Only thing I hate more than having to cook up a gift for every odd-number birthday is that horrible, insipid song that you have to sing. Gawd I hate the Happy Birthday song.
I've always promoted a similar scheme to this, although I can't convince anyone to go along with it.
I say, you should get the first 20 and the last ten. In between you can make a fuss if it ends in a zero or (maybe) a five. The last ten can start at 90 or whenever seems appropriate based on your health. I'm not worried about the 21st because the drinking age is 19 where I live. 21st birthday is a nothing birthday.
This guide is the perfect pre-Valentine's Day refresher, Treacle! Great job! You have a great way of breaking down the details and explaining them in a way anyone can understand.
It's a lot of effort (sometimes forced!) for very little appreciation. Even the kids' classmates don't care about the card/sentiment. They just want the candy that comes with! The cards are heaped in the trash as soon as they are received!
Just be sure you're looking at something she actually, currently, wears! I'm sure I'm not the only one whose weight fluctuates often enough that I keep both larger and smaller items, rather than re-purchase a drawer-full every year- LOL!
have become commercial - just an excuse for companies to sell you junk you don't need. Or make you feel guilty for not buying the perfect whatever.
My husband and I exchange cards and make dinner together - it's a perfectly romantic way to celebrate.
I certainly think it's crazy over rated! Hubby and I try to show each other love all the time.
It's not a deal breaker in our marriage if we don't "Celebrate" VD.
This year.....I asked for a couple new books.
This post should run front page on the New York Times. Although I appreciate BD and Guest's sentiments about avoiding lingerie, if you're feeling brave and really want to go there, this is an excellent guide. I especially like the emphasis on getting her something that isn't too far out of her comfort zone - I've received alot of "forgotten" lingerie because it was just too out there.
But the most important concept in here applies to ALL clothing gifts: if you don't know the size DO NOT GUESS. I had a boyfriend who bought me red leather pants. I had put on a few pounds and they didn't fit, nor could they be returned. They just sat there, making me feel badly about myself. You cannot give a worse gift than ill-fitting clothing, period. Dead flowers are more romantic.
No way, Valentine's Day is a necessity! I think we all need to be reminded to do something nice for the ones we love. How often do we make plans to be romantic, or buy someone something that isn't useful like flowers or jewelry? I still have a heart my mom made for me when I was 6, so one can celebrate the holiday without making it commercial.
yes, it's kinda becoming like Christmas, where commercialism is trumping the spirit of Valentine's. However, since the holiday focuses on making other people feel loved, I guess I can't necessarily call the commercialism bad. I just try to avoid all the materialism and try to stay true to the spirit. I don't buy much and make my own cards.
Whether or not a family chooses to make it commercial is entirely up to them. There is nothing stopping a guy from writing down meaningful words or taking a Wilton class (something my 17 year old son says he wants to do)so that you can make your sweetie something sweet in the kitchen. No one says that people have to run out and buy extravagant jewelry, flowers, candy, or stuffed animals to "prove" you love someone. It's just as easy to take the day to make Valentines meaningful by going round robin round the table and asking each person to tell each person something they like or admire about each other person there. A family could make cupcakes or cookies and personalize them. There are a million ideas to show someone you care on V day that don't commercialize the care that you express to your loved ones.
What is most associated with this holiday? Does Cha-ching ring a bell? Greed has taken an innocent holiday and turned it into a money-maker.
What is wrong with celebrating it the way it is intended? Showing love and appreciation for your special person? Doing it in a non-commercial way? Putting your "heart" into it instead of your wallet?
Sounds a lot better than playing the buying game that the commercial entities have told us we must do.
Though I'm married and enjoy another holiday to do something special such as dinner out or be on the receiving end of chocolates (won't happen any other time of the year), it does bother me a bit that this holiday truly is for pairs. For example, I have a single friend and a teen daughter who feel a bit left out. Too bad it's not focused more on just showing love to those who matter to you rather than "romantic" love.
We skipped Christmas presents in favor of a special date together, and we're going to skip Valentine's presents and cook a special dinner together. I would rather have a special block of time together when we can focus on each other than a trinket that he had to stress over. I also would rather have our love and esteem for each other expressed every day instead of pulling out all the stops on a few holiday days a year.
Yes it's way too commercial, but it's still fun and doesn't have to be expensive. I make heart shaped biscuits or pancakes for the family and we enjoy our little chocolate treats.
It's always how you for yourself decide to celebrate it.
A romantic home-made dinner, followed by playing some romantic songs on the guitar just for her and that's it.
Definately commercialezed just like the other holidays. I do not need a gift from hubby to know that he loves me. :) I will get the kiddos something small though...
Buying lingerie for your lady, especially for the first time, can be a daunting task. Thanks for helping men everywhere ease into the experience with a little more knowledge!
Yes; my husband and I will only exchange cards. We love each other every day, and don't need to set aside a day to express it. Besides, he is very romantic all the time. Also, it's not a nice day for the un-attached.
I've been in the insurance business for years and I've never heard of lunch deductible.
My husband already spend quality time together. I don't need a holiday with unrealistic expectations and the push to spend money on each other.
Only thing I hate more than having to cook up a gift for every odd-number birthday is that horrible, insipid song that you have to sing. Gawd I hate the Happy Birthday song.
I've always promoted a similar scheme to this, although I can't convince anyone to go along with it.
