Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes. Photo: ME/LAQ/Flynetpictures.com
Recently engaged couple LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian did not plan for an overly romantic Valentine’s Day, reports UsMagazine.com. At Sunday’s Grammy Awards, the couple laughed and jokingly asked reporters, “Is [Valentine’s Day]tomorrow?” Rimes butted in and further explained, “We have his boys [Mason, 7, and Jake, 3] on Valentine’s Day. So we are literally going to play Wii with some friends and eat pizza, which is better than anything else we could be doing.”
Give online dating another try. Photo: conrado / Bigstock.com
By Jenna Barbieri
Some people spend Valentine’s Day doing extravagant things with their loved ones, while others spend it alone in front of their computers. Does the latter sound like you? Well, what would you do if I told you that this year, sitting in front of the computer might actually be the start to your ideal Valentine’s Day? Would you think I was lying? Yeah, so would I. Which is why I did some research after hearing all the hype about HowAboutWe.com.
Before I say anything else, let me point out that HowAboutWe is a dating site … but it’s not actually a dating site. Most people are hesitant to attempt online dating, but the only part of the actual dating that takes place on this site is the proposal. According to their homepage, “It’s a site all about dates – inventing dates, scrolling through dates, asking people out and going on the dates you really want to go on.”
Have a delicioso VDay dinner. Photo: Wavebreak Media Ltd / Bigstock.com
By Aarón Sánchez, celebrity chef and TV personality
This Valentine’s Day, forgo waiting hours on end for a table at a busy restaurant when you can have a fabulous night in right at home. Not only is it a great opportunity to intensify connections with family, friends and significant others, but it’s much easier on the wallet! Celebrity chef and TV personality Aarón Sánchez agrees, and has some easy tips to creating your own “Delicioso Night In.” You can join the Delicioso movement here. Not only does this give you the opportunity to take part in great conversations, but by joining the movement, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win the ultimate Delicioso Night In, prepared by Chef Aarón himself in New York City. After flying to New York for this special evening, one lucky winner and three other people of his or her choosing will be whisked away to Veracruz, Mexico, the home of Kahlua. In the meantime, enjoy the following tips from Chef Aarón to start your Valentine’s Day off right:
By Melissa Orlov, marriage consultant and author of The ADHD Effect on Marriage
How often have you found that the requisite roses (slightly wilted at the edges) don’t do that much for you? This year, for a truly meaningful Valentine’s Day, don’t focus on a single romantic gesture. Instead, consider making Valentine’s Day the ‘New Years’ of romance – a time for making resolutions that will create lasting change for your relationship.
The good news? There is science behind how to do this. Here are three resolutions that can make Valentine’s Day matter for a change:
Create VDay memories. Photo: Javier Sanchez Mingorance / Bigstock.com
By Babe Scott, author of Delicious Dating
Heidi Klum is going to say it with a surprise box of confetti hearts, cute underwear and chocolates. Katy Perry is said to be buying Russell Brand a lilac-colored Bentley. So how are you going to make your guy feel like the only man in the universe on Valentine’s Day?
It’s a given that your beau will romance you with a candle-lit dinner, but what will you do to ensure this night of love will be forever brulée-torched in your memories? Here are a few tips:
Men, for 364 days of the year, get to do things like fix cars, hook up electronics, and be a general handyman for the women in our lives. One day a year, we are asked to do something else to show our love – something a little more romantic. On Valentine’s Day, it’s our job to shave off our manly exterior and be the cute and cuddly teddy bears that our women want us to be. The time has come once again to buy gifts for our wives or girlfriends that tell them how much we love and appreciate them. This is not a time for utilitarian gifts, like a mixer or a car stereo, so if you’re stumped as to what you should buy for your special someone, here are a few ideas that should point you in the right direction:
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Pulse has teamed up with New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak to offer a Brenda Novak canvas tote to TWO LUCKY READERS! But don’t think you’re getting just the tote bag; included are Novak makeup bags with THREE lip glosses named after her HEAT triology (retail price: $21 each) and an autographed set of all three books!
