SLove and Romance - Valentine's Day - Embrace it!

Love it or hate it - it's time to embrace it. Valentine's Day is tomorrow, do you know what you are doing for your SLove or special someone?

As always we're here to help, hah! Here's some helpful links to previous Stew SLove & Romance & AWNM posts that may be useful.

• SLove & Romance: 101 Ways to Woo
• SLove & Romance: Musical Foreplay
• SLove & Romance: Helpful Tips
• SLove & Romance: Romantic Date (in a Box)
• AWNM - Art of Giving Good Text
• AWNM - Sexual Emergencies - Call 911

We hope you have a great Valentine's Day this year. Remmy if you don't have a significant other, I bet your close friends would appreciate you making them feel special as well. Gift certificates for happified shoppifications are always the perfect gift. :)

SLove & Romance: Romantic Date (in a Box)

Here's an uber easy one for those out there that like convenience, don't have a lot of time, lazy, or not very creative. :p Take your pick. Magic Nook offers you "Romantic Date In A Box". This has everything you need for this romantical evening and to make your loved one feel special.

Inside the box:
:: Romantic Date Blanket with pillows and two poseballs: Relax (F) and Relax (M)
:: Layered Candle 'Red Passion' Set
:: One big 'Red Passion' Candle (for those of you who are low on prims and can't rezz the whole candle set)
:: Poems Book scripted with 'reciting a poem' animation
:: Reciting a poem gesture - chat only (Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven by William Butler Yeats)
:: Acoustic guitar scripted with 'holding the guitar' animation
:: Playing the guitar animation
:: Singing a song gesture - chat only/no sound (Heaven Down Here by Tuck & Patti)
:: Red Rose for the lady
:: Two Wine Glasses
:: Three love songs to listen (Your Body Is A Wonderland, When I Fall In Love, Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon)
:: Full Instructions

1. Switch to midnight mode (and ask your date to do the same). This way it gets more romantic. To switch to midnight mode:
:: Click World -> Force Sun -> Midnight
To go back to default mode (after the date):
:: Click World -> Force Sun -> Revert To Region Default

2. Find a nice, preferably secluded place, where you can rezz your items. It can be the roof of your house if you don't have any idea where to go.

3. Rezz the blanket on the ground. It comes with pillows and two poseballs. Relax (M) is designed for the man or the person that is going to play the guitar and recite poems. Relax (F) is designed for girls, but if person sitting in this place wants to play the guitar too (or recite), she/he can simply get up and do it standing. It is possible to do it while sitting in Relax (F) place, but it looks a little bit strange, because of the way the body is bent.

4. Rezz the candle set (Layered Candles Red Passion) on the corner of the blanket. The candle set is 44 prims so if you can't rezz it, rezz one candle instead (Layered Candle Big Red Passion). If you can, you may rezz both.

5. Rezz the records on the blanket (all of them, or just the one you like). Click the record to start playing it. If you click it again, you will stop the music. What you get is:
:: Your Body Is A Wonderland
:: Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
:: When I Fall In Love

6. If you are male, give your lady a rose. The rose is scripted with "holding a rose" animation, so if she wears it, she will be holding it nicely in her hand. If you are female, giving your man a rose would be strange. You may wear it though and ask him to take a photo of you :)

7. Give one wine glass to your date, and take one for yourself. The glasses are scripted with "holding a glass and drinking" animation. To start drinking wine, wear the glass.

8. Reciting a poem is a good way to start the evening. Wear the poems book. It is scripted with "reciting a poem" animation. Now just type a poem of your choice in the chat :) You may also use the provided gesture: Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven (Poem). Activate it (Right-click it -> Activate). Now type "/aedh" in the main chat. And voila - you're reciting a poem by William Butler Yeats that all the girls love :) But don't use the gesture in laggy places - the verses of the poem can get scrambled due to chat lag.

9. You can play a song for your loved one (and sing it too!). First wear the guitar. It is scripted with "holding a guitar" animation. This way you may talk while holding the guitar but not playing. To play the guitar, right-click provided animation "Playing The Guitar" and select "Play in World". Now you're playing. To sing a song, type the lyrics in the main chat. You may also use the provided gesture: Heaven Down Here (Song). Activate it (Right-click it -> Activate). Now type "/heavendownhere" in the main chat. And you're singing a song by Tuck & Patti that is a really good love song :) As before, don't use the gesture in laggy places - the verses of the song can get scrambled due to chat lag.

