Christmas proposal propose marriage

How to propose at Christmas

Christmas proposal propose marriageChristmas is a wonderful time of year to propose marriage. With all the decorations, Christmas lights and the fact that a lot of family and friends will be home to share in the joy of your engagement, it is an ideal time to pop the question and ask “Will you marry me?”

I’ve created an anagram to help you create a winning marriage proposal. If you can tick off most of the following, you are on to a winning proposal!

And the anagram couldn’t be easier to remember at this time of year!

C.h.r.i.s.t.m.a.s.

  • C – Cheerful. Christmas is a time of good cheer. Make sure your proposal is cheerful.
  • H – Happy. It’s a happy time of year. Embrace the happy Christmas spirit.
  • R – Romantic. It goes without saying, ensure your proposal is romantic.
  • I – Initiative. Show some initiative, use your imagination, brainstorm a few ideas.
  • S – Surprise. A proposal works best when it is a surprise. Lay a false trail if you must, book flights to Paris for  Valentine’s Day if planning to propose at Christmas.
  • T – Tale to tell. Everybody asks ‘how did he/she propose?” Make sure you have a tale to tell.
  • M – Memorable. Make it memorable or you won’t have a tale to tell.
  • A – Authentic. Try and be authentic and come up with an original idea (see I above)
  • S – Silly. Why not be silly if you are both jokers and enjoy a laugh.





Romance & The Irish, Valentine’s Day

Romance and The Irish

In the lead up to Valentine’s Day we have a nice little infographic which provides some conversation pieces that you can bring up during a romantic Valentine’s meal.

Did you know…
•       The remains of St. Valentine are enshrined in the Carmelite Church, Whitefriar Street in Dublin, Ireland.
•       One of the older romantic Irish traditions was to exchange Claddagh rings as a symbol of love, loyalty and friendship.
•       In modern Ireland today a little under 1 in 3 people say they are looking for marriage to come out of their next relationship.

Infographic courtesy of http://www.celticcrossonline.com/.

Romance & The Irish, Valentine’s Day


The Worst Valentine’s Day Dates

Love it or hate it, it’s almost Valentine’s day and according to a new survey conducted by leading online takeaway ordering service JUST EAT, there are plenty of things that irritate us on this romantic occasion. According to the survey, one of the worst things about going out for a date on Valentine’s day is getting stuck beside a “Couple from Hell” with 30% citing couples who indulge in too much PDA (Public Displays of Affection) as their worst nightmare and 28% stating that those couples, that feed each other across the table as the worst offenders. In addition to this, respondents cited that their date being rude to waiting staff (33%) or talking on their mobile phone for the duration of their date (29.5%) as two of their worst nightmare Valentine’s dates. While Donald Trump 26.5%, Enda Kenny 24% and Katie Hopkins 21% topped the poll as those that Irish people would least like to go on a date with this Valentine’s Day.

When it came to the couple most people would like to share a takeaway with on a Valentine’s double date, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi topped the poll at 38.5%, followed by our very own favourite Irish couple Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman at 26%. According to the survey, one of the best things about being single on Valentine’s night is being able to choose your own takeaway without having to consult anyone else at 42.5%. Singletons also chose Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence as their dream celebrity date this Valentine’s Day.

Marketing Director for JUST EAT Edel Kinane said: “Valentine’s is one of the most popular nights of the year for staying in and ordering a takeaway on JUST EAT. Whether you’re young free and single or in a relationship, nobody wants to risk going to a restaurant on Valentine’s night and finding themselves stuck beside a ‘couple from hell’, trying to show the world how in love they are! Our survey shows that people would much rather enjoy their favourite takeaway dish in the comfort of their own home on Valentine’s night, whether with friends or with their significant other.”

Some of the other findings from the survey highlighted that:

    • 45% considered Sushi as one of the worst takeaway cuisines to order in on a Valentine’s date night in.
    • 42% voted Chinese as the best takeaway cuisine to order in on Valentine’s date night in.

Connect with JUST EAT on Twitter @JustEatIE, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest orSnapchat on justeatie.

#shhhthehunger this Valentine’s Night, JUST EAT!

www.just-eat.ie


Durex Ireland reveals what we really want this Valentine’s Day

Staying in is sexier than going out on Valentine’s Day. That’s according to new research* by Durex Ireland. The survey finds that although two thirds of Irish couples plan to mark 14thFebruary in some way, over half (47%) would rather stay in and watch a film with their partner.

 

While a ‘movie night’ is the desire of over half of the couples surveyed, 19% of those in a relationship would like to go out for the standard romantic dinner on Valentine’s and a further 18% would like a night away in a hotel.

