Valentine S Day

Red rose sales are on the rise this Valentine's Day, with florists Kathy and Jim Lyon of Artistic Florists working around the clock to meet holiday orders. "Everybody is excited," said Jim Lyon, co-owner of the Costa Mesa shop with his wife since 1973. "The economy is doing better, so we're seeing that it's certainly true this year that people are coming out and buying their sweethearts flowers. " Long-stemmed red roses are the top seller this year for the shop at 2925 College Ave. Orders begin trickling in as early as a month before, with the rush period really starting two weeks before the big day, Jim Lyon said.

How can we make Valentine's Day more meaningful than just another Hallmark holiday? While it's always fun to exchange cards and share the typical chocolate, gift or romantic dinner, we believe the day can be used more consciously than that. We propose using Valentine's Day as an opportunity to get real through assessing the temperature of your love relationship. You can do this assessment any time around the actual celebration of the day, so that it doesn't interfere with your traditional celebration.

Military wives of Newport Beach's adopted 1st Battalion 1st Marines were treated Monday to a day of R&R - including manicures, brow shaping and haircuts - in the spirit of Valentine's Day. "It means more to me than I can say," Mary Ann Everingham said as her voice cracked with emotion. "He works so hard, and to me, he's just so brave. " Everingham spoke of her husband of 12 years, Marine Lt. Spencer Everingham. FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version incorrectly stated that the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary organizes the annual mess night.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON "God loves each one of us, as if there was only one of us." -- AUGUSTINE I'll never understand how God can love each one of us so completely and unconditionally, but I'm so thankful that he does. God worked in a unique way recently to make me think about his love. I found a crumpled old Valentine that said: "Roses are red Violets are blue, God loves someone special, And that someone is You!" The message seems simple, the meaning is profound.

If you're still looking for the ideal Valentine's Day gift, South Coast Plaza has got you covered. Here is their line up of gifts for everyone on your listy. Ben Bridge Jeweler: What could be better than diamonds and chocolates? With any purchase, customers receive a heart-shaped box of candy, the perfect accompaniment to jewels. For information, call (714) 549-3545. Cartier: Exquisite pearl and diamond earrings from the Himilia Perles Collection are available.

Love is in the air regardless of the budget with this selection of Valentine's Day (and weekend) offerings: * Pop-up Flavor Chef Ryan Carson brings his Los Angeles-based pop-up restaurant, 'Pri-ve, to the Taco Asylum restaurant in The Camp, 2937 S. Bristol St., B102, in Costa Mesa for select nights this month. Valentine's Day is booked, but Sunday, Monday, Feb. 19 and 20 were available as of press time. Future dates might open up as well. 'Pri-ve has popped up at more than 10 locations in the Los Angeles area.

Just because someone may be single doesn't mean they can't celebrate love on Valentine's Day — at least according to two Newport-Mesa relationship experts. People "should not just stay home and mope around…. Even though the standard on Valentine's Day is that it's the day for lovers and romance and passion and relationships, that does not mean if you don't have a significant other you cannot appreciate love for other people and love for yourself," Newport Beach relationship expert and author Ana Weber said.

VAlentine's Day typicall sends people all over the country into a frenzy seeking heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, flower bouquets, stuffed animals and dinner reservations at expensive restaurants to demonstrate their devotion to loved ones. This year, the Orange County Rescue Mission is asking the community to make sure that Cupid’s heart is in the right place and discover that the true way to a person’s heart is through the gift of giving. The Village of Hope, a state-of-the-art facility for the homeless in the city of Tustin, Calif.

Red rose sales are on the rise this Valentine's Day, with florists Kathy and Jim Lyon of Artistic Florists working around the clock to meet holiday orders. "Everybody is excited," said Jim Lyon, co-owner of the Costa Mesa shop with his wife since 1973. "The economy is doing better, so we're seeing that it's certainly true this year that people are coming out and buying their sweethearts flowers. " Long-stemmed red roses are the top seller this year for the shop at 2925 College Ave. Orders begin trickling in as early as a month before, with the rush period really starting two weeks before the big day, Jim Lyon said.