The rest is up to you. Nice conversation, maybe some dancing, cuddling and/or massage giving. You may give her/him a nice necklace if you want. Use your imagination to make this date special for both of you :)

To make it more special:

• Prepare - Make sure you have the dance balls, animations that you will plan to use. Bits & Bobs V3, V4, V6 dances are great ones.
• Make a new folder in your invey PRIOR to date with everything you will need (you can include your outfit you plan to wear also) to make it quickly accessible without searching for minutes on end.
  
• Take lots of photos. After the date you will be able to give her/him a special reminder of this beautiful evening. She/he will think of you and this unique date every time they see the photos.
• Dress up nicely but wear clothes that make you feel comfortable. And be on time!
• Find something nice about your date and compliment her/him. And if your date compliments you don't just brush it off or say something rude about yourself, say thank you and do NOT put yourself down.
• Before taking her/him to your romantic spot with blanket, go to the beach, build a bonfire and roast marshmallows Bits & Bobs has a new anim for this at the Resolution store) with her/him. Or get your favorite restaurant meal to go and eat it on a sailboat with her/him.
• After the date you both may want to camp overnight somewhere secluded, so a small tent would be a nice idea. Cuddle balls and any love related items may come in handy too :)
  

SLove & Romance: Helpful Tips

Falling in slove is the easy part. It's staying that way that takes some work.

Tip 1
Make a list.
When you find yourself feeling critical of your beloved, sit down and make a list of "All The Things I Still Love About My Mate." This will remind you of why you first fell in slove. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself thinking... And making that list goes for both of you, to help you both remember the good.

Tip 2
Start spreading the news.
At least once a day, compliment each other. Because everyone loves to hear good news.

Tip 3
Learn what to say (And how to listen)
When it comes to communication, men and women have different needs. Men need to hear they've done a good job. So remember to compliment him for things he does (even if he doesn't do them that well). XD Lmao
Women need to feel their man is listening. Men can help by learning the "Mantra for Men" and practicing it often, saying to themselves, again and again... Just listen, don't give advice. Just listen, don't give advice. Just listen, don't give advice.
The results can be amazing.

Tip 4
Learn to soothe frayed nerves.
When your partner is having trouble coping *either with the world or with you* don't shout, don't pout, don't run away. Just turn to your mate and lovingly say... "Honey, what do you need from me... right now?" So instead of wondering what to say or do... Just remember those nine magic words: "Honey, what do you need from me... right now?" No more wondering, no more guess work.

Tip 5
Give a little more.
Instead of trying to get your way, try to give a little, then give a little more. So instead of... "Listen up, lover boy!" or "This is the way it's going to be." Learn to think more "We" than "Me." You'll have a lot less... "Gosh honey. I don't know what I was thinking." And a lot more... "I know what you're thinking!" Bow chicka bow wow

Tip 6
Revisit the Spark.
Set time aside for the both of you to revisit places that you enjoyed in the beginning. Remember where the spark ignited & relive it.

Tip 7
Something new.
As in, try taking on a new endeavor, project or adventure together. Share an interest or try something entirely new & exciting. You will be able to learn & share together and this will no doubt bring you closer.

SLove & Romance: Local Lighting

Okay ya'll... I decided to make this a series because Hawks gave us very great wooage ideas, I'm going to try to go down the list (in no particular order) & give you a little extra under the series name of "SLove & Romance".

This one covers:

18. Use the midnight setting - A LOT

19. Combine 18 with some hot local lighting options - ie candles/torches/etc

I have to admit, I'm not a builder at all. Jeepers, Hawks has seen me with a fire script. The local Wildmutt Fire Dept. (especially station house 12) has prohibited me from attempting any fire related builds. It's not pretty at all. With that said, I went on my merry little way to sniff out the best local lighting options with my bestest shopping buddy, Dreamer.

Dreamer's find was [PurE] Furniture. A few nice candles scattered .. but also some really cool lighting.

I was uber picky & decided that I'd stick with my "Light Balls" (patent pending). Here's what ya do to create your own Light Balls... (requires basic build knowledge - I don't hold hands or wipe asses, ya just gotta know this).

• Go into build mode & create a sphere.
• Under the "features" tab - click the 'light' box
• there's a default white color box there (click it to change the color of the light emitted, or leave it white, no big)
• next you can play with the intensity, radius, or fall off (I don't fook with that but you so can)
• Go to the texture tab & choose a 'clear' texture from your inventory (there's a 'White - Transparent' in your library, if you don't have a full clear texture). Set the transparency to 90. This will make the ball semi-invisy but it still emits local light. Using a full clear texture is best but if you must use the one from the library, you will still see a hint of it (it will not fully disappear).
  
