difficulties recruiting soldiers for his immense military because the young men didn't want to leave their sweethearts at home. To combat this problem, he declared that both engagements and marriages were illegal. St. Valentine eventually was executed for his violation of Claudius' orders, but his spirit lived on throughout Rome.

When the Roman Empire fell and the Church became more prevalent throughout medieval Europe, they abolished all pagan rituals and celebrations including the Festival of Lupercalia. However, the people didn't want to give up their traditions of boys drawing girls' names. Therefore, the Church declared February 14th to be a holiday in celebration of St. Valentine, the priest who secretly married so many couples.

However, the boys were then told to draw names of saints instead of girls. The boys were then to emulate the life of their chosen saint for the following year. The people continued this for a short period of time, and then reverted back to choosing names of girls instead of the saints.

By the 15th Century, St. Valentines Day was celebrated with lovers singing their romantic feelings to their chosen ones. People often wrote sonnets and other love poems to give to their romantic interests. By the end of this century, these sonnets were written on ornate paper and became the first valentines. In fact, the oldest surviving valentine was written in 1415 from the Duke of Orleans to his wife. It was written while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and is on display in the British Museum in London.

Soon, valentine brands became known for their unique properties. Fraktur Valentines were known for their ornate, medieval-style lettering. A piece of paper was folded and cut into an elaborate, lacey pattern for Cutout Valentines. Puzzle Purse Valentines were complex puzzles of folded paper, allowing different portions of the valentine to be exposed at different times. Oilpaper stencils were used to paint Theoren Valentines. And Pinprick Valentines were made by, naturally, pricking a piece of paper repeatedly to transform the paper into a lace of sorts.

By the 18th Century, Valentine's Day became extremely popular throughout Great Britain and lovers began to exchange token gifts alongside their valentine cards. Amongst the commoners, this gift was often a small sweet that could be obtained with meager funds. In the upper classes, the gifts became more and more extravagant and included large boxes of chocolates, sweets, and even jewels.

In the 1840's, Esther A. Howland began her company producing valentines in the United States. She became known as the Mother of the Valentine, producing beautiful cards of colored paper, lace, and ornate lettering. By the late 19th Century, valentines were produced in factories by Norcross, later to be known as Hallmark.

These factory-produced valentines grew to encompass more than just declarations of undying love and devotion. As society changed and moved away from formal courtship, the valentines began to cover more light-hearted messages of humor and affection. These valentines became even more widely accepted as people expanded their circles of friends and companions.

Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated as a holiday honoring romance. Boys and girls no longer pick names out of a jar, but instead exchange valentines with token messages of affection. In the tradition of Great Britain, children often exchange small sweets, while adult lovers give each other large cases of sweets and gifts.

While the exact origins of Valentine's Day are slightly murky, there is no doubt that it is not just a holiday from the modern times. Instead, it is a chance to both honor the history and modernity of romance and affection.

About the Author

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets. Harmony Sweets is an international gourmet chocolate shop focusing on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, corporate gift-giving, and wholesale sales to retail outlets across North America.
Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

Have a Hot Date With Woman on Valentine's Day

How to have an impressive date with your woman on Valentine's Day?

Asking her for a date:

• Ask her out in person. Your conversations together is an opportunity for you to discover if both your personalities and ideas are attuned with each other, before you do decide to ask her out for a date.

• When calling through the phone. Don’t forget to mention to her the conversations you had. This will give her the impression that you do listen, making her feel important. Then if you feel that it is time to ask her, go ahead; ask gently, not in a demanding manner.

• Ask when you both are alone. Never ask a girl out on a date in front of others, like her friends. This will either embarrass her, and may say yes or embarrass you, if she says no.

During the date:

• Look good, be neat. Put extra effort to the way you look. Take the time be well groomed, smell nice and choose your clothes well. It must correspond to the place with which your date is set. Make a good impression, so you can charm her and she can be proud of you.

• Do not be late. Prepare for the big day ahead. Make the necessary reservations and planning for your date. If you have planned for it, she will be impressed that you did put some effort on your night together. Be sure that during the “big day” you have no appointments so you won’t be cramming and be on time.

