My parent’s have been married for fifty years. Now I’m not saying this is the secret of their success, but I do know that every Valentine’s Day, all fifty of them, my mom cooks for dinner a meatloaf shaped in a heart. My dad, like many men, loves meatloaf (and he loves that she does this for him.) I’ve included her recipe below just in case it is her secret, but what else can you get your man for Valentine’s day?

Couple’s Massage

A massage, whether you hire a massage therapist to come to your home or you go to a spa, is not only a nice treat but also has healing benefits.  As a couple, massage therapy will help promote good health and well-being through touch and relaxation, but it will also help connect you two as a couple. Often women are better at self care, so bringing your man along and introducing him to massage therapy is something he will thank you for.  There are deals all over the place and check out Thai massage salons as well.  They are very reasonable, have rooms for couples and you keep clothing on.  He may be more comfortable with that the first time around. 

Some Good Lovin’

According to an MSNBC survey, “69 percent of men wished their partner would initiate sex more often.”  So this Valentine’s Day, get your frisk on girls. Make the first move, ask him what he would like and be ready to satisfy (within your comfort zone of course.) If you’re a shy gal, put the advance in writing.  Slip him a note in his pocket in the morning before he heads off to work, write it in lipstick on the bathroom mirror when he comes home, or send him a sexy text. 

Beer Sampler

If your guy likes beer, then why not go to a specialty beer shop and get him a 12 pack of different beers from all over the world. Find out what he likes: pilsners, ales, stouts, etc. Talk to someone who works there and get recommendations of not only microbreweries and craft beers, but beers from other countries. You may even find a theme to follow that is personal to your relationship, places you’ve visited or would like to visit, beers with sexy labels, or even beers created the year you were married. 

Lingerie for Him

Often what he likes is NOT what we like. To them tasteful to us screams trashy. So this Valentine’s Day, why not be a little trashy (or a lot depending on your fantasies.) What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom so what have you got to loose if for one night you’re the sexy nurse or the sexy cop. Check out Frederick’s of Hollywood or Victoria’s Secret with a few enhancements. 

Professionally Taken Sexy Photos

Think Maxim.  Think something that he will love, but should the pic ever get out, you won’t be mortified either. Wear something of his, one of his button down shirts or take a page from Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and wear just his tie.  Arms, legs and torso can be positioned to cover what you need to and reveal only what you are comfortable with.  He will love it any and every way. 

Joan’s Valentine Meatloaf

1 ½ pounds ground chuck
1 pound ground sirloin
1 can Campbell’s French Onion Soup
1 egg
1 cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
1 ½ kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup Heinz Ketchup
Dash Worcestershire sauce
2 jars Heinz Beef Gravy

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a bowl add the can of soup, egg and breadcrumbs and mix. Mix in the ground chuck, Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper making sure not to overwork the meat and avoid squeezing the meat.

Once you get it all mixed, take a spoonful and fry in the skillet to see how it tastes. Adjust seasoning accordingly.

In a baking pan or roasting pan, shape the mixture into a heart no more than 3-4 inches tall. Combine the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce and brush onto the meatloaf. Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until a thermometer reads 155 degrees. For the last twenty minutes of baking, add the two jars of beef gravy to the pan. Add the two Jars on beef gravy to the bottom of the pan for the last twenty minutes of baking.

To serve, gently lift the meatloaf out of the pan and onto a serving plate. Run the remaining gravy from the pan through a sieve and then pour into a gravy boat.