Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Chinese Proverb: Light in the soul


Meandering Light . . .
Originally uploaded by artnwine1
If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the
person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the
house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the
nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

Chinese Proverb

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Free Halloween Music

Free Halloween Music

The music includes:

Tales from the Crypt
The Munsters
Addams Family Haunted Mansion Beetlejuice
The Thing Phantasm 1 Phantasm 2
Outer Limits 1 Halloween Bewitched
Outer Limits 2 Amityville Horror Count Dracula
Phantom of the Opera Ghostbusters Exorcist
Dark Shadows X-Files Alfred Hitchcock
Jaws Star Trek (short) Twilight Zone
Darth Vader Pulp Fiction Poltergeist
Psycho Nightmare on Elm Street Heretic
Casper

Addams Family
Ghostbusters
Haunted Mansion sounds

Monster Mash Black Sabbath Frankenstein
Diary of a Madman Witchy Woman Thriller
Devil With a Blue Dress On Elvira Funeral March
Werewolves of London

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Steal a Base Steal a Taco

Take your sweetie for a free taco today only! Just go to Taco Bell between 2:00 and 6:00 local time and ask for a free taco. What is more romantic than free tacos.


Steal a Base Steal a Taco: "HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE TACO If an eligible base was stolen during the Games Taco Bell will make an announcement through selected media channels including a press release and its Web site www.tacobell.com that eligible consumers can obtain their free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco on Tuesday October 28 2008 if base is stolen in Games 1-4 on October 22 23 25 or 26 OR Monday November 3 2008 if base is stolen in Games 5-7 October 27 29 or 30 'Redemption Date' only. To obtain the Free Taco consumers must visit any participating Taco Bell� restaurant in one of the fifty 50 United States or the District of Columbia between 2 00 p.m. and 6 00 p.m. local time on the Redemption Date only and request a Free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco."

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Fingerprint


fingerprint
Originally uploaded by mipanda
Next time you are holding your sweetheart's hand, look at their fingerprints. Each one is unique. There has never before been a person with those fingerprints nor shall there ever be again. Your spouse is one of a kind, one in billions, your exclusive treasure throughout time.

Take a moment and let your sweetie know how special they are.

Monday, September 29, 2008

No time like the present

In a recent "Dear Abby" article entitled HUSBAND CONSUMED BY REGRET AFTER DEATH OF BELOVED WIFE we are reminded how short and precious life is and how tomorrow may be too late. In a letter to Dear Abby a man writes of his wife passing away
I recently lost my wife to a long illness. When she could no longer work, I tried to give her the best quality of life I could. It took a toll. I worked long hours to give her everything she needed. The medical bills were astronomical. All she ever wanted was me.
It is common for people to try and provide everything for their loved ones, ignoring the one thing really needed: time. Life being what it is, often the most precious gift you can give is to schedule time for your sweetheart.

The writer continues
Abby, I would like to remind all the other macho guys out there that TIME is something you only get so much of. It is precious, but unfortunately, limited. I realized, too late, that it's not enough that my wife "knew" I loved her. I should have told her more often. I know now that "I wish I would have," "I know I should have," and "If I had just one more chance" are the worst things in the world to hear yourself say when it is already too late.


While this letter is sad and depressing, it is a good reminder to all of us to make time often and regularly for our spouse and our marriage. I ran into a married couple I know at the store late in the morning the other day. I asked "Don't you have a job or something you are supposed to be doing"? His response was wonderful, "We both took the day off work to spend time together". How excellent!

Everyone gets the same 86,400 seconds each day. If we are not careful, they can all slip by. Take a few of those seconds and make sure to spend them with your sweetheart.

