10 Tips to surprise her this Valentine's Day

Some are cliche ideas, some innovative. But your beloved would definitely be impressed if you surprise her using any of these tips:

1. Send her a bouquet at her office or at midnight. Flowers always work!
2. Facebook status update - Write something to show how much you love her. Keep the status intact at least for the entire day ;)
3. YouTube - Upload a video declaring your undying love for her.
4. Cook for her... and cook good.
5. Recreate your first proposal / date scene. If it hasn't happened yet -ask her out now!
6. The evergreen hand written love letter never fails.
7. Send her romantic text messages at random intervals... but not every 5 mins ;)
8. If you stay together, nothing's better than a candlelit room... of course, I mean aromatic ones!
9. Make one of her wishes come true.
10. Even if you really think so, do not tell her how you hate Valentine's Day if she really likes the day.

College students and Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is more like a Valentine's Week now. With all the 'days' - rose day, chocolate day, teddy day, kiss day and what not... colleges are wearing the colour of romance now.

All that the girls are talking about is guys. All that they are wondering is whether someone would ask them out this Valentine's. And yes, they are all expecting lots of gifts and roses too.

No wonder gift shops are abuzz with students (mostly guys) and ATMs are seeing a rise in footfalls!  Now no guy wants to hear a NO just because he appears to be kanjoos, right?

Check out this interesting article  written by a student of Mumbai's HR College and know how:

• A guy's fate can be figured out 
• Roses become the most expensive gift
• The effect of anti-Valentine political groups

Are red roses over-rated?

There's something about the colour red in February. Especially red roses. Some might say red roses during Valentine's are over-rated. Well, who cares! There's definitely some magic they create. Present a lovely red roses bouquet (or even a single red rose for that matter) to your sweetheart and see the glow on her face... nothing can beat it!

Of course, one thing can - presenting red roses on any random day, when there's no special occasion. But tell me, does this really happen?

So Mrinal surprised me with this beautiful bouquet last Valentine's. It was all the more special since, unlike me, Mrinal doesn't believe in bouquets! The only time when he brought me some flowers before last Valentine's was on our first wedding anniversary... obviously, it was a great surprise.

So whatever people talk about 'marketing gimmicks', doesn't 14th February (that doesn't actually mark your birthday / anniversary) make one more day of your year truly special?

And if you don't want to fall prey to the so-called advertising tricks and get her roses on this day (for whatever reasons), do surprise her a week in advance. Now that she will expect a bigger and better bouquet on the V-Day is another thing ;)

Valentine’s Day offers in Mumbai hotels / restaurants

So Valentine’s Day is round the corner and you must be wondering what to do this year to make it special for your special someone.

Well, hotels and restaurants across Mumbai are all set to spread the V-Day cheer. Now the trick is to compare all the offers and pick the best one ASAP. Now you don’t want to like some deal only to find that bookings are full, right?

So here’s a compilation of the Valentine’s Day specials by various hotels / restaurants across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai:

Vivanta by Taj - President

90 Cuffe Parade, Mumbai - 400 005. Reservations: +91 22 66650808
Rs 12500 plus taxes for double occupancy for a night’s stay. The package includes buffet breakfast, meal credit of 1500, 15% discount on spa, 2 complimentary cocktails / mocktails at Wink per couple.
Duration: 10th February, 2011 - 14th February, 2011
Find more details on the official website of Vivanta by Taj - President

The Westin Mumbai Garden City

International Business Park, Oberoi Garden City, Goregaon East, Mumbai – 400 063. Reservations: +91 22 67361050

Splash (bar and restaurant by the pool) – Enjoy an exclusive Valentine’s Day candlelight dinner with a glass of sparkling wine.
Prego (trattoria style Italian restaurant) - Special romantic Italian menu.
Kangan (contemporary Indian restaurant) - Breathtaking views will enhance your candlelight dinner.
Rs 3999 plus taxes for set menu dinner at any of the above for a couple. A surprise gift to make the Valentine’s Day more memorable.
Timing from 7 pm – midnight on 14th February 2011
Find more details on the official website of The Westin Mumbai Garden City

Hotel Sahara Star
Opposite Domestic Airport, Mumbai - 400 099. Reservations: +91 22 39895000

Valentine Premium offer on room rates includes flowers and chocolate in room, 20% discount on dining and 20% discount on spa / salon package worth Rs 1500.
Valentine Sahara offer in double room (rates ranging from Rs 18000 to 40000) includes unlimited dining, spa and Salon facilities.
Find more details on the official website of Sahara Star

Noida's Ishan Institute's (IIMT) unique Valentine's Day

I was surprised to read this unique Valentine's Day celebration reported in the TOI today. As per the news, Noida's Ishan Institute of Management and Technology (IIMT) had a bhai-behen ka pyaar kinda Valentine's Day celebration!

During the seven-hour long event, IIMT's girl students cooked food for boys while the boys (and a few girls) participated in a treasure hunt game. But why the brother-sister theme? Well, IIMT did not want the students to get carried away on Valentine's Day. Now we all know that V-Day is not just about romancing your beloved but I wonder how the love birds at IIMT dealt with it!

Why celebrate Valentine's Day?

It's my second Valentine's Day after my marriage! And I'm very excited about it.

There has always been a debate on Valentine's Day being a marketing gimmick and why the hell one should dedicate just one day to love. They say that it is a mega sales opportunity created by companies selling greeting cards, chocolates, flowers, stuff toys and even electronic products. May be it's true, but then don't you feel that the red hearts and flowers all across the city during Valentine's week create some magic! C'mon, don't tell me you don't adore it all. And you can always stay away from buying expensive gifts, if you do not wish to fall prey to marketing gimmicks.

Anyways, I have always been of the opinion that dedicating at least one day to a particular thing really makes it very special. Then it's up to you to celebrate for a couple of days, a week or a month for that matter. Don't we dedicate one day of the year to a birthday or an anniversary! Same applies to V day.

Well, me and my husband started the celebrations from 1st February and decided to spread the cheer for 14 days. The way we had an 11-day anniversary celebration! And trust me, we aren't dedicating all the 14 days to marketing companies to earn profit from us.

So forget debating why we should or should not celebrate Valentine's Day. Go ahead, spread love and make someone feel special.

Wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!!!