This post was guest written by BetShopBoy - one of the fan favorites here at How2Blogger. Be sure and check out BSB’s blog over at BetShopBoy.net.

Ah yes, Valentine’s Day is upon us again. That sacred time of the year when smitten couples stroll hand in hand, and whisper sweet nothings over a romantic candle-lit dinner accompanied with lavish gifts that may have cost the man’s entire month’s paycheck!

Whatever gifts you are buying for your love this Valentine’s day, a definite must-do is to front it with something flora so that your loved one can show the whole wide world she was being pampered by her man. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do – buy his sweetheart flowers.

Img Credit: Felix Francis

If you think buying flowers for your sweetheart is child’s play, then you may find yourself in for a thorny time. While sticking with the dozen romantic red roses is a safe choice, do you think that is really the sort of petal to impress and touch that special someone?

All flowers have specific flower meanings, which symbolize one emotion or another, ranging from true love, to friendship, to gratitude, to farewell. The number of stalks and the flowers’ colors also have their own meaning altogether.

Here are some basic Do’s and Don’ts in choosing the right flowers for your date:

Do’s

1. Roses are a safe choice but it won’t hurt to find out what flowers your girl actually likes – some adventurous gal may find roses a tad boring. Take it as an opportunity to customize a unique bouquet of flowers that represents your “unyielding adoration” for her or symbolizes you are madly in love with her.
2. Find out her color preference – some girls like soft pastel tones while others prefer them loud and cheerful.
3. Choose hand held bouquets or hand posies as your girl can then take her flowers and show them off at dinner. You don’t expect her to carry those vases or bulky baskets to dinner, do you?
4. Send flowers together with a personalized message to your love’s office in the morning to brighten her mood for the rest of the day. Have the florist seal the envelope (especially if the contents are very mushy)

Don’ts

1. Avoid inappropriate flowers such as chrysanthemums and carnations. Yellow chrysanthemums symbolize slighted love and pink carnation is the emblem of mother’s day!
2. Unless your girl has a special fondness for all things yellow, don’t give yellow roses as it symbolize just friendship. You wouldn’t want her to think you are treating the relationship as just friendship, would you?
3. Don’t rely on the florist bulk chocolates to complement your flower order. If possible, make the chocolate yourself, it will surely melt her heart.
4. Avoid bulky bouquets – unless you want to break her delicate hands, or you want to carry a basket of flowers to dinner

Besides the different flowers and colors which symbolize different meanings, the number of stalks you give also has its own meaning.

Img Credit: Missty

Stalk symbolism

• One stalk: Love at first sight
• Three stalks: I love you
• Nine stalks: Till death do us part
• 11 stalks: There is only you in my heart
• 12 stalks: All of my utmost love
• 24 stalks: Missing you always
• 99 stalks: My love will last till the end of time
• 999 stalks: Infinite love

There you have it, the above basic flowers tips will put you in good stead to get the right flowers and impress your girl this Valentine’s Day. Now go have yourselves a passionate Valentine’s Day!

This post was guest written by BetShopBoy of you guessed it, BetShopBoy.net. Be sure and take notes as there will be a quiz, kids.

The start of a New Year is a time many people pause to take stock and reflect on their actions, accomplishments and failures over the past 12 months. It is also a time where many people, hoping to make a fresh beginning, set their New Year resolutions.

The problem with making resolutions is that good intentions get derailed within a few weeks when the “novelty” factor dies down and the resolutions become wishful thinking. While some people follow through with their plans and achieve their goals, many of us are stuck revolving, resolving, and re-solving those problems whose solutions have eluded us in the past.

Make your resolutions for 2008 different, make them count!

Img Credit: .Gladius

Here are some pointers on how to go about setting your resolutions:

Pause and take stock of all the good and the bad that has happened over the past 12 months.

Reflect and think through carefully about what you would like to change. Don’t set yourself up for failure by drafting a long list of “should-dos” that you won’t take seriously anyway.

Take time to plan and set SMART goals:

• S - Specific
• M - Measurable
• A - Achievable
• R - Realistic
• T - Time line

Avoid repeating a previous resolution (whether it’s achieved or not). For instance, I resolve to fulfill last year’s resolutions!

Img Credit: Abulic Monkey

The following tips might provide a good starting point for drafting your blogging resolutions for the New Year:

I will expand my social network and strengthen existing relationships.

I will take control of the blog’s performance.

I will find a mentor or become one.

I will learn more (HTML, social media, writing style etc.).

I will have a better work-blog-life balance.

I will back-up my blog religiously!

Make this year the year you make good on your New Year’s resolutions so that you can say “I did” rather than “I should have” at the end of the year.Author: BetShopBoy recently wrote about a blogger’s worst nightmare when he discovered his blog was down during the holidays. Take note and learn from his experience!