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This list has some fabulous ideas for gifts between friends, family, and lovers.
1. Book cover.
This gift idea is both simple and can be homemade for very few dollars. First you can make it out of sturdy fabric and a sewing machine. This is probably the quicker way to make a book cover. Measure and cut the fabric to be long enough to wrap the book and provide book flaps. Sew edges to keep from unraveling, add ribbon to the top to use as a bookmark,
The other way is to crochet the book cover. If you’re looking for a project to learn crocheting on this is more functional and cooler than most ideas all you need to do is cast on a row the length of the trade or mass paperback book and continue with single crochet until it is long enough to wrap around the book plus extra for the flaps. Finish it off by crocheting around the edges. You can even crochet a book mark! This style is very elegant.
2. Digital Reader.
Get the reader in your life an eBook reader. There are several types out there. The most popular are Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle. I would suggest the Kindle hands down simply for the free access to Sprint’s EV-DO network for purposes of downloading new eBooks. The Sony Reader may be more stylish and professional appearing than the Kindle, but the freedom from the PC and ability to download your favorite new books at whim defeats the Sony Reader in both convenience and usefulness. If you are an avid reader who looking for something you can use on the go, definitely go with the Kindle.
3. Movie and Dessert.
At home or out as a date, this is a lovely idea. If you’re planning this for at home you can buy some fruit and melt some chocolate for an impromptu fondue in front of the screen. Turn the lights off, light some candles, and indulge in a little romance. Or if you’re afraid of burning the chocolate turn this idea into an experience. Go out for ice cream before or after the movie and pick a film you wouldn’t see if it wasn’t for her. Hold hands in the movie and or eat your ice cream walking around and holding hands. Take the time to pull yourself and her out of the world of schedules and things that need to be done to make the evening truly special.
4. Pamper basket.
Include some bubble bath, lotion, candles, and a book. Provide all the necessary goods to give her an evening away from it all. For a little extra add some redeemable you-time coupons like a massage, back scrub, or for a little more heat give her the choice and control of how you’ll make love. Let her escape to ecstasy.
5. Give some books.
Giving the romance lover in your life more books in the genre that they like is sure to be a hit. Don’t worry yourself with titles or authors. The idea here is your support of their addiction! Just go to the bookstore and select some you think are fun and interesting. Bestsellers are a good bet if you’re completely lost. If the reader in your life has a digital reader, perhaps a gift certificate to an ePublisher is better. That way they could buy and download some books for their reader.
If you’re a man looking to do a little old fashion courting I suggest writing a love letter. It’s free and means more to her than a diamond necklace; you just have to be willing to pour your heart and time into constructing it. Be sure to write it out and not use a computer printout for the final copy! Preferably write it out in cursive script.
What You’ll Need:
Nice stationary; plain white heavy card stock is fine.
Matching envelope.
Good pen; black or blue.
Structure:
The basics of writing a letter are simple. You start with the salutation. Avoid standard Dear Name. Consider instead My Dearest Name, My Sweet Name, My Darling Name, or My Beloved Name. The use of an adjective is key for setting the mood of the letter.
The body is a little tougher because the content is really up to you, the situation, and the history between you and her. Be sure to be sincere and not force anything or it will sound fake. Below is a list of romantic words for your consideration to use within this section of your love letter.
For the end of the letter skip Sincerely and go straight for the heart warming farewell. Think about Your Devoted Noun. Old fashion letters used the noun servant as in Your Devoted Servant. Or if that particular closing is not to your liking try an Adverb Yours, such as Affectionately Yours, Eternally Yours, or Unconditionally Yours.
15 Romantic Words to Consider in Your Love Letter:
Use this list to give some depth to the body of your letter. Feel free to use different conjugations of the words.
Lush - this word can describe her lips, her body, etc.
Exquisite - to describe her.
Secret - to describe your emotions.
Devotion - to describe your emotions.
Ardent - to describe your emotions.
Earnest - to describe your emotions.
Yearn - to describe your emotions.
Vow - stronger than a promise, something you fervently intend.
Crave - to describe your emotions.
Cherish - to describe your emotions.
Violence - not brutal; more Mr. Darcy as in ‘the violence of my affections.’
