Valentine's Day Gifts - Love Baskets with Meaning & Value

Put some snap in your Valentine's Day Gift with a Love Basket created just for your favorite Sweetheart! You'll enjoy the results, and your lover will know you mean it when she hears those three precious words. Love Baskets are created once and used for a lifetime. Just start with a medium sized basket, lid is optional, but the handle is necessary. You'll want a nice sturdy handle!

Step #1 - Line your Love Basket

The liner is important, because you'll use the liner often for other purposes. One of the best liner choices is a patterned cloth in a smooth weave with a hemmed edge. This can be one layer or reversible, but you'll want something nice and soft. Remember your lover's tastes when choosing the pattern, but think romance.

Step #2 - Love Basket Essentials

A set of crystal goblets meant for two. If by some chance you have a set from your wedding, you can use those. Or if not, buy a nice set of stemmed and fluted goblets from the store and tie a pretty ribbon around the stem. Add a bottle of your favorite bubbly (non-alcoholic grape juice is a nice alternative) and some white linen napkins. You now have the essentials for your basket, everything from this point on is optional, but you'll want to consider filling it up.

Step #3 - Setting the Scene

Table service and flatware for two is always a nice additional touch. You never know when that scene might include a wonderful menu to share. There are some nice simple dishes you could add to your basket at any discount center, just select the ones you find most appealing, add silverware and a sharp knife with a cover and you're set for almost any dining experience.

Step #4 - Ambiance?

Candles are a wonderful touch. Scented candles in a glass jar add an extra special ambiance to your love basket. Perhaps you'd like to include an aroma that brings back memories of your first night together. I'd almost bet it's vanilla. Take a chance! Add in bath beads, salts, and bubbles if you expect to make a romantic evening of your Love Basket experience.

Step #5 - Frivolous Accessories

A slinky negligee for her, perhaps some boxers for him? Matching silk robes? Perhaps you'll want to skip the clothing and just get matching top hats? Whatever accessories you might choose, consider your personal choices and think from your lover's perspective. What might she appreciate?

Step #6 - Yummies

These can be anything from a full five course meal to decadent snacks, but I'd recommend for the first basket, you consider chocolates, gourmet foods, or delicate confections. Consider your plans for the evening and buy goodies accordingly. Perhaps dried fruits dipped in chocolate with an accompaniment of cheese and bread? Be original, be decadent, be romantic.

Step #7 - The Gift

Diamonds are nice. Sapphires twinkle. Rubies and Emeralds leave a lasting impression. If you haven't thought of the gift for your favorite love, this is the moment to seriously consider the gift you'll include in the Love Basket. No, the basket itself is the wrapping, not the ultimate gift. Wow your lady with diamonds!

If you haven't decided what to give your love for Valentine's Day yet, this is an awesome and reusable gift. Just refill for special evenings all year long. The Love Basket might even become a romantic tradition.

Jan Verhoeff enjoys promoting business, but there's always a moment to take a day or a weekend off. Visit http://janverhoeff.com and sign up for Jan's News and Updates for FREE marketing and promotional ideas.

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Valentines Gifts for Valentines Day

There are a few stories as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts think that it originated from St. Valentine - A Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him.

Even today seemingly unfair punishments are connected to Valentines day. Valentines day is a very tricky day for most men. It can turn out to be all sweetness and romance and getting your feet (and maybe other parts) massaged, but one wrong move and it can all go horribly wrong and your stuck in the dog house - do not pass go or collect £200!!!

We have all heard how Valentines day is too commercial, and it's a bit lame if you only tell your lover, girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband that you love them on this one-day of the year. But when your partner says this to you, do you believe her? When she says "Lets not bother giving gifts this Valentines day", does she really mean that you are going to do just that?

Some men have been known to be mislead by these seemingly straight forward messages. This is the fastest route to the doghouse.

Denouncing Valentines Day is said in the same way as "Do as you like" when you want to spontaneously spend large amounts of money on a new car, Motorbike or Nintendo Wii.

When she says "Lets not bother giving gifts this Valentines day", what she really means is, "Here is your chance to be really romantic and surprise me with something fantastic this Valentines day". She disguises what she's saying because she knows that being romantic isn't one of your strong points so she's giving you a head start from the off set.

Want to make a romantic gesture this Valentines?

Put love notes in their pockets when they aren't looking.

Handcuff yourself to her for the day.

Write an 'I love you' note or poem backwards, so that they have to look in a mirror to read it.

Tie a ribbon around your privates.

Run a candle lit bath for the two of you.

Cover the bed in rose petals, but remember to save a rose to stroke her body with.

Take a long romantic walk in the woods.

Dedicate a song to her on the radio.

Make her a Valentines card instead of buying her one.

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This Valentines Day say "I Love You" with Cookies

What better way to tell your sweetie “I Love You” than with some fresh baked cookies? Give some of these sweet treats a try this Valentine’s Day. Cupid himself would be impressed by these yummy creations. They are sure to be a hit with your Sweetheart, Children, Neighbors or anyone else special to you as well. Don’t forget to get the kids involved! I still have memories of making Valentine’s Day Cookies as a child.

Heart Shaped Cookies

Make you favorite roll-out sugar cookie recipe. Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them. Bake, frost and decorate to your heart’s content. You can sprinkle them with red or pink crystallized sugar before you bake them, or frost and sprinkle with some tiny candied hearts or pink sprinkles after they are baked. Use icing in a tube to write a message or draw a picture on the cookie.

Cookie Lollipop

Heart Shaped cookie lollipops are always a big hit. Start with basic sugar cookie dough. Roll it out to about 1/8th inch thickness (place the dough between two sheets of wax paper to keep the dough from sticking). Use a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut an equal amount of hearts. Place half a bamboo skewer, a lollipop stick (found at craft stores) or a Popsicle stick on the bottom half of the hearts. Place the remaining hearts on top and press them firmly together. Bake according to your recipe instructions and decorate as desired.

Tip – soak the skewers or Popsicle sticks in water before placing them on the cookies to keep them from getting burnt.

Valentine’s Rice Krispies Treats

Make Rice Krispies Treats and while the mixture is still warm use a large heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them out. If you can’t find a cookie cutter of the right size, draw a heart on cardboard and use it as a template. Just lay it on the sheet of Rice Krispies Treats and trace around it with a knife. For even more Valentine fun add a few drops of red food coloring to the marshmallow mixture for a pink version of the sticky treat.

Cookie Dough Jar

Place the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a pretty jar. Write the recipe for the cookie on a heart shaped piece of paper or a valentine’s note card. Tie it with a pretty bow around the jar. Make the glass jar even more special by drawing little red hearts on it with a permanent marker. These are so cute and easy!

Bouquet of Cookies

Bake up some of your favorite cookies. Get a pretty basket and line it with a red or pink cloth napkin. Arrange the homemade cookies in the basket. If you’d like, you can also add some heart shaped cookie cutters, Valentine’s Day themed sprinkles, or some hot chocolate mix. Another option would be to use a piece of floral foam and arrange some decorated Cookie Lollipops within the basket and fill the bottom with Hershey’s Kisses or other Valentine Candy.

All of these cookie ideas for Valentine’s Day make wonderful gifts for a special someone that has a personal touch. They are sure to be appreciated, after all, who doesn’t like cookies?

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