When you show him an  appreciation of who he is you only benefit yourself, because he is more attentive and affectionate to you.  What woman doesn’t want that?

Little gifts that say you love him and are thinking of him are always appreciated.  At Valentine’s Day we want to be even more romantic, it is the day to be mushy!

There are candy gifts just for him you know.  There are gourmet foods that you can both enjoy in a night at home.  A candy bar treat, sports treats, and some guy food gifts are just right for him, and he will probably share.

Some guy gifts have a theme that fits your guy, such as a golfbag cooler, or a Nascar look.  Even the gals could go for a chocolate car, racecar cookies, or a Pedal to the Metal CD of music.

Go for it, as they say in the ads, Just Do It!

Your feelings about chasing her may have changed a great deal, but showing her your care for her doesn’t have to be gone forever.  Looking for a way to “wow” is simpler than you think.

Women love the little things that say you are thinking of them.  Cards, flowers and candy may be traditional but always appropriate.  Taking her out for a a nice dinner and some alone time without the kids and telephone is really lovely as well.

What about the way your romance her?  Sending something that arrives at her work is really wonderful.  She loves having you show your love for her in a public way.  Perhaps you should send her some gourmet food for a night at home!  What about a decadent chocolate basket filled with goodies that say”you deserve all this sweetness!”

Women also try so hard to look nice and feel pretty, what about sending her a           spa basket full of relaxing and delightful spa treatments at home? Candles are also romantic, you can arrange and entire candle garden complete with aromatherapy.

Chocolate for enjoying with your favorite wine or even ‘play’time, is another good thought.  Chocolate body paint and edible tatoos can make romancing fun!

We were not there 24 hours before we tried an expensive sparkling
champagne that we loved.  It was paired with roasted whole almonds
and chocolates. We were in heaven, and we felt pretty ‘continental’ too!
Did we like the flavor, the way it was aged, the color, the body or the fact
that it was sparkling?  We know that the price was not the reason we
liked it, we like our ‘good taste’ at a ‘good price’!

We found out that you have to ‘try it’ to ‘like it’!  When we came back home to the states we visited wineries that were near us in Ontario, Michigan, Ohio and New York.  These areas are on the same parallel as France and Germany so the grapes and wines have a similar taste.  The California wines are unique to that area and have a different range of tastes.  All the vineyards, cellars and wineries have a tasting room, and lots interesting items for noshing, gifting, going gourmet, pairing with the wines and entertaining.

Tasting rooms always include descriptions of the wines, so as you taste, you read about its aging and casking, the fruits and types of grapes, its dryness and even what foods pair well with it.
If you like that particular wine you will know what it is you enjoy in that vintage.  Very quickly you will narrow down your likes.  The vintner’s assistants in the tasting rooms will suggest what you should try first, and how you should or should not progress on the lists they offer.

It did not take much trying before my husband knew that he like the full bodied wines.  He goes for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and even the Australian Shiraz (also spelled Syrah).  I like the semi dry whites.  The really sweet, fruity ones are not my favorite although many people really like those ‘girlie’ wines.  My favorites from our area are the Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, also produced in France and Germany.

When you go to an Italian restaurant tell your server what tastes you  generally like and they will suggest a wine that complements your entree.

You may know nothing about wine, when you start out, but you do know what you like and what does not appeal to you.  Use your own good taste to tell you what to enjoy.  It is never wrong to serve the wines you want with the food you prepare.  When entertaining, you are not held to ‘fast and hard’ rules about food and wine.  If you enjoy it, your guests will love being served in your home.