The letter A stood for Admire in our A – Z of Love and now that we have returned to admiring our partner we can move on to the next letter in our Love Alpahabet.

Next in our A – Z of love is the letter B.

B could stand for beauty, besotted, bedazzled or believe but in order to keep love alive in our relationships B is going to stand for Balance.

Doesn’t sound very romantic does it but balance is so important in a strong relationship.

We must learn to balance our work and home life. If we become too involved with work then our partners will feel neglected.

If you have children you must find a balance between caring for your children and caring for your partner. Many partners feel excluded once children arrive and feel their emotional needs are not met.

It takes understanding and compromise to create a healthy balance in any relationship. Few loving relationships can survive living in each others pockets without feeling smothered but if we are too distant from our partner their emotional and physical needs are not being met.

We must balance our own sexual needs and our partners. Many people believe the frequency of their sexual relationship should be based purely on ‘when they are in the mood’ … why? What about your partners needs, find a balance that suits you both. Perhaps you have to accept a little less or more frequently than would be ideal for you but a relationship is not all about one person and what they want or need.

Write down a typical day on a sheet of paper and then add times next to it and whether your partner is involved, like this:

• work – 8 hours – No
• children (playing/homework)  – 2 hours – No
• sleeping – 8 hours – No
• cooking/cleaning  – 1.5 hours – No
• gym – 1 hour – No
• internet browsing – 0.5 hours – No
• television – 2 hours – Yes
• travel – 1 hour – No

Do this for a typical week and be honest. Do you eat together, share a hobby together or do homework with the children together?

It is a way to visualise the time you spend devoted to each other and each others needs. If you see you are not spending enough time with your partner then work out where you can make time for them.

Could you go to the gym together or miss a night and spend that hour with your partner, could you switch off the television and communicate with each other by doing an activity together or just talking about your week.

Some couples have an evening or day a week they spend together, basically they continue dating each other after they are married and it does help to keep the romance alive but it would be better to find a way of naturally spending time together without having to pencil it into your diaries.

So B is for balance in a relationship, keep the love alive in your relationship by finding a healthy balance.

The letter A stands for Admire. Take time to admire your partner both mentally and physically.

When you first start dating you spend a lot of your time admiring each other, you watch their every move, visually learn every line on their face and listen intently to every thought they utter.

Have you heard the saying ‘familiarity breeds contempt’? Unfortunately over time we start to take our partner for granted, we know what they look like, their thoughts are no longer new to us and gazing lovingly at them for an hour seems like a waste of time.

Well it’s time to get back to admiring your partner. Take time every day to stop and look at your partner, don’t think about anything just look at them.

This is a person that loves you, they have invested their time, trust and love in you so appreciate it.

Fair enough they no longer seem as exciting as they were in your dating days but be honest, are you still as exciting?

You may even look at other people and think “I wish I was single again” but believe me after some time with that person you would be in exactly the same boat.

Your partner has seen you at your worst, they have listened to your boring stories and bad jokes, they took care of you when you were ill and they devote much of their life to looking after you … yet they are still there.

They may have a few more lines on their face or a pound or two extra on their hips but those changes have come with time together.When did you last admire your partners beauty, the beauty that attracted you to them in your dating days.

Your partner still has hopes and dreams … when was the last time you asked them about their ambitions in life. When did you last spend time really listening to them and admiring their thoughts?

Take some time, have a good look and remember why you fell in love with them in the first place.

Go on, have an admire of the person you love.

It can take hours trawling through the net to find a half decent romantic ecard to send, so I have taken the hard work out of it for you.

Whether you are looking for a last minute ecard as an expression of your love or just want to spam everyone in the office with a valentine day card so nobody feels left out then this is where to find the best:

My Punch Bowl have some beautiful Valentines cards that can be customised and for those that like to say “bah humbug” they even have anti-Valentine’s Day cards. I just love this site.

Jimpix has some great flash Valentines and Romantic ecards and I particularly like ones that are interactive, give the blue heart a go it’s such fun (just run your mouse over it).

Fun Punch has some really funny free ecards for Valentine’s Cards and love cards.

Hi Greetings have a mixed bag, from funny to cute to romantic that can be used as Valentine’s e-cards.

February 14th is a day to celebrate love, whether you simply admire someone you have never been out with or have been married for 60 years.

The secret to a well received valentine gesture is originality, that doesn’t mean do something that has never been done before, just make whatever you give personal. Anyone can send a free ecard or buy a box of Thorntons chocolates but with a little thought and next to no money, if any at all, you can make that special someone feel even more special this valentines day.

1. Love List

Write out all the reasons you love your partner, from the funny way they wrinkle their nose when they laugh to how special they make you feel when they tell you they love you.This is a far better way to appreciate your partner than copying a poem off the internet.

