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Despite his recent Daddy drama, Justin Bieber is a respectful boyfriend.  During a recent interview on Power 105.1, the pop star explained the dinner he planned for girlfriend Selena Gomez in the middle of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“It was my idea,” Bieber said, according to the New York Post. “She was talking about wanting to see ‘Titanic’ again because she hadn’t seen it since she was a little girl.  We were fighting a little bit, so I just really wanted to take her somewhere special.  We had dinner in the middle of the Staples Center.”

Although the DJs poke fun at him, Bieber said. “You got to treat a woman right.  Girls like when you just do spontaneous things.”

The young star also defended his reasoning for not jumping on sexy stars like Kim Kardashian.

“Why would I let something so amazing slip away?” he said to the DJs.

What he lacks in years, Bieber has in swag.

Mitch and Amy Winehouse via wireimage.com

Mitch Winehouse, the late singer Amy Winehouse’s father, delivered a touching statement about the songstress during an interview with Piers Morgan.

The father expressed his daughter’s love for people and his love for her during the CNN show, Perez Hilton reports.

“She had so many qualities and so many frailties, but she was a wonderful girl and a wonderful friend and all of the nonsense that was written about her over the last five or six years has all gone now,” said Mr. Winehouse. “Everybody is full of love and admiration for her, as she was. She was full of love, even for people who didn’t deserve it. I just wish she was here so we could give her a cuddle.”

In the wake of his daughter’s death, Mr. Winehouse has channeled his grief into setting up a charity in his daughter’s name, called The Amy Winehouse Foundation.  The charity assists young people who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction and will launch on September 14.

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Harry Potter conjured up some romance aside from his movie love Ginny Weasley.

Daniel Radcliffe was spotted holding hands with an unnamed girl in New York City, according to people.com.

The star recently told Larry King that he is in a relationship and “very much in love,” but he left his love anonymous.

Whether you’re still searching for The One or you think you’ve found him or her, it’s probably time to read “The Rules of Love” by Richard Templar. Why? Because life is not a chick flick, and relationships can be difficult! Maybe his nagging mom doesn’t think you’re “good enough,” maybe his obsession with video games makes you want to throw his Wii out the window, or maybe your stressful work life has made your sex life fizzle. No matter your romance status, Templar’s book of 100 rules of love can help you strengthen all of your relationships (yes, there is hope for you and his mom) and could even help you find The One.

A few of Templar’s rules for finding love

• Be yourself.
• Certain people are off limits (you know who they are).
• You can’t change people.
• Don’t play games.
• You can’t make someone love you.
• Don’t tar new partners with old brushes.
• Relationships aren’t about sex.
• You’ll know them when you meet them.

A few of Templar’s rules for relationships

• Every problem is a shared problem.
• Put each other first.
• Be nice.
• Your partner is more important than your kids.
• Make time for romance.
• Treat your partner better than your best friend.
• Accept the differences; embrace what you have in common.
• Once an argument is over, let it lie.

Templar is the author of the bestselling Rules series, including “The Rules of Life,” “The Rules of Work” and “The Rules of Money.” To purchase or get more information about “The Rules of Love,” go here.

There’s no denying it: There are many women, and maybe even some men, who’d love to give Tiger Woods and Jesse James a piece of their minds. How could a family man like Tiger ruin his marriage? How could Jesse James cheat on Sandra Bullock with tattooed skanks? Both stars are blaming sex addiction for their infidelity. But is it that simple? Are they really sex addicts or are they chronic cheaters who are using it as an excuse? While it’s controversial in medical circles, some experts do believe that sex addiction is real. Although the American Psychiatric Association does not include sex addiction in its handbook, the Mayo Clinic asserts that 3 to 6 percent of American adults are addicted to sex, according to CNN.

Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of “Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love,” says sex addiction is a real disorder that is similar to alcohol or drug addiction. She explains that a love of sex crosses the line into an addiction when “the person repeatedly manages their stress, emotional disturbance, suffering, or other problems by turning to a sexual outlet to diminish their upset.” Specifically, she says that the six fundamental signs of sex addiction are the following:

1. Engaging in sexual behavior frequently, to a greater extent, or for longer than the person intended.
2. Having difficulty stopping or controlling the sexual behavior.
3. Spending a large amount of time thinking about, procuring, acting out, or recovering from the sexual behavior.
4. Sexual addiction interferes with current relationships, work and/or financial responsibilities.
5. A sex addict needs to do more of the sexual behaviors over time to gain satisfaction.
6. If not engaging in the sexual behavior, the addict feels anxious, distressed, depressed or angry.

