Do You Hate Valentine's Day?
Three Tips to Survive
By Catherine Behan

February is a cold, heartless month.

Surrounded yet another year by cheesy slogans and sappy commercials, my ex might have been right. Valentine's Day just might be a conspiracy between the card companies, the florists and the chocolatiers.

Isn't it kind of dumb to assign love to one month....one day? What... you are supposed to treat someone casually for 364 days and then on that one day.....make up for it?

Valentine's Day is only perfect for certain people at certain times. If you score a date with a great new guy a month before Valentine's day....ka-ching! You can expect gifts, dinner and great wine. I think guys are actually relieved to have a new girlfriend on the big day. We are so easily impressed.

Other wise, singles hate Valentine's Day because they are still single. Married women hate it because it is never like it once was. Men hate it because no matter what they do their woman is never satisfied. And of course kids hate it because one, they didn't get as many valentine's as the popular kid and two, there's a lot of pouting going on around the house. I told you...February is a cold and heartless month!

If Valentine's day sucks for you again this year and a part of you still longs to be with someone or to be really loved by your man. I can help you. Don't give up. Here are three ways to get past this inflated day and feel better:

1. Give funny Valentine's cards to 6 people who wouldn't expect one from you. People like your postman, UPS guy, Starbuck's Barista, school bus driver or bank teller, people who you see everyday who serve you in some way. Sweeten the pot by adding a lottery ticket. Sure to bring a smile.

2. Treat yourself to a spa treatment. Get a massage or mani/pedi in a massage chair. My clients complain that they are not getting enough physical attention, you know what I mean? You don't need a boyfriend to massage your shoulders. You can often get great rates on massage at a massage school in your town. Check it out.

3. Get involved with a charitable outreach of some kind. My hubby and I volunteer at the cat shelter to socialize the kittens and get them ready for adoption. I love it. I get to play with kittens, hold them and love them. I also get to see the looks on the faces of the families who adopt them. There is a lot of love to give and get in any kind of volunteerism. The very best way to bring love closer.

How do I celebrate Valentine's day? My sweetie and I share a lot of romance during the year. We have done the expensive dinners and the champagne by the fireplace. This year we are going to an art show and a concert matinee. We exchange small gifts and celebrate our finding one another. I feel so lucky to have drawn this wonderful man into my life.

How about you? Do you wonder what your chances are for Soul Mate Success? http://TakeTheSoulMateQuiz.com and get your Soul Mate Success Score right now! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Catherine_Behan
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A Stress Free Valentine's Day
By Alicia Rockmoreand Sarah Welch

Why is it that the day we're supposed to celebrate the person who makes us feel the most special ends up being the day that makes us feel the most stressed? What should I get them? What will they get me? Is this romantic enough? Should we go somewhere fancy or spend an intimate night in? Whatever the stresses are, it usually ends up being about expectations, and whether you or your special someone meets them. What ends up on the sidelines is the reason for the holiday in the first place. Love.

Alicia on "Managing Expectations" - "Even though it may sound like you're angling for a better gift, bringing up Valentine's Day before the actual day can help get everyone on the same page as far as expectations. One of the ways to have a stress free day is to share ideas about what you may want to do, be it if you want to go out to dinner or have a romantic night in, or setting a price limit of gifts. Phrasing is key: 'What should we do for Valentine's Day?' Good. 'What are you getting me for Valentine's Day?' Not so good.

Sarah on 'The Gift' - 'A friend of mine once said 'For Valentine's Day, I get my wife the thing she really wanted but didn't get for Christmas.' That's one not so romantic way to go about it. We prefer the idea of getting something you both can enjoy. Whether it's tickets to a concert, a couple's massage, or something as simple as buying a nice bottle of wine to share, the fact that you're spending time together doing something special is what true love is all about.'

To avoid another Valentine's Day horror story, here are a few simple tips:

#1. Keep It Simple
What are the things you keep as mementos of love? No, not chocolate, or flowers, or massage oils. (OK, maybe massage oils) It's letters. Sometimes we forget this holiday is about our expression of love, and the simple act of telling your loved one how you feel will communicate your love more than a dozen roses ever could. The perfect gift? It's you.

#2 His Valentine's Day
Maybe we've seen too many movies, or read too many cards, but Valentine's Day seems like it's built around men showing their love to the women in their lives. By making the day a two-way street, you not only take some of the pressure off of him, but you show him that you appreciate him just as much as he does you.

#3 Schedule A Monthly Valentine's Day
Why wait until Valentine's Day to show how much you love your partner? Take some of the stress off of February 14th, and make the 14th of every month Valentine's Day. Plan a nice dinner, write a love note, exchange a list of the ten things you love about the other person. Whatever it is, it's all about spending time together. We'd say make every day Valentine's Day, but, c'mon! Who are we kidding?

We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized (along with everybody else they're responsible for too!). We welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to us at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit us at http://www.getbuttonedup.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Rockmore http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Stress-Free-Valentines-Day&id=2396033