Vidya Rao / TODAY.com

David Crofton and Dawn Casale giggle over treats at the newest location of One Girl Cookies, opened just two weeks ago.

As any amateur has learned (the hard way), baking takes love, patience and dedication. It’s a temperamental task. If one step is incorrect – the butter isn’t at the right temperature, the ingredients aren’t added in the right order, or the dough is left in the mixer just a tad too long – all you’re left with is sweet carnage and hours of work down the drain.

Kind of like a relationship.

So is it any wonder that the care put into creating baked goods can translate to love among bakers?

It did for Dave Crofton, 41, and Dawn Casale, 41, the husband and wife duo behind One Girl Cookies in Brooklyn, N.Y.  He was a bread baker and aspiring pastry chef, and she was growing her small business baking cookies out of her Manhattan apartment. After meeting through mutual friends, Dave started working with Dawn, both clocking in 12 to 14 hours a day.  

“There was a lot of flirtation in the kitchen,” said Dawn, smiling. “Like, oh, is that a crumb in your eye?” At first, it was tough for Dawn to relinquish control and incorporate Dave’s changes and additions to her recipes – but acceptance came quickly, as it made for a stronger product. By day, they were trying out new recipes, tasting cookies and planning the growth of their business. By night, they found themselves still wanting to spend time with each other, so they started dating.

Vidya Rao / TODAY.com

Scrumptious cookies from One Girl Cookies in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood.

“There was something so sensual and passionate about being in the kitchen together,” recalled Dawn.

In 2005, the couple wed, after Dave proposed by baking sugar cookies that spelled out “Will you marry me?” Seven years later, the couple is going strong, becoming parents, opening two locations of their bakery and recently releasing a cookbook.

“It’s still so much fun to create new cookies and cakes together, and good to have someone to share ideas with,” Dave said. The process of putting together the “One Girl Cookies” cookbook also helped deepen their relationship, giving them a chance to see different sides of each other.

“We have a section on family recipes, and I was calling Dawn’s Aunt Tina to learn about their baking traditions,” said Dave – traditions like the fig cookies Dawn’s family makes large batches of each Sunday.

Story: Hot men cooking! Readers share photos

Courtesy of Cheryl and Griffith Day

Griffith and Cheryl Day get their bake on.

Cheryl and Griffith Day also found that cooking helped them fall in love. The couple runs Back in the Day Bakery in Savannah, Ga., which they “took a leap of faith” to open – a leap of faith that eventually led them to marry. It was the second marriage for both, now aged 50.

“I think baking teaches so many life lessons because you have to really measure everything precisely, there’s a whole process,” Cheryl explained.  “You can’t just open up a box; it takes time to do what we do, same as it does with a relationship. It’s not going to happen overnight. When you really build a relationship – it’s more than looks, it’s about substance over time.”

Cheryl learned that lesson early on – from the moment she fell in love with baking. She was a 7-year-old in Alabama, and under her grandmother’s tutelage, made what would become known as chocolate heaven cake. The cake looked homemade, and wasn’t as fancy as the offerings from her favorite bakery.

But decades later, that decadent dessert would help her snag the love of her life, and even take center stage at her wedding, which was held at Back in the Day Bakery in 2005.

“It’s pretty amazing; I’ve never had a chocolate cake like that before,” said Griffith. “Trying it was one of those end-all moments – everything else just doesn’t compare.”

Story: For food lovers, think exotic Valentine's Day chocolates

“I knew what I was doing. I mean, how could you not fall in love with me?” Cheryl quipped.

Griffith, a self-taught bread baker, says his experience in particular helped him understand how to make a relationship blossom.

“Bread is a living organism, and it’s going to change every day,” he said. “You have to learn how it speaks to you, and you just can’t be on autopilot. You can’t be on autopilot in a relationship either.”

While Valentine’s Day is about romance, for these couples it’s all work as they prepare the chocolate pastries, cookies and cupcakes that make the holiday memorable for their customers.

“It’s a great time to be in the bakery – when you see the nervous boyfriend trying to choose the right cookie – knowing that you’re part of a big moment in someone’s life,” said Dave.

Like many in the food industry, both couples postpone their own Valentine’s Day festivities by a couple of weeks. For Dave and Dawn, the celebratory menu might include Dave’s skate with braised carrots, in addition to “wine for wooing.”  

Want your own slice of heaven? Cheryl shares her recipe for Chocolate Heaven Cake from the "The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook," out on March 6.

Squire Fox, "The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook"

Chocolate Heaven Cake.

Chocolate Heaven with Chocolate Buttercream
Serves 10 to 12

• 3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 9 ounces unsweetened chocolate (see Tip), finely chopped
• 2 cups hot freshly brewed coffee
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 recipe Chocolate Buttercream (recipe follows)

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-by-2-inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with parchment and butter it as well. Lightly dust the pans with flour, tapping the pans on the counter to shake out the excess.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer), combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Let the mixer run on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes to aerate the flour.

Meanwhile, put the chocolate in a medium bowl and pour in the hot coffee and vanilla. Let stand for about 2 minutes to melt the chocolate, then stir until smooth.

In another medium bowl, whisk the eggs and oil together until thick, satiny, and light in color. Whisk in the sour cream, being careful not to overmix; leave some visible streaks of white. Pour in the melted chocolate mixture and mix until just combined. Add the chocolate–sour cream mixture to the dry ingredients in thirds, mixing on medium speed until well blended.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and, using a rubber spatula, incorporate any ingredients hiding at the bottom of the bowl, making sure the batter is completely mixed.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Tap the pans firmly on the countertop to remove any air bubbles from the batter.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the center of a cake springs back a little when touched and a cake tester inserted in the center of a cake comes out clean. The cakes will be a deep, dark chocolate brown with slight cracks on top. Let the cakes cool for 20 minutes, then remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

To assemble the cake: Level the tops of two of the cake layers with a serrated knife so they’re flat. Place one layer cut side down on a flat serving plate (you can keep the edges of the plate clean by sliding strips of parchment under the cake while you frost it). Using an offset spatula, spread the top with a big dollop of frosting. Place the second cake layer cut side down and spread the top with another big dollop of frosting. Place the final layer on top, right side up, and frost the top and sides with the remaining frosting, making big luscious swirls with the spatula. The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Chocolate Buttercream
Makes about 7 cups

• 9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• ¾ pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 ½ to 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a simmering saucepan of water (do not let the bottom of the bowl touch the water) and stir occasionally until the chocolate is completely melted. Set the chocolate aside to cool to room temperature.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a medium mixing bowl, using a handheld mixer), beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the milk, mixing until completely blended. Add the cooled chocolate and mix until completely incorporated, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as necessary. Add the vanilla and beat just until mixed. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add 2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar and continue beating, adding more sugar as needed, until you reach a creamy, silky frosting consistency. The frosting can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Tip: When a recipe calls for unsweetened chocolate, we recommend using one with 99% cocoa content, such as Scharffen Berger, for its intense flavor and dark color.

Vidya Rao is a food editor at TODAY.com. She is way too impatient to bake consistently, which might be a bad sign.

Kim Carney/msnbc.com

Kiss your Valentine all you want - but wait until after work, experts say.

Everyone has a story about an uncomfortable workplace encounter on Valentine’s Day.

Whether it’s the co-worker who was showered with flowers and teddy bears all day long or the one who was noticeably snubbed, the mixture of work and romance often boils down to one word: Awkward.