Read the entire article; the response is one worth pondering.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Sweet Deal: Free Ice Cream at Cold Stone

Support a good cause and get some free ice cream.
Celebrate the 7th Annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social and Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® with Cold Stone Creamery

Throughout the month of September, Cold Stone Creamery will be selling Make-A-Wish wall stars to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Be sure to visit your local Cold Stone Creamery to try two new flavors, Nutter Butter® and Marshmallow, and the very special “Make-A-Wish Creations” inspired by Jack and Emily, two Wish Children.
  • Jack's Creation - Marshmallow ice cream with OREO® Cookies, Chocolate Chips and Fudge
  • Emily's Creation - Nutter Butter® ice cream with White Chocolate Chips, Kit Kat® and Yellow Cake

To cap off this special month, don't miss the 7th Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social at participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide, a special night to join together and share the simple pleasures of life with a FREE ice cream and family fun. On September 25th from 5:00 - 8:00PM, guests will be treated to a 3 oz. serving of Jack or Emily's Creation. All donations will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Put your marriage before your kids - Yahoo! News

I ran across an article today with some good insights and advice. Here is a bit, check out the rest of the article.

Put your marriage before your kids - Yahoo! News: "So here s the solution To raise great kids focus on your marriage. There are three keys to a successful marriage and family: 1 Recognize that we ve already chosen the perfect spouse. No we would NOT choose better next time; 2 Recognize how often our fight-or-flight instinct overrides our passion in marriage. To create a happy marriage we need to go from the fantasy 'It s his her fault that I m unhappy' to the truth 'I wouldn t do any better in my next marriage so I might as well give 100 percent to this one;' and 3 Recognize that if we build a great marriage we create a great role model for our kids and they learn self-reliance and cooperation in the process."

Friday, July 11, 2008

Sweet Deal: Free Slurpee

In honor of 7-eleven day, 7-11 is giving away Free 7.11 oz. slurpees on July 11. Take your sweetee for a nice cool free treat. Check the website go a store locator.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Five-year itch: new danger point for marriages - Science, News - The Independent

I came across an article on the new "seven year itch" or the point at which many marriages start having problems. According the the article, it is now down to five years. From the article: Five-year itch: new danger point for marriages - Science, News - The Independent: "Scientists have discovered that couples begin to grow fed up with each other after just four years and are at peak risk of divorce just before their fifth anniversary. Researchers in the US, Russia and Scandinavia investigating the longevity of relationships found that the 'honeymoon period' lasts for less than five years, with most divorces likely to happen between five and 10 years into the marriage. If couples get through this patch, then the chances are they'll stay together indefinitely."

The article doesn't really give any reasons for these findings, just some speculations that the cost of divorce and maturity might keep couples together.

It would be interesting to see the results of a study comparing people who take an active role in keeping the marriage fun with those who allow themselves to become complacent. Marriage can be compared to a fire, if you stop putting wood on the fire, it is going to go out.

What are some of the things you and your sweetheart are doing to keep the marriage fresh and fun?

Friday, June 20, 2008

Everyday is a holiday

We here at Ferocious Flirting believe that everyday is reason to celebrate and apparently we are not alone. Over at Bizarre American Holidays Homepage everyday is a reason to celebrate. For today we see that:
BIZARRE JUNE HOLIDAYS: "June 20 is . . . . Ice Cream Soda Day"
Now there is something you and your sweetheart can celebrate. Commemorate the date with a nice ice cream soda.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Reinventing Date Night

I came across this article that really hits the importance of dating your spouse.
All Pro Dad | Reinventing Date Night: "Rather than visiting the same familiar haunts and dining with the same old friends, couples need to tailor their date nights around new and different activities that they both enjoy, says Arthur Aron, a professor of social psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. The goal is to find ways to keep injecting novelty into the relationship. The activity can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or something a little more unusual or thrilling — like taking an art class or going to an amusement park.
Dr. Aron cautions that novelty alone is probably not enough to save a marriage in crisis. But for couples who have a reasonably good but slightly dull relationship, novelty may help reignite old sparks"
Be sure and keep dating and do not do the same old same old. There are so many opportunities to spice things up a bit. Remember that active dates are also more romantic than passive dates. Try something other than dinner and a movie.

Be sure and see the whole article.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

2 Steps to Keeping it Interesting

My kids will often say "I'm bored" to which I reply "Whose fault is that?" Boredom and apathy are relationship killers. Just like my kids, we often try to blame others for our own boredom. And like many other things, we need to take responsibility and address it for ourselves.

If you are in a rut, here are two ideas that will make life more interesting. These also work to keep your relationship from falling into that rut.

