Happy Valentine’s Day from all the staff at shoptoit.ca! Whether you are single or ‘paired-up’ we hope you take the time to enjoy the day and show yourself some love!

A little bling for Valentine’s day is always appreciated.  Whether you are ready to ‘pop the question’ to that special someone, or looking for something less flamboyant to show your love we have ideas for you here.

Are you ready to pop the question and have no idea what to look for in an engagement ring? Here is a link to our guide on how to buy engagement and wedding rings. When you have decided what you are looking for then check out our nice selection of engagement rings here.

Looking for something gorgeous with a lot less stress attached to it?  A beautiful heart-shaped piece of jewellery or ‘heart-themed’ item will fit the bill.

Another great way to show your significant other that you love them (on a budget) on Valentine’s Day is an evening of pampering. You can set the stage with lots of candles, fill a bathtub with water and special bath products, play her favourite romantic music, read her some romantic poetry, and follow up the bath with a relaxing massage.

The key to making this evening special is to know what she likes and providing that. :-)

I know we have talked about Valentine’s Day a bunch already, but I am a sucker for fun-facts about anything… so here are some things you may not already know about Valentine’s Day!

Did you know that Venus, the Goddess of Love especially cherished red roses AND that Cupid was her son!?

Roses are not all created equal: red represents deep love, pink shows love and appreciation, orange embodies passion and excitement, lavender represents love at first sight, yellow means friendship and freedom (a definite no-no on Feb 14!!), and white roses represent innocence, purity and new beginnings. Check out our detailed guide on the true significance of flowers to learn more.

During the middles ages, people believed that the first person you met on Valentine’s Day would be your future husband or wife (I don’t know about you, but I would’ve sent a scout ahead of me that’s for sure!!).

Men spend twice as much on Valentine’s Day as women do!

The cost of long-stemmed red roses can be raised up to 30% on February 14th!

Pregnancy tests sales go up in March… wonder why??!

Richard Cadbury designed the first Valentine’s Day box of chocolates in 1868.

Approximately 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent by mail every year (and that’s not counting the cards exchanged by school kids)… Can you imagine the trees we would save if we sent them electronically instead!?

During the 19th century, doctors would prescribe chocolate for patients who had a broken heart… I guess the mentality hasn’t changed much except for the fact that we self-diagnose now!

In Taiwan, a single rose means the same as it does here, but 108 roses means ‘Will you marry me’… I wonder if they are still expected to splurge on the engagement ring after all these flowers!

Men prefer to receive their Valentine’s Day gifts first thing in the morning, while women prefer to receive gifts after a romantic dinner… If compromise is what a relationship is all about, does that mean we should make lunch dates from now on?

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed those and don’t forget to check out our Valentine’s Day gift guides and suggestions if you need help finding a great gift idea for your sweetheart on Sunday.

Flowers and chocolates are classic Valentine’s day gifts. I don’t know of any woman that complains when she receives either of those!

Red roses are the classic Valentine flower, but the prices on those go up right around this time of year. If budget is an issue then a single rose is just as romantic as a bunch. Other flowers such as orchids are also very romantic and don’t have the huge price increase at this time of year.

A selection of chocolates is also always a big winner for women. Again, if budget is an issue than a few hand-picked treats from a specialty chocolatier is appreciated as much, if not more, than a huge box of ‘lesser quality’ treats. She can thoroughly enjoy each extra calorie. :-)

Lingerie is always a great gift for Valentine’s Day, but it can be quite a challenge to find the right item for that special person. We have put together a great resource on how to buy lingerie if you have any concerns about shopping for that special someone.

Check out this gallery of our favourite sexy lingerie choices for more ideas. Don’t forget about the men either. Most men would be happy to model anything sexy that their partner gets for them. Here is where you can find men’s underwear on shoptoit.ca. We also have a great selection of pajamas and robes for that special guy.

What do you think? Is lingerie a great Valentine’s choice for either sex, or is it too risky?

