Watch out for Cupid’s arrow, or better yet, avoid the greeting card aisle. Valentine’s Day is approaching and love is in the air. For many hopeless romantics out there, February 14th is a wonderful, starry-eyed opportunity to give and receive special tokens of affection like flowers, chocolates, and of course, store-bought or homemade valentines. If your significant other is not so romantic the rest of the year, it’s practically mandated on Valentine’s Day.

On the other hand, singles can enjoy being exempt from all this romantic (and financial!) Pressure and focus completely on spoiling themselves. And besides, there are always plenty of ridiculously fun Anti-Valentine’s Day parties going on in most cities. In that spirit, I’ll start with a special chocolate spa day designed just for single women. Chocolate IS a girl’s best friend. Moving on to the mushy stuff, I’ll tell you how to spoil the loved ones in your life, whether it’s your kids or your hubby. In the true spirit of Recipe4Living, the way to anyone’s heart is the stomach. Enjoy! Scottsdale Florist

History? I got your history

Okay okay, if you must know WHY we celebrate this silly holiday called Valentine’s Day, let me explain briefly. Valentine’s Day began with a priest, St. Valentine. Rumor has it that during the third century in Rome, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than married men and thus outlawed marriage for young men. Recognizing the injustice of this, St. Valentine continued to marry young people in secret and was imprisoned and eventually killed. Other rumors say that St. Valentine helped Christians escape harsh Roman prisons and that he may have even sent a love letter from prison to an admired woman, signed “From Your Valentine.” As St. Valentine was later a favorite saint in France and England, Valentine’s Day became popularly celebrated in the seventeenth century. In 1840, the first mass-produced “valentines” appeared in America. Today, 85% of Valentine’s Day cards are purchased by women. Is this because men are buying flowers?

Boycott this Silly Holiday and Spoil Yourself!

Chocolate Foot Spa

Here is a list of “needed” supplies for an indulgent foot spa experience.

Ingredients

Marbles

A foot basin

Whole milk

Vanilla extract

Chocolate extract

Brown Sugar

White sugar

Olive oil

Directions

Put a handful of marbles in the foot basin or any large container to soak your feet in. Fill halfway with cold water. Warm enough whole milk to fill the basin and whisk until frothy. Add 1 Tbs. each of vanilla extract and chocolate extract. Soak feet for 5 minutes while you are rolling them over the marbles. The lactic acid in the milk naturally sloughs off dead skin and softens them. Next, mix a handful of each brown sugar and white sugar with enough olive oil to form a paste. Massage this paste into the feet, ankles, knees and calves. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. Finish with lotion that has been warmed in the microwave. You can add a few drops of vanilla extract in your lotion to keep the vanilla scent on your skin.

Chocolate Bubble Bath

So sweet and indulgent, it’s the perfect bath for chocoholics – but please, don’t drink the bath water.

Ingredients

1 C. unscented bubble bath

1/3 C. unsweetened Soya Brand Milk

3 oz. dark chocolate

Directions

Heat the Soya milk and add in the chopped chocolate, stir well until melted. Do not boil. Allow cooling down. Mix with the bubble bath and pour into your bath and enjoy.

Homemade Chocolate Truffles

This is a really easy way to make a normally complicated dessert. Enjoy these while you are lounging in the tub.

Ingredients

1 12 oz. pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 C. orange-flavored liqueur or 1 tsp. orange extract

1 can chocolate or fudge frosting

Toppings: Coconut, chocolate sprinkles, ground nuts and cocoa

Directions

Melt chocolate chips in medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly; remove from heat. Stir in orange liqueur and frosting; blend well. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until firm. Place coconut or other toppings in pie pan. Scoop mixture into 1 “balls; drop onto topping. Mixture will be sticky. Roll to coat. Place in foil candy cups, if desired. Store in refrigerator.

Yield: 6 dozen

Love Bites

Ingredients

1 shot vodka

Splash of peach schnapps

Equal parts cranberry and grapefruit juice.

Lime for garnish

Directions

Mix together all ingredients and pour over ice. Garnish top of glass with a lime wedge.

Some Essentials for Spoiling Loved Ones

Flower Meanings- Every flower has a meaning, many of which have endured for centuries. So unless you want to give a woman the symbol for mourning this Valentine’s Day, make sure you look into these meanings before picking a bouquet. Not only will you have the perfect gesture with the flowers, but you’ll impress that special someone with your knowledge. He or she will think you are quite thoughtful (just don’t let on I told you).