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Making every meal romantic

by Tash Hughes

It doesn’t have to be an anniversary or Valentines Day to be special, nor does it take a huge budget.If you would like to make some of your home meals a bit more special, without spending a heap of time or money, try some of these tips:

* Choose a nice bottle of wine. It doesn’t have to cost the earth, but it can brighten up the simplest of meals. To really save time, order some wine online at Winemakers Choice or Cleanskins.com

* Decorate the table a bit. Maybe some sprigs of herbs or ivy, some beaded necklaces, coloured tulle or sparkle cut outs would do the trick.

* Add a bunch of flowers to the table or nearby. You can choose between a single rose, an arrangement, a bunch or even some home grown flowers. Online florists include Roses.com.au, Teleflora and Easy Flowers.

* Turn down the lights and eat by candlelight – even if its tinned spaghetti, candlelight makes it more exotic and romantic! Donna Marie has a fantastic selection of beautiful candles to choose from and Tesora has a beautiful wire candle holder.

* Use a good tablecloth or placemats, and maybe the good crockery and cutlery, too. Why leave all the “good stuff” for rare visitors instead of enjoying them yourselves?

* Add a special treat to the meal. It may be an antipasto platter beforehand or decadent chocolates after wards, but make it a treat. Definitely Chocolates will deliver exquisite chocolates to your door and will give a spectacular finish to even the most basic of meals.

* In good weather, consider a picnic. Use a House picnic basket full of treats to dine on a secluded beach or mountain setting, or just carry things out for a picnic at home. In bad weather, why not throw a picnic rug onto the floor in the lounge room.

* Play some great music in the background. Think about some mood music or playing your partner’s favourite band, or there’s always “our song”! To get CDs delivered to you, visit CD WOW or the Oz CD Shop.

* If you have one, light the open fire, too. Maybe sit on a rug in front of the fire as you eat dessert.

* Buy take away and serve it on beautiful plates. Romantic if you don’t have to cook or wash pans, and certainly quicker than cooking a gourmet delight.

Tash Hughes: Word Constructions

www.wordconstructions.com