I say, you should get the first 20 and the last ten. In between you can make a fuss if it ends in a zero or (maybe) a five. The last ten can start at 90 or whenever seems appropriate based on your health. I'm not worried about the 21st because the drinking age is 19 where I live. 21st birthday is a nothing birthday.
#7: Steal office supplies from work.
This guide is the perfect pre-Valentine's Day refresher, Treacle! Great job! You have a great way of breaking down the details and explaining them in a way anyone can understand.
It's a lot of effort (sometimes forced!) for very little appreciation. Even the kids' classmates don't care about the card/sentiment. They just want the candy that comes with! The cards are heaped in the trash as soon as they are received!
I had to make it clear to my poor husband years ago that I didn't "live for" flowers, candy and romantic dinners on Valentine's Day.
Show me you love me every day - and that doesn't mean spending a huge amount of money, either! And I'll do the same for you.
Just be sure you're looking at something she actually, currently, wears! I'm sure I'm not the only one whose weight fluctuates often enough that I keep both larger and smaller items, rather than re-purchase a drawer-full every year- LOL!
have become commercial - just an excuse for companies to sell you junk you don't need. Or make you feel guilty for not buying the perfect whatever.
My husband and I exchange cards and make dinner together - it's a perfectly romantic way to celebrate.
I certainly think it's crazy over rated! Hubby and I try to show each other love all the time.
It's not a deal breaker in our marriage if we don't "Celebrate" VD.
This year.....I asked for a couple new books.
This post should run front page on the New York Times. Although I appreciate BD and Guest's sentiments about avoiding lingerie, if you're feeling brave and really want to go there, this is an excellent guide. I especially like the emphasis on getting her something that isn't too far out of her comfort zone - I've received alot of "forgotten" lingerie because it was just too out there.
But the most important concept in here applies to ALL clothing gifts: if you don't know the size DO NOT GUESS. I had a boyfriend who bought me red leather pants. I had put on a few pounds and they didn't fit, nor could they be returned. They just sat there, making me feel badly about myself. You cannot give a worse gift than ill-fitting clothing, period. Dead flowers are more romantic.
Maybe this will require too much effort and DIY skills for some, but I saw a video tutorial over at www.greenwala.com that shows you how to make your own lingerie http://www.greenwala.com/community/videos/all/1935-How-To-Make-DIY-Valen... -- I think that any person receiving homemade undies would be blown away far more than getting a Victoria's Secret bag.
I love Treacle and her lingerie blog, awesome article!
I don't understand why you're only supposed to show love once a year. Love is important, why not show it everyday?
No way, Valentine's Day is a necessity! I think we all need to be reminded to do something nice for the ones we love. How often do we make plans to be romantic, or buy someone something that isn't useful like flowers or jewelry? I still have a heart my mom made for me when I was 6, so one can celebrate the holiday without making it commercial.
yes, it's kinda becoming like Christmas, where commercialism is trumping the spirit of Valentine's. However, since the holiday focuses on making other people feel loved, I guess I can't necessarily call the commercialism bad. I just try to avoid all the materialism and try to stay true to the spirit. I don't buy much and make my own cards.
Whether or not a family chooses to make it commercial is entirely up to them. There is nothing stopping a guy from writing down meaningful words or taking a Wilton class (something my 17 year old son says he wants to do)so that you can make your sweetie something sweet in the kitchen. No one says that people have to run out and buy extravagant jewelry, flowers, candy, or stuffed animals to "prove" you love someone. It's just as easy to take the day to make Valentines meaningful by going round robin round the table and asking each person to tell each person something they like or admire about each other person there. A family could make cupcakes or cookies and personalize them. There are a million ideas to show someone you care on V day that don't commercialize the care that you express to your loved ones.
Christine
What is most associated with this holiday? Does Cha-ching ring a bell? Greed has taken an innocent holiday and turned it into a money-maker.
What is wrong with celebrating it the way it is intended? Showing love and appreciation for your special person? Doing it in a non-commercial way? Putting your "heart" into it instead of your wallet?
Sounds a lot better than playing the buying game that the commercial entities have told us we must do.
Though I'm married and enjoy another holiday to do something special such as dinner out or be on the receiving end of chocolates (won't happen any other time of the year), it does bother me a bit that this holiday truly is for pairs. For example, I have a single friend and a teen daughter who feel a bit left out. Too bad it's not focused more on just showing love to those who matter to you rather than "romantic" love.
We skipped Christmas presents in favor of a special date together, and we're going to skip Valentine's presents and cook a special dinner together. I would rather have a special block of time together when we can focus on each other than a trinket that he had to stress over. I also would rather have our love and esteem for each other expressed every day instead of pulling out all the stops on a few holiday days a year.
Yes it's way too commercial, but it's still fun and doesn't have to be expensive. I make heart shaped biscuits or pancakes for the family and we enjoy our little chocolate treats.
It's always how you for yourself decide to celebrate it.
A romantic home-made dinner, followed by playing some romantic songs on the guitar just for her and that's it.
Definately commercialezed just like the other holidays. I do not need a gift from hubby to know that he loves me. :) I will get the kiddos something small though...
Buying lingerie for your lady, especially for the first time, can be a daunting task. Thanks for helping men everywhere ease into the experience with a little more knowledge!
Cheers!
Yes; my husband and I will only exchange cards. We love each other every day, and don't need to set aside a day to express it. Besides, he is very romantic all the time. Also, it's not a nice day for the un-attached.