A
Little Imagination Can Go a Long Way on Valentine's Day
|
Create
the perfect getaway at home
(ARA)
- It's not romantic, but in today's world, money
can be tight and quality time together can be scarce.
That's why it's so important for couples to create
a perfect night for Valentine's Day -- instead of
the predictable candy, flowers or dinner in a crowded,
overpriced restaurant. |
|
Valentine's
Day gives us a chance, not only to relight the spark we
have with our special someone, but to throw on a little
kerosene so that it burns bright for another year. Even
on a tight budget, a memorable night of romance and fantasy
can be yours by using your imagination (which is still
free until someone learns how to bottle it) and remembering
this: you can be anywhere your heart desires with the
right music, the right lighting and the right wine.
The Ski Cabin
Fantasy
Is it your
dream to spend a romantic weekend in Asheville or Aspen?
Just the two of you in a little cabin, spending the night
in front of a fire, safe from the ice and cold outside.
Set the mood, and you're instantly there. Dim the lights
and place some thick blankets and comfy pillows in front
of the fireplace. Create that authentic atmosphere by
turning down the heat as much as possible so that the
blankets, the fire and some snuggling are absolutely necessary.
Scent is important, so add a little something extra to
the fire by soaking hickory chips in orange or apple juice
overnight, powdering them with cinnamon and clove and
then adding them to the fire as needed. For music, try
some instrumental jazz like Miles Davis or John Coltrane.
A spread of sliced cheeses, grapes, warm chestnuts and
a passionate-purple bottle of Luna di Luna Sangiovese/Merlot
will complete the scene with just the right flavors.
The Tropical
Paradise Fantasy
Does the idea
of an amorous night in Aruba, Key West or Cancun for Valentine's
Day sound more like your sweetheart's desire? With a little
creativity you can provide the next best thing. Turn-up
the heat and lay out a thin blanket and a couple of beach
chairs to create a tropical scene. Turn off all the lights
on the east side of the room and replace the lights on
the west side with orange bulbs to simulate the sunset,
then spritz the air with ocean breeze- or orchid-scented
air freshener to recreate a tropical atmosphere. Cook
a tropical-style meal (grilled seafood or steak are always
good choices) and serve it on the blanket. Add a background
CD of beach sounds like waves or gulls to set the tone
for the evening. For a finishing touch, you'll need a
sunshine-yellow bottle of Luna di Luna Pinot Grigio/Pinot
Bianco or the volcano-orange bottled Shiraz/Merlot and
a CD of Jimmy Buffet or Bob Marley to play on another
stereo and you're all set.
The Italian
Romance Fantasy
Rome, Milan,
Venice, Florence, Palermo; some of the most romantic cities
in the world are in Italy. Chances are your Valentine
would love a starry-eyed night of Italian food and ambiance
almost as much as actually being there. Serve-up eggplant
or chicken parmesan, baked ziti, tortellini alfredo or
frutti de mar (Italian seafood pasta) along with salad
and garlic bread to make mouths water and to put a rich,
delightful smell in the air. Set the table and light candles
throughout the dining area for a sophisticated ambiance.
Pop open a romantic-red bottle of Luna di Luna Merlot/Cabernet,
fill the air with the sounds of romantic arias or maybe
Frank Sinatra, and you'll have created a masterpiece by
capturing the essence of Italy right in your dining room.
Any of these
"vacations" would ordinarily cost you a pretty
penny. But, as you can now see, with a little ingenuity
you can create the experience right in your own home.
All you have to do is imagine what that perfect night
would be like, then creatively use music, lighting, color
and scent to set the mood and capture the experience.
After all, if "it's the thought that really counts",
then the imagination you put in to your Valentine's Day
evening will be worth a fortune.
Courtesy of
ARA Content
Happy
Valentine's Day!!!
Back to the Valentine's
Stories