First, most everyone likes pleasant surprises. A gift or a thoughtful act will let your special someone know you are thinking about them and will get their attention. We all get complacent in our little comfort zones and a fun surprise on occasion will keep things interesting. If you need an idea, head to your local greeting card shop. My kids got me a card that plays the Charlie Brown theme when opened. We open it and dance around. Find a card that will make your sweetheart laugh and send it to them for no reason. Write something like "I saw this card and it made me think of you". If it is one that plays a fun song, even better.

Second, by developing your own interests and talents you will become a more interesting person. People love to be with interesting people. Sadly, people will put their own interests, hobbies and passions aside. Start taking time to develop your own talents and encourage your spouse to do likewise. Make a goal and then develop a plan to reach that goal. For example, if you are a runner, set a goal to run at an organized event. Then make a training plan that will help you be ready.

Be sure your goals are realistic both from a physical and a relationship perspective. If you are 7 months pregnant it might not be the best time to be training for a marathon. Neither would you want to schedule your time that would prevent you from meeting your responsibilities.

Simple surprises and a plan of personal growth will work to keep your relationship fresh, fun and interesting.

Friday, May 02, 2008

The Origin And History Of Mother's Day

Copyright © 2007-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF




The origin and history of Mother's Day goes back to the era of the ancient Greeks and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in the United Kingdom where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of day in the United States. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. It is thanks to the hard work of pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mother's Day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant supporter and well-wisher.



The earliest history of Mother's Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.



Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria. It was dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honor of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration, made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele, lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome.



Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent, in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England, the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called "Mothering Sunday".



The more recent history of Mother's Day dates back to the 1600's in England. Here, a "Mothering Sunday" was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers. After a prayer service in the church to honor the Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.



On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees staying away from their homes were encouraged to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally, children brought with them gifts and a special cake or fruit-filled pastry called a simnel.



The custom of Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom home and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales.



The idea of the official celebration of Mother's Day in the United States was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and poet, Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Julia Ward Howe suggested that June 2nd be annually celebrated as Mother's Day and should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous " Mother's Day Proclamation", written in Boston in 1870. Her idea spread but was later replaced by the Mother's Day holiday now celebrated in May.



Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mother's Day in the United States. Though Anna Jarvis never had children, she is also known as the Mother of Mother's Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers.



Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mother's Day from her own mother, Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis, in her childhood. An activist and social worker, Mrs. Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and deceased, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.



A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mothers words and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mothers desire of having a mothers day. The growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers, and a desire to honor her own mother, spurred her ambitions.



The tradition of gifting carnations on Mother's Day began on the first official Mother's Day service on May 10, 1908. Miss Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her mother. The flowers were meant to be distributed amongst the mothers. Others present in the mass were also asked to wear flowers. White carnations were a favorite of Miss Anna Jarvis's mother, Mrs. Anna Marie Jarvis. Miss Anna Jarvis explained the reason for her selection of white carnations as the flower to honor her mother, this way:



''The white carnation is preferred because it may be thought to typify some of the virtues of motherhood...whiteness stands for purity; its lasting qualities, faithfulness; its fragrance, love; its wide field of growth, charity; its form, beauty..."



Miss Anna Jarvis continued with the tradition of sending carnations to the Andrews Church. She sent over 10,000 carnations in the subsequent years as a personal gift to the church on Mother's Day. This gradually led to a custom of giving carnations to mothers. Today, carnations are worn and gifted worldwide on Mother's Day and have become symbolic of the purity, strength and endurance of motherhood. As a custom, red carnations are worn to honor living mothers, and white carnations are worn for the deceased mothers.



If you think Mother's Day has become too commercialized, you're not alone. Anna Jarvis, the person who did the most to make Mother's Day a national holiday, thought so too. She considered the printed greeting card "a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write" and in fact ended up spending her inheritance campaigning against the holiday she had helped to popularize!



Nonetheless, retailers report that Mother's Day is the second highest gift giving holiday in the United States (Christmas is the highest). And since May14th is right around the corner, it's time to place your flower order!



Mother's Day is the biggest floral sales day of the year. Making sure you order your flowers early from your favorite florist, will help to ensure you get exactly the flowers and container that will suit your special mother.