“Valentine’s Day, as with most holidays, brings on a lot of stress for people, not only inside of work but outside of work,” said Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant.”

That’s one reason she’s not much of a fan of big Valentine’s Day bouquets being sent to the office or other romantic gestures during the workday.

“This is the workplace, and Cupid doesn’t belong on the org chart,” she said.

To avoid making your romantic partner the target of office gossip and speculation, Taylor recommends giving him or her that bouquet at the end of the day, rather than sending it to the office.

And if you’re going on a special Valentine’s Day date after work, she suggests meeting in the office parking lot rather than at your office, so you don’t have any risk of uncomfortable public displays of affection in front of the boss.

Others say Valentine's Day gifts at work are OK - in moderation.

Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas, said a modest bouquet of flowers sent to the office is fine. But an over-the-top gesture such as a huge bouquet or multiple deliveries is out of line for the workday. That’s because it can draw too much attention to your personal life.

In a recent survey of its users, employer ratings site Glassdoor.com found that about one-quarter of respondents said they would want to receive flowers at work from their significant other. The next popular Valentine’s Day item to get at work was chocolate.

Only 1 percent said they wanted to get a singing telegram at work on Valentine’s day.

Gottsman also isn’t a fan of singing telegrams. She adds: “No strippers.”

Valentine’s Day also can be especially awkward if you are dating one of your co-workers. A survey released last week by CareerBuilder.com found that nearly four in 10 workers have dated a co-worker, and one-third of those office romances led to marriage.

If you’re involved with a co-worker, Gottsman said it’s especially important to make sure you separate your workplace duties from your romantic life. That may even mean having a conversation beforehand asking your significant other not to make a big deal of the holiday at work.

“If you want to maintain this mystique - this professional persona - and you don’t want people involved in your life, you have to let your partner know that,” she said.

Have you experienced office awkwardness on Valentine’s Day? Tell us your story in the comments below, or continue the discussion on our Facebook page.

Four newlywed couples took part in an adventure wedding challenge designed for couples to "prove their real love" as part of Valentine's Day celebrations.

Natita Phodee / EPA

A newly-wed couple, Thai-Swedish groom William Timhede, left, holds the hand of his bride Napatsawan Timhede, second from left, as they run away from a mock-pirate during their adventure wedding challenge in Prachinburi province, Thailand, on Monday, Feb. 13.

Natita Phodee / EPA

Thai bride Napatsawan Timhede jumps into water during her adventure wedding challenge in Prachinburi province, Thailand, on Monday, Feb. 13.

Reuters reports — Despite tough economic conditions including soaring inflation, people in Vietnam seem to be spending heavily as usual on special occasions like Valentine's Day. Viet My is one of a small number of salons in Vietnam that provides 24k gold leaf face mask therapy, said to help make skin whiter. A single facial costs 1.8 million Vietnam dong, or $86.41 USD.

Kham / Reuters

An employee pastes a gold leaf on the face of a client at the Viet My beauty salon in Hanoi on Feb. 13.

Kham / Reuters

An employee pastes gold leaves onto a client's face at the Viet My beauty salon in Hanoi on Monday, Feb. 13.

Kham / Reuters

A gold leaf is seen before it is applied at the Viet My beauty salon in Hanoi on Monday, Feb. 13.

Kham / Reuters

A client rests with gold applied to her face is seen at the Viet My in Hanoi on Monday, Feb. 13.

On the Disney Dream cruise ship, take a break from the kids in the Meridian, an adult-only lounge that offers inside seating and an outdoor teak deck.

No one deserves a romantic getaway more than moms and dads. If you can’t find a sitter or don’t want to leave the kids at home, check out these options for having your travel version of a heart-shaped box of chocolates, and eating it too!

Jack Affleck

Keystone Resort in Colorado offers plenty for children and adults, including horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Warm up in a winter wonderland
A ski vacation provides just the right mix of family-time and couple-time. Keystone Resort in Colorado is known for its kid-friendly ski school (ages 3-plus), horse-drawn sleigh-ride dinners, and a snow fort complete with maze slide, and lookout tower. For a special date night hire an in-room babysitter so you can board a gondola to snuggle up under a blanket while you soar to 12,000 feet to dine on contemporary cuisine with a Bavarian accent at the AAA four-star Alpenglowe Stube.  

Canada’s Whistler Blackcomb also offers ski school for the kids (ages 3-plus) as well as romantic touches for parents. Take a dogsled adventure for two to a breathtaking waterfall dripping with icicles, or bring the kids along for a jaunt through the Canadian wilderness. Book a rental condo with room for the whole brood and cozy up by the fire after the kids are asleep.

Be mine at the beach
On a beach vacation, the whole family can play together in the water and on the sandy shore. Just when the kids tire of too much time with mom and dad, sneak away for a bit of romance.

All guests at Franklin D. Resort & Spa in Jamaica are assigned a vacation nanny as a full-time babysitter or to act as that extra pair of hands you always wish you had. At first Corinne McDermott, founder of HaveBabyWillTravel.com, was uncomfortable with the idea of a nanny, however, she says, “We had been in our room for no more than 10 minutes when both kids were swimsuited, sun screened, a dirty diaper dealt with, and out on the beach just outside our door -- leaving me to unpack in peace with a cold Red Stripe in my hand. I was sold!”

There are plenty of fabulous beach hotel options in Hawaii, but if traveling with young children, only one offers a kids’ club for children as young as 3, Disney’s Aulani Resort on Oahu. With Hawaiian crafts (like paper lei making), interactive electronic game tables and visits from Disney characters -- it may be difficult to get the kids to leave.

Sail into romance
Cruises offer fun for all ages, both at sea and in port. Plus, parents can indulge in side-by-side massages in the ship’s spa or sip cocktails in a floating nightclub while children are busy with kids’ club activities such as games, arts and crafts, and face-painting. Tweens and teens have clubs of their own with video games and dance parties. Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor in chief of Cruisecritic.com, says, “Certain cruise lines are better for kids with different ages.” She recommends Cunard (babies and toddlers), Disney (children under 10), Carnival (tweens), and Royal Caribbean (teens).

For a customized, private sailing experience, you can charter your own yacht. You don’t need to be a rock star to sail like one; prices start at $300 per person per day all-inclusive through AmazingCharters.com. Tuck the kids into bed and then enjoy a romantic dinner for two under the stars, prepared by your own private chef. Your crew can even create a treasure hunt for the children on shore while you and your honey soak up some rays.

No matter the destination, be sure to make time for a little romance during your next family vacation!

Colleen Lanin is the founder/editor of TravelMamas.com, a site for anyone who wants to travel with children … and stay sane!

The gondolas that ply Venice's waterways are now mostly a means to fleece honeymooners. Instead, find romance on the neighboring island of Giudecca.

You finally made it: you’re canoodling on a Venetian gondola, while a musician croons a melody that seems composed just for you two. It’d be the most romantic moment of your life — if not for that stench from the canal and the bottleneck of gondolas up ahead.

Slideshow: See where the least romantic places are

Romantic destinations require three key ingredients: beauty, mystery and a sense of exclusivity. But a foul smell can turn beauty into ugliness in a second, just as being one of thousands lining up to gaze upon a supposedly romantic sight can quickly rob it of its allure.

