Valentines Day is again once upon us. Many of us have already made plans to spend a romantic evening with our significant other. If you haven't already made plans, you still have time. Many couples traditionally make plans to go out for a romantic dinner for two, maybe see a movie afterwards. Many choose to stay in the comfort of their own home and spend the night by a crackling fire. Whatever you decide, make sure it's genuine, romantic, and from the heart.

Women love it when their man takes the time to plan something special for them, especially on Valentines Day. Be sure to tell the special woman in your life, how much you love her. It's ok to drop the macho act this one particular day out of the year. Pour your soul out to her. Let her know how special she really is to you. How much she means to you, and how lucky you are to have her in your life. Let her know how much of a better man you have become since the two of you have been together.

After you have completely melted her heart with the release of your feelings, it will be time to wine and dine her. Don't be a tightwad this year, and spend the money on this special occasion. Take her to her favorite restaurant, or cook her favorite meal. Take her to see the chick flick you know she's been dying to see. Take her shopping at her favorite store. Good lord man, pamper this woman like there is no tomorrow. If you do all of this and can go all night without saying something stupid, then the dividends of your efforts should pay out for months!

Now some free advice for you women. First off, be ready to go at a descent time. Be prepared and start getting ready about one hour before you normally do when you go out. This should ensure that you leave the house on time. This way your man will not be so anxious, and be tempted to say something stupid causing you to snap at him. This is a bad way to start off this special evening. Remember, it's better to be lovers than to be fighters.

Make sure that your extra sexy for him this evening. Trust me. Your man loves it when you are exceptionally beautiful and confident with him in public. Make sure you maintain both physical and eye contact throughout dinner. Rub his hands from across the table, or if you are setting next to him, rub his thigh to let him know you appreciate the effort he has put forward for you this special day of love.

Let your man know how much you appreciate him. Let him know how thankful you are to have such a real man in your life. Let him know how safe and secure you feel with him. When you get home after a romantic night out on the town, let him know that you had a wonderful time and offer him a backrub for his efforts. He will be putty in your hands after this. Now it's time to put on that sexy little outfit you bought just for him.

Well I think we all know where these special romantic evening end up from here, provided all went well and we as men were fortunate enough not to say any thing too stupid throughout the evening. I think if we both as partners follow these basic outlines of mutual respect, love, and appreciation, will come to appreciate the fact that we truly are lucky to have such a wonderful person in our lives with whom we can share our secrets and our passions with.

Shane Brooks is a self employeed writer who simply enjoys living life one day at a time.

More fascinating dating and relationship advice articles can be found here along with Love Rocks Relationship Advice & Dating

With life's pace quickening everyday, people are looking to escape from the rat race and relax to rejuvenate their body. For life to be revitalising, it is necessary to have a good flow of life force energy in your home to welcome your valentine or "your beloved one". You can get good energy in your love and life by just making a few changes in your room.

Did you know that Red Roses with thorns are not a happy ending sign if you were to give them to your loved ones? The colour red, unless it is used in marriage, represents bleeding. Red roses with thorns are even more undesirable; thorns represent hardship, so avoid sending your loved ones. In fact, pink, yellow, peach or cream roses (with thorns removed) are wonderful symbols associated with young love!

Did you know that you could face the right direction and find the right love? When using Feng Shui, you can find your sweetheart by sitting in the right direction. Everyone has a personal love (Nien Yen) direction depending on the date they were born. According to the Feng Shui 8 Mansions Formula, each person's personal Nien Yen reaction brings them happiness and good luck associated with marriage and matriarchal presence.

For men, the Nien Yen direction helps you attract a good and gentle wife who will bear you many sons and take care of your parents. For women, the Nien Yen direction brings you more opportunities to establish yourself as the loved wife of a household, and attract a man who will bring you happiness and prosperity through marriage. So if you've managed to ask someone special out for a dinner date, make sure you're sitting and facing your Nien Yen direction to maximize your Feng Shui luck for happiness! Who knows? the man you dating sitting in the right direction might be the one you have been looking for!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Did you know that mirrors in the bedroom are the most effective tools to destroy the relationship? Mirrors in the bedroom are really not advised for any type of relationship whether you're starting out or reliving a romance especially if you're pretty serious about this person! Mirrors are often said to reflect a third party in the relationship. Mirrors represent another person always coming in between two people. This often means an extra-marital affair but sometimes the third person can be anyone such as a discouraging relative etc? Ever heard of "Two's Company, Three's a crowd! So remove your mirrors, hide them or cover them up!

And remember to hold on to your Valentine's love. Always have everything displayed in your home in pairs; a pair of love birds or a pair of love ducks. Ever heard of 'Love comes in pairs, single comes in despair'? Make your loved one feel welcome by removing all solitude figures and all lonely pictures of a man or woman. Have fresh flowers in your love and relationship corner (Southwest), and clean out your closets to make room for your significant other to enter into your life.

Once you've created peace and harmony in your home with the changes mentioned above, that will nourish your body, mind, heart and spirit, you can have a Valentine's Day for all 365 days of the year!!

Michael Douglas is a relationship expert and he owns a website Love-L where he offers healthy relationship advice for relationship problems and provides tips to bring in more love, passion and harmony into one's love life and relationships.

Children love to decorate for all holidays and they love to help out in the kitchen and make crafts. The following cover all three of these areas for some special family fun!

Valentines Day Popcorn Cake

1 cup butter

32 marshmallows

16 cups popped popcorn

1 cup conversation heart candy

1 cup chocolate covered peanuts

1 cup red hot candies

Melt butter and marshmallows in a large heavy pan over low heat. Stir often. Put popcorn into large pan. Pour marshmallow mixture over top. Stir and mix well. Add peanuts and candy. Mix together.

Put mixture into a well greased angel food cake pan or cake pan.The deeper the pan the better the cake will look when you place it on your cake plate.

Valentines Day Candy House

Get your family together and make these adorable Valentines Day houses.

Each person will need the following:

a sturdy paper plate to sit their house on, a small square box such as a pint size milk or juice carton enough graham crackers to cover their boxes

Everyone will need easy access to the following:

Melted white chocolate to use for glue

Arrangement of bowls of candies and other edible decorations such as:

Conversation hearts, chocolate kisses, pretzels, red, pink & white sprinkles, colored sugars, red hots, coconut

How to Put the House Together:

Simply paint the crackers and the box with the melted white chocolate and put the crackers where you want them on the house in order to cover it. For the roof it is easier to just lay the graham cracker down flat instead of trying to angle 2 together for the roof.

Then use the melted chocolate to adhere the candies to the house. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a frosting of light snow.

Display your Valentines Day town for all to see. Don't forget to get some pictures of the cute houses and the fun time making them.

Angela Billings is founder of Home and Family Ezine and invites you to visit for more Valentines articles

Every year on February 14, the world celebrates a holiday of love. Valentine's Day has a long history since the Middle Ages when a wonderful man, Valentine, was killed because of marrying couples in secret. Today, Valentine's Day has lost many of its old meanings but still keeps the sweet fragrance of the past and is treasured as the most romantic holiday of the year.

In the past, people used to celebrate this day by giving symbolic gifts and handwritten notes. Nowadays, much hasn't changed. Symbolic gifts are still given by men and women likewise in order to express their deepest feeling of love and appreciation.

Finding cheap Valentine gifts is not hard as there are plenty of choices out there. Greeting cards replaced the handwritten notes and are one of the most beautiful cheap Valentine gifts available. Choose one that is original in design and simply write on it: "Will you be my Valentine?". You may be surprised how much your baby will love it even if it's just a card.

Another idea for cheap Valentine gifts are flowers. Everyone knows that flowers and especially roses have always been considered as a traditional gift between lovers since ancient times. A wonderful blend of lilac, iris, tulip and anemone can transform into the perfect gift for the loved one. Tie the bouquet with a small, red ribbon and you will have the most romantic present ever given to a woman.

A long time ago, on this special day, men offered clothes as gifts for their Valentine. Accepting the gift made the two lovers engaged to be married. Today, Valentine gifts for girlfriend consisting of clothes definitely have another meaning. They are a way of expressing ones feelings and devotion.

Clothes can also fall in the category of cheap Valentine gifts. There are many online virtual stores with reasonable prices and cute outfits available. You can find desirable collections with T-shirts, vest and bags not to mention the many accessories offered. One can also purchase sexy clothing for the loved one, meaning seductive lingerie.

Cupid is one of the most utilized symbols for Valentine's Day along with the heart-shaped outline. This is why we can find precious yet cheap Valentine gifts in the form of chocolate, perfumes and even clothing. Now it doesn't matter very much what you choose to buy for your sweetie; the most important thing is that your gift reflects your true feelings.