• Present Her: Presentation doesn't mean that you have to gift her with a Diamond Necklace. Don't give something you can't afford to. A gift with "pure love" is always "GIFT" irrespective of its value. A perfume bottle, a Romantic Novel or even a Bikini works well!

• Be polite. Be sure to make her feel good by complementing the way she looks. And when seated at the table, turn your cell phone off. This will signal to her that you are very much interested in your moment together. (Say, "you are beautiful honey") Don't use the words like sex babe, horny etc! Her mind is very sensitive like her body

• Say her name. Make it a point to say her name ever so often in your conversations, to make her feel at ease and special.

• Smile. Aside from putting up a positive attitude, your smile is an indication that you are happy to be with her.

• Have a Sense of Humor. Making a woman laugh means you have won half your battle. This means that she is having a nice time and creates a positive atmosphere. This will be an occasion she would remember, because she had fun!

• Be attentive. Listen to what she has to say or is saying, do not interrupt. Let her finish, before you state your opinion and make eye contact.

• Be honest. Let her get to know you by telling her what you do, what interests you, don’t make up stories. If she will not like you for who you are, then she is not worth your time. Show interest in her too, by asking her about her work, hobbies and her likes. Be sensible and honest in initiating such conversations.

• Relax. Do not worry that your date is not having a good time. Go ahead and ask her. Just manage yourself well and enjoy the evening. Keep the conversations open and ask questions. Be sincere.

• Do not pretend. Be yourself. Pretending into somebody that you’re not, will not work in the long run. The truth will always come out sooner or later. It is a rewarding feeling if someone is drawn to you for who you really are.

• Never compare. It will be very unfair of you if you compare your date to your past girlfriend. Keep in mind that she is a totally different person with her own personality. Take the time to discover her; you might be pleased if you do. Comparing won’t get you anywhere. An important thing to remember, do not ever articulate your comparisons with your date, this will surely lead to disaster.

Many guys tend to describe their previous date with current date ;( good or bad) this is absolutely wrong. Every girl is different; every girl has different mentality and attitude. And remember girls never like comparison!

• Never tell your date about your break-up. Keep in mind that you asked her out so you both could have fun together. She is not your therapist, so do not recount your past relationship. Burry the past and move on. Here is a woman in front of you who is interested to know you more. Get to know her too, initiate a conversation that could lead to a common interest.

• Enjoy. Dating should be exciting and relaxing. A woman could sense if you are enjoying or not. Don’t stress yourself trying so hard to make it “The Perfect date” because it won’t be. But you both can enjoy it. After all, you did invite her out because you liked her in the first place. Be spontaneous and have fun.

• Not Just About Sex: The main purpose of special dating is NOT just having sex! Don't show your sexual craving by behaving like a pervert. Instead let her invite you for "that!" Every second you spend with her should be enjoyable to her. And when her body and mind is full of joy you'll get unbelievable sex from her! (oh, orgasm?)

Give her what she wants and get what you need from her!

Be a Gentleman!

Romatic Gift For Men

Romantic Gifts for the Man in your life for Valentines Day!

Romantic Gifts for the Man in your life for Valentines Day ! (or----Simple Steps to really make him fall in love with you quickly !)

- Valentines Day is upon us ! Give him a quality gift that he will treasure for a very long time....maybe forever ! -

Get him to fall in love with you in 5 Easy Steps ! Buy him a quality gift that says you love him. It does not need to be expensive......but wouldn't hurt if it was.
Here are my suggestions.. 1. MONOGRAMED Tuxedo Stud Sets and Cuff links.....or Blazer Buttons are a Wonderful gift!! Not only are these great lifetime gifts but they make him look like a million bucks.

2. Monogramed Anything.....money clips, special wrist watches, pocket watches, pocket knives, pens.....nothing says "forever" like a monogramed gift ordered BY YOU---FOR HIM...with his initials.