There will be many beautiful keepsake vases and arrangements available. To make sure your mom gets her gift by Mother's Day consider having it delivered on Friday or Saturday. Not only does this help your frantically working florist and their delivery staff, but it gives you more time to re-deliver before Mother's Day if no one is home on the first attempt to deliver. To make your flowers even more special send along a poem or short essay that tells mom how wonderful she really is! Have a great Mother's Day!





About The Author:


Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. He also works with funeral-homes.net to provide useful information about funeral homes across the nation. He has been recognized by florists nationwide as a leader in the flower business. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at www.800wesleys.com




Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Date Idea: Now Playing Utah

There have been several times that we have wondered what is going on but never really knew where to look. Now, at least for Utah, there is a site that lists many cultural events. From the website:

"Whether you’re a local looking to get out and play or a visitor looking for fun things to do during your stay, NowPlayingUtah.com has just what you’re looking for, offering endless ideas of things to see and do throughout the state. Here you will find a comprehensive statewide calendar of events that allows you to search by date, location, category, venue, artist and more. Not only that, but NowPlayingUtah.com also provides easy access to dates, times, maps and direct links for purchasing tickets."


If you know of similar sites for other areas of the country or the world, please add them in the comments.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Helpless Man! Helpless Man! | I Love You Recipes

I like this story and thought to share it with y'all. Click the link to see the rest of the story.

Helpless Man! Helpless Man! | I Love You Recipes: "My wife thinks that I wield what she calls the spell of the Helpless Man. According to her, this incantation causes females to rush to my aid. Women, she says, are especially vulnerable inside gift stores, jewelry stores, and the aisles of grocery stores that don’t feature chips, beer or frozen items that turn to dinner inside a microwave oven.

My response to this tomfoolery is to chuckle and change the subject. For any man of my age and girth knows that the days of spell-casting are long, long gone. But my Honey Bunny insists, even to maintaining what she calls her list of empirical proof. I recently asked to see this mysterious list, and made a few notations."

Monday, April 21, 2008

Kids tell: HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?


IMG_4673
Originally uploaded by mariacaridad
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
(written by kids) -----



You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like
sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.. -- Kristen, age 10
[Sure kid, blame God!]

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynn , age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8


IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9 (bless you child!)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin,
age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump
ruck. -- Rick, age 10

Friday, April 18, 2008

Forgiveness

Everybody gets thorns or slivers stuck in their fingers every once in a while. Those sharp little splinters that are so easy to get in and so difficult to remove. It is amazing how such a small object embedded in the skin can hurt so much. Sometime they even require tweezers and a magnifying glass to pull it out. But oh the relief once it is out.

Sometimes my kids want to leave it in. They would rather live with a splinter in the finger rather than have to suffer the pinch of the tweezers. What they do not understand is what happens when you let something fester. Leaving a sliver in can lead to infection, gangrene and in extreme cases, losing the limb or even death. No one would ever leave a sliver in if they could help it.

In every relationship there are things that get under the skin. A thoughtless remark, a forgotten event or a heartless laugh can all feel like a little splinter in the soul. Like the splinter in a finger, these relationship splinters should also be removed as soon as possible. Letting an offense or hurt feeling fester can be as dangerous to a relationship as an infected wound is to the finger.

When couples have been married for a long time, one thing they seem to have in common is that they never say unkind or derogatory things about each other. Does that mean that there have never been hurt feelings? Of course not. It simply means that they have learned to not let things fester.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Ferocious Flirting: Making Marriage Wonderful now available on Amazon


Ferocious Flirting: Making Marriage Wonderful is published by the Cleverly Group and is now available for order on Amazon. We are all really excited about this new book. The original content has been grouped into sections to make the ideas really stand out. In addition, each section has an illustration by Val Chadwick Bagley.

Thank you all for your kind support.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Life is romantic


I´M | romantic
Originally uploaded by [Kantor]
Life is a romantic business, but you have to make the romance.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Take time today to do surprise your sweetheart. Buy some flowers for no reason. Write a small note. Make dinner reservations. Let your spouse know you are thinking of them.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Some things I learned from my dog


My dog Tess
Originally uploaded by m0smith
My dog is one of those happy, glad to see you, let's play tug o' war kind of dogs. Whenever there is someone at the door, she runs to see who it is. Sometimes she gets out but she always head home after not too long. She is also a great example of how to make someone feel good.

