Yahoo! Answers Blog Malaysia

Someone once said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What this person didn’t realise is that while that may be true, humans are also very easily influenced by all the images of “beauty” constantly thrown at us by television commercials, magazine and newspaper advertisements etc. You are only beautiful if you use XXX cosmetics! You are only beautiful if you go for plastic surgery or a slimming center to create that perfect body, nose and eyes, just like XXX actress! You are only beautiful if you wear clothes from XXX fashion house, just like XXX top model!

Right. As if. But like the basic rules of economics say, there is supply only if there is demand. Judging from the number of advertisements facing us everyday, the demand must be very high indeed.

In Animax’s newest original animation, LaMB, lamination suits were originally created as beauty products. This is how they worked: buy the lamination suit, put it on, presto! Your beauty and youth are preserved forever. However, along with time, these suits were used by the government to “preserve” hard-core criminals, or rather, to lock them up in these suits forever, so that they can be controlled and work as slaves for as long as they have the suits on. The suits helped to preserve their lives, but it also served as a personal jail.

So the question then is, if you lived in such a world, how far will you go to attain eternal beauty? Will you kill to attain the opportunity to wear the suit and preserve your youth and beauty forever? After all, people have killed for many various reasons: for revenge, money, jealousy etc. Will YOU commit a crime for beauty and youth?

The most famous (and commercial!) date in February has to be the 14th February – Valentine’s Day. It is a day that’s either highly anticipated by lovers, or dreaded by those who are single. Couples will try to show their love to each other by going to the most romantic place they can find for a meal and buying the “perfect” gift (if one can afford it).

But you know, hey, being single on this day is not the end of the world. Love does not only exist between a couple as love is really “all around”. If you think about it, love is everywhere! There’s the most immediate kind of love – the love we have for our parents and the one they have for us. There’s love between your siblings, relatives and yourself. There’s love between the group of friends and buddies you hang out with. There’s love between yourself and that funny pet of yours (if you have one). And if you believe in God, there’s also love between you and Him!(Photo thanks to NinjaHelloKitty)

Regardless of whether one is single or attached, what are the different things that can be done on this day (besides going out to a restaurant and flowers)? Well, one universal way of making loved ones happy (and this includes friends!) is to cook a yummy meal for them! I was just watching the television the other day, and a chef was demonstrating how we can make a nice and affordable 3-course meal for two, under $40! Great deal, right? It’s basically a simple chicken + vegetable consomme with a prawn dumpling; seared ribeye steak with rocket-leaf salad; ending with a lime sorbet + sweet pineapple. Doesn’t that make you drool already? If you’re attached, you can cook a simple meal, maybe even pack it up and have a picnic somewhere. If you’re single, just call out your friends and have a potluck! What’s more enjoyable than a group of friends sharing good food, conversation and games?

So who will be cooking this weekend?

(Photo by minato)

I’m sure everyone is aware that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  This means if you want to have a meaningful and memorable V-Day, then you should be thinking about it and planning for it now.  Preparation is certainly a key to a great Valentine’s Day with your significant other and given the not-so-favorable economic situation we’re all experiencing, it also helps that by preparing for it early, you can have an inexpensive and yet extraordinary happy hearts day.

I’m sure top of mind to most of you right now is what Valentine gift to give your loved one.  Well, I recently read an article featuring a guide to a terrible Valentine’s Day gifts.  By learning what not to give on V-Day, we can identify the best things we can give.   To give you a quick account, here’s the list of gift no-no’s on Valentine’s Day:

1. Joke Items – Even if you’re the fun-loving type of person, don’t ever make it appear as if you’re making fun of your loved one with your gift.
2. Pillow novelty items – You’ve probably seen this in an email or website.  The boyfriend or girlfriend pillow or a pillow with your picture in it is just not romantic.
3. Baby talk anything – Any item with “I Wuv You” should not even be considered as a Valentine’s day gift
4. Cheesy suggestive gifts – These includes t-shirts and other “items” that cannot be mentioned here because this is a kid-friendly blog.
5. Plastic roses – The article actually just mentioned roses, but I beg to differ.  Roses are still a romantic, classic gift that will never be out of style.  But plastic ones are not.

So what are the best gifts to give on Valentine’s Day?  Well, I was thinking you could help me.  I know many consider the classic bouquet of red roses, box of sweet chocolates and romantic dinner (probably in a restaurant with an excellent view of the sea or the city skyline) as the best gifts on Valentine’s Day, but the truth is, the best gift you can give your Valentine on V-Day is time.  Spend quality time with that person and be reminded what a blessing it is to love and be loved.  I’m not saying don’t give a gift, I’m saying the cost of the gift doesn’t really matter, it’s the thought that counts.  And with the current financial crisis, now is certainly the best time to be creative and cost-friendly with your Valentine’s Day gift.

That’s why I am asking the community right now, what Valentine’s gifts can you suggest for someone who is on a budget and why?  Let’s help each other out, click the link to answer the question, and feel free to share the link to anyone you know who may have an excellent gift suggestion.  Remember, we can give without loving but we cannot love without giving.  Advance happy hearts day to everyone!