Many people are having a difficult time in finding the perfect gift for their Valentine. They are fully aware that not the price tag is an issue but how to show ones affection and loyalty. Keep in mind that the gift you select will show how much you love him/her. Browse among the multitude of cheap Valentine gifts available on the market and think first about what your darling values more than anything in the world.

Fortunately, Valentine gifts for girlfriend come today in a wide range of trends and suit all possible tastes. The tradition to give presents of Valentine's Day has been kept throughout the centuries and has enriched with year that passed. Every year more and more ideas appear and people have a lot of options to choose from.

If you, as an enthusiastic lover, decide to search Valentine gifts for girlfriend, bear in mind that it will always pay to search for the perfect gift. You will make her feel special and more important, loved. And there is no feeling in this world compared to the feeling that there is someone out there caring and thinking constantly about you.

The variety of Valentine gifts for girlfriend makes your job even easier. Celebrate this romantic and lovely holiday by sharing amazing moments with your dearest. Do not forget to exchange gifts and prepare yourself for a unforgettable day.

Our website is entirely devoted to customers interested in purchasing cheap Valentine gifts. We have some of the most stylish, fashion collections and we are the perfect online store to find Valentine gifts for girlfriend. Transform the whole shopping experince in something pleasant and fun.

It seems love has gone to the dogs-and the cats, birds, fish and other pets across America.

A recent survey of pet owners found that about 9 million people plan to give a Valentine's Day gift to their pet.

That may explain why a plethora of posh, pink pet products is hitting store shelves this year. But many of these gifts have a twist: In addition to their focus on style, fashion and fun, part of their proceeds are donated to charities.

So which gifts will be hot this year, and which will help you donate to a worthy cause? The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) offers this list:

• Celltei offers pink Swarovski heart-shaped pet charms with matching human necklaces and earrings as well as a pink heart-shaped leather carrier.

• Petmate's Pampered Pink products include a heart-shaped bed, portable pet home, kennel cab and stainless style bowls, all in pink, of course.

• With Planet Dog's Pink Ribbon Ringo ball, you can give a gift twice. For each Ribbon Ringo sold, Planet Dog will donate a minimum of 45 cents to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with a minimum guaranteed donation of $10,000.

• Similarly, Veterinary Ventures, Inc. donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of its new pink Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The product is the only pet fountain developed by a veterinarian and features a free-falling stream of water that encourages pets to drink more water, helping to keep them happy, healthy and hydrated.

• Casco's BABY biOrb smart aquarium requires just four gallons of water, making it ideal for people with limited space. The tank is virtually self-cleaning, acrylic and comes with stylish tops and bottoms in four different colors, including pastel pink.

• Crunchkins has released a line of pink and red Crunch Cards for Valentine's Day. The edible greeting cards are made from a flattened rawhide panel and printed with edible ink. They feature sentiments such as "Love and Licks" and "I Ruff You."

• Pink and white Love EEEKs! cat toys from Fat Cat, Inc. are designed especially for the Valentine's Day holiday. The cat toys are the perfect size to toss and chase, and they've been packed with organic zoom-around-the- room catnip and a teensy little rattle.

• Doggles Comfort Heart is a pink, heart-shaped pillow that is digitally enhanced to replicate a mother's heartbeat set on a 30-minute timer. The pillow is great for comforting new puppies or providing extra emotional support to adult dogs that might suffer from separation anxiety. The company also offers pink human-and-pet- matching sunglasses, hats and more.

• Park Avenue Paws (Paws Wholesale) has released an Engraved Sweetheart, a beautiful, fully customizable charm. Small and large hearts with red Swarovski crystals are ideal for Valentine's Day but many shapes and colored stones are available.

• Cain & Able Collection offers a line of Doggie Dental Products, entitled "Kiss-Able." They'll feature a toothbrush and an all-natural vanilla toothpaste just in time to make your dog lovable and kissable for Valentine's Day.

• Pets may benefit from LoveDrops, the natural alternative for dogs and cats from Brewers Yeast Specialists. These premium, heart-shaped supplements are enriched with brewers yeast, omega-3 fatty acids, rose hips, garlic, antioxidants and zinc.

• Show your pet how much she is loved with a gift from Sherpa's Pink Passion collection. The line features carriers, collars, coats, frames and even a treat jar.

About 9 million people plan to give a Valentine's Day gift to their pet, according to a recent survey.

For more ideas, you can visit

If you are one of the thousands of women who received a household appliance for your last anniversary, you are not alone. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of women who received a box of candy for Valentine's Day, two weeks into your diet, you are not alone. If you are one of the millions of women who received flowers for her birthday – the day after – you are not alone.

The truth is: most men are "gift-phobic." It's not that they don't care, it's that they are afraid to disappoint you. Most little boys are not trained in the art of shopping, gift giving, and package presentation, whereas little girls learn gift giving etiquette and savvy at the hands of their mothers and aunties.

With little experience and zero confidence, many men rely on old standbys like flowers, candy, and taking you out for a nice dinner. What does all of that remind you of? That's right. Dating.

In the beginning of your relationship, you probably thought it was sweet that he presented you with a heart-shaped box of candy on Valentine's Day. You loved every petal on every stem of every flower, and thought he was a romantic because he took you back to the same restaurant for special occasions. Men do what works. So, if you liked it then, you should like it now, right?

So where do all of those "useful" gifts come in? Actually, it shows your guy is paying attention. He hears you say several times that you really need a new vacuum, and so he thinks he is giving you what you want when hands over his plastic for that brand new Dirt Devil.

The last thing your guy wants to do is disappoint you. He might have an idea of something you might like, but when it comes time to actually purchase the item for you, he chokes. He has gift giving performance anxiety. This is why, if you go to the mall on December 24th, you will find scores of men wandering about like deer in headlights.

This is also why so many men miss their partner's birthdays and anniversaries. In an effort to postpone the painful insecurity of wondering if you will like what they purchased, they wait too long and miss the boat entirely. And you won't like anything they give you if it's even one day late. Right?

Now that you understand why your guy is gift-phobic, you can help him get past it. First, you are going to have to let go of your fantasies about elaborate romantic surprises, or the perfect gift that makes you wonder if he was "reading your mind." These expectations set your guy up for failure.

Once you accept the fact that although he needs a little clue here and there, he doesn't love you any less, you can start training him for gift giving greatness. There are two ways of doing this, and you can use them both.

As you flip through catalogs, put post-it notes by the things you like, and if it's clothing, jot down your size on the note. You can do the same with magazines, but you need to include the retailer's web address so your guy can actually find the item you want.

Now, remember, you want to help him gain confidence. Point out the items you like, but don't tell him to get it for you for an upcoming occasion. Leave the catalogs and magazines somewhere where he can easily find them when he's ready to buy.

Another way to help guide him is a bit more obvious, but still leaves room for him to make the decision for himself. Tell him three possible options that you would love to receive equally. Phrase it in a way that does not chastise him for not thinking about what to get you sooner.

For example, you might say, "I don't want to interfere with any ideas you may have for our anniversary, but I was thinking I might like a spa day, or to see that new Broadway show. Oh, and what do you think of Tango lessons? Those are all things I would really love for my anniversary."

Do you see how that approach does not reprimand him for not thinking of something on his own, gives him a few options to consider, and lets him keep the element of surprise? The last sentence is really important, because it lets him know you will be happy when you receive one of those gifts. You're telling him it would be a sure thing.

The final step in curing your gift-phobic guy is praise. When you receive a gift you like, or like better than the last one, praise him. Get excited, tell others about it in his presence, and by all means, do not return it. Also, make sure you use it, wear it, or show it off from time to time.

When you help your guy become a world-class gift giver, he will want to do it over and over again. With new found confidence, he may even give you something you didn't expect; something that is exactly what you wanted, fits you perfectly, and shows you he knows and loves you best. That's worth a little gentle training, isn't it?

Karen Fusco is co-founder of SilkB which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. She is also co-founder of WellnessA , a directory of articles covering many areas of wellness. Karen can be reached directly at: karen@SilkB

Are you short of ideas in deciding a gift for your friend or relatives? Selecting a gift can be a very boring process especially when you do not find a gift as per your choice. If you intend gifting your friend with a unique gift then why not try unique candle gift.

Unique Candle Gift can be one of the best gifts that you can present to your friends on any special occasion. Giving and getting candle gift is a wonderful gift and experience that one can have. Unique candle gift offers you many categories in candles which makes your gift a unique one. Some of the categories of candles you can choose from are

• Angel Candles

• Animal Candles

• Christmas Candles

• Fish Candles

• Wedding Candles

• Sports Candles

• Holiday Candles

• Valentine Candles

• Flower Candles

• Fantasy Candles and many more

Candles are the sign of love, faith and peace. Even though candle gifts are uniquely designed and have attractive quality it is available at a very reasonable price. Today most web sites offer candles you can buy at any store.

