Do you remember walking up and down the aisle of desks at school and dropping your oh so carefully written valentine cards into each student’s bag? Okay, maybe I’m giving my age away there because my son’s school has done away with this little “tradition.” Not only have they forbidden sweet snacks at school parties, but, y’know, actually, they don’t even have those little “class parties” anymore. And this post is so not about that anyway. Where was I?

From “Be Mine” candy hearts to chocolate kisses, Valentine’s Day can be a surfeit of sugary indulgence or the ultimate chance to indulge your sweetheart. So what makes the list of All Things Valentine?

• Roses - the epitomy of romatic love, this is the “It” flower for Valentine’s Day. From deep passionate reds to blushing pinks to dazzling whites, so many shades are appropriate for this day. Of course, if you love roses anyway, then they could be yellow or orange and it wouldn’t matter.
• Champagne - chilled and served with strawberries. Toast your lover with sweet words. Hint: do some prep work and find a quote or passage you particularly like.
• Chocolate - ’nuff said. How can you possibly go wrong with chocolate? Okay, maybe if you’re allergic to it. Otherwise…
• Food - yes, you could take your Valentine out to dinner, or you could plan ahead for a romantic meal for two in private? How about a private chef at home? A picnic in the backyard?
• Love Letters - You don’t have to be Shakespeare, but you can borrow from him! Heck, a post-it note can be romantic if done right. Start at the front door, leave one on the steering wheel, the bathroom mirror, the latest book your sweetheart is reading or just little arrows pointing the way to your gift or surprise. The sweetest love note I ever got started “I can’t write like you, but I can love like you.”

And, finally, since we at My Wedding Hero like to consider ourselves “all things wedding”, here are a few ideas for combining weddings and Valentines:

• Mydearvalentine.com
• Webwedding.co.uk’s Wedding Theme
• Weddings at About.com’s Valentine’s theme

So, a Happy Valentine’s Day to you all. Remember, one of the keys to a long successful marriage is making sure your spouse remains your sweetheart!