However, for the adults, a sweet treat can be the perfect way to complete a candlelit dinner.  Whether you choose to make a gourmet dinner or order pizza, this dessert will be a beautiful final course.  Easy to make but also beautiful, this charming recipe is courtesy of Think Tasty.

Wine Poached Pears with Honeyed Mascarpone

3 pears, peeled

2 cups Cabernet Sauvignon*

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

4 oz. mascarpone

2 Tb. honey

Cut pears in half lengthwise, remove stem and core.  Combine wine, water, and sugar in a medium-sized pot, and bring to a boil over high heat.  When sugar has dissolved and mixture is boiling, add pears.  (If pears are not fully covered by liquids, more water can be added).  Reduce to simmering, and allow to cook for 15 minutes, or until pears can be pierced by a fork but still are firm.

While pears are simmering, combine mascarpone and honey in a small bowl.  Remove pears from poaching liquid, and place cut side up on a serving plate.  Place a generous scoop of mascarpone mixture in the scooped out section of the pear’s core.  Serve immediately, as the mascarpone will start to melt.

*Any red wine varietal can be used.  If using a white wine, the sugar can be reduced to 1/4 cup.

Invitations can be a handmade affair of red or pink hearts combined with glitter. Of course, parents will have to write all of the details of the party on the inside, but kids can decorate the covers of these heart-shaped cards in any manner they choose.

For a few party crafts, set out tissue boxes, glue, glitter, and other craft items for each child to decorate. It is up to you on whether or not you want to turn this into a contest for the best decorated boxes. Save these boxes for later when children can add their own homemade cards.

Set up another station for making Valentine’s Day cards. Cut the cards out beforehand or use recycled cards from last year. Consider encouraging parents to bring in their leftovers as well. Let the children create cards for the boxes. Although, if you do find someone not getting a lot of cards, you can supplement their box with the already made cards or whip up a few ahead of time to make sure boxes are full.

If you do intend on serving a lot of Valentine’s candy, consider making a few outdoor games where kids can burn off some of that sugar. Such things as a ring toss, hot potato, or a tug-of-war can easily be customized with red ribbons and hearts. You can also include a hide and seek game where kids try to find as many hearts as they can.

Prizes don’t have to be all candy. There are plenty of pencils, little games, and small prizes available that scream Valentine’s Day.

A mixture of crafts and games can make any Valentine’s Day party a blast. This holiday isn’t only for couples to enjoy.

These meanings have faded away over time — mostly. I remember when American servicemembers in Germany were warned not to give red roses as a hostess gift, because they symbolized passion, and a Peanuts strip where Lucy told Schroeder what it would mean if he gave her various roses. “What about no rose at all?” he asked. “That’s not in the book,” she said.

Maybe, with Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s time to revive the art of florigraphy (literally, writing with flowers), and learn the hidden meaning of a bouquet. I found these explanations in The Language of Flowers, by Kate Greenaway, better known for her children’s book illustrations.

White rose: I deserve you.
Burgundy rose: You’re beautiful and don’t know it.
Garden daisy: I share your feelings. (Don’t confuse with wild daisy — see below.)
Scarlet fuchsia: You have taste.
Iris: I have a message.
Red chrysanthemum: I love you.
White chrysanthemum: I’m telling the truth.
Forget me not: Just what it says.
Magnolia: Love of nature.
Red tulip: I love you.

Not all flowers have such positive meanings. For example:

Striped carnation: I refuse. (If it’s so important to refuse, I guess you can have a florist paint stripes on it.)
Buttercup: You’re childish and/or ungrateful.
Wild daisy: I’ll think about it.
Yellow rose: I’m jealous.
Narcissus: You’re . . . a narcissist.

Though the meaning of your bouquet won’t be obvious at first, you can always explain it later. What will be clear is that, instead of grabbing the first bunch of flowers you saw at the store, you’ve put some thought into what you want to say.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it would be the perfect time to try this project with a little red food coloring and some creativity!

Valentine’s Snow Painting

Supplies

1 spray bottle

water

red food coloring

Directions

1.  Fill spray bottle with water.  Add several drops of food coloring to bottle, and replace cap.

2.  Dress for snow play, and head outside.

3.  Create a large heart shape in the snow.

4.  Using spray bottle, squirt colored water to make snow heart the shade you desire.

*You can use the spray for many other snow projects:  to give a snowman a colored skirt, to color the walls of your fort, and more.  Be creative!

