Ah, Valentine’s Day: The time of year where people embrace romance-wining, dining, chocolate, flowers, and diamonds. Women around the world day dream of making love to the music of Berlin-their ‘breath taken away’ by rose petals leading to the candle-lit boudoir enhanced only by chilled champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
And then, somewhere along the way, the familiar words of Deanna Carter come to mind: “Did I Shave My Legs for This?”
Most of us probably don’t have the privilege of a hopeless romantic for our soul mate. In fact, women probably find themselves strategically leaving the jewelry advertisement next to the remote control. Or, maybe they drop subtle hints over dinner conversation such as, “Wouldn’t it be nice to get away for a weekend?” Or, “Linda received a bouquet of flowers today at work. Her husband sure loves her.”
In my opinion, there’s no use in trying to be all sneaky and subtle. Men don’t think like women do; many men need explicit instructions and they really want to know what you want. Disclaimer: I’m not saying ALL men-I’m saying most men don’t pay much attention to our silly, school-girl romantic desires. In their defense, it seems that men undergo a tremendous amount of pressure to impress their women. However, they are coaxed into not really being themselves. This year, may I suggest alleviating the pressure a bit? Ladies, try to take the lead this year and follow these tips to create a successful Valentine’s Day:
1. Have a relative do the work-call up your sister-in-law and casually have her mention to your husband that over lunch a few weeks ago, you thought it would be nice to have a new pair of earrings you saw at the mall (or whatever it is you want). This way, you didn’t have to say anything and although a bit of surprise is taken out of the deal, the bottom line is this: you get the damn earrings.
2. Create the Moment for Him-you want rose petals and candle light? Stop whining and just do it for yourself, err I mean, for HIM. The date will be everything you want and surely, your man will be impressed that you went out of your way to show how much you love you him.
3. Keep it simple-in my experience, sometimes most the romantic moments go without major planning. How about a nice dinner out and a movie at home with no kids? Offer to give him a back massage with some warming massage oil. Who knows where that will lead? Often, just a little alone time is all you need to lift the romance factor a couple of notches.
4. Buy some new duds-it’s a known fact: Men love lingerie. It’s no secret they’re a visual species. A small investment (actually, the smaller, the better) can really shake things up. If he’s from the Iron Range, may I suggest a dirty little deer hunter costume?
5. Precede the Holiday-add a true element of surprise by creating a Valentine’s Day before actual Valentine’s Day. This year’s holiday falls on a Saturday. Maybe plan a romantic date on Friday? Let your partner know that it’s not about a holiday; show him that any day is great for showing him how much you love him.
6. If you’re single, pamper yourself-I realize, Valentine’s Day really sucks for some people. Maybe you’re alone or recently had a tough break up. It may be a good move to boost your self esteem by showing yourself how much you love you. Treat yourself to a spa, a $50 dinner or a new outfit. You deserve it.
Do you have some romantic Valentine’s Day tips to share? I’d love to hear from you. If you’re planning a night on the town, be sure to check out the RangeBuzz.com Valentine’s Day Dating and Dining Guide.