3. Formalwear Accessories. Formal evenings are often the most romantic......elegant formalwear accessories are really a special gift.....special tuxedo vests...cummerbund and bow tie sets come in many wonderful patterns and colors....tuxedo scarfs...tuxedo shirts....and the new tuxedo neckties are a new accessory that not everyone has.

4. Robes and Pajamas.....well....what can I say ? This is not something that everyone buys for themselves. If they do--most people tend to buy the basic variety. Choose something luxurious for him !

5. Cashmere Sweaters. Sure to be in his closet for a lifetime. Beautiful colors....soft and luxurious.
Here's the key....choose something that is very high-quality and timeless. Exactly what you would want him to think of when choosing a diamond ring for you.

The compliments from everyone (especially you !) on how well he looks will follow.
He'll love you for it !

Dennis Dann has been a Men's Retailer for over 35 years. He currently ships Men's Clothing and Accessories worldwide thru his website at www.Dann-Online.com with Dann Clothing, Dann Formal Shop, Cuff Link Ink, Bill's Khakis by Dann and Personalized Gifts from Dann. He can be reached via his website at Dann@Dann-Online.com. He is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis.

Vday Gift From The Hear

Valentines Gifts from the Heart


One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mother helping me make a Valentine's box to take to school. We pulled out white paste, an old shoebox, scraps of doilies, and construction paper. There was a flurry of activity as I cut and pasted, and imagined my box filled with homemade Valentines from classmates and secret admirers.

My favorite teacher in the fourth grade was Mrs. Dearing. For Valentine's Day, I wanted to make her something special. My mother had a recipe for sugar cookies that she had made as a child. We stayed up late rolling out the dough, long after my brothers had gone to bed. Carefully, we sprinkled the cookies with sugar and waited for the sparkling wafers to emerge from the oven.

To this day, when I smell sugar cookies baking, I think about Valentine's Day and that special present for my teacher.

SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients 1/2-cup unsalted butter at room temperature 3/4-cup sugar 1 large egg 1 Tablespoon milk 1/8-teaspoon salt 1/2-teaspoon vanilla 2-cups flour Granulated sugar for decoration

1 ceramic cookie mold (available at craft stores or from www.cookieartexchange.com ) A plastic drinking straw 1/4 inch satin ribbon Directions

1. In a medium sized mixing bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar. Stir in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix in the flour and salt.

2. Knead the mixture into a dough. Chill for 15 minutes. 3. Use the ceramic cookie mold make a fancy Valentine cookie. Coat the mold with cooking spray. Pour a little granulated sugar into the mold, tilt until sugar covers the bottom, and tap out any excess. Press dough into the mold and turn it out onto a greased baking sheet. Use a plastic drinking straw to make a hole in the top of the cookie. Sprinkle with sugar and chill for 30 minutes.

4. Repeat the process for each cookie. (You will only need to coat the mould with cooking spray once, but you will have to re-sugar the mould for each cookie.)

If you don't have a cookie mold, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make your cookies. Use a plastic drinking straw to make a hole in the top of each cookie. Sprinkle the tops with sugar. Place on a greased cookie sheet.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake all chilled cookies for about 10 minutes, until golden. Cool completely.

6. Tie a 9-inch piece of satin ribbon through the hole of each cookie. On a tag, attach your special message or Valentine wish.

Instead of store bought Valentines, encourage your child to make a gift that will fill him with pride and accomplishment.

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About the Authors:
: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit <http://www.togetherparenting.com/> To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to <http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp>

Sweet Valentines Day

Valentines Day! The Sweet and Romantic Holiday


When I think of Valentines Day I think of Chocolates and Flowers. Others might think of a more romantic subject too. What ever it means to you it should be made fun and can offer another reason to think of giving someone special a gift during this holiday.

There are many ways to shop for valentine gift ideas. Some options you might think of are to browse through the catalogs we all receive in the mail to get ideas, go out shopping at the stores and wait in lines, or kick back with a cup of coffee or cup of Mocha and browse online. Doesn't the 3rd option sound the best? I have found shopping online to be so much easier to do and did much of my shopping during the holidays this way.