Unique candles gifts are available in scented as well as unscented forms. Thus a unique candle gift basket is a perfect gift not just to spread light but also spread out charming and delicate fragrance.

Candle gift can be a unique gift for moth for mother's day, father's day, wedding, anniversary or Valentines Day. Candle gifts are available for different occasions like Wedding candle gift, Christmas candle gift, Valentine candle gift and so on. These candles are not only useful to gift someone but can also make a beautiful decorative item for your home or office. Candles that are offered are eco-friendly and made up of pure wax and contain no harmful chemicals.

Unique Candle Gifts are popular because its candles last for 14-15 hours and also available in various scented fragrance. The candles that are prepared are not shaped in an ordinary mold but is shaped in excellent and sophisticatedly designed molds that further adds to its beauty.

With the help of Unique Candle Gift you can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and lightning in your surrounding. So it is the best time to present a warm gift to someone special.

Isabella Rodrigues writes for

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Valentine's Day is upon us. Everything from candy to purses to shoes to baking ware and supplies can be found now in red and pink with hearts on them or shaped as hearts. While hearts in February remind us of Valentine's Day and the love we share with family and friends, the bigger event that could pass by almost unnoticed is the designation of February as Heart Month.

While I am not advocating giving up on romance this year, I encourage you to go one step beyond buying a gift or celebrating with a romantic dinner to taking actions to ensure that you and your spouse or loved one(s) will be around next year to celebrate Valentine's Day together again.

The American Heart Association offers many tools to assess your heart health and put you on the road to decreasing your risk of heart disease or stopping it in its tracks.

By taking a short quiz, you can discover your risk for heart disease and register to receive a cookbook full of heart-healthy recipes. After answering a few questions regarding gender, age, height/weight, tobacco use, diet, physical activity, and your overall health, you will receive feedback on changes to make that will have long-lasting effects on your heart and overall health.

Additionally, you can join Start!, "the American Heart Association's new national movement that calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health through walking." Even if you are not employed or your employer does not participate, you can join (it's free!) to receive advice, encouragement, and education to increase your physical activity, change your diet, participate in an organized heart walk, and learn from survivors of heart disease.

My Start! Online gives you access to activity and nutrition tools to help track your progress and keep you on track, as well as articles and tips to help you stay motivated.

When you choose Start! Moving, you will learn how walking helps not only your body, but your mind as well. You will be given an easy-to-follow plan to get started and stay on track with exercise along with information on how to determine how many calories you have expended.

When you choose Start! Eating Right, you will be given practical advice to determine how many calories you should eat in a day, what foods to buy, how to know which foods are heart friendly, and great recipes to improve your heart health.

Start! Walking for Individuals brings you together with one million other people in 500 events all across America who are joining together to stamp out heart disease. You can join an existing walk or start a new event in your area. There is no better way to stay motivated in your walking efforts than to work toward the goal of participating in a larger event.

If you are employed, Start! Walking Program for Individuals encourages your employer to create walking groups and set up walking routes in your workplace as another incentive to work toward a healthy lifestyle. Just send an email with your name, your company name, and the contact information of the person in charge of your human resources department, and the American Heart Association will do the rest by contacting your HR department to get started.

If all this has not yet motivated you to join Start!, read the real-life stories of heart disease survivors at Start! Survivors. Learn from someone who has survived heart disease and take steps now to prevent heart disease in your own life and in the lives of those you love.

If being part of an organized program is not your style, work on these ABCs of heart health also available through the American Heart Association: Avoid tobacco, Be more active, Choose good nutrition. These three changes, even in small steps, can have a huge impact on your health and quality of life.

As Valentine's Day approaches, be fun, be romantic, enjoy the day with your spouse or loved ones, but remember to focus on the health of your heart and theirs by getting more exercise, eating right, and focusing on the goal of being around next year to do it all over again - together.

Claudia Pate is the owner of The Anniversary Shop, an online store featuring modern and traditional anniversary gifts and gifts for all occasions. Learn more about matters of the heart and celebrating wedding anniversaries at Celebrate Wedding Anniversaries.

In my 15 years as an educator, poet, and poetry community webmaster, I know the pains and purgatory of poetry research. So many poetry sites these days result in dead links, pop-up prison, or supply only a chunk of the information you seek. Read on to learn how I made sense of the poetry research jungle.

As founder and creator of World of Poets dot com, I realized early on that my poets deserved the best possible poetry features. So, I created two poetry sites in one:

a. An Online Poetry Community—this is the section my poets can post their works, receive and submit reviews, qualify for contests, promote their own publications, chat, win awards, etc. It's a fun and lively bunch.

b. An Online Poetry Database—Links to over 1,300 poetry research resources. And every link—at publication—works!

This is where my methodologies may come into play for you. First, I decided on many different poetry categories. Second, I copied as many poetry links as possible. Third, I then clicked on each and every link—I think I ended up with over 5,000—to verify its web presence. Last, I identified the quality of the content, the presence or absence of pop-ups or ads, and then I chose the 1,300 or so best ones. This took me over two years to accomplish.

Here are the categories with a brief description of each:

1. Poetry Devices—I ended up finding about 80 different ones.

2. Poetry Forms—I am sure there are more, but I link to 78.

3. Poetry Articles—Talk about nearly impossible, but I managed to find 60 or so quality sources, and I am always looking for more.

4. History Of American Literature—From Colonial Times to Contemporary time, I managed to link to one place for everything.

5. Timeline Of English Literature—Not quite as in depth as the American Literature section, but it lists every major event.

6. History Of Poetry—Do you know how to spell Wikipedia?

7. Poetry Movements—Even to someone with my experience, I was surprised to find over 60! I think I got the complete history of them all.

8. Poetry Magazines, Ezines, Journals—I am sure there are many, many more, but with 370 WORKING links, I am proud of this section.

9. Poets Through History—Here is where I had to choose different poets to profile and to link for further research, I broke them down as follows:

a. Classic Poets—105 links to poems, history, and research.

b. Modern Poets—115 links to poems, history, and research.

c. Contemporary Poets—115 links to poems, history, and research.

d. World Poets—50 links to biographies. As many works not in English.

e. American Poet Laureates—Cool section profiling all the American Poets Laureates throughout its history.

10. Best American Poetry Series—With links to over 1,500 of the best American poems and their poets since 1988, this is a great resource.

11. Best Resources—50 of the internets BEST poetry research sites.

12. Tools of The Trade—120 links to categories I broke down as follows:

a. Copyrighting and Publishing—real publishers.

b. Libraries and Collections—incredible database within a database.

c. Bookstores and Booksellers—anyone of importance here.

d. General Reference—20 quality reference guides.

e. Rhyming Dictionaries and Thesauri—20 different ones!

f. Esteemed Contest Sites—literary contests, not scams and rip-offs.

g. Poetry Fun—20 fun places to discover poetry, many for children.

h. A World Of Dictionaries—20 different types of dictionaries.

i. Etymology and Origins—20 places for linguistic study.

j. A World Of Encyclopedias—20 different ones.

k. Quotable Quotes—if you need a quote, look no further.

I would like to remind you that finding links to poetry research is not that difficult. However, finding quality, content-driven, active links, without pop-ups and eternal link purgatory, is quite another story. I approximate that I sifted through over 5,000 links to get the 1,300 superior links I provide my members.

Bottom Line: Check out the World of Poets dot com Poetry Database, and you will never use another source for your poetry research, ever.

About Author:

Rob Levasseur is a former English Teacher, published poet, owner, creator, and operator of WorldofP an online poetry writing community built for, and by, its online poets. For Poetry Contest, visit

If you're reading this article, you're probably a gift-phobic guy, or at least "gift challenged". Not sure? Try this quiz to find out:

• Have you missed your partner's birthday?

• Have you missed your anniversary?

• Did you forget at least one Valentine's Day?

• How about Mother's Day?

• Do you give the same type of gift year after year?

• Do you avoid shopping for your partner until the last minute?

• Do you feel anxiety when your partner opens her present?

If you answered "yes" to more than three of the questions, you need a little help in the gift-giving department. Listen, it's perfectly understandable. After all, it's not like they offered a class in how to buy for your girlfriend or wife in college.

The most important thing is to let go of past gift-giving disasters. While you're at it, let go of the anxiety too. The following three gift-giving tips will help you do just that. If you follow them, you will be a pro in no time.

