You Can Make This Sweetest Day Truly Special

Sweetest Day

Sweetest Day is a great opportunity to show the people in your life how much you appreciate them. In the everyday hustle and bustle, sometimes it is hard to show the people we share our lives with how important they are.

Christian Singles

If you are not familiar with this holiday, it is celebrated on the third Saturday in October. It is celebrated mainly in the Great Lakes region, along with areas in the Northeast United States. The city of Cleveland was the first ever to enjoy this special day. It was pronounced a holiday on October 8, 1921.

This celebration of love was originally planned and developed by a committee of 12 confectioners which was chaired by the candymaker C. C. Hartzell. Then the day was perpetuated by Frederick Sanders of Detroit, MI along with the Sanders Candy Company.

The original committee of 12 known as “The Sweetest Day in the Year Committee” distributed a grand total of over 20,000 boxes of candy on the first annual Sweetest Day. They gave these boxes of candy to; orphans, the poor, old folks and newsboys in Cleveland. This boosted the day’s popularity in Detroit greatly.

Any opportunity to let your special people know you appreciate them is a good thing. You should take the chance that Sweetest Day 2012 gives you and spread some cheer to those around you that make your life better in all the ways that count.

Getting Your Girlfriend The Perfect Gift

Christian Singles

Shopping for one’s girlfriend can be a tricky and difficult task.  Women are notoriously hard to shop for since they’re pretty specific about what they want.  A boyfriend can buy a scarf but it might not be the right color.  Or a guy might purchase a blouse but it might be the wrong size or out of season.   In order to come up with good gift ideas, it’s wise to follow these guidelines.

Find out what she likes – This is maybe the easiest way to find a perfect gift.  Any attentive boyfriend will be aware of what his girlfriend likes.  This will help him to come up with great gift ideas for girlfriend.  Women aren’t shy about expressing what they like so all guys need to do is listen.  If a girl starts talking about the latest fashions, then she’s probably a fashion fanatic.  If she likes talking about the latest movies then she’s probably a cinema lover.  Being aware of a girl’s interests is the best way to come up with a present.

Find out what she likes to do – Just like guys, girls have hobbies.  They sometimes play sports or go out for yoga.  They might be big fans of knitting or have an affinity for collecting things.  A guy has to be attentive as to what his girlfriend does on her off time.  If a boyfriend is completely unaware as to what his partner is doing then it’s time to smarten up and pay attention.  Not only will this help a guy come up with present ideas, but it will also help him to become closer with his partner.

Find out what she does with her friends – A girl’s friends are usually a strong indication as to who she is.  When a girl talks about the people she hangs out with it is a good idea to really listen.  Find out what they do on a regular basis.  For example, if a woman and her buddies frequently go out to pubs then she is probably a pretty down to earth person.  Any romantic gifts that are given to her therefore have to reflect this down home nature.  Getting her a party pack to the latest nightclub probably will not be appropriate.  Or if a woman really likes to knit and have tea with her friends, then she’s more likely than not into the humbler things in life.  A woman’s social circle can be a clear indication as to the type of gifts she’ll love and appreciate.

If a man follows the above rules he will most definitely find a gift that his girlfriend will love.  Finding the right present is pretty simple as long as a man sees his girlfriend as a full person.  Gifts that are tied to who she is and what she likes will get a definite seal of approval.

Camping- The Ultimate Romantic Get Away

Single Parent Dating

When you think of romantic getaways, it doesn’t take much to guess what’s on our mind. Venice, Paris, five star hotels, maybe access to your own swimming pool. Even in these, more austere times, a camping trip probably doesn’t make it the top five of your fantasy destination. Well, today we’re going to change your mind, and prove definitively that packing up your camping equipment and heading into the great beyond can make for the most romantic weekend there is.

Reason One: Sleeping Under the Stars

Paris may have some pretty amazing night time views, but even it can’t compete with a clear night sky once you get clear of the light pollution. Think candle-lit dinners are romantic? How about curling up together under a blanket next to a campfire?

Then, when it gets cold and you want to get to bed, you can’t get much more snug than curling up in double sleeping bags.

Reason Two: No Itinerary

If you go on a city break you’re going to want to see all that city’s famous landmarks. If you go to Paris and don’t see the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc De Triomphe, and the Louvre, and Parc Asterix, then why go at all? The danger is, in your bid to cram everything you possibly can into your weekend, you can actually end up stressing yourself out, and not really finding the time to just enjoy yourself.

