A Romantic Valentine's Day

How important is Valentine's Day to you and/or your spouse/significant other? Is it an important holiday that tells your lover that you really do care, or are they one of those people who looks at it as just another day out of the year due to the fact that you should show your love 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days out of the year. Either way, no matter what the outlook on this special holiday is, you can still plan something nice and romantic for your lover. You don't have to look at it as something out of the blue that will only happen once a year, but something that you can do on and off throughout the year. Below are some ideas, tips, and recipes to make that special day a memorable one, and you can use these throughout the year as well. Enjoy.

A ROMANTIC EVENING OUT:

If you're looking at going out for Valentine's Day, then think of something that you and your lover both enjoy. Whether it's something that you both do normally or even something that you two don't normally get to do, but know that you'll both enjoy it and want to do it. This will help you know that the night will be great and enjoyable, and at the same time you can make any necessary adjustments to make it even more better and more romantic. Here's some ideas for going out...

Restaraunts (you could eat in or do take out):

Olive Garden
Red Lobster
Chinese Restaraunt
Mexican Restaraunt
Japanese Restaraunt
A romantic picnic

Eating outdoors-

go to the beach and eat on the shore
go to the lake and lie down a blanket and eat on it while looking out at the sunset or under the stars
go on a nature hike and climb to the top of a rock/cliff and eat while enjoying the view
go to the park
find a meadow and enjoy the outdoors and the peace and quiet
have a small bbq outback for the two of you

Other options-

go to the movies
go to the theater
go take pictures
go hiking
go for a romantic walk under the stars
lie under the stars
cuddle in front of the fire
surprise her with a wonderful gift from the heart
(if getting engaged...maybe pop the question)
write her a love letter and leave it in a bouquet of flowers
and there's so much more

If planning on proposing-

place it in her champayne/wine glass and pour the drink in
place it in her dessert
get a stuffed animal and tie it around the animal's neck
place it in a small (very small) envelope, then place in a love note, and hand deliver in an envelope
if having a picnic, place ring in her entree (depending on what you're eating)
slip it around the stem(s) of flowers and secure in place
get her a gift to throw her off and place the ring in a small box, then wrap it and add it to the other gift, then wrap it or deliver it and allow her to find the extra gift
there's so much more if you use your imagination

If planning on staying home-

prepare a candlelit dinner
place rose petals around the bedroom floor and on the bed
sprinkle rose petals along the trail from the dinner to the bedroom and bathroom
make a bubble bath
place candles around the tub
sprinkle rose petals over the bubbles and in the water
play some soft/romantic music in the background
keep the lights dim
dress to impress
have a romantic movie that you'll both enjoy for later

if you're into new things-

go to a novelty shop and purchase some items just for fun...ex:

blind fold
hand cuffs
lingerie
edible lotion
body paints
sex/lover's games
dirty dice
feather tickler
bondage/restraints
massager/vibrator
anything else that may arouse you and/or your partner

All of these items listed above could make that special night, and any other night for that matter, a great one. You could choose one thing or all of them, and you'll be good to go. It doesn't matter if you stay home or go out, either way you want it to be perfect. All of these will do the job, and you'll be happy and your lover will be satisfied and overwhelmed.

A few pointers:

Do not make her feel like she's only loved/special on this day and this day only
Do tell her how much you care about her, love her, and want to be with her
Do make her feel good and special
Do not do anything to make this day an awful one, or one that she'll regret
Do make this night a memorable one
Do not look, make eye contact, or flirt in any way with anyone else (no matter how serious you are or aren't)
Do allow friends and family to be involved if you want and/or they want, but do NOT let them interfere with your plans or romantic ideas that are set up
Always make sure she's content
Make sure that she understands what is going on and where you two are going

Here are some recipes that you might want to try:

Chicken Alfredo

chicken breast
spinach noodles
alfredo sauce
seasonings (italian, garlic powder, parsley, basil leaves, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper)
vegetable oil
parmesan
french bread
butter

In a frying pan, pour some vegetable oil in and place chicken in the pan. Make sure that the chicken is only half covered and allow to cook at medium heat.
Apply seasonings to taste.
In another pot, fill halfway with water, and add the noodles to the pot.
Once the meat is halfway cooked, flip over and apply more seasonings.
Continue stirring the noodles until they are moistened and/or puffed up.
When the chicken has finished cooking, turn heat to simmer.
Once the noodles finish cooking, drain, and pour back into pot.
Add alfredo sauce, but keep a little bit out for later.
Take the French bread and cut slits into the top. Add butter into slits and sprinkle cheese on top.
Then place into oven at 250 and allow to toast for about 10 minutes.
Once the bread is finished, turn off the chicken.
Place one of the chicken breasts on a plate, add noodles, then sprinkle parmesan over top of the chicken and noodles.
With the remaining alfredo sauce and some butter, take 2 small cups/bowls and pour the sauce in one and butter in another (use these as dips for bread)
Then your dinner is done and ready.

Chinese At Home:

fried rice
steak or chicken
egg roll wraps
broccoli coleslaw
cream cheese
water
sausage
carrots or peas
peanut oil or sesame seed oil

In a frying pan brown the sausage. Once you do this, drain it and place back in pan on low heat. Add peanut or sesame seed oil to taste, then add in the broccoli cole slaw and stir until tender yet firm. Do not over cook.
Take the steak/chicken and cut into bite size pieces, then place them onto a cookie sheet. Add seasonings/sauces to taste (any that you want/like) then place in oven at 350 for about 15 minutes or until cooked to taste.
Cook fried rice as the package tells you to.
Once the sausage and slaw is done, pour into a mixing bowl and mix it up.
Then take the bowl to the table, along with the wraps and a bowl/cup of water, and the cream cheese.
Lay out a wrap and take a 2-3 tablespoon fulls of mixture and place in center of wrap, then dip your fingers into the water and wipe along the edges of the wrap.
Then fold the wrap over triangular wise, and seal.
Then roll the wrap, and seal the ends over top.
Place on a cookie sheet with damp papertowels to keep it moist.
Continue this until you get down to 4-8 wraps left.
Then take the egg rolls and go back to your frying pan, place some oil in it and allow to heat, then add however many eggrolls you can at a time and allow to fry. Make sure the vegetable oil covers the eggrolls at least half way, and then once it's cooked flip and allow other side to fry as well.
With the remaining wraps, cut them into 4's.
Do the same thing with them, but only use a half a tsp to a full tsp of mixture, then apply a small piece of cream cheese to the wrap, and then wet the edges and seal as if you were making a gift bag, instead of rolling like an egg roll.
Once the rice is ready, add the carrots or peas, and allow to warm and then serve.