You just read the headline and thought this article was about chocolate covered sex or people who have sex in chocolate didn’t you? Nice. The day of hearts, flowers, chocolate and odd fat babies with adult looking faces holding a bow and a heart-tipped arrow is fast approaching next week, and you have no clue what to buy for those special people in your life. Here are four stores that embody everything wonderful about retail. Every one of these store owners has PASSION about their store and what they carry, and they make shopping locally a pleasure.
Now for those of you who love to protest the day saying it was made up by the card and flower companies, you can either change your reason or join in the fun with the rest of us. For one, that is incorrect. Valentine’s Day has a long history dating back to 1382, but it really became popular back in the 1800′s when the cost of postage became affordable coupled with the Victorian desire to express one’s self anonymously to the one that they admired.
Valentine kits at Parcel
The Victorians were passionate about giving elaborate Valentines and saved them as keepsakes. One step inside of Parcel, and the passion owner Nancy Laboz has for curiosities and beautiful things from the past is everywhere. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to do a small thoughtful thing for the special people in your life. If that person has a passion for purple or love for red and white polka-dotted toadstools, Nancy will search the store for the fun little bits that will make your creation something that will be cherished for years to come. If you are not feeling like Esther Howland and making your own Valentines is just not going to happen, Parcel also stocks a number of fun vintage Valentines, gorgeous Valentine making kits and decorations as well.
If your Valentine’s passion is skulls and love birds then let’s jump on into the store I try my best to
Heart charms at Culture Couture
avoid (because I never leave empty handed). Culture Couture is one of my very favorite stores in Baristaville. Owner Lisa Johnson has the most amazing eye for the hip and dark. It makes a mother of two like me feel like I can still pull off wearing my Misfits tank top and high top Doc Martins — and if the PTA moms don’t like it they can suck it. Carrying fun purses, wallets and coin holders with graphic cherries, hearts and birds to all sorts of jewelry and unique clothing all at prices most people can afford is what keeps teenagers to moms like me coming back for more.
Sweet Home Montclair
Now for the chocolate covered sex. If you have ever tried the chocolate covered confections from Sweet Home Montclair then you get my drift, am I right ladies? Store owners like Paul Michael with passion for finding unique home and gift items, confections as well as whimsical cards make his store truly feel like part of the community. People are just happy when they are in the store. It is a contemporary version of a local candy and gift store where locals know they can always turn find the perfect gift that won’t break the bank — and get fantastic service.
Enough with the foreplay and let’s move onto the sex. Johari carries gorgeous things that your Valentine will not only enjoy wearing because it is sexy and comfortable, but they won’t need to give you the “where is the rest of this thing?” look. Johari’s owner Deborah Furr has a passion for women’s lingerie and swimwear. Her fantastic eye and attention to detail are ever present in the store.
Whatever your needs — from a saucy bustier, to seamless stick-on bras that give support under the strappiest most backless dress ever, to high quality Wacoal Bras that are practical and lacy, to a gorgeous pale pink corset or stocking, from the practical to super fun red Cuban heeled (red seams up the back) — Johari has you covered. Or depending on how you like it…uncovered. Because Deborah understands this holiday is for all kind,s she will also have the super naughty crotchless panties in stock as well! Red for me, please.
Most of the items featured are under $30 and many are much less than $15. This is not a holiday about large showy gifts but more a special nod to say to anyone you like, “I am glad you are in my life.”
Tell us your favorite love song in comments and win a $50 gift certificate to the super romantic, cozy Salute Bistro.
I knew that even before I clicked on this that this story had to be written by Holly!
MM I have never heard that song before.
Here are a couple of my favorites, “For All We Know” by Nat King Cole and “Emily” by Andy Williams.
I like “Don’t Laugh, I Love You” by Ween
“When a Man Loves a Woman,” by Percy Sledge (also our wedding song)
“Thank You” by Led Zeppelin
“Ribbon in the Sky” by Stevie Wonder (our wedding song)
“Somebody” by Depeche Mode
“Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. Listen to it, and you will understand why.
“Sexy and I Know It”-LMFAO
When I was a teenager back in the dark ages I thought the most romantic songs were “Don’t Worry, Baby” and “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. But my romantic life back then was more in tune with “Love Stinks” by the J. Geils Band.
Holly! I never gave you permission to post a photo of me!
I Wanna Sex You Up by Color Me Badd.
“Lick my Love Pump” by Spinal Tap
Holly’s articles are the best!
Our song is Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky”….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTAhZKP5wCY
“Oh Babe, What Would You Say?” by Hurricane Smith. Played at our wedding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJdkCs5RdQg
“There is no greater love”
-Bilie Holiday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amPObmG7JA4
These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding…swoooooon
i’m on fire by bruuuuce!
“Just the Way You Are” – Billy Joel
“At Last”
After reading this post — all I can think of is “Passion” by Rod Stewart
Unchained Melody
Elton John, “Your Song.” It was the first dance at our wedding.
“beautiful” by Gordon Lightfoot.
“Blue Moon” – The Marcels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7giOrKYIwpQ
“Add It Up” by the Violent Femmes. But what else?!
Through the Eyes of Love by Melissa Manchester
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go.
I read this on my iPhone, on the mobile reader, which doesn’t show the byline. I saw that big plastic ass and the word “sex” twice in the first sentence, and by then there was no doubt who had written it.
My personal favorite touch is PASSION in pink.
Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
More (theme from Mondo Cone)
Commander Cody’s classic, “How Can I Miss You If You Won’t Go Away”.
‘Cro, the Commander is of a very strange breed, almost vanished.
Ry Cooder is another one: “That’s the Way the Girls Are in Texas.”
And Roy Clark: “Thank God and Greyhound.”
But I gotta say my all-time fave is “Since I Fell for You.”
Whoa – the pic that goes w/ this story is indeed eye-catching.
As far as romantic songs, one of my favorites is
‘I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
This took some thought, but in the end Sir Mix-A-Lot wins with this classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reTx5sqvVJ4
My favorite love song is definitely “When God Made You” by NewSong and Natalie Grant. <3
Our special love song is “My Prayer” by the Ink Spots.
Theme from “A Man and a Woman”
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You-Frankie Valli. It was my wedding song.
“And The Angels Sing”, by just about anyone.
Andrae Crouch – “I’ll be Thinking of You” – It’s the first song my husband played for me on his cassette player in 1980. We had just met and he was quite shy…so he let the music speak for itself. We’ve been married for 27 years and I still adore him.
“I’ll come running” by Neil Diamond (The MCD cover of this was our wedding song) or Seals and Croft’s “Summer Breeze” – which we always seem to hear when we are on vacation in Rehoboth Beach.
“Shameless” – written/performed by Billy Joel – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXaprsI_Q8I
(although cover by Garth Brooks more well known)
Either of two songs by country singer Don Williams: “You’re My Best Friend” (not the Queen or Jefferson Airplane songs, though neither is all that badbad) or “The Ties That Bind.” It’s the rare love song with some obvious mutuality to the sentiments and needs expressed.
“How Can I Miss You when You WOn’t Go Away” was an oldie even when Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks recorded it. I think it dates back to the 20′s.
love me tender elvis presley
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston….RIP