Infidelity expert Ruth Houston, author of “Is He Cheating on You? 829 Telltale Signs," agrees with Kirschner. “Sex addiction is real,” she says, “but it’s not as common as cheating men would like you to think it is. After the fact, many cheating men use it as an excuse for their infidelity or as a way to justify their behavior.”

So are Tiger Woods and Jesse James really sex addicts? Houston has her own theories.

“I believe that Tiger Woods is a sex addict and that Jesse James is not,” Houston says. “The women Tiger got involved with were easily within his reach; he didn’t go out searching for them. They were strippers, night club hostesses, all people he came into contact with while out eating or while out on the town. Jesse went out searching for a specific type of woman; he knew what he was doing, and it was contrived on his part.”

Houston further explains that “Sex addiction means taking risks that a ‘normal’ person wouldn’t take. Look at all the risks Tiger took–he didn’t even bother to use protection, and he had all these incriminating text messages and voice mails. He didn’t take the normal precautions cheating men would take. He was going hog wild! He’s an intelligent man who should know better, but his sex addiction was overcoming his common sense. The sheer number of women he slept with is outrageous. He was most likely engaged in this type of behavior before his marriage, and he never stopped.”

So is it possible to forgive a sex addict for their destructive behavior?

“It’s possible to forgive only if the addict gets help,” Houston says. “It’s a good idea to try to make the relationship work. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when dealing with infidelity. Every woman needs to think for herself.”

Girlfriends and wives of cheaters often have “flashbacks,” which is the most difficult part of forgiving a cheater, says Houston. For example, when a cheater is on his cell phone, his wife wonders who he’s speaking to; when he’s away, she wonders what he’s doing. And it’s not so easy to forgive when mistresses keep popping up on magazine covers and TV shows spilling the details of perverted texts sent by the cheater.

As for Jesse and Tiger, they have both been kicked to the curb, as both of their marriages are ending in divorce. Houston blames the media in part for the couples’ inability to reconcile.

“Because of the media, their marriage problems were in their faces. It’s hard to put issues behind you when the media won’t let it happen,” she says. “If their marriage issues had not been public, these two couples may have been able to overcome this.”

If you feel as if the intimacy in your relationship needs a boost, this may be a solution for you. Author Lisa Pankau wrote Beyond Seduction, Loving Without Limits. Pankau says there are five types of intimacy that can be developed to create a stronger bond between couples that can last a lifetime.

According to Pankau, vulnerability is the best way to create intimacy.

"Vulnerability and intimacy are two words that create stress for most people, especially men," said Pankau. "But true love comes out of intimacy and to experience intimacy on deeper and more profound levels, one must experience vulnerability."

So what exactly are the five types of intimacy? Keep reading.

Intellectual intimacy is the process of having conversations with your partner. It sounds simple enough, but you should share your life aspirations and make plans to help each other attain those goals and dreams even if they may seem unrealistic. Another option is to have a meal together without the television or anything that may cause a distraction. Use that time to hear what is going on in your partner’s life and then share the same with him/her.

Social Intimacy is the process of sharing and enjoying what happens when you are together in public. Have a date night one night per week. Try an activity that you wouldn’t normally do, but your partner enjoys. Then ask him/her to do the same. Don’t forget that courtship never ends!

Spiritual Intimacy is the mutual understanding and respect for each others’ religious beliefs. Share your insights and inspirations for your personal and spiritual growth. Discuss how you feel about religion or spirituality.

Emotional Intimacy occurs when you can share something that makes you feel insecure or vulnerable and your partner responds with respect and kindness. Trust and confidence will cause your relationship to grow to deeper levels of love. Exchange your deepest secrets and listen to each other with an open and loving heart. Remember not to judge.

Physical Intimacy is the act of touching each other in both a non-sexual and a sexual way. Ask your partner what they would like to try and you answer the same question, and then do it. Light some candles and invite your partner to share a romantic bubble bath with you. Sip on some champagne and engage in a nice conversation in the tub.