1. Have Her Make a "Life List". A Life List is a list of experiences you would like to have in your lifetime. It might be something as grand as traveling to India, or something as simple as learning to make sushi. This tip has a bonus benefit: your partner will be so thrilled that you asked her to make a Life List with you, she will be in a good mood for days. And you just might get closer in the process. Remember, you need to make the list too!

Now that you know what her ultimate dreams and secret desires are, you can use the list for clues as to what she might like to receive for a gift. Of course, you could just go all out and make it happen by actually taking her to India, or signing her up for Japanese cooking class. But you could also use the things on her list as inspiration.

For example, you might give her a beautiful photography book on India so she can imagine she is there, or a travel guidebook so she can plan her trip. A sushi-making video or a night out at a famous sushi restaurant would also be fun ideas that will show her you are paying attention. That is the key to great gift giving. Being thoughtful.

2. Ask Her Best Friend. If anyone knows what your partner wants more than anything else, it's her best friend. Give her pal a call (email is too informal), and ask for ideas. Phrase your request something like this: "I would really love to get ____ something she really wants, but doesn't think is practical and so she might not have mentioned it to me. Do you have an idea of anything she is really pining for?"

Of course you can put it in your words, but the idea is to show her best friend that you want to do something special, and to make sure he or she knows you are not trying to pump them for information because you're stumped!

If you do use one of the ideas her best friend gives you, send a thank you note (they're in the greeting card aisle) with a short message. No need to call again, and stay away from meeting to discuss the gift before and after. You don't want to make your partner nervous or jealous.

3. When in Doubt, Pamper Her. A surefire way to make your partner happy on any occasion is to give her the gift of relaxation. Women today are overloaded with responsibilities and rarely have time for some much needed pampering.

If you know which high-end bath products your wife covets, go ahead and purchase a basket of goodies for her. If not, don't try to guess. Scents are very personal, and you want her to be able to use what you give her right away.

If you aren't sure what to buy, go the spa route. Do a search online for day spas in your area. Not a Google or Yellow Pages search, because that just gives you contact information. Instead, go to your local newspaper or magazine's website and search for a top ten list or "best of" list which includes spas.

Book a half-day or full-day spa experience, which allows her to choose from various treatments. Let her schedule the day she will attend, and if the two of you have children, promise to take them out for the day.

When you give your partner a gift of a day spa experience, make sure you choose at least one of the treatments for her. It will make her feel as though you are giving her the treatment yourself. Ask her about it later, so that she knows you were paying attention.

By following these three simple strategies, you will rise to the level of gift-giving dynamo in no time. Soon, instead of teasing you about your gift phobia, your partner will be bragging about the wonderful, thoughtful gifts she receives from you. You could stand that, right?

Karen Fusco is co-founder of SilkB which supports Busy Moms with free gift ideas and helpful tips to meet the challenges of motherhood. She is also co-founder of WellnessA , a directory of articles covering many areas of wellness. Karen can be reached directly at: karen@SilkB

Welcome to the present, where home loans are dominating people's lives in almost every way. Interest rates are creeping up, people are borrowing to their limits and banks are more than happy to approve loans for ever increasing amounts. Personal lives and family life is starting to take a backseat with personal gain and materialistic values becoming number one priority in society, with the expressions of taking the time to stop and smell the flowers becoming seemingly obsolete. Weekends are spent in hardware stores, buying tools and materials to improve our houses value and knock off time during the week is getting later and later making sure we all take all the overtime we can. Most families cannot even remember the last family holiday they had, if they are lucky enough to have had one.

Yes yes, I know, a bleak miserable world is being described to you, but in this world where time is precious I can't help but feel that people are putting their family, loved ones, partners and friends last and striving for financial success first. Which seem a little strange because to bring a smile to a loved ones face can be a quick and inexpensive step. A prepared meal waiting for your partner when they get home, a weekend in bed doing nothing but spending time together watching dvd's, sending some flowers to someones work or home. Even though it may seem like such a quick and simple step to the sender, a simple gesture like flower delivery can provide a smile and happiness that is priceless and beyond its cost in happiness.

Taking your kids to the park to play, having coffee with an old friend, ringing your parents just to say hello are the little things in life that are becoming increasing overlooked but are the moments that are most treasured. Why not just say no to the overtime one night this week and do something together with your family or loved ones. Because there is nothing worse in this world than regret and to be disappointed that in our life time we haven't taken the time to do the gestures that really do count would be heartbreaking. So start right now, don't put it off, send a box of roses un-expectantly to your loved one, try and put that smile on their face and most importantly back onto yours!

For further information regarding flower delivery please visit

Give your loved one a gift from the heart - and for the heart - this Valentine's Day.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of people in the U.S. To urge Americans to join the battle against heart disease, February is considered "American Heart Month."

To help your loved one win the war against heart disease, choose one of the following Valentine's Day gift ideas. You'll truly be able to say "this gift is from my heart to yours."

* Dark chocolate. Some experts say that compounds in dark chocolate called flavonoids reduce the stickiness of platelets - cytoplasmic bodies found in the blood plasma. This inhibits blood clotting and reduces the danger of coronary artery blockages.

* An electric toothbrush. Oral bacteria has been associated with heart disease, according to the American Dental Association. Because of this, some dentists suggest using an electric toothbrush, like the HydraBrush Express, for good oral and overall health.

The HydraBrush Express eliminates the human error aspect of brushing by cleaning all six surfaces of the teeth simultaneously. Developed by Oralbotic Research Inc., it has brush heads that move at 810 strokes per minute. The brushing process takes 40 seconds or less and your loved one will enjoy whiter teeth, healthier gums and a decrease in plaque.

* A heart-healthy cookbook. With a variety of recipes, this will give the cook in your life some insight on making dishes that are tasty yet nutritious.

* Red wine. The American Heart Association says that red wine may be associated with reduced mortality from heart disease. Flavonoids and other components found in red wine have been shown to reduce heart disease risks.

* Stress-reduction methods. To help your Valentine relieve stress, which has been shown to trigger a lack of blood flow to the heart, purchase items such as a CD with soothing music, a gift certificate for a massage or scented candles.

For more information, visit or call (888) 813-6631. - NU

If you are browsing for gifts, then you have undoubtedly been doing some virtual window shopping. For many, the concept of ordering gifts online is new. Even though mail-order and catalog vendors have been in existence for years, there is something about shopping online that still worries some shoppers. So, whether you are new to buying gifts online or you are the kind of shopper who already knows their way around a virtual shopping mall, the following tips may help to make your buying experience a pleasant one.

When shopping for gifts online, always make sure that you know the company you are buying from. Never go around passing out your credit card number as though it were sticks of bubble gum. Instead, purchase only from a reputable company or one that you have researched with the Better Business Bureau. Most major catalog vendors also have websites, which ensures a safe shopping experience from nationally known vendors.

If you receive an e-mail inviting you to purchase from a store that you are not familiar with, do not click on any link inside the e-mail. Many links are nothing more than a scam that is set up to access your credit card information. If you want to shop from a particular website, open your browser and manually enter the website address rather than clicking on an e-mail link.

If you are looking for a real bargain, consider thinking like a bargain hunter. The best deals are often found at auctions, which is ideal as the buyer gets to determine their purchase price. One of the largest jewelry auction websites is B which offers everything from gold watches to rings and diamond necklaces. Depending on the time of day you bid, bargains are often found very early in the morning while the rest of the world is still having their first cup of coffee.

If at all possible, use a credit card to purchase gifts online. If anything should go wrong with the order and the seller will not stand behind the product, you may have the ability to file a dispute with your credit card in order to get your money back for the defective item. It will also help if you can check with the company's return policy prior to placing an order. Some items, such as opened computer software or DVD movies, are not returnable. Other items, such as lingerie or similar items are also non-refundable if they have been worn. The return policy is very important with any purchase, especially where gifts are concerned incase they need to be exchanged later.

Shopping for gifts online is not so different from browsing through the mall. You will want to give careful consideration to the recipient's favorite items or wish list before committing to a purchase. Does he have a favorite watch brand or sports team? Does she have a favorite gemstone or apparel color? These are all things to consider when buying gifts anywhere, whether online or in person. As a final thought to shopping for gifts, always try to stay within a reasonable budget and select something nice at a cost that you can comfortably afford.

Find great gifts ideas including the new Apple iPod, Sirius satellite radio and more than 50 other gift ideas on

Are you tired of giving and receiving all the same old boring gifts for Valentine's Day? If you are like many people, you get the same basic things each year including candy, flowers, some underwear. But, you don't have to have such a boring Valentine's.

Use these tips not only for Valentine's Day but for every time that you need to purchase a gift for your loved ones. This year, you'll be bragging at work about what you got and they didn't get!