First, decide on a date. Do you want it on Valentine’s weekend? Or the weekend before or after? Do you want it on a Saturday or Sunday? Brunch, lunch, afternoon snacks or dinner? Where are you gonna have it? Outdoor or indoor? Are you going to have it in your house or are you renting an outside place? So many decisions.

But for something as spontaneous as this, having it at a house is the most practical idea. Making it a potluck event will minimize costs and prep time for the host. Better yet, make it a special potluck event and have people bring in their specialties.

Prepare a guest list. How many people are you inviting? Make sure your guests will be able to fit in your venue. Oh, and don’t forget RSVP. It may be short notice, but you still have to have an idea of the number of people to expect. Nothing’s more depressing than a Valentine’s party where no one shows up.

Lastly, decide on your party theme. Are you going to have costumes? Is it casual or a party where people have to be in their finest outfits? You can use the theme to dictate the decorations, invitations, music and the overall mood of the party. As the host, you can also embody the theme.

What are some themes you can use?

1.  Movie Theme

You can pick a particular movie or use romance movies in general. Have love songs from movies playing in the background. Name the food using lines or characters from the movie or different movies. Organize games or activities, including trivia games featuring info from these movies.

2.  Mask Party

Have people come in masks or provide masks for your guests. Use the masks to create Valentine games, including creating matching masks and finding the other pair.

3.  Anything Goes

You also can choose to go the other extreme and use a completely opposite idea as your party theme. Make it a Halloween Valentine or Christmas Valentine or an anti-valentine Valentine. It’s all up to you.

Good luck planning your party, but don’t forget also to have fun!

This treat is sure to be a hit with both the maker and the receiver.  First, they are easy to make; you need only four ingredients and less than half an hour of time.  Second, they are healthier than many typical Valentine’s Day treats, so, less guilt for the eater.  Third, they make a beautiful present with their combination of holiday colors.  Finally, they are delicious- what’s not to like about that?

Valentine Strawberries

Ingredients
1 quart strawberries, washed & thoroughly dried
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 tsp. vegetable shortening
pink sugar crystals

Directions

1.  Place chocolate chips and shortening in a small mixing bowl, and heat on high in microwave for 1 minute.  Remove bowl and stir for 15 seconds.  If all of the chocolate has not melted, return to the microwave for an additional 15-30 seconds.

2.  Pour some sugar crystals into a small bowl.

3.  Holding a strawberry by its leaves, dip most of the strawberry into the melted chocolate.  Take the strawberry out of  melted chocolate, and using the back of a spoon, wipe excess chocolate off of strawberry.

4.  Dip tip of white chocolate-covered strawberry into the sugar crystals.  Place on a plate or piece of waxed paper and allow chocolate to harden.

*You should deliver the strawberries to their recipients within a day of making them.  If you live in a warm climate, you may need to refrigerate the strawberries to keep the chocolate hard.

In any matter, to many people, Valentine’s Day has become what is known as a “Hallmark” holiday. Some people say that it is a holiday designed to give  card companies  business and a time for non-single people to show off the fact that they have someone by their side. Well, it is not just about that “stuff”.

Candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between people–all in the name of St. Valentine. Who is this being? Well, the history of Valentine’s Day is a mystery. The day itself contains traces of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. One legend is that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. During the time of war, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, so he made it illegal for men to marry women. Valentine was against this and performed marriages for young lovers in secret. Eventually the Emperor found out about this, and Valentine was sentenced to death.

Another legend was that Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting. It is rumored that, while in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl who frequently visited him. The story goes that before he was about to be killed, he left a note for her. This note was signed with “From your Valentine.”

All of the stories lead to Valentine being a romantic person–one who was adored. In fact, by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Though it is unclear as to what really happened, we can assume that the date of Valentine’s day is derived from anniversary of Valentine’s death or burial.

2- Indulge in a chocolate treat
Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate, so go ahead and buy yourself a box of chocolates to savor.

