valentines day is almost here!

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Last year I wrote about my first Valentine's Day with my husband and shared some romantic gift ideas. This year I want to update those suggestions and share some new ideas for creating a romantic evening eco-style!

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Start In The Kitchen
 
If you're celebrating with your special someone I'm a big proponent of cooking for him/her or even cooking a special meal together. Make a dish containing his/her favorite food and maybe try throwing in one or more of these aphrodisiac ingredients! Who knows maybe it will work?
 
If you plan to drink wine go for organic. Here are some choices that I like:

Bonterra Cabernet
Bonterra Merlot
Full Circle – Merlot
Georges Deboeuf – Beaujolais
Greenbridge – Syrah
Mark West – 2005 Pinot Noir
Bonterra Syrah – 1999
Our Daily Red - 8 – organic sulfite-free
Paraducci - Sustainable Red 2005 Mendocino County
Greenbridge - Zinfindal
Well Read Trader Joes
Vida Organica - Malbec

Set the mood with some handmade soy-based candles. Etsy has a huge selection!
 
Make A Card
 
One of the best gifts you can give is a handmade card  with a sweet message or get your deepest feelings out on there written by you not Hallmark – who doesn't love that? Use photos magazine clippings or the fronts of old cards I always save mine to make a unique card or collage.
 
You can cut out cards backings from old chipboard cereal boxes and other food packaging and glue pictures on them or draw on them if you're artsy.
 
If you have the time these ideas can also work for you mommies who want to help your little one make Valentine's Day cards for their classmates. This video has some good ideas for mommies.

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Organic Flowers
 
Local organic flowers are the healthiest choice for you and the environment. Find out where to get them here. You can also look at these sites:
 
Organicbouquet.com       
Californiaorganicflowers.com 
Diamondorganics.com   
 
If you're in New York check out Gardenia Organic Flower Shop. And if you're already planning next year's V-Day celebration try growing your own! Learn how here.
 
Sweet Treats
 
There are so many great vegan bakeries these days! Some of my favorite vegan chocolates are:

Vosges
Endangered Species Chocolate
Nicobella truffles
Missionary Chocolate
ChocAlive
Lagusta's Luscious
NibMor
Divine Treasures
Allison's Gourmet chocolates/fudge
Rescue Chocolates

If you're in LA Flore Vegan makes a good looking chocolate cake. M Café and Real Food Daily also have delicious treats!
 
Of course you can also make your own V-Day dessert! Try the Coffee Fudge Brownies from my book p. 181 or make the Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies p. 187 and cut them into heart shapes before baking.

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Sexy Nighties!
 
Lots of designers are working toward making fashion cruelty-free – and they haven't forgotten to include lingerie! Embodies makes lingerie using organic cotton. If you're looking for a sassier ensemble Purrfect Pineapples and Urban Fox are cruelty-free options.
 
Flying Solo
 
If you're single invite some single friends over for a potluck! tell them each to bring someone new along with their dish – who knows where the night may lead! Or you can decide to boycott V-Day and just have a good ol' party. Even better just curl up on the couch. I'm pretty sure my husband just dumped me for a work night – which is fine because we have Valentine's Day all the time! If you appreciate and love each other all the time and spend as much quality time together as you can Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a huge deal. But if you are a festive one go for it!
 
How do you plan to spend your Valentine's Day?