No one expects towns in the American Rust Belt or the cluttered backstreets of Mumbai to tug at the heartstrings in the same way as, say, Venice. Yet in some respects they have it easier. Destinations that lay a claim to romance are immediately held to a far more stringent standard. If those iconic hot spots don’t deliver a swoon-worthy stay, the disappointment can be akin to being jilted at the altar.

Paris, for example, may well have written the book on romance, but it sometimes feels like the clichéd Harlequin variety, especially during summertime around the city’s most famous sights, which lure every lovebird within 10,000 miles. The dispiriting result is hordes of camera-toting couples, jostling as they attempt to re-create scenes from "Midnight in Paris" or "Amélie."

Similarly, trekking with your loved one to reach the ruins of Machu Picchu at sunrise seems like romantic nirvana — until you find your physical (and relationship) limits tested by being stuck for days in a 12-person group with a case of altitude sickness or vertigo.

After all, you can’t assume other travelers will be on board with your romantic plans. That’s a lesson Philadelphia-based Travel + Leisure reader Nanette learned the hard way on a recent cruise: “I expected 'The Love Boat,' but it just ended up being a crazy booze cruise,” she posted to Facebook.com/TravelandLeisure.

Anyone who’s tried to arrange a memorable moment for a paramour knows that romance is tricky to orchestrate. Some of the destinations on our list can live up to their reputations as dreamy getaways — it’s just a matter of navigating their hidden hazards. Others face greater obstacles. But the bottom line: with the right partner and a spirit for adventure, almost anywhere can be romantic.

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These sweet American icons range from bite-size candies to crumbly cookies to chocolate-covered fruits and nuts, and all come with a side of American history.

The old adage about being happier than a kid in a candy store holds true, both at home and on the road. For Pittsburgh's Jon H. Prince, it's a Goldenberg's Peanut Chew that brings him back to childhood. And he knows candy: He's president of McKeesport Candy Company, where you can find 2,800 different types of confections (including many listed below). "Sweets are a unique window into social history," says Prince.

In the Pacific Northwest, that history comes in a variation on the Turkish Delight made with apples and apricots from the local harvest. In Wisconsin, it's a candy so beloved that protests were staged when the factory closed. And in the South, it's all about the pralines, as it has been for 300 years. As a bonus for travelers, there's no sweeter way to sample local ingredients (macadamia nuts in Hawaii, maple syrup in Vermont, and um, saltwater in New Jersey) than via local sweets. So ready your insulin pump for a tour of 15 treats worth crossing state lines.

Slideshow: See the sweets

Idaho: Idaho spud

Of the 13 billion pounds of Idaho potatoes grown annually, none are as sweet as these spuds: coconut-flecked dark chocolate surrounding a springy cocoa-flavored marshmallow center. No actual potato here! But like the venerable veg, they're nothing if not versatile. Melt 'em down for fondue or ice cream topping, whip them Bavarian style into a pie, or pop 'em in the freezer for a ice-cream-like treat — or, you know, straight out of the package just like folks in the Gem State have been doing since 1918.

Get it: The confection was invented by Boise's Idaho Candy Company, which offers tours of the factory and has a shop onsite. (idahospud.com; $4.99 for a pack of six.)

Hawaii: Chocolate-covered macadamia nuts

Honolulu's Ellen Dye Candies was the first to market the chocolate-dipped nuts back in 1927. The “Godiva of the Pacific” sold the company to Mamoru Takitani 33 years later. Under the new tiki banner Hawaiian Host, Takitani perfected the recipe and created a brand as iconic today as the crunchy milk chocolatey spheres are addictive. Descendents of the Dye family got back in the game in 2010 with varieties that include a touch of chili pepper, ginger and sea salt all hand-dipped in haute chocolate made from locally grown and roasted cacao.

Get it: Order online from Waimea Chocolate Company (waimeachocolatecompany.com; from $8 for a six-piece box). Or find more mass-market brands — Hawaiian Host, Mauna Loa — anywhere and everywhere on the islands (around $6 for 14 pieces).

California: Turtles

It's a story too sweet to be true. Legend has it that back in 1932 Los Angeles, See's Candies chef Louis “Gordy” Hooper wooed Bobbi in the packing department with a surprise gift of soft vanilla caramel and chocolate poured over toasted pecans, inspired by her pet turtles. It took off, and so did the lovebirds, forming their own company up in Oakland and delivering orders on a beat-up Harley Davidson (allegedly a gift/blessing from Mary See herself).

Get it: Turtles went mass market and are sold in drugstores nationwide. For a more local version, See's sells the treats under the name pecan buds at the company's numerous old-timey, black-and-white stores on the West Coast. (sees.com; $20.40 for a one-pound box.)

New Mexico: Bizcochito

Biscochitos in the north, biscochos in the south — or simply “that cookie grandma makes” — bizcochitos (with a “z”) were christened as America's first official state cookie in 1989. Anise and cinnamon combine with a touch of wine or brandy in these Latin-inflected shortbread crumblies, first introduced by Spaniards to then-Mexico in the 16th century and now a staple at Christmas celebrations as well as quinceañeras and weddings (the traditional diamond shape represents purity). The secret to the flaky melt-in-your-mouthness? Love. And lard.

Get it: Golden Crown Panaderia sells classic bizcochitos in their Albuquerque shop and online (goldencrown.biz; $4 a dozen in store; $16.95 a pound online) Osito's Biscochitos spices things up with a raspberry/habanero version (biscochitos.net; $39.99 for a 92-count tin).

Wisconsin: Candy Raisins

When Necco closed shop in Milwaukee back in 2008, along with local factory jobs went Candy Raisins. The odd little gumdrops had been a local rite of passage since 1930: Yellow-tan with a wrinkly top, the taste was floral, honey-ginger perhaps, a mystery. Also a mystery: the name (there are no raisins in the mix). But, in a lesson for Occupy Sweet Street, devotees rallied, started a website, and inspired 7,000-plus to sign a petition — and it worked. Sort of. Using what is thought to be the last bags in existence, the people behind Osmanium Candy Company reverse-engineered a new version called Candy Sunshine. The fruits of their labor debut in March 2012.

Get it: Milwaukee's Candyman Snack Shop will carry Candy Sunshine (7259 W. North Avenue; 414/393-7647), as will local shops like Fleet Farm and Beans & Barley. You can also order directly from Osmanium (candysunshine.co; $5 for a pack of three bags).

Florida: Coconut patties

When it comes to chocolate-covered-coconut, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Down in Florida, the homespun creamy crunchy coconut squares offer bigger flavor decisions: plain, key lime, orange, mango, almond or piña colada. Versions of the candy have been enjoyed for decades, but Orlando's family-owned Anastasia Confections took them from the home kitchen to the masses when it started boxing them up as Sunshine State souvenirs in the early '80s.

Get it: Brands like Anastasia are found in tourist shops and drug stores (anastasiaconfections.com; $5.99 for a nine-piece box). For fancier, hand-dipped version, try Melbourne's Grimaldi Candies, near the beach (grimaldicandies.com; $10.85 for eight pieces).

Virginia: Peanut brittle

Paul Bunyan might have dug the Grand Canyon out west, but down in the South, lumberjack folk hero Tony Beaver made peanut brittle. Legend has it that he stopped a flood by dumping peanuts and molasses into a river, not only averting disaster but also creating a tasty treat. It's one of America's oldest candies, one that soldiers survived on (and popularized) during the Civil War. Jan. 26 was even declared National Peanut Brittle Day. And that's no tall tale.

