| It is that time of the year when love is in the air. Even | | | | the envy of all her friends. |
| birds respond to that ancient call where Nature has | | | | 4. A handcrafted card |
| decreed since primitive times that each choose its | | | | Give the store-bought ones a miss even though they |
| mate on this very day! So, can mere mortals ever | | | | might be more flashy and expensive. Remember, |
| hope to escape the overpowering tug of the | | | | money is not the factor here. Choose a theme and |
| heartstrings on Valentine's Day? | | | | build around it. Use glitter pen, or gold or silver ink. If you |
| You have met the most amazing girl and you want to | | | | paint well, nothing like a miniature painting on the card |
| make her feel like a princess. Cards and chocolates | | | | with your love message written inside. You can even |
| are way too predictable. This is going to be your first | | | | write a poem for her inside the card. |
| Valentine's together and you want to tell her how very | | | | 5. Heart-shaped jewellery |
| special she is. Everything has to be just perfect. Well, | | | | Jewellery is such an intimate gift. She has to wear it |
| these suggestions are guaranteed to reduce your | | | | either against her bare skin or over her dress -- either |
| anxiety and up your confidence levels. Believe us, | | | | way, your gift will always enjoy a close contact with |
| there will be little chance that either you or your gift will | | | | her. Heart shapes rule the day -- in cards, chocolates |
| end up in the wastepaper basket! | | | | and jewellery. Buy her a lovely heart-shaped pendant |
| 1. Write an old-fashioned love letter | | | | in white gold or even rose quartz with an appropriate |
| This is great of you have only recently started dating | | | | chain to go with it. If you wish, personalise the jewellery |
| but find her absolutely irresistible. And there's this | | | | -- have a tender message written on it just for her. |
| constant voice in your head telling you that she is 'the' | | | | Nothing says, 'you are special' more than a |
| one. If you are unsure of just what to say then fall | | | | personalised gift. |
| back on the good old-fashioned letter. | | | | 6. Have a private celebration |
| Did you know that when we write, the nerves in the | | | | You don't have to be a part of that mad frenzy that is |
| fingers directly stimulate the creative portion of the | | | | surging outside on the streets. Particularly, if she much |
| brain? so, if you can't serenade her under her boudoir | | | | prefers somewhere quiet and insulated from that |
| window, climb mountains or cross rivers to express | | | | entire hullabaloo. (You need to find this out earlier to |
| your love, write a simple love letter. Yes, it is | | | | make adequate plans on Valentine's Day). Decide |
| old-fashioned, takes longer than an email or a text | | | | whether you wish to stay at your place or go to some |
| message, but it is miles ahead of these modern, | | | | quiet restaurant. If it's your place, then do up your pad |
| impersonal communicators in the romantic | | | | properly. Clean out all the mess a day earlier, spray |
| sweepstakes. Besides, she can hardly preserve your | | | | room freshener and have flowers ready in a vase. |
| email under her pillow, can she? A print-out is so | | | | Make all the preparations beforehand for the meal you |
| impersonal and official...and what if, heaven forbid, her | | | | intend to cook for her, so that when she arrives, you |
| system crashes? There goes your passionate prose. | | | | are not running between the microwave and the fridge |
| 2. Propose to her! | | | | while she watches that romantic flick you brought all |
| If you are dead sure that she is the one with whom | | | | alone. |
| you want to spend the rest of your life, then make this | | | | 7. Watch a romantic movie together |
| Valentine's Day even more memorable. Pick a really | | | | This is the day for celebrating romance and what |
| romantic spot and lead her there. While she is taking in | | | | better tribute to pay this day than catching a romantic |
| all that beautiful scenery, drop on one knee, whip out | | | | movie together. Rent out a few CDs, get cosy on the |
| the velvet box and ask her to be your wife! | | | | sofa, have the table laden with enough snacks and |
| 3. Announce your love to the world! | | | | beverages to get you through the lot -- sit back and |
| It needs daring, of course, but then nothing worthwhile | | | | enjoy! |
| was achieved without some risk factor, right? Just call | | | | Whether you've been together a few weeks or a |
| the local radio station and get the radio jockey to have | | | | few months, this is the day to go all out and woo that |
| a song dedicated to your Valentine. Let the world | | | | special woman in your life. Her smile and the light in her |
| know how important she is to you. She'll be thrilled and | | | | eyes will be worth every effort. |