To enter, tell us your next lip gloss-worthy occasion – whether it’s a steamy first date or a cool and comfortable night with you beau. The best answer wins! Please be sure to use your real email address so we have a way of contacting you if you’ve won – don’t worry, your address won’t be shown and we will never spam you. This giveaway will run until 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, Feb. 17. Check back on Friday, Feb. 18 at 10 AM EST for a post announcing the winners. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed.
In the meantime, check our Brenda Novak’s special Valentine’s Day guest post: 10 Tips To Keeping Your Valentine. For more information, visit her website at www.BrendaNovak.com and follow her on Twitter: @Brenda_Novak.
By Brenda Novak, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author
With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s easy to start pondering your love life. The “what if’s” begin to run rampant, and the future is undoubtedly a big focus. If you can’t imagine your life without your current partner, you need to start thinking about how you plan to keep him or her. Brenda Novak, bestselling author of more than 30 Harlequin romance novels, has some tips on how to do just that, which she’s garnished from her own experience and research:
1. Avoid negative thought patterns: Allowing yourself to mentally or verbally tear down your significant other is like gnawing at the bond that holds you together.
2. Remember that this person means more to you than anyone else: This includes your parents and your kids. People who live their entire lives for their children are often disappointed to find that they have no relationship left once the kids head out on their own.
3. Be more flexible and forgiving with your spouse than mere friends and neighbors: We expect our spouses to “understand” our stress or limitations – in other words, put up with our crap. Instead, reserve your patience and kindness for the person who means the most to you.
Happy couple on a boat. Photo: Goodluz / Bigstock.com
Wouldn’t you like somebody to love? It seems most of Hollywood thinks they do. So many celebrities jump in and out of relationships that we need a scorecard to keep track. Just when we they’ve got it right, Cupid’s pulse hits a flat line. If celebrities can’t keep their relationships together, we wonder: can we? Take beloved Sandra Bullock, left standing at the altar of her professional accomplishments, Oscar in hand, gushingly thanking her beloved Jesse James – only to find he has been screwing around behind her back. Naturally, she instantly dumps him. We also keep hoping that Jennifer Aniston will find her special love. Her ex, Brad Pitt, appears to have a great thing going with Angelina Jolie – at least for now. Then, there’s David Arquette, who was dumped by Courteney Cox. One celebrity couple who appears to have it all is Sarah and Matthew Broderick (if we disregard the pre-marital tabloid fodder). And at least we’ve got Jeff Bridges, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon as beacons of hope.
How do we avoid the heartbreak of loss and pain to go after long-term love?
First, you need to learn to follow your own Cupid’s pulse. Here are 10 tips to your own five-star celebrity relationship this Valentine’s Day:
Editors and agents that made up Wenesday's Speed Shrinking party panelists.
By Lavanya Sunkara
The best way to attain what you seek is to make the effort and take that first step. At last night’s Speed Shrinking for Love party at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, organized by bestselling author and journalism professor Susan Shapiro, New Yorkers of all ages and walks of life flocked to find what they were in search of, whether it was love, a book deal, or psychoanalysis.
Enthusiastic participants lined up for their speed meeting – think speed dating, but with literary agents and relationship experts. The jam packed space buzzed with curious newcomers, mingling friends, therapists dolling out advice three minutes at a time, and literary gurus advising writers on pitches. Free wine and Valentine’s Day chocolate cupcakes were plentiful.
But Speed Shrinking isn’t just a witty name for a networking event. It is also the title of Shapiro’s debut novel about a self-help author who sees eight therapists in eight days to deal with her cupcake addiction after her best friend, as well as her shrink, suddenly move away. What started out as a one-time party idea to promote her book, Speed Shrinking has become a social phenomenon, entertaining a series of television appearances and parties on both coasts. Last night’s event was Shapiro’s 10th party, and she said a producer is interested in turning it into a reality show.