* Pay attention on shopping trips. This is a good tip for the guys. Watch what she looks at and seems to like. What books, what type of kitchen product would she like, or what type of movie does she enjoy? If she won't buy it for herself, it's up to you to make sure that she gets it. Ladies should do the same things. What projects does he like to do and what does he need to do them? What sports items would he enjoy? What does he look at in the store?

* Gift Basket Ideas for the ladies. This is a great way to spoil her a little. For the cook in the family, go with gadgets that she loves and needs, things like ergonomically correct vegetable peelers and beautiful napkin rings are great. Fill the basket with an apron and maybe a cookbook too. For the girl that needs pampering, fill a basket with bath and body products. Make sure to know the scent that she enjoys though and then fill the basket with all sorts of things that she would love such as bath salts, lotions, add in a nice luxury robe for her too. For the craft lover, go with a basket filled with all the things at the craft store that she needs. Great scissors, papers, and fabric that she would love. How about a manicure gift basket that is filled with nail polish, filers, clippers and a wide range of cosmetic items. You can often purchase a gift basket filled with all that is needed too.

* Coffee and tea gift baskets. This would work well for both the guys and the girls that love coffee. Fill it with a coffee mug or a tea cup with a wide range of teas that they would like. Line it with a beautiful cloth and then add flavored coffees, gourmets and even some decadent candies to go with it.

* Wine. For the wine lover, create a gift basket with their favorite wines, wine glasses, and some good quality cheeses and crackers. Perhaps add a bouquet of flowers to it as well.

* The Sports Guy. If you have a guy that loves sports, you can create the perfect gift for him. If you have a fisherman, for example, give him the things he needs such as hooks, fishing line, and accessories. Make sure to purchase what the will use and if you don't know, ask the salesman for help. For the hunter, things like camouflage gear, binoculars, heavy socks and sunglasses are necessary. Add to them whatever else he may need. For the golfer, give him new golf balls, gloves and maybe even the membership to the local club.

Any of these gifts could be the perfect gift for the loved one in your life. Think about what they would like, what they would enjoy and then find a way to make it personal for them. Purchasing gifts that work well for them will be gifts that they appreciate that much more.

Nicola Kennedy has become an expert in giving great Valentines Day gifts. Visit her site for more great Valentines ideas to make Valentines 2006 a special one.

Generally speaking I am blessed to receive emails on a daily basis from readers and listeners expressing dramatic life change. I love to hear from people who are refusing to settle and therefore deserving what they want more and more every day. I truly live for messages like those these days. It inspires me to know that Emily and I are making a difference.

Sometimes, however, I receive other messages that inspire me in a completely different way. A few days ago, I received just such an email. A woman was unsubcribing from this newsletter, citing that she was "just an average Plain Jane", and that she could never live up the ideals talked about here and in the book Deserve What You Want. What intrigued me the most was that she was not so much discouraged from the hard work of deserving what SHE wanted as irritated that I would encourage men to never "settle" for any less than who THEY deserved.

When it came right down to it, she felt that even her most valiant efforts to deserve what she wants were going to fall short. Ultimately, her feeling was that no man from the "highest echelon of men on Earth" was ever going to want her, no matter what. And having been around the block a few times, I know for a fact that plenty of men feel the same way about attracting a great woman.

So then, this email got my attention because the challenge presented to me in it was a valid one. How dare I tell "average" people that they should expect to earn the right to "never settle"? Come on now, seriously…what kind of Pollyanna advice is THAT?

How does an AVERAGE person deserve a SUPERIOR partner?

Fortunately, I'm up to the challenge. And because I know you want practical answers from me instead of philosophical musings, here is the bulletized list you've come to expect:

1) Kill The Word "Average"

…And resort to Weapons Of Mass Destruction if that's what it takes to accomplish this in your life. Anyone who considers him or herself "average" (let alone "below average") is acknowledging defeat before even attempting to deserve. Unfortunately, most of the six billion of us on this planet are shockingly willing to accept mediocrity. After all, it's effortless. Therefore, we all run the risk of being charmed into living that lie.

Yes, I said "lie". We allow ourselves to sleep our way through life, and in doing so we never even sniff reaching our potential. Knowing that the MAJORITY of people passively watch life from the sidelines, ACTIVELY doing something to promote excellence in your own reality pulls you by the collar out of the realm of the "average" BY DEFINITION. Do you see how that works?

Years ago a great speaker named Bruce Thielemann borrowed a phrase originally coined by pro surfer Phil Edwards to refer to the apathetic masses, referring to them as "legions of the unjazzed". His point was that most humans let the most powerful and meaningful aspects of what life has to offer slip quietly away having "pampered themselves into mediocrity". What powerful language to let nest in your soul.

Unhitch yourself from the "unjazzed" crowd today, and begin deserving better immediately.

2) Your Presumptions Of Inadequacy May Point To Arrogance

You look in the mirror and see "average". Realize, right here and right now that your opinion has zero to do with mine or anyone else's on the subject. Just because you are not your own "type" does not mean you are free to arrogantly presume your world view upon anyone else, let alone EVERYONE else.

3) Don't Drink The Media's Purple Kool-Aid

Cult leader Jim Jones infamously is associated with poisonous purple Kool-Aid. Sometimes I can't help but think that the media is serving us a steady diet of a similar potion when it comes to having us believe what "not settling" means, exactly. I have dated women whom I thought were fantastically beautiful who were disgusted by their own appearance. They were not "supermodels", so they were therefore displeased. The irony here is that guys who share my personal preferences aren't attracted to "supermodels" anyway. We're attracted to women who are more like many of these women who wish they were supermodels. That is to say, we are attracted at least until they express how displeased they are with themselves. NEVER discount the power of your own confidence, or lack thereof. Which drives the next point home…

4) Live Up To Your Own Design Specs

I was going to go with "Do The Best With What You've Got" here, but that concept falls way short of the meaning behind the heading I chose. Why? Simply put, there is NOTHING more amazing than to meet someone who has clearly maximized who he or she is. So many people are not doing this. Over the next few days, pay attention to the people around you. In your mind, give thought to who just isn't at their best. Meanwhile, open your eyes to who seems exceptional to you and how their own personal effort has likely affected that.

One time I met a woman who habitually mesmerized nearly all men who met her. Sure, she was fashionable, clean and well-groomed. But her sense of humor, confident presence and feminine charm set her apart as truly mind-blowing. Note that ALL OF THIS WAS UNDER HER FULL CONTROL. As I got to know her, she shared how she grew up in poverty and was told she was "ugly" throughout her childhood. Yet now she was a successful businesswoman who had her pick of the sharpest men around. Finally it occurred to me that if she had been anywhere close to as apathetic as the "legions of the unjazzed" I probably would never have even noticed her. Nor would have the majority of other men, I'm guessing. She was not superlative by accident. "Accidentally", as it were, she would have been "average". But she wasn't.

5) Know Thyself

Hey wait a minute, who are these people you are thinking would "never want you" anyway? Are these people you even truly WANT to deserve? The more you date effectively, the more you are going to realize how valid the concept of "perfect imperfection" is. I've written about this general concept elsewhere, of course, but the correlation to today's point is absolutely crucial. We as human beings are typically attracted to people we can relate to. If you are living by the tenets presented above, I can quite nearly GUARANTEE you will be wildly attracted to the self-actualized opposite sex version of yourself. Why would you not be? Give this concept a test drive. If you have learned to deserve what you want, you will soon be graced with the knowledge of who it is you actually DO want. And wait until you figure out you DO deserve that person. That's the best news there is.

Remember the "highest echelon on Earth" is subject to YOUR definition. Have a clear understanding of that, and your efforts to deserve what you want will be focused and therefore highly effective. And those efforts will produce magical results. Guaranteed.

Scot McKay's dating strategies for those who refuse to settle for anything less than the ULTIMATE relationship are found at: Stop by right now and grab a FREE e-book ($20 value) when you sign up for the X & Y Communications Newsletter, which is always packed with unique and practical dating tips.

Do you remember the excitement and anticipation that came with every Valentine's Day when we were kids? It became almost a competition to see which kid in your classroom managed to garner the most of the flimsy punch-out Valentine's cards with their even flimsier envelopes. In spite of the enthusiasm for the cards portraying the cultural icons of that particular year, the biggest attraction of the day was getting Conversation Hearts, the more the merrier. That's what Valentine's Day was and still is for most kids.

The idea of Conversation Hearts has been around since the late 1800s. The first "conversations" candies were not in the shape of a heart but rather shaped as sea shells. The text was printed on a foil wrapper and not on the actual candy.