1 Smile. This dog has a permanent smile. She always seems happy to see everyone. Let people see you smile.

2 Excitement. Whenever I walk in the door she wags her tail and runs around, overcome with happiness. Don't be afraid to take a few moments and let you spouse know you are glad to see them.

Friday, February 15, 2008

The other 364 days a year

Valentine's Day has come and gone. The flowers given, the cards read and the chocolates eaten.
Rather than being the end of romance, Valentine's Day can be the seeds that are planted in the garden. If the seeds that were planted on February 14th are tended properly, they will yield a romantic harvest all year long.

In a garden, the best results come with a little effort applied regularly. Once the seeds are planted, they need water, fertilizer and sunshine to grow. The weeds need to be removed to give the plants the best possible chance to thrive. If the garden is neglected, it will take a lot of work to get it happy again. A little bit of effort applied regularly results in a better yield neglecting the garden and then trying to get it back in shape in one big effort.

Like the garden, a romantic marriage comes with a little bit of effort applied regularly. Keep out the weeds of strife and conflict while nurturing romance with kindness, appreciation and benevolence.

By having romance alive and growing throughout the year, you can make everyday Valentine's Day.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Kids tell it like it is

SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
"Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." - Del, age 6

"Shake your hips and hope for the best."- Camille, age 9

"Yell out that you love them at the top of your lungs ... and don't worry if their parents are right there."
- Manuel, age 8

"Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." - Alonzo, age 9

"One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me." - Bart, age 9

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT ARE
IN LOVE?
"Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." - Bobby, age 9

"Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold ... Other people care more about the food."- Bart, age 9

"Romantic adults usually are all dressed up, so if they are just wearing jeans it might mean they
used to go out or they just broke up." - Sarah, age 9

"See if the man has lipstick on his face." - Sandra, age 7

"It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are --- on fire." - Christine, age 9

TITLES OF THE LOVE BALLADS YOU CAN SING TO YOUR BELOVED
"'How Do I Love Thee When You're Always Picking Your Nose?'" - Arnold, age 10

"'You Are My Darling Even Though You Also Know My Sister.'" - Larry, age 8

"'I Love Hamburgers, I Like You!'" - Eddie, age 6

"'I Am in Love with You Most of the Time, but Don't Bother Me When I'm with My Friends.'"- Bob, age 9

"'Hey, Baby, I Don't like Girls but I'm Willing to Forget You Are One!'" - Will, age 7

"'Honey, I Got Your Curly Hair and Your Nintendo on My Mind.'" - Sharon, age 9

WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY "I LOVE YOU"
"The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him. But I hope he showers at least once a day."
- Michelle, age 9

"Some lovers might be real nervous, so they are glad that they finally got
it out and said it and now they can go eat." - Dick, age 7

HOW WAS KISSING INVENTED?
"I know one reason that kissing was created. It makes you feel warm all over, and they didn't always
have electric heat or fireplaces or even stoves in their houses." - Gina, age 8

HOW A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS
"You can have a big rehearsal with your Barbie and Ken dolls." - Julia, age 7

"You learn it right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you." - Brian, age 7

"It might help to watch soap operas all day." - Carin, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
"When they're rich." - Pam, age 7

"It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you ... That's why I stopped doing it."
- Tammy, age 10

"If it's your mother, you can kiss her any time. But if it's a new person, you have to ask permission."
- Roger, age 6

"I look at kissing like this: Kissing is fine if you like it, but it's a free country and nobody should be forced to do it." - Bart, age 9

HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE
"Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." - Dick, age 7

"Don't forget your wife's name ... That will mess up the love." - Erin, age 8

"Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash." - Dave, age 8

"Don't say you love somebody and then change your mind ... Love isn't like picking what movie you
want to watch." - Natalie, age 9

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Valentine's Day gift ideas for 2008

Last year I posted a list of 10 Valentines day gift ideas that were out of the ordinary. This year, I want to continue the same theme.

