Thursday, February 11, 2010

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue...

Sorry ladies and gents...












Snowtorious B.I.G sent my wireless connection (and my cable ) running for the hills this week, and as a result I am way behind on my mission to infuse a bit of pre-Valentine's day amour into your daily routine.

Earlier this morning I happened across an interesting posting on Facebook. In response to a question about Valentine's day being too commercial a woman shared the story of her husband's refusal to do/buy anything on Valentine's Day, instead he "spoils" her on February 13th and again on the 15th, just to show that he doesn't need anyone (Hallmark) reminding him that it's time to "love his woman". Cute, and my point exactly.

So today, let's talk flowers.

Roses are red, violets are blue....

I blame this nursery rhyme and rose farmers worldwide for the multitudinous number of roses sold in flower shops, grocery stores and on street corners across the nation. Red, white, pink, yellow, they're everywhere, which is cool but how about surprising her (or him) with something different?

Why? Just because.

The best place to start is by asking your love what they like. If she/he says "roses", then go ahead buy the roses but if he/she/Shawna says something else, then off to the florist you go.

An experienced florist will work with you to choose the perfect bouquet for your sweetie. Now, I must warn you, she will try to sell you roses because they're at a premium this time of year, but don't be afraid to say no. Once you get that out of the way the florist will ask you more about the recipient, what type of flowers does she like? What's her favorite color? Is she conservative, quirky, trendy, etc? Armed with the necessary information, the florist will begin pulling, snipping and creating the perfect arrangement for your darling. If you're lucky you may even get the florist to deliver the flowers for you.

If a custom designed flower arrangement is out of your price range, I recommend you ask to see some of the already prepared bouquets and arrangements, they are often less expensive. If that's still out of your price range don't be afraid to head to the grocery store, many of the gourmet grocers offer quality flowers at reasonable prices. If you do decide to go that route, check out this link for tips on how to pick the right flowers.

O.K. ladies, let's not be selfish, men like receiving gifts too. While flowers may not be his thing, consider a plant. A cactus plant is perfect for the man who can remember every score in every football game he's watched since he was 5 but can't remember to water a plant. Money Plants and Lucky Bamboo plants are also perfect for men, and neither require a lot of effort or experience to stay alive.

If you're still stuck, ask your mom, I'm sure she can tell you exactly what to get, just remember to get something for her too!

Later lovers....

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