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Surprise, I got you a bunch of flowers and some candy in a heart-shaped box for your Valentine's Day gift!  If you are really hoping to surprise your special lady on the most romantic day of the year, this is not the way to go.

It is the thought that usually counts, but not on Valentine's Day.  On Valentine's Day, you have to shine.  You have to save all your creative juices for this occasion and wow your wife, girlfriend, or the woman you want to be your wife or girlfriend.

If flowers and candy are out – or at least not the main event – what can you get for her?

For the New Relationship

This can be awkward because you do not want to give a gift that says too much – but you also don't want to say too little.  These gifts say just the right amount:

• A fun (or romantic, cheesy, chick flick) movie night with gourmet popcorn.  It says you thought of Valentine's Day and want to spend it with her without screaming, “I LOVE YOU!”
• Donation to her favorite charity.  She'll love that you both thought of her and her interests, but again, it isn't too intimate for the new relationship.
• Tickets to an event (symphony, theater, sports, etc.).  Another way to say, “Let's spend this day together.”
• A treat for her dog or cat.  If you have just started dating, this can be a cute way to acknowledge the day without putting pressure on her or yourself.
• Make her dinner and have her favorite wine or beer.
• Hand-dipped gourmet chocolates, especially if they are homemade.
• A crafty piece of jewelry.  No, not a diamond.  If your girl wears bracelets, necklaces, or earrings, look at pieces from local artisans and on Etsy.  Choose something that she might want to wear to work or while kicking back – but nothing fancy or overly expensive.

For the Established Relationship

When your girlfriend or wife says she doesn't want anything on Valentine's Day, she's lying.  Of course she does.  She just doesn't want to have to tell you; surprise her with one of the following ideas:

• A night or weekend trip to an inn or bed and breakfast. It doesn't have to be in an exotic or expensive locale, but a change of scenery and some time together will be appreciated.
• A gift certificate to a spa.  There are only two types of gift certificates you should ever get your partner for Valentine's Day.  A trip to the spa, if she enjoys pampering or a gift certificate for...
• Lingerie at Victoria's Secret or another store.  Again, if she enjoys lingerie, this will be a fun gift, but you never want to buy it yourself.  Sizes are tricky!  Plus, make it a condition of the gift card that you will accompany her shopping for a day.  You will score big points for that, too.
• Make her dinner (and clean the place up first).  You can't go wrong with her favorite foods, drinks, and a special dessert.  Sprinkle in a liberal amount of compliments and a small gift, and you're good.
• Jewelry.  You can go with more expensive pieces for anniversary years, but a great piece of more casual jewelry will give her something to wear everyday that will remind her of you.
• Write her a love letter.  Yes, it may be difficult and seem cheesy, but it will be her favorite gift by far.

What do women not want on the big day?  Things like lotion, bath supplies, or candles are nice thoughts for random Tuesdays, but they will disappoint on Valentine's Day.  The best Valentine's Day gifts for her are not the ones that are most expensive; sometimes the best gift is just spending time together.  Just make it special and make it about her. Women tend to value Valentine's Day more than men, so why not indulge her on this day with something a bit above the ordinary?

Related Articles:

• Valentine Gift Baskets For Him
• Tasty Valentine's Day Breakfast Ideas
• 5 Inexpensive Valentine Gifts Your Wife Will Love

When you throw a New Year’s Eve party, you’ll want to have festive foods. But did you know that some cultures shy away from certain foods on New Year’s Eve and believe they will bring bad luck? If you have many ethnicities in your groups of friends, you might want to know what not to serve in addition to what’s best to serve.

What Not to Serve

If you want to keep the superstitious friends in your crowd happy, don’t serve lobster. Lobsters crawl backwards and that can mean setbacks in the New Year for those who believe foods can alter fate. Also avoid serving chicken or any other bird so that any luck that does come your way won’t fly out the window. You may laugh at such silliness, but there are many cultures that still believe in traditions like these. And don’t expect friends of certain ethnicities to clean their plates. It’s considered bad luck to eat every morsel on your plate on New Year’s Eve. If you leave food on the table, either on your plate or canned foods, it’s certain to mean a year to come filled with plenty.

Serve these Happy Foods

Greens

Now that you know what not to serve, turn your attention to planning a menu that will make everyone feel happy and lucky. Go for greens like collard greens or Swiss chard. Green means money, so these leafy varieties are thought to bring luck.

Beans

Black eyed peas and lentils are two of the mainstays of New Year’s good fortune seekers. Many cultures fear that if they don’t eat at least a small scoop of beans, the New Year will be dismal. So get that crock pot out.

