Editorial February 2007: Valentine's Outside the Box By Martina Bexte
Let's face it ... Valentines Day is a big event for lovers of all ages, especially for the woman in a relationship. Traditionally, she gets the biggest thrill from lush flower arrangements, decadent chocolates, or slinky lingerie that her guy presents to her. Such Cupid's starter gifts are sometimes followed up by an evening out at a favorite restaurant. It's icing on the cake if her lover accidentally drops a sparkling token into her glass of bubbly (best not to swallow it though!)
If your significant other is romance-challenged and needs hints to actually do some of the above, then give him A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend by Felicity Huffman & Patricia Wolff. It's a good, lighthearted read, full of ideas.
But what if the two of you are tired of the usual and eager to celebrate Valentine's Day outside the box? These books offer varied avenues of romantic exploration ... Learn how easy it is to whip up four course dinners in the comfort of your own home in Romantic Dinners for Two, a book and DVD combination that proffers 'the key to opening the door to Romance, Passion, Fine Dining, Friendship and Love'. Chef Robért & Barb Catherine coach readers and viewers through varied romantic and gustatory scenarios.
Hot chocolate is my ultimate indulgence, and you'll never look at the steaming confection in the same way again after you and your lover share the gourmet creations in Fred Thompson's Hot Chocolate: 50 Heavenly Cups of Comfort.
But chocolate is only one of many aphrodisiacs. In Botanica Erotica: Arousing Body, Mind, and Spirit, veteran herbalist Diana De Luca shows how to use safe, available herbs in ways that enhance sensuality and explore the realm of the erotic through your entire being. Moving on from culinary seduction, let's work with words. In How to Write Love Letters, Michelle Lovric offers samples, historical examples and practical advice to help you write eloquent and inspired love letters for all occasions - from morning-after lover and anniversary lover to the frustrated lover or the neglected lover.
Still need ideas? In today's hectic world, Gregory Godek's I Love You coupons may be just the ticket for you and your lover to heat things up. Godek shows how to make time for candle-lit dinners for two, an evening out dancing, or a fun weekend shopping spree.
If you're both movie buffs, then 52 Great Romantic Films by Lynn Gordon and Karen Johnson will be a blockbuster hit. These cards summarize '52 touching films that have helped define what romance is today' - from Bergman and Bogart to Streisand and Redford.
Have you fallen under the ballroom dancing craze? Then The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing (book and CD, 'packed with tracks you can really dance to') may give you that extra nudge to sign up at the local dance academy. Jeff Allen offers step-by-step photos, footwork illustrations, and instructions covering all the common ballroom dances, to get you both into the swing of things.
Ah, the allure of wide-open spaces, snow capped peaks and the heady scents of pine and cedar! Elizabeth Claire Flood's Snow Country: Mountain Homes and Rustic Retreats will inspire you to follow through - rather than just dream about - getting away, with an insider's tour of winter hideaways in Colorado, the Sierra Nevada and Whistler Canada.
