How could he have changed? My partner of two years has become a totally different person. He has gone from attentive and loving to nasty-tempered and verbally abusive. He blames me for everything. He stands over me as I brush my teeth, yelling that I’m using too much water. He also times my showers.

I think he is bipolar or worse. He is flirtatious with any woman he meets. He gets attention from anyone he can while showing no loyalty to me—the one who loves him and does the most for him. He is generous to the point of being ridiculous with others, while being selfish, miserly, and mean towards me.

I am quiet, peaceful, and appreciative of life—a good person who only wants a kind man who loves and respects me. I did not and have never provoked him into these outbursts. I don’t nag or complain. I just want a happy contented life.

I thought I was careful getting into this relationship and that he was my true love. I am heartbroken I may have to start all over again. If I had known what he was like, I would never have bothered. I am near the point of wanting to be alone for the rest of my life, so I don’t have to get hurt like this.

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Remember those pre-child days when you would go out to a fancy restaurant or spend the weekend at a romantic get-away to celebrate Valentine’s Day? That may not be an option this year, but you can still enjoy a romantic dinner with your spouse. Here are a few ideas on how you can easily create a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home.

Creating The Menu

This is the perfect time for some “Grown-up” food. Cook a separate dinner for the kids or order in some pizza. Let the kids eat an early dinner and then send them off to play, or watch a movie while the two of you enjoy your meal. If your children are really young, you may want to put them to bed before you sit down for your Valentine’s Day dinner.

Cooking a restaurant inspired meal doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick up some mini-quiches in your grocers frozen food section and bake them up as an appetizer. For a first course pick up a can of gourmet style soup that you just need to heat up. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and some fresh herbs for visual appeal.

Choose a main dish that you can prepare ahead of time, so you can enjoy the evening. Good choices are baked salmon or chicken. Just place either one in a baking dish, add whichever marinade you prefer and refrigerate. When you are ready just bake it until it’s done. Serve with mixed greens and fancy store-bought vinaigrette. Grab French bread, or fix some wild rice.

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Tired of thinking up Valentine’s Day gift ideas for that special person? Why not try one among the several Valentine’s gift boxes? Not only are these Valentine’s gift boxes available in a variety of sizes and themes, given such diversity, they are perfectly suited to your wallet too.

Which are the most suitable gift baskets?

• Candle gift boxes are eminently suitable as Valentine’s Day gift boxes. Typically, these baskets contain a number of scented/unscented candles in different colors. That and the traditional romantic ideas associated with candles makes them perfect items for your gift basket

• Another suitable Valentine’s gift basket / gift box is an assortment of romantic music. This could include love songs, new age music, and classical music – all designed to create a romantic atmosphere for an evening spent with your loved one

• You might also want to consider putting a collection of old romantic movies in your gift box, along with a couple of candles. So you and your loved one light the candles, curl up in front of the television, and spend a great evening

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Valentine’s Day! What a great day for romantics at heart! Any excuse to celebrate a day of l’amour is in my opinion, a good excuse and on the 14th February cards, flowers and the whole love thing will be celebrated for many with romance and style.

The history of this day has origins in both Christian and Ancient Roman tradition. As a matter of fact there are many legends surrounding Valentine and the day it was yet to become. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) there are least three St Valentine’s recorded.

One legend has it that in 269 AD in ancient Rome, Saint Valentine was secretly performing marriages and engagements in direct contravention of the Emperor Claudius II, who banned marriages and engagements in an attempt to recruit and enlist more soldiers (recruitment numbers were down because the men wanted to remain with their loved ones). Alas and alack it was all too good to last, when St Valentine’s secret was discovered, as punishment for his crime, he was thrown into jail, beaten with clubs, followed by execution.

The legend goes that before he was beheaded on 14th February, he fell in love with his jailor’s daughter and wrote her a billet-doux (love letter). It’s said he signed off on his note with “from your valentine”. Many years later in 496 AD, Pope Gelasius declared a day of honour for Valentine and so began Valentine’s Day.

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Yesterday, I found this quote scribbled in one of my old note-pads: “With love, nothing else matters; without it, everything else gets on your nerves.”

Every Valentine’s Day, flowers, cards, chocolate candy, and presents abound and love letters are sent between lovers. Widespread symbols are hearts and arrows, flowers especially red roses, cupid, and the color red or pink.

February 14 is the time when birds start mating; therefore, since the olden times, the celebration of romantic love was traced to this day. The earliest date this holiday is found in would have to be in Greek mythology attributing February 14 to the marriage of Zeus and Hera. On Zeus and Hera’s trail, comes Lupercalia or the festival of Faunus, the god of fertility in ancient Rome.

Then, there are several Christian saints named Valentine to whom this celebration of love can be attributed. Most of these St. Valentines were martyred for one reason or another, like the St. Valentine in Rome who aided prisoners or the St. Valentine in Africa. Among the martyrs, the most likely St. Valentine for whom the Valentine’s day was named is the saint who performed soldier weddings, disregarding Emperor Claudius II’s order banning Roman soldiers from marriage.

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