Valentine's Day

Held on February 14 as a day for lovers or secret admirers to speak their love, it was named for an early Christian martyr called Valentine who had no known links with romance.

It's all very strange but so is:

• One billion cards exchanged annually
• 110 million (mainly red) roses given
• Romeo and Juliet's city of Verona receives about a thousand letters every Valentine's Day - for Juliet!

Learn more about this special day.

Anniversary Flowers

You probably know what gifts to give for each anniversary. If not see Wikipedia.

But did you know which flowers are appropriate?

This list also from Wikipedia, should help with your choices. So where do red roses fit in? Maybe, for all those other years!

 Here is one way to really share the love, using one of romance's greatest symbols: CHOCOLATE!

Queensland's Ripple Massage has brought a new twist to giving your loved one chocolates for Valentine�s Day.

This mobile day spa has introduced the decadent chocolate massage, bringing lashings of chocolate to sweethearts while leaving the calories at the door.

The massage uses warmed chocolate oil from head to toe to melt away stress and relax muscles, providing the ultimate in decadence without the guilty afterthought.

As Ripple comes to you, clients can then snuggle up afterwards without having to travel anywhere.

Ripple's Managing Director, Alison Shaw, travels the world to bring back rare styles of massage and beauty techniques that are not found anywhere else in Australia. Ms Shaw said she was inspired to create the chocolate massage after discovering the technique in a small day spa in Barcelona, Spain.

"Although I couldn't speak Spanish, and the therapists could not speak English, I recognised one of the words on their menu that is universally recognized by all women - chocolate!" said Ms Shaw.

"It was such a divine experience that I decided to adapt the technique used that day in Barcelona to provide our clients in Australia with a truly decadent massage experience, infused with the rich sense of chocolate," she continued.

The two-hour Chocolate package for $195 includes:

-  Full body aromatherapy massage with warmed chocolate 
-  Foot reflexology massage 
-  Peppermint and lime scented foot soak and foot scrub
-  Organic green clay and cucumber cleansing face mask, hot steamed towels,    nourishing moisturiser
-  Chocolate Lotion and gift of chocolates
-  Full body exfoliation to polish your skin with walnut, tangerine and lime scrub

Ripple provides a unique mobile day spa service to women, men and couples throughout the Gold Coast, Mt Tamborine, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Geelong, Great Ocean Rds, Dandenongs and Mornington regions.

Professional therapists are on hand to visit your home or hotel room and tailor your individual experience - allowing you to relax and unwind in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

AH, Yes, Chocolate!

For some wonderful chocolate recipes visit Victoria Hansen's website, currently loaded with decadent ideas for using chocolate. Victoria is the author of the wonderfully helpful First Principles a basic cookbook that no kitchen should be without. Try the Chocolate Raisin cake.