• Make copies of your light ball & place them around the area that you'd like to set the mood. You can change the light emitting from each one to a different color to get different effects.
• Bow chicka bow wow
  

SLove & Romance: Musical Foreplay

Okay so I'm doing this post to go along with Hawks' 101 Ways to Woo because we had a convo that went like this:
HawksRock Gunawan: so when are you going to post the 101 ways to woo a man?
You: oi!
HawksRock Gunawan: lol
You: mayhapsibly I can come up with 50
You: I'm an under achiever
HawksRock Gunawan: 50?
HawksRock Gunawan: pfft
HawksRock Gunawan: u gotta aim high babe! :)
You: :o 50 is high
HawksRock Gunawan: I mean c'mon... guys are easier in some ways... :)
You: okay so you're saying girls don't get off the hook just cause you wrote one for men?
HawksRock Gunawan: yup lol
You: doh

I think that his wooage list works for both genders, and some cannot be repeated enough. Now us women, okay mayhaps just me... mood is everything. Here's some music that if you can stream or have someone else stream, it's great for the "mood". This list had some help from a few different sources. :D Pure musical under wear removers. :o Did I type that?

• Plumb - Damaged (808 remix) **If you can't find this one, let me know. I'll email it. It has to be the 808 remix
  
• Metisse - Boom Boom Ba
• Madonna - Erotica (sex mix)
• Hawaiian Fiji Songs - Sexual Healing (reggae remix)
• Prince - Cream
• George Michael - I Want Your Sex
• Madonna - Justify My Love
• Peaches - Fuck the Pain Away
• Joe Cocker - You Can Leave Your Hat On
• Benny Benassi - Satisfaction
• Elastica - Connection
• John Spencer Blues Explosion - Get Down Lover
• Buffalo Springfield - Kind Woman
• The Beatles - Why don't we do it in the Road?
• Billy Idol - Rock the Cradle of Love
• Elvis Presley - I Want you, I Need you, I Love you
• The Cure - Just Like Heaven
• Frank Sinatra - It Had To Be You
  
• Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire
• Bob Dylan - Lay, Lady, Lay
• Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
• The Divinyls - I Touch Myself
• Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
• Mad Cobra - Flex
• Jonathan Butler - All Over You
• Portishead - Only You
• Paula Cole - Feelin' Love
• Joi - Lick
• The Cure - Lovesong
• Adina Howard - T-Shirt & My Panties On
• Harry Connick Jr. - A Wink and a Smile
  
• Frank Sinatra - Under My Skin
  
• Harry Connick Jr. - Stardust

I'm sure there's more but uhhhh, yeah... listening to this list as I made it - I gotta go! Alohaaa!

Oh yea, if you have more let me know... okay *poof* I'm so gone!

SLove & Romance: 101 Ways to Woo

Jelly has been on me to lay out a guide to wooage for the blog. Well I decided to try to come up with 101 Ways to Woo. I had some awesome help towards the end from Dreamer and Jelly to make sure I hit my goal... Hope this helps, feel free to comment with others... the beauty of it is that it is something that is unlimited in scope.

1. Dancing at Avilion

2. Pay attention - notice when she changes her outfit, hair, shoes, skin, etc

3. Be honest above and beyond all else

4. Movie night

5. Rooftops - nuff said

6. Be random

7. Mia Cuddle Park

8. Riding the rides at Prim Hearts amusement park

9. Compliments - new dress, new hair, new shoes...

10. Leaving flowers where she logs on

11. Take notes on the profile - little things like Birthdays, Favorite flower, favorite music... you never know when they will come in handy