Love the one you are with. Photo: Kurhan / Bigstock.com
By Sherry Richert Belul, founder of Simply Celebrate
Whether you’re madly in love, still looking for love, or are in a snit with the one you love, these 14 tips below are surefire ways to jump start more luvin’ feelings in your life, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Just choose one of these suggestions and try it out – on your spouse, your beau, yourself, or a friend. Or for those who crave a larger dose of feelin’ good, try one a day for the next 14 days!
— Make a Love List full of silly, sweet, funny, poignant reasons why you love someone. When you’re mad or disappointed, read this list! When you’re happy and in love, add to this list. If you’re sad or lonely, make a Love List for yourself, a relative, or a friend.
— Share the things on your Love List with the person for whom you wrote ‘em. Mail ‘em in a card. Send one text message every hour. Write them on notes and hide them in their shoes or coat pockets. Make a poster. Leave voice messages on their phone.
Don’t you want to look good when you head out on your hot date? Try Buzzed Look Cream + 15, the newest in AXE’s hair care products for men. Perfect for guys with short hair, this product will protect the scalp from those damaging UVA and UVB rays, all while keeping your hair soft and touchable. In fact, 75 percent of women surveyed* said they are more likely to run their hands through a buzz cut on a guy because they love the soft feel of it. Want further proof? St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford and candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year allowed AXE shave his shaggy hair – check out his new buzz look here.
And to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Pulse has teamed up with AXE to offer a jar of AXE Buzzed Look Cream to ONE LUCKY READER! Simply tell us what your perfect date night would be in a comment below. The best date wins! Not a dude? Don’t worry ladies – you can enter to win for your boyfriend or hubby. Please be sure to use your real email address so we have a way of contacting you if you’ve won – don’t worry, your address won’t be shown and we will never spam you. This giveaway will run until 11:59 PM EST on Monday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day. Check back on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 1 PM EST for a post announcing the winners. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed.
In the meantime, visit your nearest food, drug or mass retail outlet to find AXE Buzzed Look Cream. A 2.64-oz. jar costs $5.99 and is enough for 75 uses (i.e. date nights!). For more, visit Axe on their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter: @AXE.
*National survey of 1,000 girls 18-34 conducted by StrategyOne in January 2011
Single on Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry – we have gifts for you, too! If you’re one of the 44 million people who changed their relationship status to “single” in 2010 (according to Facebook), we have just what you need this holiday: “singles pride” products on CafePress, the go-to website to design whatever you want, on anything you please. In fact, there are more than 358,500 anti-Valentine’s Day products on the site – a 12 percent increase from 2009. As for our happily attached readers, yes, there are all kinds of gifts for your sweetheart. From cute, matching shirts to make-you-laugh apparel, you’ll find the perfect gift for your sweetheart.
To celebrate the holiday, Cupid’s Pulse has teamed up with CafePress to offer ONE VALENTINE’S DAY T-SHIRT to FIVE LUCKY READERS! Simply tell us what your Valentine’s Day slogan would read in a comment below. The most creative designs win! Please be sure to use your real email address so we have a way of contacting you if you’ve won – don’t worry, your address won’t be shown and we will never spam you. This giveaway will run until 11:59 PM ESTonMonday, Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day. Check back on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 1 PM EST for a post announcing the winners. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed.
In the meantime, visit CafePress.com to find a selection of budget-friendly pro- and anti-Valentine’s Day gear, perfect for gifts or party décor. For more updates and information, follow them on Twitter: @cafepress.
Online dating tips. Photo: dolgachov / Bigstock.com
By Julie Spira, online dating expert and the bestselling author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating
test
February may be the shortest month of the year, but for those anticipating Valentine’s Day, it’s critical to ramp up your online dating search. There’s no quicker way to find a date on the Internet than by starting with a cyber face-lift of your existing dating profile.