Pork

You can’t leave pork out of a New Year’s menu. In many Mediterranean cultures, pork is the symbol of wealth and good fortune. Since pigs push their food, it’s thought that good luck will be pushed your way if you eat pork. Many cultures even put pig statues and candy pigs on their tables at New Year’s. Pork is also very fatty, so fat wallets are thought to be brought on by eating this rich meat.

Fish

Include fish in your New Year’s buffet and you’ll keep the good fortune rolling. Because fish have so many eggs, caviar is thought to bring fertility. If you’d rather not encourage a larger family, eat shrimp or sardines which are as plentiful in the sea as your good luck will be.

Coin Cakes

Many ethnicities bake cakes that have small coins or trinkets hidden in them. The one who finds the coin in his slice gets a heaping helping of luck in the New Year. Just be sure you don’t swallow your good fortune!

If you don’t care to serve traditional New Year’s Eve fare, you can let your party’s theme dictate the food menu. If you’re going casual, have appetizers like bacon wrapped scallops (but you still may have good luck from the pork and fish), puff pastries, cocktail wieners, and little quiches. You can now go to the big box warehouse stores and purchase entire appetizer menus by the box. All you have to do is heat up the delicious goodies before the party. No more running from store to store for hard to find appetizers. They are all there in one place. And if you want to make New Year cookies, well that's okay too.

Related Articles:

• New Year's Eve Celebrations Around the World
• New Year's Resolution Ideas
• New Year Football Games and Betting Statistics
• Times Square New Year's Eve Celebration

Do you love sending out beautiful Christmas letters each year? Maybe you enclose them in your Christmas cookies or Christmas popcorn tins. Many people add them to their Christmas cards every year. Does your list get longer and longer and it seems you can’t find anything new to write inside? If you’re struggling to find something meaningful to write inside your Christmas card, why not borrow some words from days of old? Many quotes centering on Christmas can easily be found online.

Here are a few to get you started:

From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another

The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.

Emily Matthews

Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.

Mary Ellen Chase

Good news from heaven the angels bring,

Glad tidings to the earth they sing:

To us this day a child is given,

To crown us with the joy of heaven.

Martin Luther

Love came down at Christmas;

Love all lovely, love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Stars and angels gave the sign.

Christina Rossetti

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on Earth, good will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Heap on the wood!

The wind is chill;

But let it whistle as it will,

We'll keep our Christmas merry still.

Sir Walter Scott

Christmas hath a darkness;

Brighter than the blazing noon;

Christmas hath a chillness

Warmer than the heat of June,

Christmas hath a beauty

Lovelier than the world can show:

For Christmas bringeth Jesus,

Brought for us so low

Christina Rosetti

If it’s a Christmas letter you are looking to write, you can make it personal and festive with just a few simple tips. Write it once and print it from your printer to include inside or in place of a Christmas card and you’ll save yourself lots of time.

• Select a festive paper that you can use in your printer. Be sure it has enough room for your words and that your words will be legible against the background. There are so many fun papers that have holiday themes. You can find them at office supply stores.
• Write generically enough so that your letter can be sent to everyone on your list. A great way to start is, “This year at the Robertson’s…” Then you can fill in details of what your family did this year.
• Add lots of pictures. You can do this right in Word on your computer. Just select “Insert Photo” and you can upload photos that are already on your computer into your letter. Don’t forget, people who haven’t seen your children in a while will love to see how they’ve grown.
• Try to make it personal so it really gives a feel of what the family did all year. Did you get a new pet? Volunteer at a shelter? Run a road race? Include it all.
• Finish up with good wishes for the recipients. Something like, “We think of you often throughout the year and consider you among our greatest blessings. We wish you a year filled with joy, happiness and peace. Love, The Robinsons”
• After you print out copies of your letter, place them in a business envelope or tuck them inside your Christmas cards and mail.

Related Articles:

1. Discount Christmas Photo Cards
2. Christmas Cookie Exchange Tips
3. Family Christmas Traditions

Did you know that August has become Family Fun Month? As if you really needed an excuse to celebrate, you can now go out and have some good, clean family time without feeling even the least bit bad about it. But what types of activities might a family do during this fun month? Here are a few ideas for your family to enjoy:

1. Visit a State Park. With all of the state parks out there, there has to be one that you've always thought was cool or wanted to visit. Pick one with a fun body of water, or a supply of unique wildlife. Not only will this option be cost effective, but it'll be an experience for the kids to remember and it's certainly something out of the ordinary!