12. Stream favorite music

13. Request favorite music at a club/event

14. Hire a DJ for your special time - every third person in SL is a DJ

15. Comment on her snaps/pics

16. You can never say I love you enough

17. Listen to what she says

18. Use the midnight setting - A LOT

19. Combine 18 with some hot local lighting options - ie candles/torches/etc

20. Role play to keep it fun

21. Spend time with her friends, make an effort to know them

22. Put in some effort - effort wins over skill, you just hafta show you care

23. Buy a couples animator - a quick hug/kiss can go a long way

24. Explore together, new sims equal new opportunities

25. Take time to just spend together and block the rest of the world out it shows you value each other's time

26. Try out every pose ball you find - note though that pose balls assist and do not replace wooage

27. Go to Bits and Bobs and pose ball shop together

28. Go to Sexy Jesse's and shop for pose balls together

29. Search the event listings and find new things you haven't tried

30. Go to the art museums/exhibits and discuss what each of you like

31. A balloon ride over a scenic sim

32. Jazz dancing

33. Plan a weekend getaway for just the two of you... search the classifieds for rental options

34. Custom tat's with your love's name

35. Send random offlines so she gets them when she logs on in the morning

36. PILLOW TALK PILLOWS.... EVERYWHERE

37. Be descriptive - the more descriptive you are, the more of a connection that can be made when you are talking about the other

38. Write poems - again effort over quality will win out in the end

39. Email love songs that remind you of the other

40. Pick a song for the two of you, that you can then request EVERYWHERE

41. If you are in an area where you can build, then you can drop a cuddle rug and fireplace and instant atmosphere

42. Take her ice skating

43. Take her roller skating

44. Alternate going to your favorites, trade off.... showing your favorite hot spots

45. Buy her a gift - it is the applicability to what she likes that means more than the price of it

46. Not building the list with Jelly on the line, so she can get bent if you haven't done one yet

47. Remember the important dates!

48. Agree to what these dates are so you are working from the same calendar - especially the date you became "official"

49. Celebrate small things as much as the big ones

50. Don't tease - u hafta be careful cuz it can turn mean too easily

51. Pacing yourself so as to not lay out entire bag of tricks at once

52. Laugh together A LOT

53. Laugh at yourself the most

54. Apollo gardens

55. Sinistyle custom dog tags with your names

56. Take lots of pics to remember your memories

57. Be true to yourself and don't be something you aren't, cuz the truth will eventually come out

58. Keep a lil time for yourself as well to keep things fresh

59. Go to the zoo

60. Write a blog together... ;)

61. Live music events together - whether good/bad/or ugly they will give you things to talk about

62. PDA (public displays of affection) rocketh

63. Don't beat each other up over exes or past mistakes, focus on the now and the future, and what you each learned from your past

64. Buy a hammock with cuddling positions

65. Go to Parrot Island and enjoy the jet skis and swimming

66. Play games together - Tringo being a fav...

67. Incorporate skype or voice into your convo's - this makes it easier to facilitate multitasking and adds a more emotional component to it

68. Find as many places to have secks as possible (Tringo, Blogger meetings, pirate ships, etc etc)

69. ummm what else can you put on 69 - other than mutual satisfaction

70. Take turns treating the other to whatever it is that they like the most.

71. Watch Heroes together so you can talk about it - even if you hafta wait til the next day due to time zones

72. Let her know you are thinking of her if you aren't together

73. Take ten minutes and set aside and each list what you love about the other

74. All relationships are based on trust so that has to be first and foremost

75. Talk about things, so don't make assumptions if you think something negative

76. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new things

77. Provide encouragement to her in whatever she tries to do

78. Don't ever come across as hafta, but always as wanna with her

79. Read a book together that you can discuss

80. Offer up a footrub/massage and be sure to describe in detail what you are doing

81. Don't use canned quotes/lines to express yourself, actually express YOURSELF

82. Don't try to change her ears... accept who she is

83. Don't expect to get secks, but be grateful when you get it...

84. Use your own words, relying on the excite wording is just lame

85. Treat her with respect

86. Don't do anything you wouldn't be comfortable doing in RL - unless you are both comfy with it

87. FOREPLAY

88. Be there with her now.... don't split time in a bunch of IM's or playing other games

89. Kiss until you can't live without anymore oxygen

90. Slow dance V3 at least once a day

91. Couple inner tube ride through Dragon Moon

92. Pick up her lingo, because women love a cunning linguist.

93. Be original - you can't duplicate everything from your past exes or it WILL come back to bite you

94. Be loyal but not blind or stupid

95. Communicate, communicate, communicate

96. Buy some penguins or other favorite cute pets

97. Don't take short cuts or rush it along, take your time and enjoy your moments together

98. Long leisurely conversations without timetables

99. Take lots of time to cuddle on the other side

100. Spend time thinking back over the pivotal events that brought you together and revisit those memories once a year

101. Open up and share yourself, cuz that will draw you in closer.

Whew, that should get you through a good week at least... gluck with that! :)