3- Get out there and meet new people
Go to a cozy coffee shop or sign up for a cooking class or a co-ed sports activity, such as biking, just to get out of the house and meet new people. Who knows who you’ll meet, and at the very least you’ll make a few extra friends.

4- Host a Valentine’s Day dinner party for all your single friends
Celebrate being single and allow your good friends and co-workers to mix and mingle with an elegant dinner party. Keep it simple and serve foods that are universal favorites like spaghetti or lasagna. You also could choose seafood like grilled shrimp over rice or even smoked salmon! Keep the appetizers simple by serving warm soups in small china cups or easy hors d’ourves like pigs in the blanket. For dessert, offer something decadent like chocolate  mousse or crème brulee. Keep the décor simple and pleasing with a little bit of red and mostly cream. Try cream and white table décor and a center piece of red roses in the middle of the table.

Part 2 coming soon!

13 Going on 30 (2004)

Ever wish to be grown up when you were young? Thirteen year old Jenna wishes to be thirty years old, so her life will be exactly what she envisions it to be. Jenna gets her wish but then discovers the simple truth- be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. A delightful Jennifer Garner stars with Mark Ruffalo in this sweet and romantic modern day fairytale (well almost).

An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Zack and Paula meet and life will never be the same for either one of them. Enter the world of a naval aviator and the woman who captures his heart. Go back in time and fall in love!

The Notebook (2004)

Based on a book by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, nobody does romance like this man! It is 1940. Noah and Allie are from different sides of the tracks, but that doesn’t stop the sparks (no pun intended!) from flying. What follows is a bittersweet love story that will have you shedding a few tears.

Top Gun (1986)

This movie is part action and part romance, and it has all the elements of a perfect pick for Valentine’s Day. Maverick and his teacher, Charlie, sizzle on screen amid the backdrop of Miramar, a school that is designed to make fighter pilots the best of the best.

The Wedding Singer (1998)

Ready for some laughs? Ready to party like it’s 1985? If yes, then join wedding singer Robbie and waitress Julia as they realize their love for each other after a series of comedic bumps along the way.

Against All Odds (1984)

A love triangle that may not play out as you would expect, this is a classic choice that stars a very talented cast. Ex-football star Terry is hired by his gangster friend Jake to find his rich socialite girlfriend Jessie. Upon finding her, the two fall in love, but then love turns to obsession and ends up leading to an unexpected tragedy.

Other movies worth mentioning include:

Indecent Proposal (1993)

Intersection (1994)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Notting Hill (1999)

The Object of My Affection (1998)

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

9 ½ Weeks (1986)

Romantic theme movies always strike a special cord at Valentine’s Day. If nothing on the new release shelves calls out to you, then how about renting an older DVD? Here are some movies that you may not have considered that are worth a look. Cuddle up with your sweetie, and let the romance onscreen begin…

The English Patient (1996)

Okay so maybe this is a movie you have thought of, but it is still a good place to start. It is the end of World War II and a badly burned man is rescued from a plane crash. As a nurse tends to his injuries, a tale of a fateful and life altering love affair is revealed.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

Okay, perhaps not a surprise choice either. On two different paths, in two different places in their lives, Robert and Francesca meet, and sparks fly. What transpires is a brief relationship that will leave them changed forever. If you think love only happens to young people, you need to watch this movie.

The Blue Lagoon (1980)

A young boy and girl are shipwrecked on a tropical island. All they have is each other. This is the story of young love taking place in a natural way against the backdrop of a beautiful island paradise. Get shipwrecked on Valentine’s Day!

Dream for an Insomniac (1996)

An insomniac since childhood, Frankie has high hopes for love, as well as impossibly high standards. She is full of life, believes in fate, and has a collection of notable quotes memorized in her head. With three days left before she moves to Los Angeles with her best friend to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress, Frankie meets her match in writer David Schrader. If you enjoy witty banter and a light-hearted endearing romance, then check out this one. You may have to do some searching for it, though.

Drive Me Crazy (1999)

For the younger set or for those who want to go back to high school for Valentine’s Day, this is a good choice. Two fellow students join up to pull a scam and convince their peers that they are a couple in order to win back their former flames. The results of their efforts surprise even them. Melissa Joan Hart is adorable in her role as the preppy Nicole while Adrian Grenier is the boy who cleans up well.