With more than 116 million members worldwide viewing online dating sites, the odds are in your favor that you’ll be able to snag a date by Valentine’s Day with these tips:
Pinkberry, the original tart frozen yogurt brand, introduces the Pinkberry Swirly Gram, a unique Valentine’s Day treat that can be delivered to the ones you love all over the country. These packages are Pinkberry frozen yogurts or gift cards that are specially wrapped and decorated with heart-shaped balloons, a hand-written note, and are hand-delivered to the home or office. Choose from Cupid’s Swirl (one medium frozen yogurt with toppings for $10), Take Me Home (five servings packed in a 25 oz. container with toppings on the side for $20) or Swirly Spree (one gift card for any amount, plus an additional $2 delivery and packaging fee). In addition, you can choose your Swirly Gram from these three flavors: original, chocolate, or blood orange, each with special Valentine’s toppings.
Head over to your closest Pinkberry location and order a Swirly Gram for your loved one – or one for yourself! Swirly Grams are also available on Pinkberry.com for those who prefer to shop online. But do note that balloons will not be included for online orders. As Pinkberry says, make hearts swirl this Valentine’s Day!
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Pulse has teamed up with Pinkberry to offer ONE$10 GIFT CARD to ONE LUCKY READER! Simply tell us what flavor and toppings you would chose for your own Swirly Gram in a comment below. The most scrumptious combination wins! Please be sure to use your real email address so we have a way of contacting you if you’ve won – don’t worry, your address won’t be shown and we will never spam you. This giveaway will run until 11:59 PM ESTon Monday, Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day. Check back on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 1 PM EST for a post announcing the winners. Good luck!
Are you stuck on what to say to your significant other, crush, or even just your friends on Valentine’s Day? Let Pauly D do it for you! Everybody’s favorite Jersey Shore guido has a new line of e-greetings and ringtones that make for the perfect gift idea. Not only are they hilarious, they’re personalized! You can choose exactly what you want Pauly to say in addition to your names. These e-greetings and ringtones are fun, cheap and guaranteed to make you fist pump. If you’re tired of throwing grenades on Valentine’s Day, head over to www.StarGreetz.com and let @DJPaulyD speak for you. And when the love holiday is over, get Pauly to wish your friends a happy birthday, invite them to your event, or make you laugh until you answer your phone!
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Pulse has teamed up with StarGreetz to offer Pauly D’s e-cards to FIVE LUCKY READERS! Simply tell us your favorite DJ Pauly D moment from season three of MTV’s Jersey Shore in a comment below. The funniest moments win! Please be sure to use your real email address so we have a way of contacting you if you’ve won – don’t worry, your address won’t be shown and we will never spam you. This giveaway will run until 11:59 PM ESTonMonday, Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day. Check back on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 1 PM EST for a post announcing the winners. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed.
For more fun gift ideas, follow @stargreetzinc on Twitter.
PajamaCity manufactures and distributes these PJs for both men and women. This line of pajamas is exactly like the ones we had when we were kids, but are now in adult sizes! Their creation stems from a deep desire to appease the inner-child within both men and women. Also, his and her PJs would be the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day! Features:
Sizes: 13 unisex sizes (to fit men and women from 4’4” to 7’0”)
Widths: 3 extra-wide sizes (to fit men and women from 5’0” to 6’3”)
Standard Features: roomy cut, zipper front and kangaroo pockets
Fabric styles: fleece, flannel, waffle knit, velvet, sweatshirt
Flap styles: dropseat or regular back
Foot styles: regular feet, convertible buttoned foot or cottony stocking foot — all with friction dots
Cost: $34.95 to $44.95.
As a special offer, Pajama City will give away a pair of their footie PJs! To be considered, comment* on this post below telling us why you want these childhood PJs. The most unique answer wins!
For more Cupid news, follow us on Twitter @CupidsPulse. Thank you for reading The Product Beat! Visit us weekly for new products and offerings.
With love on everyone’s mind on Valentine’s Day, it’s no surprise that HBO chose Feb. 14 to premiere a documentary chronicling the new avenue to find love in the 21st century – online dating. When Strangers Click: Five Stories From the Internet tells the stories of individuals who have explored Internet dating.
Knowing the documentary would premiere on Cupid’s big day, our friends at Single Edition invited us to an advanced screening in New York City, which featured a Q&A with Robert Kenner of the Oscar-nominated Food, Inc., who both directed and produced the film. The audience included 12 to 15 dating and relationship bloggers based in the city.