Try these five steps and perhaps your relationship will get its spark back.

For more information and examples of each level of intimacy check out http://www.beyondseductionlovingwithoutlimits.com/

Hearts are everywhere on Valentine’s Day. You can see them up and down the streets and in countless store displays. But why is there this constant homage to an organ that has very little to do with love? Maybe it’s that speeding heart people get when they see someone they love. But Dr. Richard Siegel of Tufts Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Division, shows that this feeling doesn’t relate to the heart, but to the brain.

According to Siegel, there are a number of hormones and neurotransmitters that are secreted from the hypothalamus in the brain, and a large number of those hormones are associated with love. A rush of dopamine and phenyl ethylamine (PEA) explains that "love at first sight" feeling. Dopamine also causes pleasure when there’s physical contact. And that racing heart feeling is caused by a release of norepinephrine.

The brain also has a way of regulating these hormones when men and women become couples.

"Testosterone will go down in men, and go up in women when they are in love," said Siegel. "It kind of evens things out. Oxytocin is known as the ‘cuddling hormone’ and that is also known for calming people down."

All scientific explanations aside, love is that feeling that no one can describe with certainty. On Valentine’s Day, no one will be able to think scientifically with all the roses, heart-shaped chocolate boxes and love songs. So enjoy the holiday that takes all the credit from your brain, and give it to your heart.

Ahhhh I’m seeing red. And roses. And lots of hearts.

Hallmark is at it’s happiest and the red ink on everyone’s printer is being drained.

So, I think there should be some tips for the broke-yet-happy couples in the world as well as the single folks out there who might need some helpful hints on how to enjoy a holiday that is basically designed solely for the happy couples of the world.

Here goes.

Broke yet happy couples

Make homemade chocolates. Easy enough. Sure, you have to buy the funny little plastic molds and the bags of chocolates. But they’re kind of fun to make. Who doesn’t like melting chocolates and actually having a reason to do it? You can get fancy and get different colored chocolates. Make all kinds of sappy, sentimental, sweet-toothed treats.

Go-to option #2: flowers. So freakin’ simple, yet so damn effective.

OK so I’m going to go a little out-of-the box on this one. I’m just going to put it out there. Feel free to throw it back if you aren’t feeling it. But listen. If you’re really broke and you can’t afford the candy or the flowers or the nice dinner out, then just skip all that and go for dessert. And by dessert I mean a can of whipped cream. I’m not going to tell you what to do with the whipped cream. I have faith that you will figure it out all on your own.

If you aren’t into that sort of thing, I kind of like the idea of funny gifts for this holiday. For me, it just seems hard to take the holiday so seriously when pictures of fat, semi-naked cupids are staring at me. And those stupid message hearts. Sugary goodness, yes. Easy to take seriously, no. Besides, real gifts are for birthdays, anniversaries, and that jolly holiday season that I love so much and seriously miss already. But then I think about spring coming and I’m happy again. Unlike all those unsmiling Bostonians out there…

OK, so this one came to me after a recent alumni weekend in which my girls and I stayed in a hotel for free because one of my roomie’s father’s gets free hotel rooms as part of his work benefits. Does someone you love get free hotel rooms? If yes, give them a call. A free hotel room is a free hotel room. And Valentine’s Day is all about being with each other, not how much money you spend while you’re together. Feel free to use that line when your girl/guy yells at you for being cheap.

All my single ladies (and men)

How to deal? Few methods.

There’s the buddy system. As in grab your closest single buddy and have a fun day together. There’s the strength in numbers plan if you have a solid group of single friends that you can get together with.

But, honestly, don’t feel like you even have to acknowledge the holiday. Treat it like another Arbor Day: a holiday that generally goes unnoticed until a week later when you look at the calendar.

This year the big day falls on a Sunday. You know what Sunday is in grad school language? Homework day! Yay! Blech. Gag me. No, but seriously. It’s good that it’s on a Sunday. Do your homework that’s due the next day that you’ve been putting off all week (crap, there goes the New Year’s resolution), hit the gym, do some grocery shopping. It’s a Sunday. Treat it as such.

