My husband and I are like most people these days: super busy. With all the competition for our time and energy, romance sometimes has to take a backseat. But we always make time for each other on Valentine’s Day.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time planning an evening or spend a fortune on flowers and chocolates to create a romantic day. Here are three simple ways to show your valentine how much you love them:
Valentine’s Day is the time to reconnect and remember why you fell in love. You can spend thousands or you can spend pennies — the important thing is spending the time you have with the one you love.
Your “Light The Candles” Gift Guru,
Linda
Love your coffee? Need your coffee? Both? Well, now you can embrace your obsessive love affair with the beany drink — it might protect you from developing skin cancer.
A new study surveyed about half a million American coffee drinkers over ten years. Those who drank coffee had a decreased risk of getting melanoma skin cancer. And those who drank four or more cups a day reduced their risk by 20%! But don’t reach for that decaf — it has no effect on skin cancer at all.
Doctors warn that increased caffeine might not be a good idea for people who have high blood pressure. But if your blood pressure’s in good shape and you like to spend time in the sun, one or four cups of coffee might be the best thing for you. As if I need another reason to love my morning cuppa joe!
Your “Cream & Sugar, Please” Gift Guru,
Linda
Do you believe in love at first sight? If not, this story I picked up from Good News Network might change your mind. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll have to admit these newlyweds have one of the best “meet-cute” stories ever told.
In 1995, when they were just three years old, Briggs Fussy and Brittney Husbyn took their first walk down the aisle together as flower girl and ring bearer at Fussy’s godmother’s wedding. “I knew I was going to marry her,” Fussy said in an interview — but not at their first wedding. In fact, the two didn’t see each other again until 2007 when they ended up in a college classroom together. One day, Brittney turned around and told Briggs, “I think I have a picture of you on my wall at home.” She did. And he had one, too. The rest, as they say, is history.
The couple admits they’re enjoying all the attention they’ve been getting for their super sweet love story and they say they’ll print out all the articles to show to their kids someday. “Everybody loves it — especially my godmother,” who Fussy says, “takes all the credit.” The couple revealed that there won’t be a similar happy ending for their own ring bearer and flower girl because, well, they’re related.
Your “Cute Couple!” Gift Guru,
Linda
Is it cold enough for you in the new year? Ever since the ball dropped it’s been nothing but blizzards and black outs across the country. The weather might seem beastly to us, but it’s a blast for the National Zoo’s baby panda, Bao Bao, who made good use of the cold snap this week.
This video of Bao Bao rolling down a snowy hill and playing with her mother in the frigid Washington DC winter gave the nation a case of the warm fuzzies when it went viral on social media and even made the national television news.
Some journalists even say that the baby panda’s first snow storm makes all that cold worth it and maybe it’s true. Seems people just can’t resist the warming feeling they get watching a roly-poly baby bear play in the snow. I know I couldn’t. The YouTube video has over two million views and I think at least a hundred of them are mine!
Your “Let It Snow!” Gift Guru,
Linda
Many people experience a post-season let-down after the holidays are over. Family and friends have returned home, decorations are packed away for another year and the house is missing the commotion and glow we’ve become accustomed to since Thanksgiving. But there’s no reason to let the January blues get you down. Instead, put together a list of small celebrations to look forward to.
Shopping is a great way to lift your spirits. Walk the malls and surf the web to look for January close-out sales. You can save a lot of dough in January, which always makes me happy! You can also take a vacation without even going anywhere. Camp out at home with a “stay-cation” filled with fun activities like movie marathons and games. Finally, music always lifts the spirits. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby Ferrin and Pharell Williams’ “Happy” are great songs to start with — and, most importantly, don’t forget to cut loose and dance!
By the time February rolls around, you’ll find yourself already looking forward to Valentine’s Day, Easter and Fourth of July. And before you know it, it will be time to deck the halls again!
Your “Be Happy, Clap Along” Gift Guru,
Linda