The national poll, which surveyed 1,000 Irish adults, was carried out by Durex Ireland to launch its new ‘Cut the Clichés’ campaign promoting the brand’s ‘RealFeel’ range of condoms and lubricants. The ‘RealFeel’ range delivers natural skin-on-skin feeling putting real feeling back into sex. As part of this campaign, Durex Ireland is calling on couples across Ireland to do away with tired old romantic clichés this Valentine’s Day and reignite the intimacy with their partner.

 

According to the Durex Ireland survey, a loved-up 24% of couples are looking forward to Valentine’s Day and a further 26% of those would hate it if the day was not marked in some way. However, almost a third of those in a relationship (32%) say that the most romantic day of the year is not significant and a cynical 17% think it’s overly commercial.

 

When it comes to Valentine’s gifts, typically cliché presents are a big no-no among both sexes. The survey found the worst gifts to receive as voted by men and women are:

 

Male                                                                                     Female

  1. A teddy bear (29%)                          1. A teddy bear (32%)
  2. Flowers (27%)                          2. Sexy underwear (29%)
  3. Sexy underwear (19%)                          3.  Chocolates (12%)

 

Specifically, an ‘I Love You’ teddy bear was named the worst Valentine’s cliché overall with 42% of Irish people saying it gave them the ‘ick factor’. Over a quarter (28%) say the traditional dozen red roses is overly clichéd and is a turn off. Popping the question also rates high on the schmaltz radar with 9 out of 10 saying that getting engaged or married on the 14th February is the ultimate cliché.

The Durex survey also finds that when it comes to PDA’s, we’re tolerant to a point with 53% saying they think they are lovely. However, a prudish third (32%) say a PDA is fine as long as it’s just holding hands but kissing in public is not ok.

To celebrate this new campaign, Durex Ireland has enlisted the help of sexologist Emily Power Smith to help couples keep from simply going through the motions this Valentine’s Day and to put some real feeling back into their sex lives.

Commenting on the research Irish sexologist Emily Power Smith says:

“When it comes to gifts or ways to spend Valentine’s Day the clichés exist because they were at one point the most popular way to express love. “I love you” teddy bears were once novel and replaced flowers and chocolates as the currency of love. Now they are deemed passé and are often replaced with staying in and watching a movie. Sure, it’s free, no effort is required and watching a good movie will quash any chance of a meaningful conversation for those of us who might be exhausted, broke or not wanting to take any romantic risks. But is that really any better when real connection is required?

Judging by the Durex Ireland research we are in need of a shake-up and a rethink about how we approach romance and our relationships. There is nothing wrong with clichés if they are meaningful to you. But if you’re trying to repair an intimacy chasm by using the cliché as a Band-Aid, it’s time to consider your options for creating a deeper, more authentic connection (which inevitably leads to better sex!). This is what the Durex Ireland campaign is all about. So on the 14th February instead of going through the same tired old clichés, why not try something new with your partner.”

 Emily Power Smith’s top tips on how to reignite intimacy in your relationship this Valentine’s Day

  1. The foundation of good sex is feeling connected. This can happen differently for different people. Some people (often female) need to feel a non-sexual connection before they can feel sexual, and others (usually male) find that they feel connected as a result of being sexual. Rather than blaming each other if you need different things to feel connected, start a conversation where you can share your personal views and needs around connection and try to learn about each other. This is best done outside the bedroom over a cuppa or glass of wine.

 

  1. Get yourself a really nice lubricant. It’s a good rule to always have lube by the bed for self-loving, stimulating your partner, and for penetration as it provides a sexy slide. If you worry about hurting the penis when giving a hand-job, introduce lube. Suddenly you have the freedom to try different strokes, pressure and speeds. It has been known to turn novices into sexperts! However it’s important to remember that lube is not a replacement for a proper warm-up for those about to be penetrated!

 

  1. Learn to communicate about your sexual needs/desires/wants. If this seems difficult start practicing alone by describing what you’re doing while self-loving to get used to hearing the words coming out of your mouth before trying with a partner. Talking about what you like can be easier when outside the bedroom. Give your partner a head’s up before the conversation so they know what’s coming and remember to keep it light and focussed on what you’d like rather than what they do wrong

 

  1. If penetrative sex has always been your main course, it’s time to re-assess your menu. Penetrative sex will not always be possible for a variety of reasons such intimate discomfort (often remedied by a good lubricant). If that’s what you rely on for satisfaction it can leave you bereft, frustrated and angry if it isn’t possible. Think of your sexual menu more as a table of Tapas with penetration being one of many dishes. It may be your favourite, but if it’s off the menu there’s loads more you can try. It gives you choice and freedom to express your sexuality no matter what happens.