Military wives of Newport Beach's adopted 1st Battalion 1st Marines were treated Monday to a day of R&R - including manicures, brow shaping and haircuts - in the spirit of Valentine's Day. "It means more to me than I can say," Mary Ann Everingham said as her voice cracked with emotion. "He works so hard, and to me, he's just so brave. " Everingham spoke of her husband of 12 years, Marine Lt. Spencer Everingham. FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version incorrectly stated that the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary organizes the annual mess night.

How can we make Valentine's Day more meaningful than just another Hallmark holiday? While it's always fun to exchange cards and share the typical chocolate, gift or romantic dinner, we believe the day can be used more consciously than that. We propose using Valentine's Day as an opportunity to get real through assessing the temperature of your love relationship. You can do this assessment any time around the actual celebration of the day, so that it doesn't interfere with your traditional celebration.

Love is in the air regardless of the budget with this selection of Valentine's Day (and weekend) offerings: * Pop-up Flavor Chef Ryan Carson brings his Los Angeles-based pop-up restaurant, 'Pri-ve, to the Taco Asylum restaurant in The Camp, 2937 S. Bristol St., B102, in Costa Mesa for select nights this month. Valentine's Day is booked, but Sunday, Monday, Feb. 19 and 20 were available as of press time. Future dates might open up as well. 'Pri-ve has popped up at more than 10 locations in the Los Angeles area.

Opening statements are expected Wednesday in the trial of a former Orange Coast College student accused of killing a 20-year-old woman in a drunk-driving collision. Gustavo Adrian Vega, 23, of Costa Mesa, is suspected of driving drunk through a red light and crashing his 2008 Toyota Tundra into a 2003 Corolla at Sunflower Avenue and Flower Street early on Feb. 14, 2010, according to the Orange County district attorney's office. Cara Lee, 20, a passenger in the Corolla who worked as a recreational youth leader for Newport Beach, was killed in the crash.

Have you ever wondered where the Valentine's Day celebration came from? I did, and so I did a little research, and no, unlike Mother's Day, Valentine's Day is not rumored to have been created by Hallmark Cards. St. Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is celebrated throughout the world, but it has its roots in Christian and ancient Roman traditions. As best as can be determined, there was a pagan fertility celebration in Roman times called Lupercalia, in honor of Lupa, the she-wolf of Rome, and Faunas, the Roman god of fertility.

NEWPORT BEACH — Ten-year-old Isabel Morris had a bagful of homemade Valentine's Day cards she made for her classmates out of index cards, highlighters and sparkly heart stickers, but she won't be in class Monday to deliver them. The Newport Elementary School student will instead spend Valentine's Day delivering blankets and socks to babies and toddlers recovering from heart surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Isabel, along with friends, collected the items for the second annual Happy Heart Day, a donation drive she started last year to help children going through what she did as a baby.

Dear Jam, this Valentine's Day got me thinking... I have loved you for almost 15 years ... who would have thought that time would fly by the way it has? This year, I realized that Valentine's Day isn't just about you and I ... it's about us — the three of us! I luv us! Our family is the most important element in our lives, and having Bennett is the best thing that you and I have accomplished to date. He is such a miracle. He completes us, he has healed us, and he is a product of us, and for that I am most proud!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The God Squad will return next Saturday. Many people will celebrate Valentine's Day either a day early or on Monday, Feb. 14. Florists, those in the chocolate business, winemakers and restaurant owners are very fond of this celebration. Today, I hope to look at the religious roots of Valentine's Day and make some observations on marriage in general. We are aware of three different versions of who Saint Valentine was. One version has him as a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II (268-270)

With Valentine's Day on a Monday this year, many couples are making more creative plans to celebrate. Restaurants are offering weekend-long deals, and many are offering special incentives like gift cards for Feb. 14 diners to entice people to dine out on a Monday. To get an idea of availability, visit opentable.com and peruse the offerings. Here are some of our favorite options, ranging from the traditional to the eccentric. Slow hands Spa Gregorie's is offering the chance to develop your massage technique repertoire for $15 per couple.