The first Motto Candy was invented in 1900 but it still was not heart-shaped. For some strange reason, perhaps to allow for longer imprinted sayings, these Sweet Heart candies were in the shape of baseballs, horseshoes, postcards, and watches. With the passage of time, the sayings got shorter and shorter and were reduced to one or two lines of sentiment which fit perfectly on a heart-shaped candy.

In 1900, four candy companies merged together to become the New England Confectionary Company or NECCO. The candy companies NECCO, Brachs, and Jelly Belly are the three primary manufacturers of the Conversation Hearts in the early 21st century. No matter who makes this Valentine treat, about 8 billion hearts are produced each year. Even though the peak selling season is a mere 6 weeks, the confectionary companies produce the hearts for 11 months of the year. Gee, I wonder what kind of preservative is used to give them such a long shelf life. Maybe I don't want to know.

Conversation Hearts are made by man and machine working together. There are 7 major steps in creating these candies:

Step 1 - Combine sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, flavors, gums, and colors into the mixing machine;

Step 2 - The machine mixes the ingredients together until they form a dough, much like the consistency of Play-Dough©;

Step 3 - The dough goes through a machine that presses the dough until it is flat;

Step 4 - The "conversation" words are applied to the dough and are then cut out of the dough in heart shapes. The candy drops onto a conveyor belt;

Step 5 - The hearts take a 30-minute ride through a drying tunnel;

Step 6 - The six different flavors are mixed together; and

Step 7 - the Conversation Hearts are bagged, boxed, and ready to eat.

In 2006, NECCO added a preposition and conjunction to its mix of sayings so that sweet sentiments might be spelled out more grammatically. NECCO has attempted, over the years, to include sentiments inline with the current culture. The candies come in 2 sizes - small and large. The small heart has room for approximately two words of four letters each while the larger hearts can contain two words of five letters each.

Whatever their size or sayings, Conversation Hearts are and will be timeless.

Terry Kaufman is Chief Editorial Writer for N N and N

©2006 Terry Kaufman. No reprints without permission.

Gifts are a medium to express love and emotion towards another person. It is usually presented to people who are very close. Presenting gifts has now become a very common affair, whereas initially it was just restricted to occasions like, marriages, birthdays, Christmas, New Year etc. Today with the growth of society and with growing relationships, the frequency of presenting gifts to near and dear ones has multiplied several times.

A lot of things need to be considered while gifting somebody. Topping the list is the relationship you share with the person. Secondly, the occasion needs to be taken care of and finally, fixing of your budget is necessary.

Gifts are exchanged on various occasions, a unique gift presented with love, does not only makes the recipient happy but it also helps in the strengthening of bond.

Various occasions can be listed when gifts are shared. Lets check on a few interesting ideas of gifts on various such occasions.

Marriage Gifts:

Marriage is a very special occasion in a person's life, and to make this day a memorable one, unique and special gifts are presented to the newly wed couple by their near and dear ones. Depending on your relationship and of course your budget, you can choose from a special honeymoon package to a remote island, to gold and diamond jewellery to present to the couple. If a honeymoon package does not suit your budget you can also arrange for a cozy dinner for the twosome in a good restaurant, which they can enjoy and make it memorable. Presenting them with a surprise gift while they are dining will be an added treat. Presenting household items to the newly wed is also a good and useful idea, if they are moving into a new home after marriage.

New Baby Gifts:

To welcome the new life in your relative or friend's house, gift them with baby stuffs, like baby toys, dresses (make sure they are little large in size, as babies grow fast), baby toilette sets etc. If your budget permits you can also present them with a small nursery setup in their home, for the new baby.

Birthday Gifts:

Birthdays are unanimous occasion to present gifts to someone. Not much needs to be thought while choosing a birthday gift for someone. You just need to pick up things that will suit the person's personality or if you are aware of something he/ she has been looking forward to buy. Surprising the birthday boy/ girl with flowers and cakes is a tried, and tested idea, which always clicks.

New Year and Christmas Gifts:

This is probably the oldest occasion in history when family members exchange gifts. There is no specification as to what you should gift. The idea of exchanging gifts on New Year and Christmas is to wish them a happy and successful year ahead. It is a great idea to present things your friends and relatives have been wishing to have. This shall make them happy. What else could beat a happy New Year start?

Gifts for Him/ Her:

To gift that special person in your life is the toughest job indeed. You always want your present to be the best for your partner. If the choice is getting too difficult, it is safe to settle for generic options. In case you are looking to gift her, pick up a good jewelllery piece, which is a hit amongst women. You could also chose from cosmetics, stuffed toys, dresses or a good ladies perfume, which she will surely like. While choosing a present for him, the best options include the eternal, perfumes, shirts, office stationeries like organizers or a good branded pen. If your partner is a music freak you could also gift them with the latest release of their favorite musician.

The custom of exchanging gift is a sweet gesture to develop relationships and to show how much you care. Gifts are a great medium to express those thoughts, which you could not phrase in words.

Send online gifts to friends and dearest one from B and stay-in-touch.

Gone are the old days of perspiring in a card gallery to choose the nearest appropriate message to convey to your dear one on the varied occasions of life. This is an era which Introduces E-Cards. This now makes it easy and fun to send a customized message and song — a great way to tell someone you care. E-Cards helps people connect and express themselves in a fun and easy way. Today E-Cards are highly popular in all the sectors of life. From businessman to students from lovers to a family man they all agree that E-Cards are the coolest way to convey their message. Ready-made E-Cards save you time and money while still offering all the benefits.

E-Cards come to you for all possible occasion and expressing multiple emotions to suit your needs in your everyday life.

• The Valentine Day: This auspicious day for lovers beckons you in the next turn ahead and it's time to relive the ultimate pleasure of romance. Take a break from the hectic rat race of life and set the sensual mood this Valentine's Day with romance-oriented thoughts and deeds. Life is all about love and togetherness and the Valentine Day is a perfect excuse to let your companion know how much you care. And on this special day choose a heart warming card with a special gift for your loved one to say how much this relationship means to you. This sensual day with all its magic is never complete without a special E-Card which conveys your true dedication and love along with all the loving words that you always wished to convey to your lover.

• Birthday E-Cards: This is a big occasion and a birthday of a dear one hardly seems to be complete without a personalized greeting card.

• Anniversary E-Cards: Remind your spouse how much precious this companionship means to you or take this opportunity to wish your near ones on their anniversary.

• Wedding E-Cards: The moment of wedlock is always so very memorable and what better way can it be than to wish someone with a card bearing your heartfelt message.

• Love E-Cards: To say you love with a beautiful soul stirring message is a matchless gesture that touches your heart like nothing else.

• New Year E-Cards: The beginning of a year can always start with an extra special note of good wishes and promises conveyed to you through an E-Card.

• Christmas E-Cards: When good rules over evil and when we are all excited in wishing the coming of Jesus to this world, we care to do it in a special way. Celebrating with an E-Card is always so warm in the winter festivities.

• Diwali E-Cards: The celebration of "Lights", with a touch of divinity and uniting in love and harmony always happens in Diwali. Celebrate it in style with the extra edge of an E-Card.

Benefits of E-Cards:

The popularity of E-Cards has surged sky-high. The masses prefer it over Paper Cards. The reasons behind it are multiple:

• More cost-effective than paper cards

Many companies spend thousands of dollars every year on paper Christmas cards and postage. Why not send an E-Card instead and put the money saved back into your business – or better still donate the rest to a worthy cause.

• Increase your website traffic

Using E-Cards that include your corporate logo and a link to your website also means that your logo is exposed to more people. If the E-Card is entertaining, your clients will forward it within their business increasing your name recognition with your customers. It's the ultimate in viral marketing.

• Reach thousands of customers within a few minutes

Sending an email to your contacts with a link to your E-Card is the quickest and most instantaneous method of broadcasting your logo and message.

• Easily forwarded to friends and family

Fun and interactive E-Cards are more likely to be forwarded, thereby spreading your logo and message – even beyond your existing customers.

• Bypass the Post Office backlog at Christmas

Encouraged by the Post Office as they ease the pressure during Christmas. By using E-Cards, you know your contacts will see your E-Card on time.

• Eco-friendly

E-Cards are encouraged by environmental groups, as they reduce the waste associated with huge volumes of printed greeting cards, not to mention saving paper, trees and fuel.

There is undoubtedly no comparison to the beautiful animation, personalized statement and the color graphics of an E-Card. We can say without doubt that the X-Generation is rightly basking in this fever of E-Card age. It is unbeatable. Enjoy it.

This article is written by Subhasis Chatterjee for ecard4all. It is a free article and can be used by any webmaster on their website, provided they will keep the link intact with the article.