Get it: Forbes Candies — an 80-year-old institution — sells their classic peanut brittle at five shops in Virginia Beach. (forbescandies.com; $5.99 per pound.)

New Jersey: Saltwater taffy

From America's archetypal seaside resort comes the quintessential beach treat. Although businessmen like Joseph Fralinger and Enoch James built a boardwalk empire out of the pastel-hued chews, legend has it the first pieces were sold in 1883 after a tidal surge swamped David Bradley's Atlantic City candy shop, soaking his stock of taffy in seawater. Later, when a young girl came in and asked for a bag, he sarcastically told here to help her herself to the “saltwater taffy.” You, and your dental fillings, won't be surprised to hear that the name stuck.

Get it: Fralinger's Original Taffy and James Candy carry more than 40 flavors of taffy at shops up and down the Atlantic City boardwalk (jamescandy.com; $5.95 per pound in stores or $8.99 per pound online.)

Vermont: Maple sugar candy

From the Algonquin sinzibukwud (“drawn from wood”) to today's Grade A, maple syrup has been a staple since pre-colonial times. The simplicity is refreshing. One ingredient: sugar maple sap. One process: boiling. Keep the boiling going and you get sugar, which is compressed into leaf shapes and enjoyed in all its tooth-aching glory. Maple sugar is actually twice as sweet as regular sugar, so much so that sour dill pickles make a great accompaniment. Trust us!

Get it: Family-owned since 1782, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks sells the candies in the shape of leaves, hearts, and even rabbits (morsefarm.com; $8.95 for a 12-piece box). Alas, they don't carry pickles.

Pennsylvania: Peanut Chew

Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews were the original PowerBar, back when candy was considered a low-cost nutritional supplement (anyone remember Sperry’s Chicken Dinner bar?). The chews were formulated in 1917 for ration boxes, and four years later these gobs of rich molasses and peanuts all slathered in dark chocolate were wrapped up for the general public and sold as Chew-ets. They've been a hit ever since.

Get it: The Peanut Chews are easily found at most gas stations and grocers, particularly around Philadelphia, and online. (candyfavorites.com; $24.83 for a 24-count box.)

Maine: Whoopie Pie

Who knew creamy frosting smooshed between two moon-shaped pieces of chocolate cake could engender such controversy. Is it a cookie, a pie or a cake? Did German immigrants in Maine invent it in 1925? Or did the name instead come from Pennsylvania Amish farmers who would find their rival version in their lunch pail and shout “whoopie!”?  Well, in 2011 the Maine legislature fired the first shot, naming the whoopie pie the Official State Treat. Your move, Pennsylvania.

Get it: The treats are found at shops all over the state, but Labadie's Bakery claims to have baked the original back in 1925 (whoopiepies.com; $26.95 per dozen). Oprah approves of Wicked Whoopies (wickedwhoopies.com; $26 per dozen).

Tennessee: Goo Goo Cluster

Said to be the first-ever combination candy bar, this choco-covered sugar bomb of caramel, marshmallow and peanuts was once promoted as a “nourishing lunch for a nickel.” That was way back in 1912, and for its centennial Goo Goo Clusters got a makeover. Out with milk chocolate shortcuts (i.e. no more additives and partially hydrogenated oils), in with fluffier nougat, slicker packaging and real pecan chunks in a Supreme version. Many in Nashville think its name is in deference to the Grand Ole Opry (GOO), but company lore nods towards babes: a candy so good they'll “ask for it from birth!”

Get it: The candies are deliciously ubiquitous and can be picked up at Cracker Barrels and Kroger markets throughout Tennessee as well as most tourist shops in Nashville. (googoo.com; $3.95 for a three-pack.)

Louisiana: Pralines

Pralines (praw-LEENS) are to the South what maple candy is to the North, a sweet to celebrate the local plenty. In this case, sugar cane and pecans (puh-CAHNS). French settlers in the 17th century brought over the treat (named for diplomat Caesar du Plessis-Praslin) and soon swapped out the traditional almonds for the local nut. The secret to the deconstructed candy is to combine the milk, cream, sugar, butter and nuts together in one pot and scoop the mixture onto a marble slab. No secret to sweet-toothed New Orleans locals: Samples are easy to come by.

Get it: Swing by Southern Candymakers when you are in New Orleans for handmade pralines and other chocolate treats (southerncandymakers.com; $21.95 for a one-pound box). And yes, they give out samples.

Ohio: Buckeyes

Thanks to the official state tree, Ohio is known as the Buckeye State, and the famed Ohio State athletics teams battle as the Buckeyes. So it should come as no surprise that the favored regional sweet has the same moniker as the tree's shiny nut. Buckeyes (which, like the nut, are named after their resemblance to the eyes of a white-tailed deer) are a peanut butter mixture dipped into chocolate. Just don't mistake it for the real thing; the latter is toxic (and markedly less delicious).

Get it: Visit Schmidt's Fudge Haus in the German Village outside Columbus to see buckeyes being handmade. (schmidtsfudgehaus.com; $10.99 for a half-pound box.)

Washington: Aplets & Cotlets

An immigrant success story for our taste buds, Aplets & Cotlets were the brainchild of Armenian fruit farmers at Liberty Orchards in Cashmere, Wash. When faced with a surplus in their orchard, they turned to their homeland for inspiration. The result: a new take on Turkish Delight featuring walnuts jellied with apple and apricot (“cot”) juice instead of the traditional rose water. More than 90 years on, the sugar-dusted Confection of the Fairies draws about 80,000 pilgrims a year to the orchard, and once wrangled with the nutty-toffee Almond Roca over official state candy status. The fight ended at an impasse.

Get it: Liberty Orchards is where to go for the original creation, as well as varieties like pineapple, cranberry, guava and rose-pistachio. (libertyorchards.com; $9.50 for 16 pieces.)

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At Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates in London, the store offers different flavors every week.

If you think a box of chocolates is a bland Valentine’s cliché, then you’re not shopping at the right places. Chocolatiers have elevated the sweets into an art form and are opening appealing shops that cater to both locals and tourists.

Slideshow: See the mouth-watering treats

The finest new truffles and bonbons often reflect local tastes and unexpected pairings. Consider the white peach and apricot caramel chocolates sold in Mexico City’s artsy Condesa neighborhood or the Blanc de Noir ganache covered in gold dust available at a Basel shop also known for its wine tastings. These bite-size treats are an easy, affordable luxury — a satisfying treat in the moment and a souvenir to savor long after your travels.

For years, the big news in chocolate has been the bean-to-bar movement, a worthy farm-to-table-inspired trend that focused more on varietals and provenance than culinary-driven flavor combinations and artful presentations. But recently, truffles have come into focus. And indeed, one trend has flowed into the next, with careful sourcing and community involvement playing a large role for some recently opened chocolate shops.

In Berkeley, Calif.'s Elmwood district, for instance, it’s all about cocoa with a cause at Casa de Chocolates, a hacienda-inspired boutique slated to open in February 2012. Owners Amelia Garcia and Arcelia Gallardo are sourcing their beans from various South American communities, and their plan is to launch a nonprofit organization to give back to the farmers who cultivate the shop’s cacao. Their beans go into creative flavors like dark chocolate with goat’s-milk caramel.

