Tips for valentines day

The Valentine’s Day Don’ts
1. Don’t forget. I think that the
worst thing I could do about
Valentine’s Day is forgetting all
about it. Put it on your calendar in
big red letters. And a few days
before, make sure you put a
reminder in your day planner or
your PDA.

2. Don’t buy kitchen appliances. Or
anything else practical. Valentine’s
Day is supposed to be a little
extravagant. A new blender is not—
I repeat, is not—romantic.
Whatever gift you choose should be
nice and out of the ordinary.
3. Don’t do the same thing you did
last year. Even if it worked well,
your partner will appreciate
something new and different. She
wants to know that you thought
about her as you planned your
Valentine’s Day gift or event.

4. Don’t give her lingerie. Now, I
know the people at Victoria’s
Secret will not like this, but lingerie
is a very dangerous gift. You can
get the wrong size, which is a big
problem. You can get the wrong
color. But most importantly, when
guys give lingerie they often have
one thought in mind, and giving
lingerie can really backfire. Just
resist the temptation and be a little
more creative.

5. Don’t have unrealistic
expectations. While your partner
wants to be pampered, you also
have to understand that her day is
filled with many demands—kids,
work, house, and more. Make sure
you go the extra mile, but keep
your expectations realistic and in
check.

6. Don’t overspend. Particularly if
you share a bank account and a
credit card with your sweetheart,
breaking the bank is a bad idea.
Keep within your budget and have
the nicest evening you can afford.
If it is too much, she’ll likely be
panicked about money and too
stressed to have fun.

7. Don’t talk about an ex. One of
the surest ways to spoil a
Valentine’s Day evening is to have
your partner think you are thinking
about another woman. Don’t talk
about your former wife or
girlfriend; keep the conversation
focused on your woman and life
will be better.

8. Don’t give her a generic card.
She will not be impressed with the
nicest card from the local Hallmark
if you just sign your name. Add a
note about how much you love her,
how much she means to you, and
any other positive feelings you
have. The personal part is what is
romantic to her, not how much
lace is on the card or how much
you spent on it.

9. Don’t do guy stuff. Your favorite
NBA basketball team may be in
town, or you may be tempted to
take her to a sports bar for dinner.
Just don’t. This is her night, so stay
away from the guy stuff, and put
her first. You can always record or
TIVO the televised game and watch
it tomorrow.

10. Don’t spend the night online.
Too many of us tend to get in front
of the computer late at night for
gaming, chatting or other online
stuff. For this one night, leave the
computer off and focus on your
woman. She will be grateful for
your undivided attention.

The Do’s of Valentines
1. Send a gift to work. If your
partner is employed, delivering or
sending a Valentine’s Day gift to
work is a welcome idea. It will
show her in front of her peers that
she is loved and remembered on
Valentine’s Day.

2. Make a homemade Valentine.
Cards from the store are nice, but
your partner will really know you
love her if you take the time to
make your own Valentine card. Get
out the scissors, red construction
paper, white paper doilies and glue
and get started. Your own little
verse would add just the right
touch. Taking time to do something
out of the ordinary is romantic.

3. Cook for her. Once again, doing
something out of the routine is an
important way to show you care.
Breakfast in bed, or cooking a
romantic dinner for two can be fun
for you and let her know you were
willing to go the extra mile.

4. Remember romance. Valentine’s
Day for your partner is all about
romance. That means taking the
time to do the little extras like
dressing up for your dinner out,
leaving little love notes around, or
being on time for your
commitments. While guys aren’t
often good at romance, it is
important to her. Try to see
yourself as she sees you and then
deliver beyond her expectation.

5. Turn off the electronics. While
we live in a fast paced time with
cell phones or personal digital
assistants running our lives,
Valentine’s Day is not a time for
interruptions. Turn off the phone,
the Palm or Blackberry, and focus
your attention on your significant
other.

6. Write her a love letter. This is
not an email, a text message or a
card, but a real love letter. In your
own handwriting, tell her what she
really means to you. Tell her why
you would choose her all over
again if you had to. Remind her
why you are thrilled that she is
your kids’ mom. She’ll keep that
letter as a cherished part of her
life.

7. Watch a chick flick. Sure, you’d
rather be watching the latest 007
film or WWF Smackdown, but she’ll
appreciate you sitting through a
romantic movie. Consider The Lake
House, While You Were Sleeping,
You’ve Got Mail or Sleepless in
Seattle if you are looking for one
that you both might enjoy.

8. Offer her a massage. Many
Valentine’s Day experts recommend
a day spa gift certificate as a great
gift option for your sweetheart,
but I think a personal massage is a
wonderful alternative. Giving your
woman a good foot massage or a
solid back rub can really make her
relax and feel good. Learn some
massage techniques, pick up some
massage oil and work out those
stiff muscles.

9. Consider spreading gifts
throughout the day. Rather than
one big gift, you should try giving
her a number of smaller gifts
during the day. Maybe one gift at
breakfast, leave one on the front
seat of her car or in her medicine
chest in the bathroom, one at
work, and then another one on the
front seat of her car before she
leaves work. Going the extra mile
to remember her during the day
will pay big dividends in how she
reacts the rest of the day.

10. Just relax. While I know these
ideas sound like a lot of work, it is
important to not overdo it. Don’t
try to cram too much into the day
or into the evening. A leisurely
pace is an important component of
making Valentine’s Day great for
your woman.