Have you heard of Great lover's Day? It falls on April 2nd every year. Every body knows about Valentine's Day, but few seem to be aware of Great lover's Day. I sometimes wonder that lovers need a day everyday to celebrate. Because when one falls in romantic love, one wants love at every moment. One wants to be with his/her darling at every moment. Since celebrating such days with flowers is becoming common, I was thinking about how lovers can celebrate such days with something from the Internet. And I thought, why not desktop wallpapers that are designed around the theme of love?

Here are my reasons. What does a lover want from his/her darling? A message of love and an assurance that love is being reciprocated in. What else? Something that can remind the lover at all times of his/her darling, and feel the love. Enjoy the romantic moments and the bliss of love. What can be better than desktop wallpaper on love?

A Desktop Wallpaper sent by the beloved will always remain on the screen. The lover will get to look at it whenever he/she works on the computer. The wallpaper will remind the lover of his/her darling and the care they have shown in selecting beautiful desktop wallpaper and sent it. The lovers would enjoy working on their computers, and would not like to stop the work mid way. The desktop wallpaper is after all on the screen.

Lovers are called crazy, because they defy all logic and conventions. Lovers live for love and to love. A lover is different than other mortals. Because love is the greatest emotion - positive and most enchanting. How about celebrating Great lovers Day with desktop wallpapers?

Writing for fun quiz cards, screensavers and free ecards is the hobby of CD Mohatta. He writes on motivation, management, nature, spirituality, holidays and more. He also writes personality quizzes and fun tests.

The day my daughter came home from school talking about a Valentine fundraiser my heart sank. The school was selling heart shaped brownies for the children to send to their "special friends." They could even send them anonymously. Everyone, she explained, was trying to buddy up to make sure to get a brownie. I know this is not nice to presume, but what if your child doesn't get a brownie, what if they don't find a buddy?

Most of us can remember times when we were left out. Maybe everyone else paired off for a dance and we never got a date. The most popular kid in class threw a party and we weren't invited. Luckily, a brownie is easier to produce than a date or a party invitation. It's also easier to use in learning to love and appreciate yourself.

One event comes to mind, which was very special to me. I won a small award, nothing grand on a world scale, but I wanted to celebrate and I really wanted flowers. Now, my honey would have bought me flowers if I had told him I wanted them, or I could have even sulked until he read my mind.

Instead, I did something very innovative for me. I bought myself flowers. I didn't spend a lot, just a small bouquet to tell myself that I appreciated me. I was proud of what I had done and those flowers felt good. Every time I looked at them, I felt good. Now when I think back to that award, what I remember most is not the award, it is that I learned to give myself flowers. I learned to take responsibility for my own "feel goods."

I keep hearing ads for Valentine's Day and every time I do, I think about those flowers. I think about all the Valentine Days I rushed to an empty mailbox and sat alone feeling left out of the world. Valentine's Day can be the unhappiest holiday of the year, and I love holidays. On Valentine's Day, we routinely put all of our emotional feel goods in someone else's lap. We are supposed to wait patiently to be told how wonderful and how loved we truly are.

It sounds worse every minute. I think it's not just okay, it's probably a good idea, to tell the kids that when that brownie cart comes around to buy themselves a Valentine. Tell that to yourself, too. If you sit around waiting for someone else to tell you how special you are you may wait for a very long time. I don't even mean that to sound negative. But somehow, it seems like I have spent more Valentine Days wishing for Valentines than getting them and I can't honestly say that I haven't got my fair share. I truly have, but it is the times in between that bring so much pain and there is no reason for it to be that way.

If kids learn it early, they are truly ahead of the game. They won't spend chunks of their life in aimless waiting. Moments spent with special friends are treasures, but so are the moments spent alone. And I can almost guarantee, those kids will feel a whole lot better eating a brownie they provided for themselves than sitting around watching everyone else eat theirs.

Those flowers I bought myself were some of the best I ever got and not because they were the grandest. It was because I learned to appreciate myself. I learned to accept responsibility for my own "feel goods." There is no shame in that. If you have a special someone in your life, that is a bonus. It is truly a treasure -- never to be taken for granted. However, in the ebb and flow of life, it is inevitable that we are all going to spend at least some part of it alone. The only person who stays with us from the time we are born until the day we die is our own self. Shouldn't we truly appreciate and make certain that we feel special too?

© Regina Pickett Garson

Regina Pickett Garson edits and publishes Magic Stream -- which is among the earliest online self-help and wellness resources. She teaches at Virginia College in Huntsville, Alabama.

If it wasn't enough to have January being one of the coldest, if not dreariest, months of the year, they had to go and dub it the month more couples break up than any other month of the year.

Six out of ten couples will break up this month. Sounds awful, doesn't it?

I never cared much for January anyway. After-Christmas bills are piling in, it's too cold to enjoy most outdoor sports (or the ones I like anyway), and everything looks so bare and dreary. No wonder this is the month for the most breakups.

But, other than that, why is it that January beats out the others?

Here's my educated guess. Valentine's Day is right around the corner.

Something clicks in people's heads that if they plan on getting out, they better do it now before it's too late. When Valentine's Day hits, they surely want to be with someone they love, or they don't want to break their once-loved one's heart on the most romantic day of the year so they do it now.

Another reason why it might be that January brings forth more breakups than any other month could be that the new year signals new beginnings. It is a time when people step back and reflect on the previous year, and if there are changes to be made, this is the time to do it.

Unfortunate for some, these changes include a reevaluation of their love life.

If a relationship isn't working, and can't be fixed, a breakup is inevitable. The Dear John or Dear Janet letter goes out, and that's if they even bother to tell them at all. Believe me, from what I hear, some choose to just vanish from the scene of the crime without any warning, the dirty scumbags that they are.

So, what happens if you're the dumpee?

After you've mourned the loss of your relationship, turn the other cheek and try to learn what it is you were supposed to learn from the relationship. Every relationship is a learning lesson in humility, courage and stamina. Other lessons will be learned, but those are enough in itself.

If you keep in mind that every single person who comes into your life from here on out on a soul mate basis does so for a reason, it helps you to see why it is that people are there in the first place. Some are not meant to be long-term. In fact, some just come into your life to help you with a particular situation, and they are gone. More than likely, most of them left in January, according to statistics, but even though they are gone in the flesh, their spirit will linger forever.

The reason for this is that when two soul mates meet in the first place, it is one spirit calling to another. The one spirit recognizes the other spirit from a previous life perhaps, but whatever the case, there is instant recognition.

That recognition, that spiritual connection, will never go away even if the breakup ends on less than amicable terms.

This may or may not be what you want to hear, but from a professional stand-point, this is what happens.

So, if you happen to be one of the statistics this year, and you become the victim of a breakup, remember that there was a reason for the two of you to come together in the first place. Figure out what it was that you learned from it, and go on from there.

Breaking up is certainly hard to do because nothing hurts worse than the pain of the heart.

Even though it seems a callous thing on the part of your boyfriend/girlfriend, think of it as a favor. To extend a bad relationship would be detrimental to your well-being. Things would only escalate, and who knows what might happen.

There is a distinct plan for you, and this certain person was only meant to come into your life to teach you something, or you teach him, so find ways to look on this as a learning experience. You'll come out ahead in the long run and it will only empower you for the next relationship.

And just think of how nice the next one will be because you have learned a valuable lesson that will give you more strength and power than you had before.

With each relationship, you grow stronger and more confident in what does and does not make you happy. Before long, you will find the one who is supposed to be with you on a long term basis.

Meanwhile, pick up the pieces, learn what it is you are supposed to learn from this relationship, and move on into a better life and a better world of pure, soul mate love.

© Dorothy Thompson

Relationship expert Dorothy Thompson is the editor/contributing author of ROMANCING THE SOUL and coaches those seeking answers to their soul mate questions. You can visit her website at or her blog at

Looking for the right gift for her?

Well let me try and take the stress out of it for you! We all know that women can be complicated beings, so I've split them into a few major categories to help you whittle down some gift ideas. Don't forget though, women can be rather sneaky too, and often cross-categorise so bear that in mind whilst browsing!

The Pamper Princess – Spa bubble baths and manicures are what this lady is all about! Weekends are spent pampering herself with the latest ranges of beauty must haves. If you're well and truly stuck, you can take a safe bet with pamper products, after all, there's a little bit of an indulgent side in every girl! I think she'd love some indulgent bath time goodies, such as sea salt scrub, bath milk, or what about some beautiful scented candles to set the mood?

Little miss giggles – We all love to laugh, but especially this one! Be it huge practical pranks or witty one liners, this lady loves to laugh and make others laugh too! Why not indulge her funny sense of humour with some hilarious racing nuns or what about some truly chuckle-worthy racing granddads?