 

  1. Get your kit off! Once you’re in bed and warmed up get naked. Choose skin-on-skin over snugly PJs and see what happens. If you can’t fall asleep in an embrace then give yourselves a good ten minutes naked before rolling away from each other. But give yourselves that time every night for two weeks. Being naked together in an embrace may be all you have energy for so don’t expect fireworks every time. Just enjoy the touch, smell and warmth of your partner and relax into a loving state.

 

The Durex RealFeel range is available nationwide and has a RRSP of RealFeel 6’s €12.99, RealFeel 12s €18.99 and RealFeel Lube 50ml €12.49. For more information on great sex, visit:


bordgáisenergybookclub.ie Reveals Book Lovers Favourite Love Stories

Key findings:

 

  • o It’s all about the breeches! Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy sends hearts aflutter as 55% of those surveyed think he is literature’s most romantic leading man
  • o Almost half (49%) of Irish booklovers say that Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is their all-time favourite classic love story
  • o One Day by David Nicholls and Atonement by Ian McEwan polled equally as the number one modern day love story
  • o Tissues at the ready! A third of Irish people surveyed bybordgaisenergybookclub.ie think The Notebook is the best movie based on a romance novel, followed by Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind, with 17% and 13% of the votes

Mr. Darcy is the ‘ideal man’ according to a new survey conducted by Ireland’s biggest book club bordgaisenergybookclub.ie.  To mark Valentine’s Day, the survey sought to reveal the favourite love stories and characters of all time among Irish booklovers.  Over half of those polled (55%) voted Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice as their favourite male character in a romance novel, Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights came in second (15%) and Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind followed as a close third (14%).

 

Pride and Prejudice was voted as the all-time favourite classic love story with a whopping 49% of respondents’ number one votes. However, only 17% of respondents chose it as their favourite movie so it appears the love for the book outweighed the love for the movie – despite that famous lake scene portrayed by Colin Firth. Gone with the Wind and Wuthering Heights were voted as the second and third favourite classic love stories with 20% and 19% of Irish readers’ votes.

 

When asked to choose their favourite female character in a romance novel, Irish literary lovers chose Jane Eyre with 28% of the vote.  Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind and Emma from One Day were also among the favourites with 27% and 24% of the votes respectively.

 

The results for modern love stories are not quite as unanimous, both One Day by David Nicholls and Atonement by Ian McEwan were voted joint favourites with each receiving 24% of respondents’ votes. These were followed by The Bridges of Madison County (20%), Twilight (18%) and Irish best-seller, PS I Love You (17%).

 

People love a good tearjerker and when asked to pick their favourite movie based on a romance novel the results were as follows: The Notebook (28%), Pride and Prejudice (16%), Gone with the Wind (15%), Dr. Zhivago (10%), Atonement (9%), Twilight (7%), Wuthering Heights (7%), One Day (8%), Jane Eyre (3%), P.S. I Love You (1.9%).

 

 

*This survey was carried out amongst 105 adults

 


Romantic Valentines Moonlight Walk Marriage Proposal

For anyone planning to propose marriage this coming Valentines Weekend or maybe just would like a nice romantic walk in the open countryside under the light of the moon but with the safety of group of other walkers, a nice service is available through www.wildernessfitness.ie

This is from their website:

We can’t bring you to Paris, but we can definitely bring the romance to you.
Picture this, your partner and you on a romantic moonlight stroll through the beautiful Valley of Glenmalure in the heart of Co. Wicklow.
This Valentines weekend, strike all the right cords with your lover in the beautiful garden of Ireland. You both can relax while the team of cupids at Wilderness Fitness take care of the romance for you. Just show up with your loved one and we will do the rest.

The emphasis will be on enjoyment for you, and as such the walking route chosen is a moderate to easy in exertion levels.
It will take about 2 or 3 hours to complete and we promise to have you back in time to enjoy a drink by the fire!

Valentines Moonlight Walks are also available in Cork, Galway and Tollymore Forest Park, Belfast
Departure time for walks is 7.30pm on Fri 10th Feb 2012
Advanced booking is essential by calling (01) 6606 442 or (087) 095 8280
Price is only €60 per couple

So what are you waiting for?
Glenmalure is waiting to seduce!


Win Flowers for Valentine’s Day

The perfect chance to score a few brownie points with your loved one. Simply write a blog post and link back to FlowersMadeEasy.ie to be in with a chance to win 12 Red Roses, a box of Butlers Chocolate and a bottle of bubbly.

If you are planning on popping the question and asking your beloved to marry you. Why not check out some of the suggestions on www.WillYouMarryMe.ie