Don’t want to ignore Big Red? Then don’t. Power to ya. Nothing wrong with finding yourself a date for the day or night. This is your chance to score a free meal, free candy, maybe even free flowers, all because it’s a holiday that you personally have nothing to do with.

So yeah, for those of you actually celebrating the holiday, Valentine’s Day definitely doesn’t have to be a break-the-bank kind of day. A good rule of thumb to follow: the cornier something is, the more sentimental it might turn out to be, and the cheaper it probably is.

And in case anyone is wondering, I enjoy chocolate with caramel and yellow tulips.

It’s here

The day that some swoon over and others loathe. Whether you’re in a relationship or flying solo, the day is as full of as many expectations and dilemmas as the local pharmacy is with aisles and aisles of cheap chocolates and cutesy heart-shaped trinkets. Here’s Blast’s take on how to handle some not-so-sweet Valentine’s Day situations.

If you or your significant other (S.O.) is sick…and not with the love bug

Take this opportunity to show how much you care. Snuggle up on separate chairs and enjoy a night in for a change. Make chicken soup and watch a movie. Extra points for giving a back rub! Are you the one that’s sick? Send this article to your S.O. and cross your finger that he or she takes the hint. Oh, and no sex tonight. Instead, choose a night you’ll both be free when that miserable cold or flu is likely to be gone. Plan a romantic dinner in and some extra time between the sheets — it’ll give you both something to look forward to.

If you’re so broke that the Dollar Store is your new Macy’s

In this economy, you’re not alone. The easiest solution is to get crafty: Make your sweetie a card and make his or her favorite dinner. Then uncork your favorite $6 bottle of vino and give your SO a full body massage. Use oil. and light candles to really get in the mood. Spending ridiculous amounts of money on awesome gifts like gorgeous jewelry or his favorite sold-out video game is lame, right? Right?!

If you and your S.O. just started dating, so this holiday could make it or break it

No pressure! This is a tricky holiday for new romances; if you overdo it, you look like a desperate psycho, but if you blow it off, your S.O. might question how seriously you are taking the relationship. Keep it sweet and simple. Guys, take her out to eat at her favorite place and don’t forget the flowers. Channel your feminine side and be romantic! Girls, bake him his favorite cookies or flavor of cupcakes. Don’t, we repeat don’t, get him anything cutesy, like a scrapbook of the three amazing weeks you’ve spent together unless you want week four to be the last.

If you promised another couple that you’d have a romantic double-date, but the thought of watching them feed each other and play footsie makes you and your S.O. want to hurl

The solution to getting some precious alone time on V-Day in this situation is simple: lie. Feign illness. Just mention the Swine Flu and they’ll practically beg you to ditch the plans! Plan on a date in the future so they don’t suspect a thing.

If you and your S.O. are in a fight

Big problem, or perfect timing? Two words: MAKE-UP SEX. Screw all the lovey-dovey crap and get down to the dirty business. Use chocolate, caramel and whipped cream in the bedroom. Do things that those so-sickeningly-cute-they-never-fight couples would blush about. By the end of the night, you two won’t even remember what you were fighting about.

If Cupid’s arrow completely missed you this year

If you’re brave enough to spend V-Day alone, the solution for lonely guys is pretty easy: porn, pizza and beer. Ladies, spend the day celebrating you — the hot, sexy, single you. Go shopping, go to the spa, or arrange a girls’ night with some other single gal pals. Make Cosmos and watch your favorite “breakup” episodes of Sex and the City, or a bunch of horror flicks – especially ones in which hard-bodied lovers die slow, horrible deaths.

See? Valentines Day can be a love-fest for everyone, no matter what your relationship status on Facebook says! Just get creative and remember: there’s always next year.

Fire, air, water, earth … Captain Planet? Nope, these four basic elements are what guide your relationships, according to Dr. Craig Martin, spiritual counselor, relationship expert, and author of the book “Elemental Love Styles.”

"Grouping personalities into four types of allows those who study human behavior to better understand how people operate in the world and in relationships with one another,” says Martin.

To help you discover your "love styles," the upcoming book includes a quiz that will tell you which element — or elements — your personality most closely resembles. Once you know your element, Martin shares insights into your personality that are meant to help you succeed in your relationships.

So, is all this bullshit, scientific fact or something in-between? I took the quiz to figure it out.