Deepest - to describe your emotions; ie: my deepest yearnings, deepest feelings, deepest secret.
Keep - desire to win her… your plans to hold onto her.
Tempt - how she makes you feel.
Possession aka Mine - don’t be creepy with this. Nobody likes a stalker, unless your name is Edward Cullens or the girl wants you to be a stalker (unlikely).
The bottle looks like a knock off of Nina Ricci - the color of the perfume is even the same. I don’t know if the Twilight perfume has the rights to use the same apple bottle shape, but it doesn’t seem likely. The only difference that I can tell is writing around the body of the bottle: “The forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest!” I don’t think it’s enough of a difference to keep a law suit from happening. I suggest, if you want your own bottle you better hurry and buy one before it gets taken off the market.
Check out the Nina Ricci perfume ad:
The most obvious notes for Forbidden Fruit are lavender and freesia. I am still waiting to hear what the other more subtle notes are. Hopefully somebody knows and can fill me in!
Now available for purchase is the scent that drives Edward Cullen to distraction… that irresistibly forbidden fruit… the scent that is his own personal brand of heroin. He compares Bella’s scent to freesia and lavender in the first book on page 306. Freesia appears several times throughout the series; the more memorable moments being when he gifts her with freesia for her prom corsage (in the out takes) and as part of her wedding bouquet. If you haven’t read the scenes I’ve provided them below:
“Just because I’m resisting the win doesn’t mean i can’t appreciate the bouquet,” he whispered. “You have a very floral small, like lavender…or freesia,” he noted. “It’s mouthwatering.”
“Yeah, it’s an off day when I don’t get somebody telling me how edible I smell.”
“Alice, Rosalie…thank you,” he breathed without looking away from me. I heard Alice chuckle in pleasure.
He stepped forward, cupping one cold hand under my jaw, and stooping to press his lips to my throat.
“It is you,” he murmured against my skin. He pulled away, and there were white flowers in his other hand.
“Freesia,” he informed me as he pinned them into my curls. “Completely redundant, as far as fragrance is concerned, of course.” He leaned back, looking me over again. He smiled his heart-stopping smile. “You are absurdly beautiful.”
Did you know that nearly all flowers have a meaning associated with them? It comes from before the Medieval times, but was popularized in the Victorian times. Freesia, I have found, symbolizes innocence and trust. A more perfect flower could not be chosen to represent the pair. Edward put much importance on Bella’s innocence and trust in him. He especially did not want to corrupt her, in any fashion, with the demon inside him. It is therefore poetic that freesia also represents him–his innocence and trust in the newly formed bond between them, a love so strong it could withstand the trials of time.
The bottle reads: The forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest! Size of Bottle: 2.7 fluid oz Notes: I would be interested in getting the notes for this perfume. All I know is from the packaging which says it’s a combination of freesia and lavender. If you happen to know the specific notes please share!
Hanukkah began tonight at sundown. This is night one of eight consecutive nights. To celebrate, I have put together a collection of romances featuring strong Jewish characters, themes or written by Jewish women (or all three!). Those listed here are not an endorsement as I have not read them personally but they looked good and I thought I would share.
Lights of Love:
Everything was set and in place this holiday season for Nancy Gardner until her old flame Mike Powers sweeps back into her life. She thought she had forgotten him, she had built a life without him and his sudden presence disrupted all her plans. Everywhere she went, no matter whether she went to visit family or friends, he was there and the more they saw each other the more she knew she was in trouble as old flames started to spark. Mike has the tough task of convincing her to rekindle their flame.
Scenes from a Holiday:
There are three short stories in this compilation including Eight Dates of Hanukkah, Carrie Pilby’s New Year’s Resolution, and Emma Townsend Saves Christmas. The Hanukkah story is one of commitment phobia on the part of the heroine. Nikki Heller is afraid to marry her kind and loyal boyfriend Mark. A bump on the head causes her to slip into a coma or more to the point a Christmas Carol kind of situation but instead of visiting with the spirits of Christmas she ends up dating eight truly awful men.