2. Have a Book Night! Who said that you have to leave your house to have fun? Why not have a lock-in night and snuggle up with your family's favorite books? It might include a longer novel where you read a chapter or two, then have a snack, read a couple more, then play a game. Mix it up a little bit and just enjoy each other's company.

3. Pack a Picnic. If you're home on the weekends, or even during the weekday since the kids don't have school, get everyone together to pack a big homestyle family picnic basket! Research as a family a great place to visit for your picnic, and pack your food basket and go! Don't forget to bring a frisbee, the family dog, or a football. You don't just have to eat there, you can enjoy the park when you're done as well!

4. Take a Mystery Road Trip. Pack up your tent, sleeping bags, and canteens because August is the perfect month to hit the dusty trail and find fun new places that you would have never discovered. Wing it and try random campgrounds each night on a surprise journey for your kids. Pick an end destination and have fun on the journey.

5. Visit an Amusement Park. Of course this is the trip that any child wants to go on during the summer. Make a special day to take the family and go enjoy the rides, the water park, or the games. You can usually score discounts on admission at a local grocery store, or in the newspaper. Another resource is the internet, never underestimate the value of Google!

6. Stay in and Bake! Kids love to help out in the kitchen when sweets are involved. Teach them your famous recipe that's been passed down, or try something new altogether! After the work has been done, enjoy your treats together as a family.

7. Visit a Farm or Orchard. Usually around this time of year, the crops are starting to roll in or are ready to be picked. If you look around, you may be able to find a farm that allows you to go in and pick your own foods. Not only is this a healthy alternative to junk food, but the kids will love the new experience and learning about farming. Plus, there's something to be said about harvesting your own food.

8. Family Game Night. Every kid loves to play games. Allow them each to pick out their favorite board or card game and have the whole family join in on the fun. Make some kids gift baskets by adding some popcorn, get some special snacks, and maybe even a soda! Make it extra special and fun, they'll feel elated that they have such cool parents!

Enjoy your family during this month, and every month. After all, who needs a declared holiday to make their family feel special? Let loose and have fun!

More family fun ideas:

• Top 10 Family Board Games
• Kids Crafts: Fun and Easy Crafts for Kids
• Ice Cream Sundae Bowls For Kids
• Summer Treats Recipes for Kids
• Play Dough Fun Recipes for Kids

Perhaps you’ve been newly promoted and want to make a good impression on your colleagues. Or maybe you’ve been the boss so long that you’re fresh out of ideas on how to improve your relationship with your coworkers. This Boss’s Day, give everyone in your department something to celebrate. Here are some fresh ideas for being the best boss you can be.

Remember When

No one is born being the boss. Most everyone has had to start small and work their way up the ladder. Remember what it was like for you when you first started out. Maybe you were like the nervous college grad that’s too afraid to speak up at meetings, or maybe you felt like you had to really prove yourself by going above and beyond every day. You’re the boss now, so you can make it easier on your direct reports. Why not offer to take that college grad out to lunch and give him some advice on how to be more confident? Write a hand-written note thanking that one employee who always stays late and really goes the extra mile. When you step into the shoes of your employees, you make them feel that you really care and understand where they are coming from.

Perks Money Can’t Buy

Maybe you can’t offer everyone another day off or an extra holiday. But what you can do is be sympathetic to your employees. And you can offer them a great working environment that’s more precious than a day off. Does the crew have to work this Thanksgiving? Bring in a turkey dinner for the staff to share during lunch so they won’t feel they’ve missed all of the holiday. Do you have a great employee who never asks for anything?  Offer him a few minutes of extra time to run errands at lunch. Is there a single mom who has no child care when school is unexpectedly closed one morning? Let her bring her child in to the office for a few hours. Anything extra you can offer your employees to show them you’re sympathetic will result in better attitudes all around. Then, when you need them to go the extra mile for you on a project, they’ll be more than willing.

Treat Everyone as an Individual

Does a certain employee come in yawning a lot in the morning? Don’t assume he’s lazy. Ask if he’d like to talk about anything. Maybe he’ll let you know he’s going to night school to finish his degree or that he hasn’t been sleeping well because he’s worried about his wife’s health. Instead of grouping people into categories, treat each person as an individual. They’ll be more apt to think of you as a great boss because you cared enough to ask about their lives.

Hold Informal Lunches

Once in a while, host an informal lunch where your employees can eat with you and discuss any concerns they may have with the work environment. If they’re reluctant to share aloud, invite them to drop questions or suggestions into a box anonymously and go over them at the luncheon. Provide foods that are easy to eat and those with limited lunch breaks can grab quickly. Make yourself known as the boss that listens and you’ll have more dedicated employees.

Read this great article on Boss's Day Gift Ideas.