Getting out into the country for a few days is a great way to leave everything behind. With just each other for company, and few landmarks more must-see than the country pub a short walk away, you can really remind yourself just what it is about each other’s company you love so much.

Reason Three: Things To Do

On the other hand, despite city breaks being absolutely packed with must-see tourist attractions, after a day or two you may come to realise you’re not actually doing anything. You go to the thing, you look at the thing, then maybe take a picture of the thing. Afterwards you can get lunch somewhere.

Paradoxically, out in the middle of nowhere you can find plenty to do. While even the most basic activities like putting tents up or making a campfire can be great things for couples to do together, once you go further afield the countryside offers all sorts of opportunities for entertainment. Rock climbing and canoeing are both great fun and can give you a real sense of achievement, while if you can get a fishing permit you can have all the fun of just relaxing and watching view, with the potential bonus of free dinner at the end of it.

It’s one thing going somewhere together, it’s another thing doing something together, and it can give you memories to treasure.

Reason Four: You Can Let Your Hair Down

When you’re living in a tent, and only have access to the campsites bathroom facilities, it’s impossible to keep up the immaculately stylish outfits and perfect hair that you’re normally known for. This may actually be a good thing. Letting your hair down for a few days in each other’s company is a great way to build intimacy, and make yourself a bit more comfortable around each other.

Reason Five: It’s Just The Two of You

These days it’s rare that you’re ever really alone with someone. Even if there are just two of you in the room, there’s the phone line, your mobile phone, and through your mobile access to your emails and your twitter account and your facebook page.

Gear-Zone is one of the UK’s leading online retailers of outdoor clothing and equipment, ranging from men’s 3 in 1 jackets to rucksacks. 

The Perfect Blind Date – How To Plan For Success

Christian Singles

So many people are very cautious about going on a blind date. Maybe it is because of how dangerous the world can be or maybe people are just too scared to live a little. Some people think that some people only go on blind dates because they are unattractive or cannot get a date otherwise.

If you do not know what a blind date is, it is a date where either party is unaware of what the person looks like and they do not know another about the other person. Sometimes you might not even know what the persons name is if they used fake names online or something. This could have been setup in multiple ways. Some which include dating agencies or by friend or family members.

There are many locations you can choose to have a blind date. Most often it would be setup as a dinner date because it is mostly all about getting to know the person in a setting where there is not much distraction and it is not dark so you can see one another.

You could go on a date completely blind however it would be best if the two people have at least spoken on the phone or maybe messaged each other online. This is fairly important so you can at least get all the dumb questions out of the way first and you have an idea of what this person likes. This is when you would want to agree on the place to go and find out what type of food the person likes so you can agree on a venue that both seem to like. You could arrange the meeting time or maybe even pick her up for the date. It is never a good idea to show up late on a blind date. The person is going to immediately feel like they were stood up. While you were talking to them the first time it would have been a good idea to come to an agreement that you would are both going to dress semi-casual so that you can still dress nice but not too flashy as to out do the other person. Dress well enough to impress but not too formal. No one wants to be seen with a slob…unless you are a slob of course.

When you finally do meet you should greet each other. I think a hug is appropriate however, just a light hug, and pay her some nice compliment. If you decided to pick her up in your vehicle you can still give her a light hug but do hold the door for her. Give her a compliment after you get in the car. Chivalry is not dead! Of course some women do not like men holding doors but 90% of the time it is a good idea to do it and find out. Ask questions about each other and let her go first. Be sure to listen at the same time and don’t forget to let yourself laugh and have fun. Fun and laughter are the key ingredients to having a perfect date. Two people can really hit it off even though they just met.

Ending the date can be tricky sometimes. You never want to overstep your boundaries however if you have a good time and seemed to click then you should offer her a ride home, tell her how much fun you had on the way and then walk her to her door. It’s not hard to tel if you should go for that goodnight kiss.

If you follow these steps then you will have a good time and hopefully he or she will want to see you again on another date. Maybe a movie this time in a darker setting! Good luck!

John likes to write about finding free vouchers online and you can learn to find a free gift card by visiting the site he writes for at target gift card balance.

Ladies: Is Love Really All You Need To Get Hitched?