This week we are featuring five days of great gift ideas for Valentine’s Day. Budget is on a lot of people’s minds again this year. One great idea for your significant other is to treat them to a romantic home, cooked meal. I know I thoroughly enjoy every time my hubby cooks a special meal for me.

If you are technically-challenged in the kitchen then a fondue is the right meal for you! If you can cut up food and melt cheese and/or chocolate then you are good to go! This also makes a romantic meal as you can feed each other tidbits of food. Here is a link to some great fondue pots and another to fondue recipe books, so you can find the perfect pot and recipe for your special night.

Don’t forget a nice bottle of wine to go with your meal. Here is a link to some great wine-related products to help add to the atmosphere.

We also have put together more great idea for a romantic evening here, and don’t forget to check out our Valentine’s Gift Advisor for more great ideas.

I moved to Dubai a few months ago, and as you probably are aware, it is a pork-free country. Even though I love bacon, I wouldn’t go as far as saying I miss it, and I might even argue that I my waistline is better off without it (….that and poutine!).

Well! Imagine my surprise when I stumbled onto an article today that states 43% of Canadians would actually choose bacon over sex!!

Puh-lease!

What’s worse? 23% of people who participated in the survey in the Prairies admitted to wondering whether their partner loves bacon more than them! Seriously people – do you think we have a problem in our Canadian bedrooms?

On the plus side, the same news release announced the launch of Maple Leaf’s new re-sealable, 100% recyclable bacon packaging. Now, that is good news! Or is it? Will making it easier and more convenient to prepare bacon further affect our already suffering sex lives? Hmmm….something to ponder!

With Valentine’s Day coming up in a little over a week, we thankfully have something other than our stomachs to focus on! Perhaps you’ll take the opportunity to share a delicious bacon-free dinner, and finish things off with some well-deserved time in the bedroom!

PS – if you are looking for sexy lingerie or fun toys to further spice up your sexy-time, take a peak at our great Valentine’s gift suggestions and buying advice.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it seems that every guy I speak to is terrified of disappointing his sweetheart. Guys, I feel your pain – I can’t imagine it is very easy to try and impress when expectations are so high for one day!

We may say that Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love but with the onslaught of clever marketing, it has become painfully apparent that Valentine’s Day has become much more focused on finding a gift than on taking the time to truly think about what is most important to your partner.

Last year we ran a poll, and as it turns out, women are way more interested in spending a beautiful romantic evening with their sweetie, than receiving jewellery or flowers (although I think it would be untrue to assume that jewellery would be a bad thing!), and men chose sexy time with their lovely ladies over gifts (no surprises there!). But when you really think about it, both results speak for themselves: Valentine’s Day comes back to spending quality time together and toasting a relationship.

Did you know that the colours and types of flowers you purchase can send a message of their own? If you do plan on sending flowers, make sure you check our guide on the true significance of flowers and put a little extra sentiment into your gift.

No matter which way you choose to go about spoiling your loved one, we have some helpful buying guides to show you care. If you are planning a romantic meal together, take a look at our great guide on Aphrodisiac Foods to help make the most of it. If you are thinking of popping the question, our comprehensive research on how to buy an engagement ring will help you make the most informed buying decision possible. If you are considering picking a new fragrance for your love, this article compiles the year’s top-selling colognes and perfumes for men and women. Finally, if you are looking for help on shopping for sexy intimates, make sure to check out our complete guide on the art of buying lingerie.

We have also compiled some gorgeous gift ideas (every suggestion is handpicked!) into our interactive gift selector tool which will help you find the perfect gift suited specifically to your partner’s interests. As well, some of your favourite merchants like Charm Diamonds, La Senza, The Shopping Channel, and Pink Cherry Sex Toys have recommended some of their most popular items for Valentine’s Day.

Either way, Shoptoit.ca is the place to get everything you need to make this Valentine’s Day as memorable as it should be, as painlessly as possible!

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Usually, electronics and lingerie (surprise! surprise!) top our list of most popular items.  Last week however, it seems that our shoppers were more affected by what happens in the news. Disposable facemasks are topping our most popular searches, and by far!