From The Heart

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays that can either be wonderfully magic or dreadfully tragic. If you are hoping for a day filled with love and happiness here are some sure fire ways to get the flame going without spending a lot of money.

1. Create a "Pill Bottle" filled with Love Pills. Start by using an empty pain reliever bottle and soak it in water to strip the original label off. Create your own label with the words "LOVE PILLS, take one a day when needed".. and adhere your label to the bottle using glue or tape. Next, cut small strips of paper and write messages that your love can redeem whenever they want. You can write tame messages like "1/2 hour foot massage" or you can get really romantic and create messages such as "redeem for a long and passionate kiss" or how about "good for love making in any location of your choice"...You get the idea...This is a fun way to put the playful spark back into your love life.

2. Another idea that my mother used when we were little as a Valentine's day gift to my dad is a Love Tree. Search your local area for a decent size branch, (maybe 2' or so). Find a branch with lots of little twigs still attached. Next plant the branch in a small pot with soil. The soil does not have to be great since the goal is not to keep anything alive...Once your branch is planted, create small heart shaped notes out of red, pink and white construction paper. Write messages of love on each heart and tie them on the tree with a red ribbon. Our tree always had messages about what we loved about Dad, like "I love the way you play Candyland with me..." or "I love the way you tuck me in at night..." My mother's notes were more intimate like "I love the way you kiss my temple each day..." This is a great way to show your Valentine what you love about them. There is something so romantic and so simple about this gift.

3. One more idea for your Valentine is to take the same theory from either of the above gifts and bring your messages to the balloon shop. Ask the sales clerk to insert the messages into the balloons before she blows up the balloons. This is a great idea for a romantic proposal on Valentines Day. Be sure that one Balloon is a different color than all of the others and include your marriage proposal in this balloon. While you stand with your "honey" and give them the balloon bouquet, you choose a balloon out of the bunch (not the special balloon), and have your love pop them one at a time to read the messages. If you do this long enough, the receiver will never suspect that the special balloon is the "SPECIAL" balloon. Try not to save it for the last balloon so that she does not suspect the significance of this balloon's message. She will be so surprised to read the final message of love and proposal.

Valentine's Day does not have to break the bank. I think that gifts from the heart are the most romantic way to share your love. Your Valentine will not hesitate to share your thoughtfulness to everyone and you will look like the Valentine hero.