Warm up your valentines

I'm betting I'm not the only one with vague memories of Valentine's Days past. Heading off to school, unsure if there will be any valentines waiting on my desk. And later, in high school, receiving a carnation from that special someone...

Now that we're older, we know that Valentine's Day is just as much about giving. And the Internet and your computer are the perfect tools to help plan out the day for every member of the family, from the kids to our grandparents.

Here are some ideas to help warm up your valentines?

Words: There's nothing easier than inserting poetry, like lines from Shakespeare into an e-mail. Or go all out and compose some thoroughly modern emoticon verse, which you can even send as instant messages to cell phones. Click here to find fun emoticons.

Cards: To make things fair, many kids are now encouraged (in fact, are given no choice) to give a valentine to everyone in the class. Why not go for homemade? You can whip up quick cards on your computer.

Music: Download a love-song soundtrack for a romantic evening in or digitize old favourites from your LPs.

Flowers, candy, wine, food: Order gifts online, discover the symbolic difference between red and pink roses, get the scoop on aphrodisiacs and create funky Valentine's Day boxers or T-shirts.

In short, use your computer to make this Valentine's Day unforgettable.

---Mara Gulens, Senior Editor Microsoft Home Magazine