Some businesses offer free shipping or free with orders over a certain amount. Even if you have to pay shipping, it is a small price to pay for the convenience of shopping from home. Unless you like traffic and crowds, it's the best option. I have found this to be a much less stress free option for my life style. If you have not tried online shopping already, you should think of doing so, you won't be sorry.

If you are not sure where to start shopping for quality gifts online here is a suggestion to get you started. Using your favorite search engine type in 'online shopping malls' you will be surprised at the variety of shops on the Internet that offer quality, low prices, good customers service and good deals. We support small Internet business and would also like to recommend a wonderful woman owned website called Beans and Bears and Tea Boutique Collection. You will find additional information about there wonderful gifts, gourmet food and specialty tea website below.


This article was written for Beans and Bears and Tea Boutique Collection at http://www.beansandbears.com/ and http://www.teaboutiquecollection.com/ Article written by Merrie Schonbach http://merriesintent.com/

Solo Valentine's Day

Going Solo On Valentine's Day: Advice For Singles

The stores are decorated in candy hearts, flowers and bears. Every TV or radio commercial reminds you that it's time to remember your sweetheart on this special day for lovers. Your feelings range from sadness, to revulsion to anger. What's a single person to do? The following suggestions are designed to both answer that question and to help you have a good day after all, while working to make it your last solo one.

1. Celebrate the day by planning an activity that is meaningful and enjoyable to you. Choose something that provides you with a special treat. Go to a day spa for "the works", plan an intimate dinner for 3 or 4, go ice-skating or to the movies with a fun friend, or go out to dinner and a movie with a group of other singles. Focus on what you enjoy and make a conscious decision about how to mark the day. Un-Valentines Day parties are very popular and can be a lot of silly fun. You can attend one or throw one of your own.

2. Design a relationship-building plan for 2003. Let the holiday provide you with the motivation to take risks, try new ideas and gain the knowledge that will enable you to find and create a lasting, intimate relationship.

* Sit down at the computer or with pen and paper in hand and get your plan written down. * Begin by making a list of resources that can be used to help you meet available singles. These can include: on-line dating sites, singles groups, volunteer activities, or participation in sports or other activities that you enjoy. * Decide when and how often you will participate in any activity you have chosen. *Make a budget for both time and available funds for this purpose. * Do your homework and research each resource so the information will be available when you need it.

3. Review those resolutions you made, or make some if you haven't yet. Think about what is really important to you. Remind yourself that implementing and sticking to these will help ensure that you are really ready for that special relationship. Being the kind of person you want to be with is the first step. Begin with concrete goals. For example: stick with a healthy diet, exercise three times a week, plan one organizational task per week, etc. Taking care of yourself and living well, will optimize your chances for relationship success. Start today.

4. Work to eliminate negative thinking. When a negative thought comes into your mind, take a moment to think about what is beneath it. Then, tell yourself that thinking this way is not good for you. Make a decision to drop the thought and try to think of something (anything) that is positive. It can be as simple as focusing on what a beautiful day it is outside, to feeling grateful that you survived the current wave of lay-offs in your company. Use this technique for situations as well. Ask yourself how you can view the situation differently. Try to find one positive angle or outcome that could result from an otherwise bad situation. For example, you are being laid off from your job. You have been unhappy for a long time, but could not motivate yourself to do anything about it. Now, you have the motivation to look for a new job, or perhaps change careers. Think of all the possibilities that could open up for you.

Negative thinking is a downward spiral that leads to negative behavior and possibly depression. Consciously choose to challenge these thoughts, and empower yourself with a more positive outlook and approach to life.

Hopefully these tips will assist you in having a better "solo" Valentine's Day than you might have been headed for. Enjoy the day by doing something fun. Then focus on your relationship plan and empower yourself to build the healthy, lasting relationship of your dreams.

Toni Coleman, LCSW Helping Singles Find Lasting Love www.consum-mate.com

Toni Coleman, MSW is a licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach who has been quoted in many publications including: The Chicago Tribune and The Orlando Sentinel newspapers and Family Circle, Woman's Day, and Star magazines. She has been featured on ABC News; Discovery Health Channel and AOL Online. She is a weekly contributing commentator on the KTRS Radio Morning Show, (St. Louis, MO). Toni founded Consum-mate.com in 2002.