My wife and I were talking about what to get each other for Valentine's Day. Flowers tend to be quite expensive and short lived. Chocolate, while yummy and enjoyable, goes contrary to our efforts to get into better shape. We also have enough knick-knacks and stuffed animals. What we want is either gifts that will not end up being just clutter. It might be a gift that is really used or a non-physical gift.


With that in mind and in no particular order some Valentine's Day gift ideas for both him and her.

  1. Regifting if you can sneak her wedding ring off her finger, why not re-propose. Let her know you would marry her all over again. Works for the wife to propose as well.
  2. Combined resources - rather than spending a bunch of money on trivial, romantic style gifts, combine the money you would have spent and buy something together that you will both enjoy. For us, it is going to be play tickets that we can use as a date.
  3. Lunch - It can be quite difficult to arrange dinner on Valentine's Day as most restaurants are packed in the evening. Arrange to have lunch together instead. This makes it easier to have some time alone if you have school age kids.
  4. Take the day off together - time is often more precious than money. Celebrate your love by spending a valuable day off work together.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Date Idea: Feed the spirit

Just as a healthy body needs nourishment and exercise and a healthy mind needs nourishment and exercise, also a healthy spirit needs nourishment and exercise.

For an excellent date, take your husband and wife and do something religious. This might be attending the temple, mass or some other meeting beyond normal Sunday services together. Many religions have volunteer opportunities that would allow couples to work and serve together for the benefit of others. Most religions have a humanitarian arm as well.

What if you are not religious or your church does not provide volunteer opportunities? One way would be to find a way to serve your fellow man in a selfless way. Homeless shelters, food banks and other humanitarian relief organizations have need. If you need some ideas, there are websites like Volunteer Match and Points of Light allow you to search your area for opportunities. If you know of some opportunities, please add them to the comments.

I like to watch travel shows and often the host visits churches, cemeteries and other religious locations, not as a worshiper but as a tourist. Many places have religious locations that are worth visiting, even if you are not a believer. While I was visiting Chicago on business, I took time to visit the art institute. In one section was a collection of paintings of Jesus and Mary throughout the ages. It was interesting to see how they changed over time.

As part of your dating routine, dedicate some time to nourishing the body, mind and spirit.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Quote for the day



Originally uploaded by -gadgetgirl-
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind
word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of
caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Leo Buscaglia

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Valentine Special: Davis's Cookies

Save 10% on Valentine's Day cookies & gift baskets with code VDAY2008A, only at David's Cookies. Expires 21408.

At David’s, you can buy a gift basket or other unique Valentine gifts online that your other half is sure to love. Choose from the best ideas for him or her, including a special assortment of sweet chocolate cookies, cookie jars shaped like hearts and edible valentines that provide more satisfaction than just flowers or cards, and less cliché than chocolates. Valentines around the country are enjoying delicious holiday presents from David’s Cookies, and so should yours. Have one delivered to your home today!

Happy Valentine's Day From David's Cookies

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Sweet Deal: Save 5% at Just Because Baskets

Chocolate Rose Bouquets
Enjoy a 5% discount on any order. Enter coupon code SAVE5 during the check-out process. This is an ongoing offer and not valid with any other offers.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

The Cuddly Chronicles

It is hard to find humorous websites on marriage that are not mean spirited. A reader sent me just a site and I have included a Valentine's Day related sample:
The Cuddly Chronicles: "Some Nice Old Valentine Customs

Some, once popular, valentine symbols are no longer commonly used today. One of these is the true-love knot. This knot consists of graceful loops, sometimes in the shape of a heart, with no beginning and no end. On these loops are written endless love messages which are read by turning the knot around.

Young men and women in the Middle Ages drew names from a bowl to see who would be their valentines. The names would be worn on their sleeves for one week. Wearing your heart on your sleeve has since come to mean that you readily let others see your feelings."

Go check out the The Cuddly Chronicles

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

We are each of us angels...


We are each of us angels...
Originally uploaded by Tata Qtr
A quick thought for today:

We are each an angel with only one wing. And we can only fly while embracing each other.
-- Luciano De Crescenzo