There are 44 easy-to-answer questions that are a little too reminiscent of a Facebook quiz. Examples:

My motto would be:

1. No guts, no glory
2. It’s all good
3. Music calms the savage beast
4. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

If I were a game, I would be:

1. Charades
2. Trivial Pursuit
3. Clue
4. Monopoly

Yes, they’re a little annoying (personally, I like to think of myself as a Twister), but if you get through them, you might be surprised at what you learn.

My score indicated that I am an Air Style, which is categorized as "intellectual." (fire style is creative, water style is emotional and earth style is practical). As far as I can tell, the analysis is pretty much dead-on, except for a few minor bits and pieces.

True to my personality, the book says that I am a thinker and communicator, that "laughter is the soundtrack to (my) life" and that I could have a career as a journalist (let’s hope so). It also claims I’m a sucker for dirty talk, but I’ll decline to confirm or deny that one thank-you-very-much.

All in all, an interesting analysis, though its assertion that I share many similarities with Luke Skywalker left me more than a little confused.

If you’re just dying to figure out which element matches you the best (and I know you are), you’ll have to buy the book and take the quiz yourself. You might just be lucky enough to find that you’re a Fire and that you share many similarities with The Fonz. Yup, the guy from “Happy Days.”

Aside from your personal elemental love style, the books uses touchy-feely words and the usual Dr. Phil type analogies in chapters such as "Intimacy and the Road Trip of Love" to set your relationship on the right track.

Kinda lame, kinda fun, like most relationship books out there. Hey, it’ll make a great Valentine’s Day gift for your single friends — it hits shelves February 2.

It is no surprise to anyone at this point that gay rights are a hot topic of discussion.

With people either thinking the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community deserves the same rights every other straight citizen has, or deserves to go to hell for even bringing up the issue, the debate continues with no clear resolutions in sight.

California’s Proposition 8, passed in November, changed the state constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples, eliminating same-sex couples’ right to marry and hurting the morale of gay rights supporters. At the same time, gay marriage acknowledged in seven states, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and District of Columbia, has‚ disappointed‚ oppositionists.

One impromptu activist has decided to talk about the human aspect and give these feelings a face.

Faces of Us is a photo campaign created by Brendan Davis with the purpose of bringing the fight for LGBT rights to the national spotlight.

The campaign is small but growing. It shows the ‚ members of the LGBT community and their friends and political allies as people. People from all over the United States send in photos of themselves with positive messages supporting gay rights, expressing a general message that love has no boundaries.

“The fight will not be won unless every legislator in the United States sees that these are their constituents and that the LGBT community deserves full equal rights under the law,” Davis said. “The American queer community will not be recognized as first class citizens until every single person in the United States realizes that these people are their neighbors or their friends, or even part of their family.”

“Somebody who is a member of the LGBT community, or a human being for that matter, should not have to look beyond the place that they consider home in order to find equal rights.”

Davis was inspired to create this online movement after Prop 8 was passed in California. He explains that frustration came after he says the ballot question was only addressing gay marriage in California when there are hundreds of gays in the entire nation. The issue should be addressed at a national level and not on a state-by-state basis.

“The entire nation saw what the LGBT was capable of, especially when rights are taken away,” Davis said. “My frustration came from the fact that we were only talking about California and that we were only talking about marriage.”

Davis said marriage was an important issue in the gay community but that there were other issues like equality in the work place and hate crime legislation to address too. “There are members of the community in every single state and every single person deserves equal rights,” Davis said.

Although the issues have always been present, the release of more films like Milk, which won big at this year’s Oscars, increases conversations about equality amongst the general public.

Currently more than 30 states are represented with photographs and through the use of Twitter and local media coverage the campaign is extending. Davis hopes for every state to be included through photos of citizens and for the photos to reach legislators so that they, too, can see the people gay rights restrictions affect.

“The project is important because it shows that there are LGBT people and allies in every state and that the community is so diverse. We come in every variety. The reaction to the project was, of course, mixed. However, the positive definitely outweighs the negative,” said Davis. “I made the choice to leave the comments unmediated so we were experiencing anonymous negativity. I thought of turning off comments altogether, then thought better of it.”

Davis also wants to set up a traveling tour around the country with his campaign, showing people what he has done and how they can contribute.

