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Friday, February 9, 2001
5A
The Daily Eastern News
The Valentine’s Day
Survival Guide
Gift ideas that are sure to please your sweetie
By Leslie Williams
Features editor
Valentine’s Day is the day made
for unexpected surprises and the
chance to express your feelings to
that special someone or secret
crush, but what kind of gift will
portray exactly the way you feel?
Cupid’s
arrows
land
Wednesday, and in order to make
sure your day is full of smiles, hugs
and lots of kisses, here are a few
gift suggestions that will make this
day unforgettable to the one that
matters the most.
Women love flowers and while
most men will not admit it, they do
too. One of the best deals on a
dozen roses is at Bellís Flower
Corner, 1335 Monroe St., for the
price of $65. The cost includes 12
roses, greenery and baby’s breath,
said owner John Bell, but an additional $2 is added for delivery.
“We also offer fresh assortments
of mixed flowers (no roses) for $10
and up,” Bell said. “Teddy bears
and balloons can be added to the
purchase” at an additional cost.
Noble’s Flower Shop, 2121
18th St., is offering balloon bouquets starting at $14.50, said
designer
Tamara
Morgan.
“Everything is individually priced
in the shop, including collectible
bears called Boyd’s, she said.
The Boyd’s prices range from
$7 to $35, and there also are
Valentineís Day bears, she said.
A single rose costs $4.50, but
one rose can communicate the
same meaning as a dozen roses
because different colors of roses
represent various feelings.
“There has been a lot of
requests for yellow roses, which
symbolizes friendship,” Morgan
said.
“A red rose signifies love, pink
implies that you think someone is
wonderful, white means purity or
heavenly and a mixture of red and
yellow roses declares happiness,”
Bell said.
The way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach, and women
need to eat too, so a meal could
also be in order. There are two
ways one can approach this idea.
One can take his or her date out to
dinner or get creative and show off
cooking skills by preparing something at home.
For those who would rather
leave the cooking up to someone
else, E.L. Krackers at 1405 Fourth
St. has honey dijon shrimp and an 8
o.z. prime rib on special for
Valentine’s Day, plus the regular
dinner menu, said general manager
Sabrina Strid.
Strid recommends making
reservations, but they are not necessary.
E.L. Krackers will be open from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to
10 p.m. for dinner, she said.
Other restaurant choices include
Alamo Steak House and Saloon,
Cody’s Road House and the
Airport Steakhouse, all located in
Mattoon.
If the idea of spending another
night in Charleston bores you and
you want to do something special,
then a road trip is in order.
Take your date for a 45-minute
drive to Champaign and try your
romantic moves at restaurants such
as Red Lobster, Chili’s, Cheddar’s,
Olive Garden, Outback and Chevy’s.
On the way back the two of you can
decide what to do for dessert.
If cooking is one of your specialties, then planning and making
a meal means just as much (sometimes more) than going out to dinner. Gateway Liquors, 413 W.
Lincoln Ave, has a wide variety of
wines to make Valentine’s Day
romantic or a dinner tastier.
A white wine like Foxhorn’s
California White Zinfandel, which
adds flavor to fish and chicken, is
on special for $2.99, and an Italian
Merlot specially priced at $7.39
goes well with steak, said Carl
Wolff, owner of Gateway Liquors.
You also can treat your valentine to a professional massage from
the Razorz Edge Salon and Spa,
605 Monroe Ave., which is offering
several packaged specials for
Valentine’s Day, said owner
Michelle Drum.
“The first, called ‘For Lover’s
Only,’ involves a couple taking
turns relaxing in a personal aromatherapy sauna, receiving soothing massages and then (they are)
wrapped in thick, cozy robes,” she
said. “Afterwards the couple can
enjoy wine and cheese by candlelight. It will take approximately
two and a half hours and costs
$100.”
“Sweet Treat,” entitles your
valentine to be pampered with a
spa manicure, pedicure and a
renewing spa facial for $75, she
said. A third idea, “A Little Kiss,”
treats your sweetie to a relaxing
chair massage and pedicure for
$35.
“The last special, called ‘The
Guy Thing,’ for $25 ensures that
youíll get kisses from your guy
after he chooses from a haircut or
executive manicure and a head,
neck and scalp massage,” Drum
said.
Gift certificates that are gift
wrapped and specially designed for
Valentine’s Day also are available,
she said.
Another way to help your valentine relax is with a tanning package
from Trim Tone & Tan, 904
Lincoln Ave.
Owner Sharon Tichhenor has
special Valentine’s Day tanning
packages available until Feb. 14.
Buy a gift certificate for $45 and
your cutie has unlimited tanning
for six weeks, $35 for four weeks,
or spend $30 for 10 tans or $45 for
15 tans, Tichhenor said.
“You’ll receive a free gift bag
and a free bottle of lotion when you
buy one of the packages,” she said.
Other tanning deals include one
week unlimited for $12 and $20 for
two weeks unlimited, Tichhenor
said. These also include a free gift
bag.
The two things that deserve a
break are our hands and feet, so
Kate Mitchell / Assoc. photo editor
Connie Baker, co-owner of Lawyer and Richie Florists and Gifts, arranges a vase of half a dozen roses Thursday afternoon in her workshop. Baker recommends that anyone who wants something for Valentines Day should place their
orders early.
treat them to a manicure or pedicure at Regal Nails located inside
the new Super Wal-Mart, 2250
Lincoln Ave.
A full set of acrylic nails is $27,
fill-ins are $17, manicures are $12,
and pedicures with a whirlpool
massage foot spa cost $20, said
owner Tommy Hua. Walk-ins are
always welcome and gift certificates are available, he said.
While you’re at Super Wal-Mart
you should stock up on chocolate.
Hershey’s Kisses or Valentine’s
Day-colored M&M’s will surely
delight your honey’s sweet tooth.
Earrings, bracelets or necklaces
from Elder Beerman at the Cross
County Mall in Mattoon can be the
perfect gift that will last forever.
Sherri Martin, department manager for jewelry and accessories,
said the Monet brand jewelry
prices for earrings range from $15
to $30, bracelets $10 to $30 and
necklaces $15 to $50. Liz
Claiborne brand name earrings cost
$10 to $45, bracelets $10 to $45
and necklaces $20 to $50.
Perfumes and colognes are
other possible gift ideas to make
your girlfriend or boyfriend smell
yummy.
A popular women’s perfume is
Romance by Ralph Lauren, available at Elder Beerman for $47.50
for a 1.7 ounce bottle, said Lori
Queen, Clinique associate.
Other women’s favorites include
Manifesto by Isabella Rossellini and
Miracle by Lancome, she said.
Ralph by Ralph Lauren, Obsession
by Calvin Klein and Cool Water
colognes are preferred by men,
Queen said.
All scents start around $40 and
go up, she said.
Cash can be a problem for some
us, but don’t worry: there are plenty of romantic, fun and cheap
things you can do for your valentine.
One suggestion can be making a
tape with a bunch of fun and serious songs that mean something to
both of you. The time will be wellspent and the tape can be listened
to in a variety of atmospheres.
Another idea can be writing a
poem or singing a song. The quality doesn’t matter as much as the
sentiment. Renting a romantic
comedy or classic love story movie
also can be an option and the two
of you will get to spend time
together at the same time.
Last, but not least, is the card. If
this is the only thing you get for
your valentine it is acceptable
because it means you took the time
to select one and sign your name.
Cards come in a variety of
greetings and some are even blank
inside, which will allow you to
write exactly how you feel.