Valentine’s Day

Picture this: it’s the day before Valentine’s Day and you’re going over the romantic evening you’ve planned for you and your special someone when you realize you’ve forgotten one, possibly two, of the most important things…the flowers and a gift. At this point, you imagine your local florist must be backed up and you have absolutely no idea what to do to prevent your celebration from turning into a complete disaster. Don’t worry, deep breaths! For starters, there’s always same-day flower delivery when you order from someone like us. But, we also want to let you know that there are tons of other solutions that can put your mind at ease – here are some examples:

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February 14th comes once each year, and every time the day is about to arrive, couples from all over can be found planning their Valentine’s Day dinner and perhaps a movie to follow. But who says you have to stick to tradition? Of course it’s always nice to get dressed up and spend the night out with the one you love, but your classic dinner and a movie date isn’t the only way to celebrate this romantic holiday.

That said, why not shake things up a bit this year? Below, we’ve compiled our very own list of unique ways to spend Valentine’s Day with your honey:

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There’s nothing more exciting than receiving a beautiful pair of diamond earrings or that luxury watch you’ve been wanting on Valentine’s Day, but let’s face it – gifts like these are pricey! And they certainly aren’t the only items that can make or break a budget during this time of year – dinner, a huge bouquet of roses and a movie, followed by indulging in an assortment of delicious chocolates can add up too! But since we know you’re probably not just going to give your loved one a hug and move on, we’ve put together a few tips to help you approach this holiday even when things are tight.

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Although Valentine’s Day is usually associated with the romantic kind of love, husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends aren’t the only ones who deserve some special attention – children do too! Just think back to when you were in elementary school and had the chance to pass out your Valentine’s Day cards and candies to your friends – it’s something we remember most about our holiday experiences in school, what about you? Nothing is more exciting for children than the opportunity to do something that someone they care about will hold close to their heart, which is why it’s up to you to make their Valentine’s Day one to remember! But in case you’re having trouble with where to start, we have a few ideas for you:

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One of the best parts of Valentine’s Day? Being able to show off to your co-workers, of course! This year, take the celebration to the next level by really making her say wow with these Valentine’s Day office gifting ideas.

Go big, or send it home. If you’re looking to wow at the office, make it something the co-workers will be jealous of! For Valentine’s Day flowers, make it two dozen rather than one. If sending chocolate, go for the tower versus the box.

Coordinate with coworkers. Assuming her office bestie has a valentine this year (we wouldn’t want to make anyone feel bad), coordinate with them to take a reaction photo of your sweetie receiving her gift. Post it to social media to share how much she means to you!

Order early. Since it’s sometimes tricky coordinating exact delivery times, consider sending flowers a day or two early. You can even purchase office flowers that arrive in bud form so they’ll be in full bloom on the day in question!

Send her a picnic basket, then show up for a surprise lunch. Have a basket filled with light bites and snacks sent to her office. When she’s getting ready to dig in for lunch, surprise her by stopping by the office so the two of you can dig in together! Continue Reading…

Valentine’s Day Plants for Him

Have you ever wondered if getting flowers for your guy is acceptable? Well, I’m here to tell you that it is! Here are a few simple tips for choosing the right flowers:

1. For the Sensitive Guy (They DO Exist!): If you’re really stuck on the idea of sending flowers, choose a plant instead. It’s Valentine’s Day, it is okay to get a little sappy, which is why this heart-shaped lucky bamboo will show him that he has your heart. And as an added bonus, it will bring him extra luck, too!

2. For the Modern Man – Why Should Only Ladies Get Flowers?:

Flowers have been the perfect gift for women, but why not for the modern man!? Just follow some of these manly flower tips: (1) Avoid pastels- Go for bright, bold colors (2) A bright red rose is a symbol of love, respect, and courage and will certainly let your feelings show. Couple it with his favorite sweets and it makes the perfect pair, just like you two! (3) A simple and classic arrangement with no frills is a safe way to go.  (4) “Spruce up” the packaging- Choose a more masculine vase with his favorite sport on it or include some golf balls on the side.

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With the noisy swarms of couples and the irrationally high menu prices, going out for Valentine’s Day is more of a hassle than a luxury. And with Valentine’s Day 2015 falling on a Saturday, you can imagine the hustle and bustle to be extra hectic. Who needs that when you can create a five-star experience right out of your own kitchen? Here are 20 tips how to plan a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two at home!

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 1: Prepare your food in advance.