The market-driven tenets of farm-to-table cooking have also made their way into the chocolate lab. In London, Paul A. Young (who just released a beautiful cookbook for the chocolate-obsessed) focuses on hyper-seasonal flavors, with a selection that changes each week. Soma, Toronto’s favorite small-batch producer, has taken the approach in a different direction, opening a new factory-like space where customers can watch the bean-to-bonbon process happen before their eyes. And in Mexico City, local fruits like mango and passion fruit are put on display inside colorful chocolate shells at Tout Chocolat, a trendy new shop by a former NYC pastry chef.

Whether as souvenirs or exercises in virtual travel, these spots satisfy the urge to indulge, bridging a familiar medium with the essence of a destination — and what can be sweeter?

More from Travel + Leisure

• Romantic winter getaways
• World's biggest buildings
• Worst airline blunders 
• World's most romantic all-inclusive resorts

While the Eiffel Tower shouts romance, much of the city's appeal lies in everyday attractions, from patisseries and chocolate shops to the Art Nouveau metro entrances.

From the Victorian inns of San Francisco to the teahouses of Kyoto, the world is full of romantic destinations. Although Paris is the obvious choice, there are many other cities (domestic and exotic) where the vistas, architecture and food can inspire passion and even marriage proposals.

Slideshow: See which cities are the most romantic cities

The qualities that make a city romantic are subjective. For some people, nothing surpasses Buenos Aires’s tango clubs and cutting-edge restaurants. Visitors can stay in the Palermo Soho neighborhood at 1555 Malabia House, which was originally built as a 19^th-century convent and is now considered Argentina’s first designer B&B.

For dinner, the unmarked entrance to Tegui is hidden by graffiti, but once inside, you’ll find ambitious, locally sourced cuisine from hotshot chef German Martitegui.

Other travelers may be seduced by Fez. Morocco’s ancient fortress city has maze-like alleyways lined with mysterious windowless shops, tiled mosques, tea gardens and souks overflowing with fruits, spices and nuts.

Once the summer palace of a Moroccan pasha, the carefully restored Le Jardin des Biehn now welcomes hotel guests with a hammam, gallery space and large Andalusian-style garden.

Cecile Houizot-Nanot’s Fes et Gestes is another find in Fez. Housed in an old French colonial building with a high-walled garden, the restaurant is known for its traditional Moroccan tea service and tagines.

In Europe, Budapest offers architectural beauty and thermal baths; Paris, chocolatiers’ windows and the Seine at night. 

From great food to magnificent ruins, fabulous nightclubs to medieval streets, the most romantic cities have one thing in common: They’ll keep you in the mood for love. 

More from Food & Wine

• America’s best bed and breakfasts
• 50 best bars in America
• World’s best cities for street food
• Ultimate chocolate desserts
• Valentine's Day recipes

Gwyneth Paltrow wants to make sure her fans have the best Valentine's Day ever on Feb. 14. And while decadent chocolate hearts are absent from her extensive how-to guide for Goop.com readers and their significant others, sex books and simple but delicious recipes are involved.

The actress, who has been married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin since 2003, recommends kicking off the day of romance at 7 a.m. by creating a playlist filled with festive songs like "Valentine's Day" by Bruce Springsteen for him or her to listen to during the day.

PHOTOS: Valentine's Day gifts the stars are going crazy for

Next up is a healthy breakfast: an omelette, a homemade berry yogurt parfait, fresh-squeezed orange juice and coffee from a French press. "While breakfast in bed on a Saturday is lovely, breakfast in bed on a weekday is completely unexpected, and truly special," Paltrow says.

To carry him or her through the rest of the day, the 39-year-old suggests leaving mini love letters in pant pockets, purses, etc. and setting up phone alerts to surprise him or her. Paltrow also prefers creating a DIY flower bouquet adorned with cut-out paper hearts.

PHOTOS: Gwyneth Paltrow through the years

For dinner, the "Contagion" star provides a simple recipe for Chicken Paillard. "Despite the fancy name, Chicken Paillard is one of the simplest dishes to make," she says.

Of course, what would Valentine's Day be without a little hot and heavy romance? Paltrow, who jokes that her tips for rounding out one's evening are for "over 18's only!" shares her favorite ways to spice things up in the bedroom: a Kama Sutra kit and a sex book.'

PHOTOS: Gwyneth's craziest quotes

"This is not just another sex book," Paltrow says of "101 Nights of Grrreat Sex" by Laura Corn. "[It uses] 'secret sealed envelopes' with special instructions for a love task or favor that each partner tears out and completes for one another. Sounds simple but the anticipation and mystery makes even the smallest gestures pretty thrilling."

What do you think of Gwyneth's plan? Share your thoughts on Facebook.

Related content:

• Geeky marriage proposals caught on video
• Hoda, Kathie Lee sample aphrodisiacs

It was a wild first night at Atlantis, and poor Hoda is feeling the effects of yesterday's shots. Sadly, for Hoda, we're not speaking of booze.

If you missed it, yesterday Hoda and Kathie Lee were offered the unique Bahamian experience of slurping down raw conch. According to local lore, eating a certain slimy portion of the sea slug – called the "pistol" – has incredible aphrodisiac powers.

TODAY

The girls made a pact to do the seafood shot together, but alas, only Hoda went through with it. Ah, burned by the old "You go first!" trick.

This morning, KLG impishly replayed the footage and hinted that Hoda had suffered some sort of gastrointestinal distress, which seemed like insult to injury.

"Do you know what it's like working with Kathie Lee Gifford?" Hoda sighed. Uh, awesome? No word on whether or not the aphrodisiac thing was a go, and thankfully nobody pressed Hoda on the issue, as she probably already needs a vacation from this vacation. She's been through enough.

More: KLG and Hoda kiss a girl ... (dolphin)
Tropical dance-off! The fourth hour vs. a sea lion
What have KLG and Hoda been up to in the Bahamas?

Julieanne Smolinski is a TODAY.com contributor. She has brothers so she never goes first in eating pacts.

The 650-square-foot VIP Spa Suite at Mandarin Oriental in New York City serves up views, a fireplace, deep soaking tub and dual massage beds.

A visit to a lavish spa suite can be an ideal gift for a holiday that celebrates love — especially if you bring along your significant other.

“Spa services are a very intimate and private experience,” says Lori Shubert, spa director at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa. “When a couple comes in and shares these intimate moments together in a treatment, it brings them closer together and allows them to share a unique experience with each other that they cannot find elsewhere.  Afterwards, they have a fun and romantic memory to cherish.”

A trio of Nemacolin couples spa rooms feature an elegant waiting area with a copper-topped fireplace. Basic spa day packages start at $320 and go up to $540 for specialized services.

Today, high-end spas like Nemacolin consider it a must to offer a couple’s suite to accommodate lovers who enjoy an atmosphere that’s conducive to romance.

As high-end spas go, few are higher than the 35th floor of the Mandarin-Oriental in Manhattan. The VIP Spa Suite includes a private steam room, hot tub, fireplace and side-by-side massage beds. From  Feb. 11-14, the hotel is offering a $1,750 “Valentine’s Day Midnight Magic Over Manhattan” package from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Packages include lobster, champagne and caviar.

Spa director Heather Hannig says the elements combine to make the luxurious spa the place of frequent proposals.

“It’s very sweet,” she said. “We’re all in on it and do everything we can from sprinkling rose petals to preparing special dishes and surprises to make sure everything goes perfectly.”

A typical three-hour booking of the 650-square-foot VIP Spa Suite -- without the dining extras -- costs $1,500; a four-hour stay, $2,000.

“Some couples will book it for up to eight hours,” Hannig says. “We have lots of anniversaries with guest couples who just want to spend the whole time luxuriating in the romantic privacy.”