“Harvey Milk said that, “Ëœunless you have dialogue, unless you open the walls of dialogue, you can never reach to change people’s opinions.”

Valentine’s Day is an age-old tradition; a day set aside for exchanging love with your partner via gifts or cards. ‚ Some may argue it’s another heterosexual “Hallmark” invention but according to a current poll on lesbian dating and community site PinkSofa.com, 93 percent of lesbians embrace it.

So how do most lesbians like to celebrate Valentine’s Day and what should you bestow upon your sweetheart to keep those flames burning? According to a third of the 1,700 lesbian respondents, the number one most wanted gift was a romantic weekend getaway.

If that’s out of the budget you could always consider the next two most popular wishes. Simply some loving kisses or, for something more rigorous, a full body massage with essential oils. ‚ For those more inclined in the kitchen she’d probably be content with a home-cooked candlelight dinner, an option more favored than taking her out for a meal.

If none of the above appeal your lover, you are starting to get into dangerous waters.‚  The rest of the preferences were chosen by 5 percent or less, although it seems hard to argue with their choice, ‚ who said they would love to receive a poem written just for them.

Surprisingly a dozen red roses, a champagne bubble bath or a box of chocolates are just not going to cut it. Forget the practical approach such as a hardware store gift certificate too, that will get you nowhere. And‚ don’t even surprise her with a ring, only 2 percent of women chose that option.

So, all things considered, it seems you need to save your pennies, pack the lip balm and candles, and get your maps out to start planning that weekend trip. If you combine the top four most popular Valentine desires you will be golden.

(ARA) “" You finally met the person of your dreams. There’s just one small problem — you live hundreds of miles apart and neither of you is able or willing to move. You face the challenge of the “long distance relationship” — a lifestyle choice for about 25 million people around the world.

Long distance relationships (LDRs) are on the rise and a diverse range of people are involved. About 15 million people in the United States consider themselves to be in some form of LDR, according to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships. Of those, 3.6 million are married people who live apart for reasons other than marital discord, and about 4 million are college students in some form of premarital LDR, studies show.

“Greater economic migration, online dating, the need to travel for work and increased military deployment have all contributed to the increase in the number of LDRs in our culture,” says Michelle Callahan, celebrity relationship expert, developmental psychologist and co-host of the hit reality-show competition “Queen Bees” on The N. “Commuter marriages and the concept of “Ëœliving apart, together’ are gaining social acceptance. Society has accepted long distance relationships as viable options.”

Contrary to what was once popular belief, studies have shown that long distance relationships can, and often do, succeed — at least as well as relationships in which the couples live together or live close to each other. Nor are couples in LDRs any more likely to cheat on each other than are “proximal” couples, although the LDR mates do tend to worry more about the risk of an affair, studies show.

So how do you make your long distance relationship work? Callahan offers 10 simple tips to manage long distance relationships:

1. Understand your relationship.

Don’t make assumptions about the exclusivity of your relationship. Get to know each other well and when the time is right, discuss where things are going. Try to be understanding of your partner’s needs and whether a long distance relationship is going to work for each of you.

2. Communicate regularly

Whether by phone, e-mail, webcam, etc., share the mundane and routine as well as the special and significant.

3. Use technology.

Video chat programs such as ooVoo have become best friends to those in LDRs since you can connect to anyone in the world for free. Connecting face-to-face is significantly more intimate than having a phone conversation. You can see your loved one, read his or her body language and pick up on subtle messages that can be lost over the phone or misinterpreted completely via e-mail or instant messaging. In addition to enabling you to chat live with your sweetheart over the Internet, ooVoo also allows you to record one-minute video messages to send to your loved one. Visit www.ooVoo.com to learn more.

4. Do things together despite the distance.

Watch a TV show or movie simultaneously and video chat about it after or during. Read a book at the same time. Exchange recipes and prepare meals at the same time while on the phone or on ooVoo. Parents can use video chat to read to their children.

5. Send care packages every once in awhile.

Pack it with unexpected surprises that remind them of you, like books, music, puzzles, candies, flowers, gift cards, a movie ticket or a personalized poem. The more personalized you make the gifts, the more impact they will have.

