Valentines Day: Helpful or Humbug?

Is Valentines Day a commercial farce or an opportunity to truly celebrate a relationship?
I think Valentines Day is both – - It’s a win/win. Why not let retailers make a commercial success of a good idea to remind folks of the importance of their relationship? But don’t try to live up to or compete with the commercial hype.  Plan to have a lovely day – it does not have to be about money – just about thinking how to be loving. Be ready to show that you care .That should be easy – a phone call, a  card and flowers are all easy ways of acknowledgement.
     Let’s focus on the celebration part! Those in a good relationship can celebrate with a bonding experience. Having a special dinner or staying overnight somewhere is a way of saying “you are special and we are special”.  Is there a danger in placing too much expectation and emphasis on creating romance on that one day of the year? Of course not! It’s not just about creating romance – it’s about validating each other and the partnership.
     What can you share? Fish and chips by the sea at sunset is much more romantic than dinner at a 5 star restaurant. Put yourself in your partner’s shoes and think what will they like. What can you treasure? Give them an experience that you share and not a thing – give them something they will always remember with starry starry eyes!
(My husband and I recently flew on a seaplane from Rose Bay, Sydney to the Hawkesbury River for lunch. That was a wow experience that we will never forget and highly recommended!)

     And on Valentines Day those who are not yet in relationship can think of the reasons why they are single! Maybe there are good reasons and being single is something to celebrate too

Reality star Heidi Montag has admitted to People magazine that, at the ripe old age of 23, she is addicted to plastic surgery. Undergoing 10 procedures in one day, the starlet says the painful journey was in a bid to become “the best me”.

NW chats to clinical psychologist Dr Janet Hall about the underlying motives for going under the knife repeatedly.

Is excess plastic surgery at such a young age a sign of insecurity?
It could well be that someone else would want surgery because of low self-esteem and self-criticism… but in this case, it is more a case of reality show ego-mania – more about vanity. She obviously wants to look her best self so she can continue to be of star appeal. Read the rest of this entry »

CHILDREN smacked by their parents may become more successful as teens than those who weren’t, according to recent US research.

The Christian Calvin College in Michigan quizzed 2600 teens and found the 75 per cent who were smacked at ages 2-6 performed better on measures such as academic and volunteer work, college aspirations, hope and confidence than those who weren’t.

The effect was somewhat negated if the spanking continued beyond 12. Read the rest of this entry »

The family-rated soap is poised to stir up controversy when it airs the risque scene in prime time on May 27.

Donna, played by Margot Robbie, has an “impulse kiss” with Sunny, played by Hany Lee Choi.

The episode comes just weeks after Home and Away endured a backlash from conservative groups for airing a lesbian storyline. Read the rest of this entry »