Thursday, February 14, 2013
Men will spend twice as much money buying for their loved one as women will today, the National Retail Association reports.
- NEWS
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Thursday, February 14
Money can’t buy love, but on Valentine’s Day, most people are cashing in to please their significant other, GoBankingRates.com reports. According to the National Retail Federation, women will spend $88.78 on Valentine’s Day gifts, while men will spend $175.61. Americans will spend more than $4 billion on jewelry alone, according to the U.S. News & Report. The news source ranks the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts as follows: What did you give or receive this Valentine’s Day? Share it with us in the comments section.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Little gestures of love on Valentine's Day for the whole family
Since having kids, Valentine's Day has changed from trendy restaurants with candlelight dinners to making heart-shaped pancakes for the kids. That's OK with my husband and I because after all, our kids are the biggest expression of our love. So, instead of celebrating Valentine's Day with just one night of romance,we find that Valentine's Day is the perfect day for small surprises that say "I Love You!" There are an endless number of small ways to show your family love this Valentine's Day but here are a few fun and creative ideas to inspire you and make this Valentine's Day extra special. 1. A Sweet Treat. Make your family one of their favorite sweets. Maybe a favorite cookie to take in their lunch box or that Dad can take to work. Last …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
To ensure you don't scare your date away during your Valentine's Day dinner, researchers say to drink a glass of milk with garlicky foods.
- NEWS
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Tuesday, February 12
Are you planning on taking your sweetie to a romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day? To avoid garlic breath, researchers say to grab a glass of milk. The Institute of Food Technologists reports that drinking milk while eating food filled with garlic can cut down on the bad breath commonly linked with the food. The news source says whole milk does the trick better than reduced fat options, and drinking the beverage with the meal is proven more effective than drinking milk afterwards.
Monday, February 11, 2013
The average person will fork out $130.97 on Valentine's Day gifts, according to a national survey. That's up slightly from last year. How much do you plan to spend on your Valentine?
Love — and money — are in the air this time of year. Americans are expected to spend $18.6 billion on Valentine's Day gifts this year, according to the National Retail Federation, citing a survey by BIGinsight. That comes out to $130.97 per person, which is up from $126.03 last year. Perhaps not surprisingly, men will outspend women, with an average of $175.61 each compared to $88.78, according to the survey. While most of that spending is going toward significant others, 20 percent of people plan to buy a Valentine's Day gift for their pet. Yet there's hope for those who place a premium on quality time together instead of gifts. According to a study by Discover Financial Services, a majority of couples prefer to spend time together than …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Simple ways to put the kids to work and still have a Romantic evening at home
No babysitter for Valentine’s Day this year? Don't worry about it! You can still have a fun and romantic evening at home, even with the kids. When our kids were young, we could never get a babysitter for Valentine’s Day. But we recovered by putting the kids to work. That’s right. Putting the kids to work. I asked my kids if they could help put together a romantic evening for Daddy and I. Even though they were 7 and 9 years old, they took it on as a challenge and were quite creative. Here's how it worked. 1. Decide whether you are going to cook a romantic meal or order in from one of your favorite restaurants. We enjoy cooking but if you don’t, treat yourself and get carry out. Fancy food, not a big mess to clean-up, and a much less …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Restaurant owner Pete Panayiotou treated 63 guests to dinner in a show of appreciation on Feb. 14.
After three years at Great Lakes Naval Station, Gunner’s Mate First Class Adrian Lopez is preparing to leave next week for a three-year assignment in Japan. “My wife is getting nervous,” he said. “It’s difficult on my kids and my wife.” But after 11 years in the Navy, including a deployment to Afghanistan, Lopez takes relocation in stride. Knowing that civilians appreciate his service contributes to his positive outlook, he said. “They tell me all the time. When I’m in uniform, they thank me,” he said. “It feels good. It feels like you’re actually doing something for this country.” Lopez was among 27 military members from Great Lakes and the U.S. Army Reserve Center who were thanked for their service Monday night with a Valentine’s Day …
Monday, February 13, 2012
How do you feel about this romantic holiday?
Valentine's Day. It can be a romantic dream come true — a nice night out, holding hands with your companion, maybe some wine and candles. And it can be irritating, regardless if you're alone or not. If you're alone you can feel like you're less of a person. Yes, you can join a group of single people for an anti-Valentine's Day gathering, hating everything pink and telling nasty stories about relationships. But let's be honest, you'd take a romantic holiday over a mean one any day, right? If you're not alone the pressure can be too much. Your wife has friends at work that got flowers and candy. Her sister was treated to a show and expensive dinner. Nuts! You have a pizza delivery menu and you rented Die Hard. How do you feel about Valentine…
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
8 fun ways to surprise and show your love for your family this Valentine's Day.
- VALENTINE'S DAY GUIDE
- Sue Kirchner
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Since having kids, Valentine's Day has changed from trendy restaurants with candlelight dinners to making heart shaped pancakes for the kids. That's OK with my husband and I because after all, our kids are the biggest expression of our love. So, instead of just one night of romance, we enjoy several days of doing little things that tell the kids "We Love You." There are an endless number of small ways to show your family love this Valentine's Day but here are a few fun and creative ideas to inspire you. The Power of a Flower Every year on Valentine’s Day, my daughter gets 1 rose from her Dad, which puts the biggest smile on her face. The first year he brought one to her at daycare, she showed it to everyone in the building. Read more …
Friday, February 11, 2011
Our town plays host to a number of exciting and affordable Valentine's Day options. Patch takes a look at Monday's specials.
Buffalo Grove merchants are feeling the love this Valentine's Day, and they're passing those romantic vibes on to you. We have a rundown of the best that the village's restaurants have to offer this Monday so you can focus on what really matters — the ones you love. Hanabi Japanese Hanabi has been called cozy and friendly. The staff was definitely eager to spread the word about their special. This Monday night they'll be offering a sushi boat with "so many different kinds of sushi." The price is $65 per couple, and also includes a choice of appetizer and a bottle of wine. The Melting Pot The Melting Pot feels the love through the weekend with its special. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the fondue chain serves up a five-course menu for $…
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Buffalo Grove Park District needs more couples to register for its longstanding Daddy Daughter Date Night event.
Calling all daddies! Want to have some bonding time with your daughter this month? The Buffalo Grove Park District is gearing up for its Daddy Daughter Date Night. But the event risks cancellation unless more couples register. "It used to be a really popular event," said park district spokesman Mike Terson, but the event was called off last year. "We're hoping to bring some new life to it, get it running again." As of Friday, only nine father-daughter couples had registered for the event, which offers a dinner buffet and musical entertainment. Daughters also receive corsages, and the couples go home with a photo as a remembrance of the evening. At least 20 couples must pre-register for the event to take place. Daddy Daughter Date Night is …
Pam DeFiglio
2:09 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Uh-oh. I'm allergic to milk. But I do carry weapons-grade breath mints in my purse. more ›