Valentine’s Day Dinner for the Budget Conscious 2011

Valentine’s Day can be expensive if you do not watch yourself. I live near New York City and it seems that every single restaurant if offering deals for Valentine’s Day. These “deals” do not really seem to be that budget friendly to me. Granted half of these places are extremely popular and high end.

For example, check out 21 club. Their Valentine’s Day deal is $125 per person. Ouch. You do get a three course meal, an amuse bouche and petit fours, Plus a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (which is expensive champagne, not the most expensive but still)

Here is a solution to the expensive dinners.

1. Make your own dinner – I guess this depends on how comfortable you are with cooking and having your Valentine over. I live with my boyfriend but he cooks most of the time so this could actually work for me. (Especially if I was sneaky enough) Find out food that they love and prepare accordingly. You can also go as far as making it a Valentines theme. Why not have all foods in heart shapes? Or only serve foods with Valentine’s Day colors?  Here is a website that lists ideas for your special dinner.
2. Making the Meal Aphrodisiacal – There are certain foods that are considered to have an effect on sexual energy. Of course, I am assuming this varies from person to person but here is a basic list.

• Chocolate – Especially pure chocolate. If you can get your hands on it before Valentine’s Day.
• Strawberries – Fresh fruit and you can even feed it to your partner! How enticing. Also available with chocolate so why not get two for the price of one?
• Vanilla – I hate vanilla but I also do not care for chocolate so ignore that and assume that your partner loves both. It is more the scent than the taste that increases sexual energy. Also “Old Totonac lore has it that Xanat, the young daughter of the Mexican fertility goddess, loved a Totonac youth. Unable to marry him due to her divine nature, she transformed herself into a plant that would provide pleasure and happiness”¹
• Wine – Wine helps relax senses. As does any alcohol. Just be careful to limit yourself otherwise it might not help.

1. Set the mood – Clean up your place! Yes, I said clean. No one likes having a romantic dinner at a messy place. It ruins the mood instantly.  Find some music to put on, light some candles, and decorate with flowers.  Make your place look fantastic. Serve the food on special plates. Making sure that everything is going well. Have a glass of wine or champagne. I recommend this especially for dessert.

I am sure that you will do a great job with your dinner. Later this week I will have ideas for inexpensive valentine’s day crafts. Hope you enjoy.

1 “Other Vanilla Uses.” Vanilla Bazaar. Essence of Life LTD. Web. 30 Jan 2011. <http://www.vanillabazaar.com/index.php?c=alphro&gt;.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas 2011

OH my. It is already January 25th. Where has time time gone? As you all know, or at least I hope you know, Valentine’s Day is in 19 days! Most things can be found easily the day before Valentine’s Day but why not plan ahead…Just in case…

1. Giftbaskets – These are great because you can personalize then to the person you are getting them for! You can make them yourself or head on over to DIY giftbaskets. You pick everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. The theme, the container (basket), what items go in the basket, etc. They even have options for valentines day!

Since I am poor I’ll stick to making my own. Especially since I can bake and make my own chocolates/candy. So just figure out what valentine loves and let the creativity flow. Now if you are my significant other I would love champagne, flowers, maybe a ring?! Haha right…speaking of champagne

2. Champagne – Since I love champagne, and somehow hate wine, I will include this. Though do not ask me how I came to love champagne and hate wine. I have no idea. Maybe it is the bubbles! To truly be classified as “champagne” it HAS TO come from France. Sorry I meant Champagne, France specifically. They have a unique soil that can not be reproduced anywhere else therefore anything else is Sparkling Wine. But for the purposes of my article sparkling wine is just as good. Plus I do not think everyone knows this fact so will not judge you.

Here is my absolute favorite champagne. So far. You can go here for more selections. Piper Heidsieck has been around since 1785.

3. Chocolate – Sure, cliche. Most people love chocolate. Me? No. But that will not stop me from including chocolate in my post. If you want to make it more personal you can go to Chocomize to create your own chocolate bar. They have add ins like candy, spices, fruits and nuts. 

So when I said I do not like chocolate I probably should have said I do not like most chocolate. I have had Michel Cluizel chocolates and I think they are amazing. Expensive but worth it.

4. Lingerie –  There is always cute Valentine themed Lingerie available, especially now with Valentines Day right around the corner. Either sex can buy it though if you are giving it as a gift don’t expect the person to always be thrilled. It can sometimes come off as “Well here’s a present for you but it is really for me” kind of thing. This also depends on the person you are getting it for. The picture I provided comes from 3 wishes. They have a Valentines day collection out. Be quick as shipping takes time!

I have not included everything I could think of but if I was to include everything this post would never end! So I hope your Valentines Day goes well.

Love is not a feeling, Its an ability.

If so some people are amazingly talented in this world.

I just want to break down and cry. Dan in real life is so real. I feel just like him before the ending.

So you guys should help me find a nice guy…

New artwork for AED