Celebrate Valnetines Day

Unique Ideas to Celebrate Valentines Day this Year

Want to celebrate Valentine's Day in a different way? We've collected a bunch of unique ideas - special ways to show how much you care about your spouse, family members and friends you cherish.

Heart-Felt Valentine's Meal ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make up a batch of heart-shaped pancakes for a yummy Valentine's breakfast or brunch. Just pour the batter in the frying pan in a free-form heart shape and serve with strawberries and whipped cream.

Balloon Goodies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Insert candy surprises into balloons before inflating them - add a folded-up Valentine's message then inflate each balloon. Tie with a red ribbon and attach to your loved one's chair for them to find Valentine's morning.

Family Affair ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have the children help you prepare red Jello with cinnamon hearts mixed in, mashed potatoes colored with pink food coloring, heart- shaped cookies and any other creative ways to present your Valentine's Day meal.

The Gift of Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Give a hand-made coupon for some work you can do to free-up some time for your spouse or parent. For example, a coupon good for cleaning Dad's garage or for a full-house vacuuming for your wife. How about a coupon for your best friend - you can walk her dog or baby sit one evening.

Coupon Day ~~~~~~~~~~

Each of you can create individual notes, say 4 or 6 each, to describe a special surprise - a back rub, a bubble bath, kisses from head to toe, a special meal - fold up the notes and toss them into a jar. You can take turns having fun plucking a coupon from the jar and doing what it says.

Scavenger Hunt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can prepare this one for your spouse or for your children to enjoy. Write up little notes about how you feel and what they mean to you and place them around the house along with a candy heart or other treat. Add a riddle at the end of each note about where to find the next note. At the last note, have something special waiting there. For example, you can be waiting for your hubby in a candle-lit bubble bath with two glasses of wine. For your children, then can find a teddy bear or other toy or treat.

Less Fortunate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit a hospital or chronic care home to pass out small Valentine surprises to the residents. They will enjoy the care and attention from something so unexpected.

Alone? ~~~~~~

No one special to share Valentine's Day with? Sure you have! You! Why not pamper yourself with a candlelit bubble bath, then prepare your favorite gourmet meal and rent the latest comedy video. Or treat yourself to a day at the spa, or a day at the gym with a step or aerobics class. Plan for Valentine's Day at least a week in advance - you'll find yourself looking forward to your special treats and your quality time with yourself, by choice.

Picnic Fun ~~~~~~~~~~

Place a blanket on the floor near the lit fireplace with candles on the mantle and have your Valentine's meal as a candle-lit picnic with a bottle of your favorite bubbly.

Italian Romance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some soft Italian love songs on the CD player, a luscious Fettucini Alfredo with a bottle of your favorite Italian vino, then some fresh canoli from the pastry shop and cups of amaretto- flavored coffee for a taste sensation - top it off with a sensuous scented bubble bath for two

A Cereal Surprise ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sneak in love notes and chocolate kisses in your sweetheart's or children's cereal
Notables ~~~~~~~~

Little notes in their lunch boxes, on the bathroom mirror, in his briefcase, stuck on the car windshields, in his underwear drawer

I'm fortunate to have you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mix up a batch of fortune cookies (see http://www.whimsies-online.com/valentine.htm for recipe!) and add your own little words of love

Messy but Marvelous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Make sure you wear old clothes for this one and plan this escapade where cleanup will be easy (no carpets, please!) Make up a batch of chocolate pudding. Feed each other and wind up having a food fight! Ideally, this is more fun in your birthday suits, then the pudding won't go to waste where it lands! Guaranteed for loads of giggles between the two of you - take a shower-for-two after this one and wash each other's chocolate-flavored hair!

Take a Letter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take turns writing a love letter or love poem to each other. Read them out loud

Valentine Sharing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plan some community work - help out at the local shelter, volunteer at your local church, work with other volunteers to spread some caring amongst your community.

