Happy New Year's Eve!

The Times Square New Year's Eve Centennial Ball, originally uploaded by diwan.

It's the end of 2010! I can't believe it. This year has gone by so fast and it has been so wonderful. It has been a great year for personal growth for me, and hopefully it has been a great year of new and inventive romance for you. And now we have a whole new, empty year on the horizon full of wonderful possibilities and adventures not yet taken. So make a new, fun resolution to yourself, that in 2011 you will strive to be more romantic with your partner. Invest time, energy, and happiness in your relationship and it is guaranteed to blossom into a healthy lifestyle.

Party safe tonight!

When Harry Met Sally

So. Romantic. When Harry (Billy Crystal) met Sally (Meg Ryan they both hated each other. The second time they met they still didn't like each other too much. But the third time they decided to become friends. Then things got interesting.

This is a perfect New Year's romantic movie. I highly recommend you go watch it before the Friday night festivities kick off. Here's a suggested menu:

Menu

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Appetizer

Chicken and Celery Pot Stickers

Main Course

Beef Skewers

Vegetarian Main Course

Creamy Baked Polenta with Herbs and Green Onions

Sides

Holiday Salad

Potatoes Simmered in Saffron Butter

Dessert

White Chocolate-Raspberry Crème Brûlée Tartlets

After Christmas Perk Ups

The Aftermath, originally uploaded by doublewinky.

The time after Christmas can be a major let down. You have to wait a whole year before being festive again. So if you and your significant friend are feeling a little blue after the Yuletide festivities, here are a few suggestions to perk yourselves up for New Year's:

-After Christmas sales! If your wallet can stand it, hit the stores up and get some great discounts on Christmas items for next year. Shopping can be very therapeutic and if you're feeling down, it's a great way to lift your spirits.

-Go out to eat. Anytime I am feeling depressed, stressed, or anxious I go to my favorite restaurant. That lifts my spirits every time.

-Spa day! Those are always a good idea to lift your spirits and make you feel refreshed for the new year. Can't fit in a whole spa day? Get a mani/pedi together. (Yes, those are for men too!)

-Take a trip to New York to enjoy the sites and atmosphere before the ball drops.

-Donate to a charity. Helping other people or animals almost never fails to make you feel great.

Merry Christmas!!!

Our first christmas together, originally uploaded by byrheea.

I found this lovely image on Flickr and I thought it was perfect for Christmas day. I hope you and your significant other (whether they be man, woman, or undecided) are spending time together today. My favorite part of Christmas is waking up to my husband. I hope that you get to enjoy all the best pieces of the holiday with the one you love. Merry Christmas!!

Naughty Things For Her Stocking Part 4

Christmas stocking, originally uploaded by felt_fairy.

And here you go, the last of my naughty stocking stuffer suggestions. You have until the stores close tonight to get your rear in gear and go gather this stuff up. Hurry, so you can have time to use it while you're both still off work!

16. The Pocket Kama Sutra

17. Rabbit Vibrator

18. Vibrating Tongue Ring

19. PVC Lace-up Gloves

20. Edible underwear or tasty chocolate penises, choose an item or two from the list.

White Christmas

This is probably my favorite Christmas movie ever! I have to watch it with my husband absolutely every year. The music is fantastic and I absolutely adore Danny Kaye and he is so hilarious in this movie. And I love Vera-Ellen for her stunning dancing, and Rosemary Clooney's gorgeous voice, and the great Bing Crosby, just for being Bing Crosby. This is one of the best holiday movies ever and I highly recommend you watch it with your sweetheart!

Menu

Appetizer

Fennel Potato Soup with Smoked Salmon

Main Course

Herb Brined Pork Prim Rib Roast

Vegetarian Main Course

Lemon Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas

Sides

Parker House Rolls

Roasted New Potatoes with Red Onion, Garlic, and Pancetta

Carrots with Shallots, Sage, and Thyme

Dessert

Cherries in the Snow

Christmas Present Idea: Misc.

3 presents waiting........., originally uploaded by jonmatthew photography.

It's the last week of shopping until Christmas! If you still don't have a clue about what to get her, here is a list of miscellaneous options that you should be able to get hold of this close to Christmas:

-A spa day. Check your yellow pages and buy her a day at the spa for two. She'll love it!

-A month of maid service. Who wouldn't love to go a month without having to clean?

-A year, or half a year, of flowers with a Flower of the Month Club enrollment. Not into flowers? There are over a hundred other gifts-of-the-month clubs out there. Pick something she'll like.

-Broadway season tickets to some local productions. That could be a great opportunity for some future dates!

-Take her on a super awesome Cruise!!! They have some really great deals out there on the Internets. Shop around. If she's not into boats, think of some other fabulous weekend away. I hear that Biltmore is especially nice.

-Gift certificates! These days you can get them for just about everywhere. Try one to her favorite restaurant or shop. A word of caution, though, those gift debit cards from banks often carry surprise hidden fees. I got one from JP Morgan Chase as a rebate on some tires. We tried to use it and found out that they were taking $3.95 off every month after the first three months since it was issued! So do her a favor and please do not buy one of those horrible scam gift cards! You can't even use them everywhere, and they are a huge hassle.

God Bless Christmas

Christmas present in the tree, originally uploaded by steve appleton.