6. Remind yourself of the advantages of being apart.

That’s including more time with friends and family, no arguments over bathroom time or conflicting habits, the ability to maintain your individuality, possible financial benefits and the pleasure of seeing your loved one again after a long absence.

7. Don’t be afraid to disagree.

Conflict is a normal part of any relationship and can be healthy if managed properly. When it’s time to confront your partner, do so over video chat rather than by phone or e-mail. Written communication can be misconstrued and never taken back, and verbal conversations alone lack the visual cues needed in emotional situations.

8. Visit as often as budgets and schedules allow.

But avoid placing too much pressure on physical meetings. If a visit does not go well, it doesn’t mean the end of the relationship. Even close proximity relationships go through peaks and valleys.

9. Be realistic.

Jealousy, over-control and drama are poison to a relationship. Be realistic — just because you can’t be together all the time doesn’t mean either of you should live in social isolation. Accept that your partner needs an active social life, just as you do.

10. Know when to call it a day.

We’ve all stayed in relationships after they have ceased to be healthy, and LDRs are especially susceptible to the problem since warning signs can be missed or confrontation avoided.

“Like traditional, close-proximity relationships, long distance relationships require hard work and communication” Callahan says. “But with modern technology making it easier than ever to stay in touch with loved ones, there’s no reason why you and your significant other can’t enjoy a very happy life together … apart.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Life has ups and downs, but being able to stay happy can help us live through anything. As human beings we need interaction, care, love. In this special day, no matter what your situation is, we wish you happiness. From the archives of this editor, here is something that maybe you can relate to. Hopefully it can remind you that no matter what, all you need is love, love, love.

“Last year around this time I was criticizing and making fun of the Hallmark abused holiday of Valentine’s Day. The week before the day, to which some people refer to as “black (insert day of the week in which the holiday falls here),” I was not expecting anything big except for the typical card from my mom. I had no plans, no date, no nothing. When I got home after work I was surprised with a beautiful bouquet of tulips- and a note from a high school friend with whom I hadn’t spoken since graduation.

These were my first ever delivered flowers, and they were delivered on Valentine’s day. I was so happy, and so sad at the same time. I had been talking horrors about how people stress to show their love for others when they could just do it everyday without spending money on gifts, like flowers. Needless to say I fell in love with the holiday and with the true meaning behind it. Even if you can show someone you love them every other day, Valentine’s Day is that special time when a rose, a smile, a kiss, have a meaningful value because someone thought about you much more.

As Valentine’s nears this 2006 I am caught in the middle of wanting somebody to remember me, and staying away from being materialistic. Expecting presents was what I had criticized in the first place. Now, however, I realize that my day will be sad even if I end up with a rose, a smile, or a kiss. Because the person I think of does not think of me in return. I came to realize that all the times I criticized lover’s day I had been afraid of facing the truth, I was alone and I didn’t like it. Therefore, I decided to shun upon the day of love and friendship to repress my true feelings.

I don’t hate this holiday, I just hate the fact that the person I want to spend it with is already in a relationship. I hate the fact that I didn’t have the guts to say, “hey I like you” before; and I hate the fact that I can’t do anything about it now. This is what I believe is the reason behind the critiques of major holidays. Some people say it is a marketing campaign, but in reality they may not have the need to be marketed to and feel alienated. Well, I must face the facts.

Even if my platonic love is taken, I have friends and family who care for me. Even if I will be working, I can still relax by watching a romantic comedy that will give me hopes. Even if I dislike factors in my life, I must accept them and deal with them rather than masquerading them in vane.

To any fellow Valentine’s Day haters who are reading this, take a second to think about why you “hate” the celebration. Is it because you’ve been hurt? Maybe because you haven’t found love? Maybe you’ve never been loved? There’s hope, I’m an optimist. This Tuesday, February 14, 2006, leave your place happy and prepared to say, “hey I like you;” to life, to friends, to crushes, or to yourself.

In such a jolly holiday we should all be able to enjoy no matter what. In the meantime, I will buy a red shirt, a bag of lollipops, and smile during Valentine’s Day knowing that, in the words of the accurate and talented James Blunt, “I will never be with you.”

