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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, February 4, 2010 · 18 For the love of food An intimate candlelit dinner is a wonderful way to get closer to someone. What could be more romantic than gazing into each other's eyes while dining on a succulent meal and sipping wine? Did you know that some foods and wine are considered to be aphrodisiacs? It 's not surprising that many people celebrate St. Valentine's Day at restaurants. Depending on your tastes, you can dine at an informal pub, a sumptuous chic restaurant, or at a charming country inn. Regardless, what's important is excellent quality food and ser vice. Who knows where the pleasures of the meal will lead to later on? Would you rather prepare a meal that will make your loved one's heart skip a beat? Be sure to include ingredients that will build up his or her appetite. You most likely have ingredients in your cupboard that will add a touch of pleasure to your favorite meals. Add soft music, dimmed lights, wine and flowers and you're all set for a romantic St. Valentine's Day. Ten secrets of happy couples Unfortunately, there is no infallible recipe in the making of a happy couple. However, a few winning attitudes can promote happiness in a relationship: 1. Feeling good about yourself: We can never say this enough; to be happy in a couple, you must first of all feel good about yourself. 2. Having a realistic vision of life within a relationship: Neither partner should have unrealistic expectations about their relationship. 3. Foster commitment For happy couples, commitment is the foundation of a lasting relationship. 4. Complement each other Happy couples appreciate their differences and see them as assets. 5. Have an equal relationship Sharing is a daily element in the lives of happy couples who maintain an equal relationship. 6. Stay attentive Small attentions are not only the monopoly of new couples but spice up lasting relationships as well. 7. Cultivate admiration Happy couples have positive perceptions of one another, placing emphasis on what the other partner does well and appreciating their qualities. 8. Be able to question the relationship To build a lasting relationship, we must recognize its faults, try and correct its deficiencies and encourage our partners to work towards personal fulfillment. 9. Have projects in common To be happy in a relationship, a couple must embrace short, medium and long term projects together. 10.Defuse conflicts If the level of happiness within a relationship necessarily fluctuates, happy couples know how to defuse conflicts and reconcile quickly.