All in the Family ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spend some quality fun time with your niece or nephew or other child in your family.
Long-Distance Caring ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call your favorite aunt whom you haven't seen since she moved far away, or your best friend who transferred to another country - let them know you're thinking of them this Valentine's Day

Just For You ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you wanted that delicate pair of earrings for awhile but kept putting off the purchase? Give yourself a special Valentine's Day gift

Poetry In Motion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Write him or her a poem - can't write? Try out the poem generator on http://www.whimsies-online.com/valentine.htm for fun! Print out your creation and place it on your loved-one's night table for when they awake!

Heather Diodati, is the owner of DDesign, an on-line shop for one-of-a-kind personalized gifts for all occasions. Sign up for our free ezine, On A Whim, for your free time management gifts! http://www.whimsies-online.com

Intelligence Valentines' Day

How to Have an Emotionally Intelligence Valentine's Day

Every time Valentine's Day comes along, I think of the day before Valentine's Day a couple of years when, as I was leaving the card and gift shop where I'd selected some Valentines, while cursing the materialism dictated to us by Madison Avenue that demanded the expression of feelings with store-bought cards and boxes of candy, mourned the fact that I had no "honey" at the time, thought of the cards I should and should not have received on past Valentine's Days, worried if I was spending too much or too little, and wondered if my son would remember to let my grand-daughter pick out a card for me...

... the shop owner called out, "Be careful driving, Susan. There are a lot of angry lovers out there on the road today."

It's coming again … Valentine's Day … and with it a lot of emotions. It's also a day you can organize, if you sit down and think about it, using both your IQ and your EQ.

INTENTIONALITY
How do you intend your Valentine's Day to be? Intentionality means saying what you mean and meaning what you say, and it also means being responsible and accountable for your motives as well as your actions.

If your intention is to express your love to someone in a meaningful way, this might include thinking about what means love to them. It could be a toaster oven would be greatly appreciated, a poem you've written, a kiss on the cheek, an addition to their collection, a power tool, something very gushy or not very gushy, a night of dancing, or not spending any money because you're both over budget.

At the same time, how to you intend to manage your emotions?

If you take an honest look at the situation, here are some intentions you might have:
·Do you plan to be upset over what happens? ·If you're single, do you intend to "let it get to you?" ·Do you intend to be disappointed in what your lover gives you, as nothing is good enough? ·Do you intend to keep your expectations in line with reality-testing? ·Do you intend to express your needs, as no one can read your mind, no matter how much they love you? ·Do you intend to spend more than you can afford to and then feel guilty? ·Do you intend to compare yourself, or the gift you receive to others'? ·Do you intend to agree to choose your boss' gift for his wife even though this causes negative emotions for you? ·Do you intend to let someone else "do" Valentine's for you, or do you plan to be personally involved in your gift choices? ·Do you intend to be a perfectionist and feel that whatever you buy is wrong, and whatever you do isn't right?

You could intend to love yourself and enjoy your day!

Intentionality is tough stuff and it means business.

ACCOUNTABILITY
On the more pragmatic level, there are things that need doing. If you intend to observe the day by remembering various people

·Write out your budget ·Make a list of people you wish to remember ·Start writing down ideas for each person ·Remember there's a whole slew of merchants out there willing to make this easy for you - use the Internet and the telephone ·Start early to avoid pressure ·Plan ahead how you will resist all the last-minutes "specials" coming your way that you know you can't afford
Valentine's Day falls on a Friday this week. That's something you need to know. This means you can send last-minute floral arrangements, and it means that restaurants are going to be absolutely packed on that night, and that babysitters may be hard to come by. Plan accordingly!
Planning is the key to experiencing the joy of Valentine's Day. It's your day and you can have it your way!

About the Author:
Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, offers personal coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Visit her at www.susandunn.cc and mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for FREE Strengths course.

Welcome To Valentines Day Blog

Hi, hello and Welcome to Valentines Day Blog!

This blog is specifically created to talk and share information about VDay.

This blog is specificaly for those who Love their mate (I mean true Love!)

Have a lovely day!

Love Mate