"I have always thought of Christmas as a good time; a kind, forgiving, generous, pleasant time; a time when men and women seem to open their hearts freely, and so I say, God bless Christmas!" -Charles Dickens

Naughty Things For Her Stocking Part 3

christmas.stocking.8, originally uploaded by Unity Gain.

And now for the third part:

11. Lube

12. A sexy board game

13. Blindfold

14. Cat of Nine Tails

15. Jelly Love Beads

And check back next week, Christmas Eve, for the final installment. That should give you just enough time to run out to your local sex shop and stock up.

Eve's Christmas

I love this movie! It's about a successful woman who lives in New York, but who is very unhappy. She's alone on Christmas and she wishes she could go back and do things different in her life. When she wakes up she's in Oregon 8 years in the past, where she made the pivotal decisions that changed her life. Will she choose love or will she choose success? So fun!

Menu

Appetizer

Rustic Tomato Soup with Toasted Cumin and Mini Rajas

Main Course

Chicken Cutlets with Romesco and Serrano Cracklins

Vegetarian Main Course

Iron-Skillet Succotash

Sides

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Sage and Honey Skillet Cornbread

Dessert

Gingerbread Snowflakes

Christmas Present Idea: Gadgets

my gadgets circa august 2006 - 2, originally uploaded by Cyber Phantasm.

Is she more a high tech girl? Then here is a list of gadgets that she might love:

The season hot item, the iPad. Very handy, dandy and useful for reading ebooks.

Maybe she needs to a new phone. In that case check out the sexy new Droid. So sleek. So shiny. So a must-have.

Maybe she's an Apple girl. In that case try the iPhone 4. Lots of new features and such.

Is she a gamer? Then the top item on a lot of gamer girl's lists this year is the Kinect for the Xbox360. Looks like a step up from the Wii.

Does she love to bake or cook? Then you have to get her a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer! And get it in a pretty color, or at least something that she will like to match to her other appliances.

Does she love to roadtrip? Try a convenient GPS so she won't get lost.

Is she a coffee fanatic? Try a Bodum French Press or sleek new Coffeemaker.

Does she absolutely love to clean like Monica from Friends? I hear there are some women (and some men) out there who are actually like that. If you found one of those, hold onto her! And also get her a super awesome Dyson vacuum cleaner. I have one and I can attest that they are the best vacuum out on the market. I absolutely love mine, and I hate to clean!

OK, so that is a good list of gadgets to get you started. If none of those sounds like the right kind of option for your person, then go do a little research. Amazon is doing some amazing sales this season and there are a bajillion articles on the season's top gadgets, if you google. Get out there and shop! You're running out of time!

Conspiracy of Love

a little romance, originally uploaded by annabellemartensen.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."- Hamilton Wright Mabie (1845-1916), American author

Naughty Things For Her Stocking Part 2

zebra christmas stocking, originally uploaded by .}i{. laureski kolaure.

And here is the second part of my naughty stocking stuffer series:

6. Pocket Rocket Vibrator

7. Furry Handcuffs

8. Massage Oil

9. A naughty DVD (This one is a spoof of Saved By the Bell!!!!!)

10. Sex in the Shower Single Locking Suction Handle

The Bishop's Wife

A timeless classic starring the delightful Cary Grant. It has angels, a selfish bishop, a lovely bishop's wife, and interesting philosophical points. It ends happily and it's a great Christmas story. Very romantic. I think it might be one of my favorite Christmas movies ever.

Menu

Appetizer

Fontina Risotto Cakes with Fresh Chives

Main Course

Shepard's Pie

Vegetarian Main Course

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Sides

Cucumber Salad

Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits

Dessert

Angel Wings

Christmas Present Ideas: Jewelry

Fashion jewellery, originally uploaded by CELIA......

If you are still stuck on what to get your significant other for Christmas, then here is a winner: Jewelry! It is almost impossible to go wrong with jewelry. My favorite Christmas present ever was a piece of jewelry. It was my engagement ring from my husband. Yes, I know, so sweet! But if you are not ready for proposing, here are a few other thoughts for jewelry presents:

Necklaces

Steampunk Owl Necklace

Rhinestone Burst Choker

Earrings

Rainbow Cake Earrings

14k Yellow Gold and Citrine Earrings

Rings

Rose Filigree Flower Ring

Pearl Ring

Bracelets

Crocheted Brown Silk with Coppery Pearls

ART Crowns & Fleur-de-lis Bracelet Rhinestones

Brooches

Pretty Pearl Pendant/Brooch

Antique Bar Pin Sterling Marcasite Chrysophase Diamond Shape Brooch

Also be sure you check out Ebay and Amazon for some great holiday deals on some gorgeous pieces.

Love Divine

christmas tree, originally uploaded by eva.heberova.

"Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign."- Christina G. Rossetti quotes

Naughty Things For Her Stocking Part 1

vintage christmas stocking swap., originally uploaded by tempoandato.

This is the beginning of my four part series on naughty stocking stuffer ideas for your significant other. First up:

1. Very skimpy lingerie!

2. Erotic Dice

3. Flavored Condoms

4. Edible Body Paint

5. A happy little pink dildo

Check back next week for more naughty stocking stuffer suggestions!

Love Actually

Lots of big names in this quirky British romcom. If you like Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, and holy crap a bajillion others, then this movie is for you! It has about 8 different stories going on, following the romantic lives of all these couples right before Christmas. Very sweet movie and I highly recommend checking it out!

Menu

And here is a quick, simple menu from Epicurious as an inspiration. Get cookin'!