In Kohler, Wis., a luxurious couples spa at The American Club Resort is sure to make a splash. The spa features the Riverbath treatment followed by its signature 80-minute massage for two; $225 per person.

The Venetian’s Canyon Ranch Spa in Las Vegas gives guests more than romance. In a town famous for quickie weddings, the spa lets couples get hitched, Rasul-style. Rasul refers to an ancient Oriental pre-wedding night cleansing/purification ceremony complete with candles and rose-petal spreads.

Couples fingerpaint each another with purifying mud before ascending heated spa thrones to bask in the mud’s therapeutic effervescence. The Rasul treatment is $200 per couple.

Oh, and don't forget the chocolates.

More on Itineraries

• Maui resort marks 20 years with 20-hand massage
• Famed hotelier taps into lobbies of decades past
• 4 fine hotels for foodies 

If you’re bemoaning the lack of a Valentine, chances are you’ve turned to what seem like a gazillion dating websites for help.

Buyer beware, though, caution a team of psychologists who’ve just published a lengthy report about online dating, now a billion-dollar industry.

“There are sites that will tell you, ‘based on decades of scientific research and basic math, we can find your compatible mate for you,’” says lead author Eli Finkel, an associate professor of social psychology at Northwestern University. “That’s a pretty tantalizing offer.”

The problem, Finkel says, is that these websites have no scientific evidence to back up their claims that they can find your soulmate.

Well of course they don’t. Science and romance go together like Demi and Ashton, right?

Actually, Finkel says, scientists have been studying relationships for 80 years or so. And one thing is clear: It’s impossible to determine that two people have what it takes to maintain a long-term relationship before they’ve even met.

Research has shown that three types of information are needed to predict whether a couple will fall in love and stay in love, Finkel says.

One is demographics. It helps if a potential mate is age- and geographically appropriate.

A second, says Finkel: “What are the actual dynamics between two people who have met?”

And last, “What are the life circumstances that affect the couple?” Finkel says. “There’s no way they could possibly know that a hurricane or a cancer diagnosis or a sexy coworker is around the corner.”

Probably the best-known matchmaking website is eHarmony.com, which charges $59.95 for a month’s subscription. eHarmony asks clients approximately 250 questions about 29 “dimensions of compatibility,” ranging from conflict resolution to kindness to ambition. eHarmony’s “matching algorithm” is proprietary, so the company did not share it with Finkel and his coauthors.

In a statement, spokeswoman Becky Teraoka said the proof of eHarmony’s success is in the numbers. On average, she said, 542 people marry in the U.S. each day as a result of being matched on eHarmony, according to a 2009 study conducted for the website by Harris Interactive.

“eHarmony’s matching system is based on years of empirical and clinical research on married couples,” Teraoka said. “As part of this work, we have studied what aspects of personality, values and interest, and how pairs match on them, are most predictive of relationship satisfaction.”

Finkel isn’t convinced. Speed-dating, which he’s also studied, can tell prospective mates more about each other than profiles from a website, he says. “The human mind was built to size people up pretty quickly. The human mind was not built to browse a profile and figure out whether somebody is compatible.”

If you’re looking for love online, Finkel says, your best bet is to save your money and stick with the less-expensive websites in which you browse profiles, as opposed to those that try to make matches for you.

But, warns  Finkel, who met his wife the old-fashioned way through a fix-up arranged by their grandmothers, “get offline fairly quickly, because you’re never going to be able to figure out from a profile and some emails whether you’re compatible with somebody.”

How did you meet your partner? Tell us on Facebook.

More from Today Health

By Sean Fallon
Nerd Approved 

What do you have planned for Valentine's Day this year? A nice dinner at a fancy restaurant? A romantic evening at home? Maybe you're planning to pop the question or even head to the altar. If marriage is in the cards, you might want to check out some of these nerdy proposals and marriage moments for inspiration. And if you're single, watch anyway. If these nerds can find true love, so can you. 

Super Mario marriage proposal
Watch this guy go the extra mile when proposing to his girlfriend (a fanatical Super Mario Bros. fan) after covering the walls of his living room with hundreds of 8 1/2"  x 11" sheets of standard printer paper. He even set up a projector to display fireworks. Mario finally got his princess, but his new father-in-law keeps dressing up as Bowser and driving by the house at all hours of the night. Plus, he found a banana peel behind the rear tire of his car at work. — YouTube

Engage!
When Captain Jean-Luc Picard says to "engage," you had better well do it. Watch as this nerdy couple gets the ultimate marriage blessing. And remember, even if you can't get Patrick Stewart to help you out with your proposal, you can still do this. — YouTube via FashionablyGeek

Marriage with memes
Tim utilized a number of popular Internet memes to propose to his girlfriend Audrey outside of a restaurant, then set the video shot by Crazy Monkey Studio to the song "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri. The result is adorkable to say the least. Maybe they should name their first kid "Success." — Vimeo via CubicleBot

The Dragonborn dance
YouTuber Malukah's cover of Skyrim's "The Dragonborn Comes"is actually a really beautiful song, which is why it worked pretty well for these newlyweds during their first dance. The venue looks nice as well — hard to believe this is taking place in Riften.— YouTube via Nerd Approved

More craziness from Nerd Approved:

• Nerdy ways to say "I do"
• Gollum crashes a wedding
• Han and Leia are the worst couple in the universe
• Bleeding heart cakes to horrify your Valentine
• 10 gifts any nerdy couple will love

Particle accelerator proposal
You know a proposal is going to be nerdy when it starts out with a ruse about "a rare crystalline deposit in RHIC’s beamline at the STAR detector." That was the story Kendra's boss used to get her down to the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory where her boyfriend, Dave, was waiting to propose to her amidst the section of the machine that examines the energy present moments after the Big Bang. — Dave Mosher

Bruce Campbell wedding
Captain Picard aside, there is no greater honor for a nerdy couple than to be married by the icon that is Bruce Campbell. The dream came true for attendees at ZomBCon in Seattle a couple of years back. Bruce Campbell and Ted Rami presided over a mass vow renewal ceremony for a horde of deadites — and he even got the words right. — Geekscape

More craziness from Nerd Approved:

• Nerdy ways to say "I do"
• Gollum crashes a wedding
• Han and Leia are the worst couple in the universe
• Bleeding heart cakes to horrify your Valentine
• 10 gifts any nerdy couple will love

Pokemon proposal
Marq proposed to his girlfriend at the New York Comic Con last year with the help of a flash mob. He also dressed as Ash holding a Pokeball ring box. In the end, it seems that Marq didn't need to catch 'em all. There was only one that really mattered. — YouTube

Comic book proposal
David and Jennifer both love comic books, so when it came time to pop the question, he decided to make an elaborate graphic novel based on their relationship that concluded with the proposal. Then he threw a party with a bunch of friends and presented Jen with the book. Thankfully, she didn't complain about the reboot of their origin story and simply accepted her fate. —  YouTube via Nerd Approved

Portal 2 engagement
Gary Hudston might be the man to beat in terms of nerdy proposals. He hired three professional designers and Ellen McClain, the actual voice of GLaDOS in the Portal series, to propose to his gamer girlfriend. She said "yes", but it's unclear whether or not her answer was based on love or the fear of what GLaDOS might do if she turned him down. — YouTube

Where's proposal No. 10? It's right here: Binary code proposal wins human female's love

More craziness from Nerd Approved:

• Nerdy ways to say "I do"
• Gollum crashes a wedding
• Han and Leia are the worst couple in the universe
• Bleeding heart cakes to horrify your Valentine
• 10 gifts any nerdy couple will love

So, yeah. Marriages in the U.S. are on decline, except maybe among geeks — who are pairing up faster than penguins being narrated by Morgan Freeman, if these ongoing "viral marriage proposals" mean anything.

