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individual basis in the price range of $17 to just more than $100, says Garrison, Prairie Patches owner.
"It's so much fun to get away for Valentine's Day," Loyd says. "The concert was a little cheesy, but so fun."
"It's a great quality, and the pieces are beautiful." Garrison says. "Very reasonable, but some of the bigger pieces are more expensive."
For the non-jewelry-type lovers, a mini-vacation is always fun for Valentine's Day if you're lucky enough to have a few extra bucks. Head to a concert or go stay on the Plaza in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
One to two years: Devoted
For Loyd and Rock's third Valentine's Day, they made the trip up to Minnesota to see Katie's favorite band, The Fray, play.
Even though you've made it to this stage in your relationship and the expectations are higher, there is no need to forget the fun in it. So relax, no one is expecting a ring ... yet.
For this level of commitment,you want to give a gift that truly captures the love in your relationship. You have done everything else, so how about relaxing together with a couples' massage? Or maybe a night with just the two of you in a fancy hotel?
Loyds fourth Valentine's Day with Rock is following the same theme this year. "We
moved to NYC, so dinner is not an option.Valentine's day in NYC is a circus." Loyd says.
Instead, Loyd and Rock have decided to spend the day together getting couples' messages, then ordering sushi and having wine at their apartment. JP
Photo Illustration by Alex Bonham-Carter From Valentine's Day to Doomsday: Don't cause a fight on your special day by buying an off-the-mark gift for your significant other.
Being set up on a blind date can be unpredictable and unsuccessful. For Matty Price, though, it marked the first day of the rest of her college dating life.
Matty, Chicago native and a junior at the time, was asked to accompany her friend to a fraternity date party, and without hesitation, she responded, "I refuse." After some quality Facebook time and persuasion, Matty agreed to be Brian Tagg's blind date to his November 30, 2007, Christmas date party.
Brian, Overland Park native and sophomore at the time, says he was nervous about the blind date because she was older, "but I figured I would never talk to her, or see her again," he says. The date party was an overall success both Matty and Brian say, and it led to Matty returning the favor and asking Brian to her sorority date party the following weekend.
Though they had been to many organized functions together, their first actual date was at Jefferson's, where Brian started the night off right by spilling his full glass of water on Matty. After about a month of casual dating, Brian and Matty decided to make it official on January 5,2007. Thirteen days later, Matty left for Italy for five months.
Contributed photos
Take a chance on me: Matty Price and Brian Togg met
on a blind date after a few repeated requests for a date
Their overseas relationship succeeded, and the chance of a blind date paid off.
This love is not blind.
— Stephanie Schneider
with Carly Halvorson and Elliot Kort
My boyfriend is abroad. A few weeks ago, I went to a bachelor party for a guy friend of mine and we ended up at a strip club. A friend of mine paid for a lap dance from a female dancer for me. And when my boyfriend found out, he flipped. He knows I'd never cheat on him and that I like only guys, but he still freaked out. If anything, what should I have done differently?
Eva, junior
Carly: Nothing. Seriously. You didn't do anything wrong. What was his argument? Was he mad about the lap dance or that you went to a bachelor party? Actually, it doesn't even matter. If your boyfriend knows that you're faithful and only attracted to guys, then he has no reason to flip out. Unfortunately, reason and being rational aren't things at play here. Your boyfriend is probably jealous that you're out having fun while he's so far away. He is also probably uncomfortable with the idea of you going out with a bunch of guys. This can cause anyone to flip out normally—being abroad exacerbates the situation. I hope that your boyfriend has since apologized, citing the reasons I just mentioned as why he got upset. If he hasn't, you deserve an apology. You were honest with him about what you did, you didn't cheat on him, and you're not letting his being abroad stop you from living your life. What more could he ask for?
**Elliot:** Eva, I'm guessing your fella's just jealous. Maybe he wishes he could've been there with you. Maybe he just doesn't like the idea of anyone grinding anywhere near you except him. Whatever the reason, I think you should at least recognize the situation you put him in. No matter your sexual orientation, going to a strip club and letting someone (and a scantily clad someone at that) into your personal space is a very intimate experience. Even if he knows you wouldn't run off with [insert incredibly clichéd stripper name here], just knowing you let someone else be near you in that way may have been enough of a betrayal for him. Am I saying you did something wrong? No.Am I saying you've inherently broken some sacred oath of relationships? No.What you should've done differently is what you didn't seem to do. You didn't look at this from his perspective or consider what he'd think or feel.And, to be clear, I would hold him to the very same had the roles been reversed.
Have relationship questions or need some advice?
E-mail bitchandmoan@kansan.com.
*Bitch and Moan is not to be considered as a substitute for professional help.
My roommate recently started hooking up regularly with one of our friends. From the start, I knew it was a bad idea. I had talked to her previously about this guy she had dated who blew her off and completely played with her emotions. She said she wanted a good guy, and then started messing around with my roommate—who I knew was bad news. Out of optimism, I let it go, but then he cheated on her with an ex. She found out, got pissed, but a few days later was back on his arm. What's the deal?
Matt, sophomore
Carly: Honestly, who knows? Common sense would dictate that your friend leave the guy and find someone who gives her what she needs. However, as mentioned above, we're not always rational beings. I understand that your friend got upset when she found out that your roommate hooked up with an ex. She's not in a relationship with your roommate, though, so there's not a commitment to not sleep with other people. Is there a mutual understanding that they'll be exclusive or are they working off of conflicting assumptions? If your friend and your roommate want to continue this arrangement, they need to set some boundaries. Just to note: it sounds like you did your part by warning her in the beginning. You can only prevent people from making mistakes for so long. Your friend obviously has a deeper connection to your roommate than you can battle against, so don't worry too much about it.
**Elliot:** OK, Matt. Time for some brutal honesty. The deal is simple: people can be stupid, weak and impulsive. Clearly your friend cares more about having someone than having someone who respects her. People can be so starved for attention and affection that they'll go running back to someone (like your roommate) who deliberately disrespected them in the first place, just because that person will give them some momentary attention. But that's not really why you wrote us with a question. You wrote because clearly this upsets you in some way. Either you feel something for this friend or just object to jerks like your roommate on principle. Whatever the case may be, trust me when I say that you don't want to get involved. You might think that once you give either party a piece of your mind that the situation will get better. It won't. If you bring it up with your friend, she'll feel like you're telling her what to do. If you mention it to your roommate, you're in for an incredibly awkward living situation.
February 12,2009
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