The Career Woman – This woman has a jam packed schedule all week long, and anything to help her keep organised and ready to face the world will be much appreciated. I think she'd love a pocket organiser to make sure she's always on time! Or for an alternative what about a mini Sudoku game to entertain her on the commute to work?

The Sporty Chick –Tennis, football, netball, you name it, they love it. Oh, and gym is their second home. Yep, they're into their sport big time. So why not treat her to a pool set, or how about a nifty fishing pack?

The Queen of Sparkles – Whether it's in your face 'bling' or a more understated pearl ear-ring, they love their jewellery. And there's a huge variety of sparkly gifts to suit all of their sparkly demand available! Why not charm her with a charm bracelet, or dazzle her with some glitzy diamond ear-rings?

The Gadget Girl – The latest gadgets and gizmos are high on their wish list, and fortunately and there is an abundance of well stocked places for you to find an array of gadgets! What about a telescopic back scratchers that extends to the offending itch! Or what about a 'Tell me what to do spinner', spin it and it gives you the answer!

I hope I've helped in your selection of your gift, and maybe even made you smile! And of course don't forget, for the perfect complimentary gift; why not send some chocolate (I highly recommend anything that mentions the word 'double chocolate'!)– The way to every girl's heart!

Written by Adam Driver, proprietor of Gifts2TheDoor and online gift shopping web site with a specialist section on Gifts For Her based in Australia.

Valentine's Day is traditionally a day that celebrates love, particularly that of the courtly, romantic and erotic kind. What is the ideal gift? This is a question that ultimately, only the giver and recipient can answer for themselves, although I certainly have some suggestions, but first a little history of Valentines Day.

The origins of Valentine's day aren't entirely clear. There is a strong connection to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held on the ides of February and dedicated to the god of fertility, Faunus. Valentinus was apparently an early Christian priest who, during the reign of Claudius II, performed secret marriages for young people during a time when the Roman emperor had outlawed the sacrament. Valentinus was later executed, becoming a martyr and eventually a saint.

The decision to celebrate the saint's day on February 14th may have been an attempt to "Christianize" the popular Lupercalia festival, although many vestiges of the original pagan customs remain. The first recorded Valentine gift was a poem, composed by the Duke of Orleans in 1415 as he was held prisoner in the Tower of London following the Battle of Agincourt. Meanwhile, the English king who put him there - Henry V - hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a Valentine message to his future queen, Catherine of Valois. The custom of exchanging affectionate notes grew over the next half-millennium, and remains one of the most popular Valentine expressions today.

The most popular gifts today are cards, candy and flowers. Of course, the tradition of exchanging cards is a very old one as we've seen – but while these appeal to the heart, erotic love is still very much about the senses. Since its introduction into Western culture (it was unknown outside of Mesoamerica prior to the late 16th Century), chocolate in all its forms has become the most popular confection on the planet. Not only does it taste wonderful, the substance contains chemical compounds that act on the brain in ways that release endorphins – the same chemicals that surge through our bodies when we fall in love. Small wonder that gift baskets full of gourmet chocolates are always appreciated.

Scent is another sense that has great bearing on feelings of eroticism. Since time immemorial, men and women alike have used the juices of flowers and other plants to make themselves smell attractive, and of course pheromones – subtle, almost undetectable molecules of scent given off by all mammals – have been a signal of sexual receptivity for millions of years. Is it possible that the use of perfumes and colognes are attempts to amplify or imitate the effects of pheromones? I think so, which is why I recommend gift baskets filled with herbal soaps and aromatic candles. Not only might these finely scented gifts tune into a more carnal instinct, they will also certainly be appreciated and used making them a wonderful gift sure to inspire a big smile.

Of course, we cannot forget color. Although it may vary from one culture to the next, in the West, pink, white and red have been the traditional colors of love – white for purity, pink for emotion, and red for sexuality. It's why roses of those colors are always so popular on Valentines Day. I would suggest flowers as a wonderful gift for Valentines Day, although remember that flowers should only be an opener, you must be able to do at least one better than flowers. I would also recommend trying to bring all your gifts together with one theme. For instance if you have gotten white and pink flowers, try finding gift baskets in just those colors, thus tying all your gifts together.

Most importantly remember that personalized gifts mean more than anything else. Be sure that each gift has its own meaning and is special. This can be ensured by you the giver – if you haven't already, create a reason why you are giving each gift, it will make each one that much more special.

Anne Harvester is a gift giver extraordinaire. She looks for innovative and unique gift ideas from around the world from gift baskets to handmade gifts, even piggy banks. She is currently on the hunt for exciting Valentines Day gifts

If you dislike competing against crowds of shoppers eager to prove their love, this Valentine's Day is for you. Taking a page from top couturiers like Bottega Veneta, who until recently shied away from selling their lines on the Web, some of the hippest jewelry designers are now making their baubles available to anyone with a computer.

Why it's taken designers this long to embrace the Web-jewelry is, after all, one of the most popular gifts for any occasion-has everything to do with consumers having reached "a comfort zone" when it comes to buying higher-end goods online, according to Milton Pedrasa, chief executive of the Luxury Institute. "There isn't that hesitation that used to exist a couple of years ago," he says.

Many of these designers work in Platinum, which is a popular choice with consumers because it lasts a lifetime and holds gemstones securely. One of the best examples of the trend is Manhattan designer Karen Karch. Known for having created the Platinum and ruby "Inner Circle" earrings that triggered all those memories in the Denzel Washington film "Déjà Vu," her easy-to-navigate Web site (KarenKarch.com) features sections like "Word of Mouth." It's a great way to search for jewelry worn by celebrities.

How hot are consumers to spend on wrist, neck and finger candy? A recent comScore survey found that online jewelry and watch spending increased by 24 percent around Valentine's Day in 2006.

And sites that have long sold jewelry have likewise responded to that demand. BlueN for example, lets you shop by specific categories and price points, while T offers a huge selection of Platinum necklaces, rings and bracelets, starting as low as $325.

If you're shopping for him, try visiting ChrisA It offers distinct Platinum cufflinks and watches. All the site's items are designed by Chris Aire, a nationally acclaimed designer whose clientele includes Muhammad Ali, Justin Timberlake and Jamie Foxx.

Whatever your choice, according to jewelry and style expert Michael O'Connor, "the most important piece of information to note when purchasing a gift online is to keep it personal and pick a design that reflects your significant other's personality."

"If they're down-to-earth," he adds, "stick to smaller, more versatile designs. If they're outgoing and fashion-forward, you can be a little more daring."

Of course, those who'd rather see the jewelry in person before buying can visit the "Find a Retailer" section found on and

Platinum and ruby "Inner Circle" earrings, as seen in "Déjà Vu"

You try to ignore it but it's impossible to escape from. The gift shops are full of heart shaped cards and teddy bears, the travel agents have "romantic weekend trips to Paris" advertised, your attached friends topic of conversation is "will he propose?" and all you can think is where the hell are you going to find a man in time for Valentine's Day. Yes, it's the season of romance; the time of year all singletons fear more than walking into a bar with their skirt accidentally tucked into their pants following a visit to the toilet!

If you can identify with these thoughts, don't despair. Whilst it may be difficult for you to get a marriage proposal in such a short space of time, you may be able to get a date in time for Valentine's Day. Here's a few places for you to try and if you've tried them before try them again; men will be on the lookout at this time of year too so don't be afraid to make yourself available:-

1. Take a good look around at work. Ok, so you've worked there for years and none of the single guys have appealed to you before but in desperate times its good to take a second look. Is the guy in accounts really so dull? Maybe he is ultra cool out of work and will have you giggling all night if you give him a chance.

2. Work off those extra pounds piled on at Christmas at the gym and eye up those hunky bodies. Start by taking in the view on the treadmill and then once you've spotted someone you like, ease your way over and ask if he would mind showing you how to use one of the exercise machines in exchange for an après-gym beverage.

3. If you don't have a dog, borrow one and take it for a long walk. You'll be amazed at the amount of guys walking their dogs who will say "hello" to a fellow dog walker.

4. Ask your attached friends to find out if any their boyfriend's friends have recently become single and get them to arrange a casual get-together to introduce you.

5. Last but not least, join an online dating site and message every half-decent man available. By the time Valentine's Day arrives, you'll be inundated with offers and will have to donate the surplus bouquets of red roses to your local hospice because you've run out of vases!

Try one, if not all, of the above, and there's a very good chance you won't be spending Valentine's Day alone!

Alison Edwards writes articles for a UK based dating site. Add you free profile today and find a date for Valentine's Day.