They don't. But here's some anecdotal evidence anyway! Now add to that collection of "adorkable marriage propsoals," this dude "doctorpappa," as he's known on YouTube, wearing a paper mache mask in the visage of surly robot Bender "Bending Unit" Rodriquez," and spitting binary code in an obvious reference to the 2007 direct-to-video feature "Bender's Big Score," based on the then-cancelled series "Futurama." (Comedy Central aired it in multiple parts, but anyway ...)

Rather than opening a portal to the past however, (as in "Bender's Big Score,"), this code allegedly maps out a link to some chick's future: A marriage proposal. Here's what the lucky lady (who had to decode this mess) told Geekologie: 

My boyfriend told me I had to close my laptop for a couple minutes, then when I logged back on this was posted to my facebookwall. He sat across the room as I transcribed and then decoded it. After about a half hour I found out it says, "Rachel, you are awesome. Will you marry me?" I said yes, of course :B

Truly, it's a tribute to this woman's attention span and/or love that she made it through the entire 3:12 minutes to decode this mess, which proves, above all, that just because something's cute, doesn't mean it's cute for 3:12 minutes.

Plus, why have a menacing RC shark floating in the background if it's not going to attack? Talk about anti-climatic. Then again, why have a pile of laundry in the background (right) if you're asking someone to share your life?

With this latest geek marriage proposal to go viral, it is now apparent to even the most naive of Internet saps that these dorks are engaged in fierce competition, cranking out increasingly meta matrimonial inquiries in an effort to pwn (that's elder nerd speak for "summarily beat into submission in a humiliating fashion") all viral proposals that came before.

Let's just hope this latest hu-mon pair bonding doesn't end like this. (Scan the QR code with your smartphone to learn the answer, nerds!)

Gizmodo via Geekologie

More on the annoying way we live now:

• The most adorkable marriage proposals ... on video
• Watch OK Go let a car drive its latest viral hit
• Yet another study confirms your tech addiction 
• Are your deleted photos still on Facebook?

Helen A.S. Popkingoes blah blah blah about privacy and then asks her to join her on Twitter and/or Facebook. Also, Google+. Because that's how she rolls. 

For one day only, the paper napkins are gone and reservations are recommended as the venerable Southern diner chain makes special dinners for sweethearts. WALB's Dayne Young reports.

Discuss this post on Facebook.

My 5-year-old son and I were walking to the kitchen that November night for a snack. “Something happened, Mom,” he said. I looked back at Sam, thinking maybe he’d dropped his Matchbox car, or his pajama bottoms had fallen down.

Diana Sugg

Sam+Emma. True love... in kindergarten? Don't laugh, the experts say, their feelings are real.

Instead, he stopped and looked at me for a moment. An impish smile spread across his face. “I fell in love,” he announced. “I’m in love with Emma.”

I didn’t know what to say. For weeks, Sam had been bringing up his classmate Emma. They’d been playing and hugging and having a grand time. My husband and I laughed and thought it was adorable.

But was it love? How could it be? They were only in kindergarten.

In fact, experts say, age 5 or 6 is the moment when romantic love first arrives. Boys and girls begin to notice each other. They develop loyalties. They start to share secrets.

“These are really strong feelings that kids actually have,” said Dr. Barbara Howard, a nationally known developmental behavioral pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “They really do love each other.”

Sam and Emma both have big imaginations and lots of creativity. They’d hit it off during recess, digging for dinosaur fossils in the sandbox, and running across the field, searching the sky for hawks.  

Diana Sugg

Emma made this card for Sam, her kindergarten sweetheart.

Kindergarten is the moment when kids are in school full-time, and moving away from their primary caregiver. It’s natural and healthy to attach to another person for comfort and security, said Dr. Joyce Harrison, director of preschool psychiatry programs at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Children also start trying out adult roles. As kindergartners, they realize they’re in the big school and think they’re supposed to act like a grown-up, said Harrison. “It’s all a part of sorting out, ‘Who am I, and what am I supposed to do?’” she said.

Some boys propose to girls. My sister got a cigar band from her classmate. A friend’s aunt actually had a boy in her kindergarten bring in his mother’s two-carat diamond engagement ring. Honored, the girl wore it on her thumb all day.

But this role-playing is often more than play. Parents and teachers shouldn’t laugh at it – or make it into a big deal. These are genuine feelings that should be respected and accepted.

Because it’s also an age when children are naturally curious about their bodies, Howard noted that parents should supervise these kids, because sometimes they want to know how girls’ and boys’ bodies are different.

But rarely does anything need to be done about these relationships. They run their course. Just when things seem to be getting too intense, teachers and doctors say, interests change. Usually, by first and second grade, boys just want to be with the boys, and girls want to play with girls.

For now, Emma and Sam have decided they’re going to get married. They’ve practiced their wedding dance. They’ve named their five children. More importantly, they have fun, and they watch out for each other. She makes him cards; he brings her the water bottle she left behind.

When Sam first told me, I think I mumbled a few comments. Mostly, I tried to say it was nice.

Now, seeing them together, knowing that he wants me to pick him up later each school day – so he can savor just a few more minutes sitting next to Emma  – I find myself smiling. And I think to myself, “Good for Sam.” He’s lucky to have this special friend.

The other day, when Sam was getting a ride with Emma and her father, I bent inside the car to hug him good-bye. I noticed that Sam and Emma, each in a car seat, had stretched out their arms toward each other. They were holding hands over the empty space between them.

When I looked into Sam’s face, it was lit from within, with excitement, with happiness, with something I’d never seen before. Dare I say it? Love.

Diana K. Sugg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has covered medicine, crime and other issues for newspapers around the country. She is now a freelance writer in Baltimore raising two young sons.

Fall in love with these TODAY Moms stories:

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TripLingo

Why limit your chances of finding love by flirting only in English? You could easily multiply your odds by chatting up charming strangers in several other languages. And an iPhone app will help guide you through that process.

The app in question is the Romance Edition of TripLingo, a popular language-learning application for travelers. It is free and available for download through the Apple App Store.

TripLingo Romance Edition focuses on the phrases most relevant to seeking out romance, such as compliments, flirty lines, and activity suggestions.

TripLingo

The app includes over a thousand phrases in  Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Hindi and Castilian Spanish. The phrases are divided into four categories — formal, casual, slang and crazy — and you narrow down or expand your options using the "Slang Slider." In addition, there are audio examples, flashcards and a plain ol' dictionary — in other words, everything you need to stumble your way through a couple of dates.

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Want more tech news, silly puns or amusing links? You'll get plenty of all three if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on Twitter, subscribing to her Facebook posts, or circling her on Google+.

Does your ideal Valentine's Day include red roses? Fancy jewelry? A babysitter and a night out? A heart-pounding night of adventure with Jason Bourne?

You know who you are, Matt Damon fans. TODAY Moms and Parenting.com surveyed more than 800 moms and asked which celeb dad would be your Valentine's dream date: actor and father of four Matt Damon tops the list, followed by Johnny Depp and David Beckham. Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Will Smith rounded out the bottom -- sorry, fellas.