Rashi’s Daughters, Book I: Joheved:
This is the first of three novels written about Rashi’s daughters set in medieval France. Rashi is both winemaker and scholar of the Talmud. Book one focuses on the eldest daughter. 39 of 52 reviews at Amazon gave the book five stars. Meticulous research combined with flowing fictional prose weave the tapestry of the novel. Joheved makes a request of her father to learn the Talmud, is betrothed and must keep her knowledge hidden which she does until the first crisis erupts between herself and her husband.
The Red Tent:
Dinah is the only surviving daughter of four sisters married to the same man. “They traded secrets like bracelets, and these were handed down to me the only surviving girl. They told me things I was too young to hear. They held my face between their hands and made me swear to remember.” The Red Tent is more biblical than a strictly Jewish and looks to be very promising as I found out about it scrolling through reviews on other books and this kept cropping up as a recommendation.
The Kommandant’s Girl:
Told during the times of the Nazi occupation of Poland, Kommandant’s Girl is about a bride forced to assume another name and live with her husband’s aunt. During Emma’s stay (under the guise of Anna) she catches the attention of Kommandant Georg Richwalder, number two himself of the General Government, during a dinner party. When it’s clear that her German is exceptional he offers her a position as his assistant. Anna accepts thinking to help the resistance and must struggle with a chemistry she never expected. Will she resist the handsome and charming officer and stay true to her husband? I don’t know, but I’m personally dying to find out!
Dearest Anne: A Tale of Impossible Love:
Dearest Anne does not appear to have a happy ending, which would explain the title even if the circumstances described did not paint a vivid picture of how impossible it was to be in love and stay that way. Rivi is a young artist in the 1970s; she fell in love with her married literature professor, Michaela. Michaela and Rivi if you haven’t guessed are both women and so the impossible aspect of their relationship is taken one step further into the realm of hopelessness.
Jane Austen in Boca:
Imagine Pride and Prejudice but with widowed Jewish women cast in the roles of the Bennet sisters. In other words this tale is about retired Floridians acting out a classic that translates to its sunny setting. With 22 people of 35 people ranking it a five, Jane Austen in Boca looks to be a great retelling as well as a great beach read. Can you just imagine all the wackiness that is bound to ensue? I wonder who is the Mr. Darcy character… anybody read this and want to tell me? Hint. Hint.
Goy Crazy:
Set in high school, this young adult story is about a Jewish girl with a crush that is tired of her good girl ways. Sounding vaguely like Mean Girls, the main character Rachel is desperate to fit into the So Very crowd and spice up her life with a little romance. She even begins to act dumb in math to attract the attention of the very non-Jewish basketball hunk Luke Christiansen. Bound to crack you up!
Alec Greven is a 4th grader who began to write his book on dating advice when he was eight. He spent time observing boys and girls on the playground at school and wrote down things he saw that worked and also things that didn’t. The book is full of little pearls of wisdom. For instance:
“Whatever happens, just don’t act desperate. Girls don’t like desperate boys.”
Desperation never looks good on anyone. Desperation also translates to needy, clingy, whiny, and exceedingly urgent. Think sweaty palms, babbling, mumbling, shifty features, and occasionally a mean comment or too. This leads into this next gem:
“Many boys who have crushes don’t know how to act around a girl. Some boys tease girls they like and are mean to them. Some boys say silly things to girls and act goofy. Some boys think they are acting cool by showing off.”
Who is the book for?
Wives have given it to husbands as a joke. Alec Grevan says it’s for anyone and others say it’s for ages eight to eighty. He says boys should start young. I say if you’re eighty and started at eight and still haven’t figured out girls to some extent then something is wrong! The inside has cute little black and white line drawings and covers forty-eight pages.
And before you ask this little heartbreaker doesn’t have a girlfriend or even a crush at the moment. Grevan is currently on tour for his book as has two other books written about talking to moms and dads.
This list has some fabulous ideas for gifts between friends, family, and lovers.
If you’re a man looking to do a little old fashion courting I suggest writing a love letter. It’s free and means more to her than a diamond necklace; you just have to be willing to pour your heart and time into constructing it. Be sure to write it out and not use a computer printout for the final copy! Preferably write it out in cursive script.
, the main character Rachel is desperate to fit into the So Very crowd and spice up her life with a little romance. She even begins to act dumb in math to attract the attention of the very non-Jewish basketball hunk Luke Christiansen. Bound to crack you up!