2. Computer Art

Grab your laptop and start designing. You can design a personal Valentine card, a newspaper, a sales leaflet (with you as the object for sale) or an old fashioned love letter. No need to be artistic, there is plenty of software to help you along. No imagination? Just print out I love you 100 times in different colours.

3. Kitchen Roll Love Letter

With a black marker pen write love messages along the length of a kitchen roll. Unroll it along the floor from the door they wil enter to where you are .. it’s a treasure trail and the treasure is you.

4. Music Mix

Whether it’s a cd or mp3 file, put together a great mix of love songs and slip it into a drawer or their bag .. a great one if you fancy someone in the office but haven’t told them yet. Don’t forget to record a personal message at the beginning.

5. Love Vouchers

Write out a few personal vouchers for your sweetheart, they can include such favours as breakfast in bed, a massage or your turn to do the dishes. Let your partner cash them in over time but be prepared to accept the vouchers and do your bit whenever they are cashed in.

6. Box of Hearts

Line a gift box with red tissue paper and then fill it with loose love heart sweets. While you are snuggled together on the sofa you can read the silly messages as you eat them.

7. Naughty Notes

Write out a number of naughty notes and hide them … not too well, you do want him or her to find them. Pop them in coat pockets, under the windscreen wipers of their car, their desk drawer or their fridge.

8. Paper Petals

Get some red paper or thin card and cut out hearts and rose petals, scatter them over over the dinner table or on and around your bed. Add some candles for mood and you have a romantic night for two.

9. Romantic Ringtone

Download a mobile phone ringtone and pop it onto their phone, every time someone calls them they will think of you.

10. Short Story

If you are feeling creative write a short story, make sure you and your partner are the lead characters destined to find love. Each year together you can add a new chapter to the story.

For us ladies it really needs to be a romantic “chick flick” for us to get that snuggle in feeling, which let’s be honest guys is what you are trying to achieve.

So bite the bullet, leave the terminator films at home and rent one of these if you want your date to cuddle in close and get all romantic with you.

Trust me guys, some are actually worth a watch even if you aren’t a “chick”, I have chosen films I think are watchable for men as well as favourites for us women.

Dim the lights, throw some popcorn in the microwave and grab a warm blanket to snuggle under on the sofa, then press play and watch your date melt in your arms.

No 10 – Dr Zhivago

Tells the tale of love found and lost in the turbulent Russian Revolution. Watchable for men because it deals with the choices a man must make between duty, his morals and love. Watchable for women because of the depth of love and passion portrayed.

No 9 – An Officer and a Gentleman

Watchable for men because it has a story to it outside the romantic falling in love scenes, with a look at the angst of a young man trying to better himself by joining the air force.

No 8 – Titanic

Anyone can watch this, it has the true story of that fateful ship and the tragic events that led to so many deaths. It also has the romantic story of two young people falling in love on the cruise then losing each other … keep the tissues handy.

No 7 – Sliding Doors

An unusual film in that you see it twice, each time depending on whether the main character (Gwyneth Paltrow) decides to catch a London train or not. It is a look at fate and how a simple choice can lead us to love and happiness or not.

No 6 – Ladyhawke

One of my all time favourite romantic films, I can watch it again and again. The story is set in the medieval city of Aquila. It has knights and swordfights to keep the guys interested but tells the tale of a knight and his lover that were cursed by a Bishop so they can never see each other in human form. By day the knight travels with his hawk (his cursed lover) and by night she becomes human and he becomes a wolf. Will they ever find a way to lift the curse and be together again?

No 5 – Shrek

It may seem a strange choice but the comedy is fantastic and the fairy tale romance makes us girls long for a big strong man to protect us. We also love the idea that beauty is not paramount when falling in love. It is an animated film about an ogre that reluctantly saves the Princess and of course wins her heart. The donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) is where the comedy comes to life.

No 4 – Chocolat

A quirky tale of a woman and her daughter opening a chocolate shop in France and the rigid morality within the village that opposses her. Love arrives in the form of Johnny Depp as a roguish traveller. Not the usual sloppy romantic stuff so easily watchable for men.

No 3 – The Last of the Mohicans

Ask any woman who has seen the film what Daniel Day Lewis says to Madeleine Stowe under the waterfall and she will reply “I will find you”, no matter how long ago she saw the film. There is enough violence and adrenaline to keep the men happy as three trappers try to defend a Colonels daughter but plenty of heart wrenching romance for the girls.

No 2 – When Harry Met Sally

Now come on who hasn’t seen that famous cafe scene where Sally proves how easy it is to fake it?! Men can enjoy this film for it’s comedy but women love the romance. It is the story of two people who have been friends for years and are scared to get involved in case it ruins their friendship. A must see for men and women.

No 1 – Four Weddings and a Funeral

A typical British film, packed with comedy and drama. The title says it all really, it’s about a group of friends that attend four weddings and a funeral. Down to earth look at friendhip, love and that one love that can never be. An absolute must see for everyone.