Single Parent Dating

Come on, I know what you’re thinking. Most romantics would agree with the title. All you need is love. A lot of women believe this is the only reason to get married. It’s so easy to say, but when it comes down to it, is it really true? After all, times are different now. Back then marriage was about stability, a promised future, and certain social status. Today, you can marry any man you want and all you need is two witnesses and to be happy with his, um, assets. Before you make the plunge, consider the following points:

• The first thing we have to check out is how the two of you interact during a problem or crisis. Can the two of you really handle one another or do you find someone pulling more weight than the other? I’ve seen couples go both ways, but no matter what reactions they had there was a hidden balance. Balance being they were able to work with each other, not against one another. A husband should be like a secretary, if you call in for a week they should be able to take over right away and pick up your slack with ease. Teamwork is important. You can’t be a one woman team, if you want to be, go ahead and enjoy being single until you’re ready.

• A lot of people don’t admit it, but having security really is a huge part in a couple’s relationship. You might be finishing up a college degree while he stays at home and plays Call of Duty on his Xbox. Don’t get me wrong, a man having gaming habits is a nice way to receive some space, but if this is all he does, is it worth it? A man has to have a job or some kind of dream of becoming more. You know the women that stay with the starving and struggling artist, it’s because they truly believe he will make it big someday, no matter how long it takes. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. Bottom line, ensure there is ambition within him or else you’ll be wondering why you never questioned it sooner.

• The biggest and most common question is the trust you hold within each other. You can love someone till the end of time, but if you’re torturing yourself day after day wondering if he’s seeing someone on the side based on his past, it’s not going to work. I say this because I care. Women are sympathetic, they want to be the ones to change their ways, but we have to accept the fact that sometimes it is not an option. Do not, I repeat, do not torture yourself if you question his intentions. You do not want to waste your time with someone who doesn’t care about you. By the time it’s over, you could have been happily married to some other guy for years. Don’t do it. Follow and trust your instincts on this.

Don’t get me wrong, loving someone is half the battle, but it cannot be the only thing you contemplate before making a life-long commitment. If you’ve honestly considered all of these ideas and still have some positive thoughts about your man, you have my personal blessing to get hitched. If later down the road you realize you’d made a horrible mistake, no big deal. You can always get your ring appraised and find out how much your diamond worth is and resell it.

Fran Delaney writes on love, relationships and marriage from her hometown of Los Angeles, CA.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Women

Single Parent Dating

Valentines Day can send women into hopeful daydreaming, and because men know this, it can send men into panic mode. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make a woman’s heart flitter and stomach flip-flop (in the most romantic possible way, of course), and they don’t have to cost you a fortune, or a trip to the shopping mall. Need some ideas? Here are some great Valentines Day gifts for women:

A mix tape. You don’t have to find cassette tapes (and a tape recorder, for that matter) to create a mix tape, and a well-considered music compilation might just be the sweetest thing you can do for a woman (or anyone, actually). Need inspiration? Think of all the special, fun, or funny times you had together and include songs from that “soundtrack.” Also, be sure to include any song(s) that make you think of her, or your love for her.

Love Book. Visit the Love Book website to create a custom book all about the special woman in your life. From the easy to navigate interface, you can choose your book cover, title, pages, images, and text. You can even write your own pages, for a special touch. Love Book is a great way to create a keepsake that will make her smile every time she sees it.

Framed photos. In this day and age of digital cameras and smart phone pictures, you can make a great Valentines Day gift by making a custom piece of art out of a real photograph. Choose a special picture that you feel best represents your relationship, or even that depicts a memorable moment or a private joke, and take it to a custom framer to have it matted and framed. To go above and beyond, write a special message, or choose a favorite poem or text, and have it set into the matting.

Pampering. No matter what your woman’s tastes are, you really can’t go wrong with giving her a day of pampering at the spa. Show her how much she means to you by treating her to a massage, a facial, a pedicure and more. Call local spas and ask about their Valentines Day specials. You’ll be amazed at the deals you can find.

As you can see, there are many special things you can do to show your love on Valentines Day, and those things don’t require a lot of money. However, they do involve a lot of thought and consideration . . . which is exactly what she’ll be loving you for all the more the day she opens your gift.

About the Author: Gaylord Buhrman is an EKG technician on a tight budget. He and his wife have been married for 27 years and he knows that a thoughtful gift is far more important than a thoughtless and expensive gift.