Last week the Robbins Brothers ‘Love Team’ and our dear friend Gayle Anderson from KTLA-TV ushered in a season of love. The week before Valentine’s Day entailed great couples, drama, suspense and lots of tears. Phew. I can’t believe we survived the nervousness leading up to ‘Will You Marry Me’ but we did. Take a look at our exciting ‘Surprise Marriage Proposal Week’ video montage which includes a proposal at a daycare, Robbins Brothers in Canoga Park, Target, Roy’s Restaurant and the Santa Monica Pier in which a woman flips the script and proposes to her man!

How responsible communication can lead to a great Valentine’s Day!

Rob, 35 Huntington Beach, CA, asked Maryanne:

Last year my wife flipped out when I bought her lingerie for Valentine’s Day. The truth is, I still don’t know why. She just got angry and said “Isn’t it obvious?” and that was it. Any advice on what I get her this year that won’t set her off (and that we both can enjoy), which is what I thought the point of Valentine’s Day was?

Maryanne’s answer:

Rob, that’s a great question. Some guys might have just blown it off and thought, Hmmm, maybe this year I’ll get her some lingerie in a different color. Sounds like you’re guessing that is not the answer, unless you like being told off and sexually frustrated.

In terms of what you can get, you need to get clear on what both your expectations are about Valentine’s Day, and the more explicit the better. Because likely her reaction last year is not only a symptom of what’s really going on but has now had a chance to fester, becoming a resentment for you both that is like poison in a relationship. So, getting clarity is what should be first on your list!

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Summary:

So you’re in the doghouse because you took her out to KFC for V-Day? If you want a chance at showing her you’re worthy, do as many of these five things as you can.

by Al Natanagara

What Were You Thinking?

Did you listen to your friend who annually proclaims “Valentines Day was made up by greeting card companies,” as a way to hide the pain of being single?  Did you give her a Whitman’s Sampler instead of the Godivas? For God’s sake, man, did you take her out for a romantic dinner at the sports pub and not even sit near the screen that was showing pairs figure skating??!!??

Well, you blew it, and it’s going to take some hard work to get your sorry butt out of the doghouse. Roll up your sleeves, put on a pot of strong coffee, and let’s get cracking. This is a list of five suggestions–do not choose just one. In fact, the more you do, the better your chances of salvaging your relationship.

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Before we begin creating our romantic Valentine’s Day bedroom ambiance, we need a really quick review. Do you remember what your five senses are? Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell and Taste. Okay, now that we have that out of the way I am going to show you how to use these five senses to put an exclamation point ending on your romantic Valentine’s Day.

Let’s start with your sense of smell since this is usually the first thing we are aware of when we enter a room (or even prior to entering a room). It is really easy to create a romantic aroma in our bedroom because there are an endless array of aromatherapy candles and incense. So pick your favorite scented candle(s) and light it up! We are, after all, still mammals and our sense of smell triggers all sorts of chemical reactions in the brain that arouse our sensuality.

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LoveDetour Team would like to wish everyone to have a fantastic Valentine’s Day!

Right after Christmas (sometimes even before), it starts. The aisles at your local drugstore become a sea of pink and red. Stuffed animals holding hearts multiply like Mogwai. Necco conversation hearts replace candy canes. The equal-opportunity-offender jewelry advertisements disappear for a week or two and then start up again, driving both men and women into a consumerist frenzy.

It’s the Valentine’s Day hype, and it’s enough to make even the happiest Smug Married couple scream. For Singletons, it can be unbearable. Whether you’ve just ended a long –term relationship or haven’t had a date since the first Bush administration, seeing all the chocolates and long-stemmed red roses can make you nauseous.

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I don’t know about you, but I love holidays.  I love the idea of thousands of people all focused on a common idea, person or mythology. St. Valentine’s Day or Single Awareness Day is no exception. Being a woman, Valentine’s Day is easy, I sit back and wait to see what my significant other puts together and enjoy; or I fain disappointment beyond repair if he does nothing.  Then at the earliest opportunity I gossip with my girlfriends about the outcome of the day.

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Whether you are married, dating, engaged, living together, etc, if you have a significant other, you can be sure your guy or girl expects some sort of token and/or expression of your feelings on Valentine’s Day. The history of Valentines Day has long been lost to the idea of today’s ideologies regarding it. It is celebrated in many countries in many various ways; however, here in the states, it seems to have gotten to be a bit more materialistic based. The key to ensuring you avoid a disaster is to know what your partner’s expectations are surrounding this momentous day. If you have been together awhile, chances are you know what they want or at least expect. If this is your first Valentine’s Day together, you should have been paying attention a few months ago. I realize a few months ago, you most likely were trying to figure out the whole Christmas present thing. So make it a point that next year come January 2^nd, you start brainstorming about Valentine’s Day and what your partner/lover wants. In my book, The Straight Man’s Pocket Guide to Picking Up a Hottie-Written by a Woman Who Loves Women, I identify Rule Number 10 as “Never be Common, Boring or Ordinary”. Use Valentine’s Day to put this into action and bring romance back into your relationship or if newly dating, use it to show him/her what a great catch you are!!!!

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