(ARA) — In the name of love, romantics and loved ones alike will partake in the annual tradition of exchanging flowers, candy and gifts, come Feb. 14. While the majority of Valentine’s Day romantics will offer loved ones the usual material wares, most will overlook a few simple things that will really impress their valentine — a small list of grocery store items, a little finesse and home-made treats.

Developed for this Valentine’s Day season, King’s Hawaiian –the nation’s leading and original producer of Hawaiian Sweet bread — has compiled a series of tips and recipes to complement romantic homemade dinners with some island-style elegance.

1. Create a unique dining experience — Try to surprise that special someone by situating the dinner table in a unique area of your home. Place your table in front of the fireplace or try starting dinner a little earlier and find a window-view location where you both can enjoy the sunset. This can create restaurant-style ambiance within the comforts of your home.
2. Set the mood — It’s all about creating the perfect ambiance, so dim the lights and light some candles. The soothing glow of a candle can easily warm the heart.
3. Decorate with emotion in mind — When decorating the dinning area make sure to use the right colors. Red and pink are the ideal option, as they capture and stimulate emotion. Also, scatter flower petals over the table to create that perfect romantic touch. To create island-style elegance, use tropical flowers instead of roses, such as hibiscus and anthuriums (if well chosen, both will also capture the red and pink color profile).
4. Present a gift from the heart — Heartfelt gifts create lasting memories. Create a photo album of your fondest destination memories shared with your valentine and present it during dinner. Include photos from your favorite vacation spot, or somewhere you hope to travel to together. Your special someone is sure to be impressed by the effort of a gift that expresses sentiment and emotion.
5. End the perfect evening with a little chocolate — Nothing is more enchanting than ending the night on a sweet note. Pair your favorite fruit with chocolate fondue, or prepare a unique dessert dish and garnish it with an edible flower — a touch that is sure to make the night unforgettable.

If you are in need of a delicious recipe, try one of these easy-to-prepare delights from King’s Hawaiian:

King’s Hawaiian Chocolate Paradise Panini

Ingredients:

13-ounce jar of hazelnut chocolate spread
1 jar chunky peanut butter
Mini-marshmallows
1 16-ounce round loaf, King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread

Preheat your panini sandwich press. Cut 1/2-inch thick vertical slices into the King’s Hawaiian round loaf. Evenly layer peanut butter on one slice and the chocolate hazelnut spread on the other. Distribute an even layer of marshmallows and place the halves together. Place sandwich into the press and, depending on the heat, remove after two to four minutes. Cut into halves or thirds. — Serve immediately. Makes 8-10 dessert sandwiches.

King’s Hawaiian Chocolate Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

6 cups (about half of 16-ounce. loaf) King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread, lightly packed 1/2-inch cubes
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 large eggs
1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teasoon. salt

Heat half-and-half in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around edge. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate, mix until melted. Cool slightly. Whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt. Fold 1 cup cooled chocolate into egg mixture. Stir in remaining chocolate until blended. Pour chocolate mixture over bread cubes and mix until bread is well coated. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Lightly apply non-stick spray to six 6-ounce custard cups. Mound bread equally into each cup. Place cups on baking sheet. Bake in preheated 325 degree F oven 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out nearly clean. Best served warm with chocolate or vanilla sauce. (A greased 8 by 8 by 2-inch pan may be substituted.) Bake 40 to 45 minutes in preheated 325 degree oven. Makes 6 servings.

Royal Hawaiian Tiramisu

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cold espresso or strong coffee
2/4 cup coffee liqueur
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 packages (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups half-and-half
3 tablesopon. amaretto liqueur
4 ounces semisweet chocolate bar, finely chopped
1 16-ounce loaf of King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread

Topping:

1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Blend espresso with coffee liqueur. Set aside. Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth. On low speed, slowly add pudding mix, half-and-half and amaretto. Beat one minute until blended. Set aside. Trim off 1 inch of bread dome to make level. Cutting horizontally, slice remaining loaf into three equal layers. To assemble cake, place the top slice into the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan. Drizzle 1/3 of espresso mixture evenly over first layer. Top with 1/3 of pudding mixture and then 1/4 of chocolate. Repeat layering with remaining 2 bread slices. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Topping:
Remove rim from pan. Whip cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Spread over top and sides. Garnish top with almonds and remaining chocolate.

Makes 12 servings.

Courtesy of ARAcontent