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Handle With Care: Ideas to Keep a Long Distance Relationship Strong

Are you and your sweetheart separated this Valentine’s Day? Check out some of these creative ways to send your X’s and O’s over the miles. Personalize your packages and you’ll feel like your honey is right there with you!”
By Sarah Fierro

Long distance relationships can seem especially brutal around Valentine’s Day, with all the candy hearts and chocolate roses scattered around grocery stores. Instead of feeling down this romantic holiday, use some of these dreamy ideas to keep a long distance relationship strong.

Put together a large envelope of cards. Collect enough for your love bug to read one every day for the rest of the month. You can mix it up with serious and funny cards, long poems or short notes, and handmade or store bought. This will remind them daily of how much you love them, even when you are away!

Send your Valentine a date night in a box. Begin building your box with your favorite movie as a couple or any romantic one of your choice. Remember that romance doesn’t necessarily mean a chick flick. Try looking for an action movie with a background love story. Sword fights for a beautiful lady can be just as romantic for men as flower deliveries are for women. To simplify your selection, insert a Blockbuster gift card instead.

Add to the box a bag of microwavable popcorn, your date’s favorite candy, peanuts and licorice as movie snacks, a fleece throw or small pillow to cuddle up with, and a card explaining your date night apart. To add even more special flair, design movie tickets in a card and mail them ahead of the box to let your date know what they have to look forward to!

If your loved one is deployed military or on a business trip this February, create a care package they can enjoy on their own time. Compile a CD of love songs to set the mood for your honey. Add a red and white stuffed animal, a picture of you together, a silk red rose, homemade decorated heart cookies, and an envelope of hot chocolate.

Local military gear shops can engrave dogtags with names or special notes. A steamy take on the care package can include detailed love letters, boxer shorts decorated with hearts or kisses, and love coupons to redeem later. Stuff the package with festive red and white crinkle paper. Top it all off with a handmade Valentine!

Impress your Valentine by showing that their envelope or box was customized just for them! Go to any local United States Postal Service Office and find out what services they offer for personalizing stamps. There are also several online vendors that allow you to create and purchase your own stamp. Just make sure the vendor you use is approved by USPS for shipping.

Any of these great ideas are sure to keep your long distance relationship going strong through this Valentine’s Day. Most importantly, be creative with your selections. Your Valentine will appreciate the heart put into a card or package meant just for him!