romance

Having a romantic Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily mean you need to have a special someone in your life. Why not show yourself some love ... at the spa on this most romantic of holidays? We've tracked down spa treatments from coast to coast (and beyond) to come up with our favorite Valentine's Day spa packages and treatments for romance and romance-lovers alike.

"Sweetheart" Scrub & Massage at Spa Desert Springs
What better way to say "I love you" or "UR G8" than with the quintessential Valentine's Day candy, Necco Candy Hearts? Palm Desert's JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is offering a Sweetheart Sugar Scrub and Sweetheart Valentine Massage, both scented with the smell of candy hearts, featuring notes of orange, vanilla and blueberry. Afterwards, unwind in the 38,000 square foot spa, the largest in Southern California. Both treatments are 60 minutes and $135.

Vanilla and Caramel Delight at The Spa at Norwich Inn
Whoever said Valentine's Day had to be just about chocolate and Champagne obviously hasn't tried this deluxe treatment. The famed Connecticut spa (which also has an outpost at Foxwoods resort and casino) is offering a Caramel Delight Facial for their holiday visitors. Vanilla helps lessen skin's hypersensitivity and reactions to environmental elements, while caramel leaves skin smooth and improves its tone. As a take-home gift, you'll enjoy the spa's Caramel serum to help maintain the effects of the treatment. Prefer something a bit "spicier"? They're also offering a selection of Chocolate and Chocolate-Gingerbread treatments. The facial is 50 minutes and $125.

Strawberries, Champagne & Chocolate at The Sports Club/LA
Finally, a spa treatment that's both luxurious and affordable. This month's seasonal specials at Sports Club/LA (locations across the country) are a Chocolate Indulgence Body Wrap, which begins with a Chocolate Crème Mineral Mask with soothing scalp massage and foot reflexology before application of a cocoa-scented lotion to leave skin smooth and supple. Need some face time? How about a Strawberry Champagne Facial, which uses the power of vinotherapy and the antioxidants to leave skin smooth, supple and refreshed? Both treatments are 50 minutes and just $99. Want to spa with a friend? Inquire about combining these into couples packages that include Champagne and strawberries.

Mr & Mrs Smith is a site that is dedicated to finding romantic getaways for you and your significant other, with extensive guides and reviews to finding the perfect luxurious boutique hotel. They focus primarily on Europe, but offer some selections in New York, the Northern Atlantic and around the Mediterranean, as well, and continue to expand their scope. Their panel of reviewers includes trusted anonymous sources as well as some famous names, like Stella McCartney and Anna Richardson, and every piece is written with a bit of humor and in a voice that you could easily hear checking into a hotel as the anonymous "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" with their lover. There are also books available, for Europe and UK/Ireland, if you want to take the guide along as you travel.

[via Hotel Hotsheet]

While silver and gold inks are always an option, up until this point, the wedding invitation market was fairly limited in how elegant paper note cards could be. In fact, some people don't use invitations at all anymore, preferring to call or e-mail their guests instead. Alia Designs may put a stop to that practice because their invitations are some of the most elegant and unique I have seen. The custom invitations include such luxurious, romantic touches as fresh flowers and rose petals, hand-embroidery, silk and real pearls.  For example, the "save the date" card, above, came with a sheer, red-silk envelope filled with rose petals. It coordinated with a wedding invitation that included a hand-beaded organza ribbon wrapped around a pearlized ivory invitation on claret silk, all of which was tucked inside a matching red silk envelope. View their portfolio to see some more of the possibilities, any of which would set the tone for an elegant, memorable wedding.

[Thanks, Xavier]