The No. 1 mood-killer for your Valentine’s Day dinner? The stress of rustling up a last-minute meal. Don’t waste precious together time scuttling around the kitchen. Instead, prepare and cook all of your food well in advance. That way, you can sit down and truly enjoy the most important part of the night: your sweetie.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 2: Cook together.

There’s no rule that says cooking a Valentine’s Day dinner has to be a one-person job. Consider making your meal together as a couple. You can have fun playing and experimenting with the ingredients, or you can get sensual and feed each other as you go along. You don’t even have to sacrifice that luxurious touch you get at your favorite restaurant; simply pick up high quality ingredients (if ordering steak, be sure to get the right cut). Whatever you do, you’ll be creating some unforgettable memories … and food!

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 3: Ignite your passion with food.

Love potions aren’t just a bunch of fairy tale fluff. They actually exist! Certain foods are known as romance-boosting aphrodisiacs, including oysters, saffron, ginger, asparagus, garlic (we’re not kidding!), basil, figs and strawberries. You can find a full list of sensuous eats on Celebrations.com. Be sure to incorporate some (or all!) of these into your menu to heat things up on V-Day.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 4: Keep it simple.

Only two words describe the perfect Valentine’s Day cuisine: light and simple. You want your meal to fill you up—not weigh both of you down. Try these delicious yet delicate Valentine’s Day dinner recipes that’ll satisfy you both … and save you the hassle of whipping up a complicated feast.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 5: Make dessert easy.

To save you even more trouble, simplify dessert time by serving a combo of homemade and store-bought treats. And think small. Just a few itty-bitty desserts will do the trick. Try on these perfectly portioned sweets for size: Love Note Conversation Heart Dipped Oreo Cookies, Fannie May Love & Romance Chocolate Strawberries, Valentine’s Day Gourmet Pretzel Rods, Cheryl’s I Love You Gift Pail.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 6: Give your dining space a quick makeover.

Celebrating V-Day in the same kitchen or dining room that you eat in every night might be anything but exhilarating—unless you think outside the box.Change the everyday scene by simply rearranging a few pieces of furniture. You’ll feel like you’re in a brand-new home or, better yet, a fancy restaurant (minus the crowds)!

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 7: Make a keepsake Valentine’s Day menu.

Give your feast some true restaurant appeal: Print out your menu on Valentine’s Day themed cardstock, or create your own chalkboard menu sign. You can keep the menu card as a precious token of your night together, or you can reuse the chalkboard sign as a menu for your weekly dinner specials.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 8: Enhance your food with wine.

True love is like good wine; it gets even better with age! So go ahead and spoil yourselves: Complement the exquisite flavors of your Valentine’s Day dinner with a bottle of fine wine. Your sweetheart is definitely worth it.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 9: Break out the fine china.

If ever there is a more perfect occasion to put that fine china to good use, it’s Valentine’s Day. Lay out some gorgeous linens in shades of red, white and pink, and then set the table with your best dinnerware, glassware and silverware. Then comes the pièce de résistance: an eye-catching floral centerpiece. Your honey will feel like royalty when they finally settle down at the dinner table.

Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 10: Set the mood with candles.

To create a softer, more enchanting ambiance, turn the lights down low (but make sure it’s still bright enough to see!) and scatter plenty of romantic candles across the tablescape. Continue Reading…

Think you know everything about matters of the heart? Guess again! There’s a lot more to that weak-in-the-knees feeling you get every time you lay your eyes on that someone special. To honor the arrival of Valentine’s Day, here are some little-known fun love facts, excerpted from the exclusive 1-800-Flowers book, Celebrating Love: Share, Remember, Cherish from founder Jim McCann. You’ll never look at your love the same way again!

Fun Love Facts

• Being in love produces the same physiological responses as fear: pupil dilation, sweaty palms, and increased heart rate.
• Men who kiss their wives each morning live five years longer than those who don’t.
• Medical experts suggest you are more likely to catch a common cold by shaking hands than by kissing.
• Love and marriage are boosts for your health, so much so that one doctor admitted that if a new drug had the same impact, virtually every doctor in the country would be recommending it.
• According to research, love at first sight is not just a fairy tale. If a person is in the right emotional frame of mind, it can take as little as 30 seconds to fall in love. Physical appearance tops the list for attraction, but a desire to know more about the person is another factor. Interestingly, men fall first but are usually the most fickle, a sign that it is possible to fall in love with more than one person at a time.

Which fun love fact is most surprising to you?