Decisions, decisions...

Related: Matt Damon sticks up for his mama

(For those 50 percent who picked "none of the above" in our survey, tell us in the comments, who's your dream date? And don't say your husband -- that's very sweet, and we're happy for you, but indulge in a little celebrity fantasy!)

Just in case Matt's reading this, TODAY Moms also told us their ideal V-Day gift. Most popular? A babysitter and a date night out with your man was top choice for a third of moms. One in five want something tangible and traditional: Flowers, chocolate, jewelry. Others go for something homemade (13 percent) or simply a night "off" from the kids and household responsibilities (14 percent). But we do want romance: Only 2 percent said they'd like a practical gift, like a blender or a snow-blower.

Related: Read more about our survey from Parenting.com

Romance can be hard to find, though. A third of respondents acknowledge that V-Day is less of a big deal when you're a parent, because really, who has the time? Another third say it becomes a holiday more for the kids than for mom and dad. Just one in 10 die-hard romantics say Valentine's Day actually becomes more important after you have kids, because it's key to take the opportunity to re-connect as a couple.

Related: How Brangelina get their romantic "alone time"

Sex? It's optional. About half of moms say they plan on getting some Valentine's nookie. Of those, a depressing one in five say they'll do the deed only because it's expected and they feel like they should.

As far as spending, most of us aren't going crazy this V-Day. Our respondents plan to spend an average of $24 on a gift for their partner and $23 on gifts for their kids. A third won't spend a dime on their partner because they don't exchange gifts. And only 2 percent plan to splash out with a gift of more than $100 for their partner.

As a wise woman (I think it was JLo) once said, "Love don't cost a thing." Happy Valentine's Day, everyone -- and check in with our Facebook page on Feb. 14 to rant and rave about your best and worst V-Day presents.

Our gift to you:
Matt Damon slideshow
Johhny Depp slideshow

Linnea Covington

Try a handmade truffle from Kee's Chocolates, which comes in flavors like passion fruit, fennel and black sesame.

We’re all bombarding our sweethearts with delicious, decadent chocolates this time of year. But if your love is a discriminating chocolate connoisseur, don’t show up at the door with a box of cocoa-flavored sugar from the drugstore. Here are our favorite outside-the-box confections that scream “I love you” – even if you eat them all yourself (and yes, we took on the arduous task of testing them out). All these brands ship, so you can click, drool and buy from the comfort of your couch. Note: Prices listed are for boxes of varying sizes.

JoMart: This Brooklyn-based, family-owned chocolate shop churns out all sorts of scrumptious treats. Try JoMart’s handmade, chocolate dipped marshmallows in flavors including s’mores, coffee and maple nut ($13.50 for 1/2 pound). The fluffy sweetness proves a nice break from all those heavy chocolate candies one usually finds around Valentine’s Day. 

Linnea Covington

Exotic truffles from Vosges

Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Owner Katrina Markoff has created a luscious collection of exotic truffles in flavors like Indian curry and coconut naga, ginger and wasabi black pearl and a white chocolate with Cointreau and macadamia nut ambrosia ($8 to $75). The high-end shop also offers a hand-sized chocolate pig, stuffed with flecks of hickory-smoked bacon. 

Linnea Covington

Boozy chocolate from Roni-Sue

Roni-Sue: Booze and chocolate are a natural fit and Rhonda Kave, also known as Roni-Sue, has tapped into this combo at her Manhattan chocolate shop. Liquor-filled creations including a sweet, crunchy and malty beer-pretzel caramel, a margarita truffle that tastes just like its frozen counterpart and a pungent dark-and-stormy, made the proper way with Goslings dark rum ($13.50 to $28). 

Martine's Chocolates: Truly give your heart away with a chocolate rendition of the human organ from Martine’s Chocolate. The hand-made heart is painted by confectioners at the shop, preservative-free and made with superb Belgian chocolate ($28).  

Kee's Chocolates: Sometimes you meet a truffle you can really have a relationship with. One bite into Kee Ling Tong’s luscious passion-fruit chocolate and you will never want to stray. Each truffle is handmade daily and the 48 flavors (think refreshing fennel, cool lemon-basil, and savory-sweet black sesame, $15-$40) are inspired by Tong's dining-out adventures. Don’t be afraid to experiment with ones that sound unusual; each piece is a rich experience. 

Marie Bell: Chocolate is sexy, especially when wrapped in foil and labeled with classic pin-up girls. An array of .22-ounce dark and milk-chocolate bars are hand-glittered and decorated with vintage photos, from a half-naked girl in a forest to an underwear-clad beauty ($17).  

La Maison du Chocolat: Only someone with a true love for chocolate could have created such an elegant menu of candies. Try the French-based confectioner's yoko, a ganache with tea and orange peel, or the canelle, which has Indonesian cinnamon folded in ($22 to $88). 

Linnea Covington is a freelance writer and eater who will try any drink, dish, or sweet at least once, especially if it involves chili or bourbon. 

More from Bites:

• Cocktails, vino to spark Valentine's Day romance
• Christina Tosi's tips for choosing Valentine's Day chocolates

Who says Valentine's Day is for lovers? If you're single or not in the mood to celebrate romance, why not shower your platonic friends with gifts and sweets? They'll likely never break your heart, so it's actually a wise investment. (Just sayin'.)

For your girlfriends

Erica Weiner

Sweetheart necklace, $65, Erica Weiner
If your bestie can’t stop quoting Shakespeare, R. Kelly or Zoolander, inscribe her favorite words so she can keep them... near her heart. This Erica Weiner necklace can be customized with any saying, including “Love sucks.”

Deborah Lippmann

Nail polish, $16-$18, Deborah Lippmann
What lady doesn’t love a notice-me shade? Luxury nail polish brand Deborah Lippmann boasts the ultimate Valentine’s Day hues – a glittery princess pink called "Some Enchanted Evening" and a bordello red appropriately titled "Single Ladies." 

Baggu

Duck bag, $24, Baggu.com
Make schlepping things around all the more enjoyable with a cute and simple canvas carry-all, which comes in a rainbow of colors (including bright neons). Perfect for Whole Foods-supporting fashionistas.

Of a Kind

Sweetheart T-shirt, $66, OfaKind.com
Now you can “wear your heart on your sleeve,” thanks to Of a Kind’s sweetheart T-shirt by Laugh Cry Repeat. The online retailer, which specializes in promoting indie designers, releases limited-edition pieces to ensure your stylish friends are always kept unique.

Burt's Bees

Bee Pampered spa set, $10, Burtsbees.com
Most women are already wearing the brand on their lips, so why not the extend the goodness to their bodies? Drugstore favorite Burt's Bees' spa set includes a cranberry and pomegranate sugar scrub and body butter – two great products for affordable, sweet-smelling success.

For your guy friends

Otter Creek

The Otter Creek Essentials, $18 each / $54 for kit, Ocreek.com
Know a man’s man with just the slightest hint of metrosexuality? Indulge his vanity with a tongue-in-cheek gift set of boyish smell-good essentials, including a body wash scented with cedar, coffee and leather and a “Hair of the Dog” shampoo.

Gilt Taste

Chocolate-covered jalapenos, $34.99, Gilt Taste
Is he adventurous ... in the kitchen? For the boy who claims he’ll do anything, tell him to put his money where his mouth is by trying these sweet and spicy Belgian delicacies.

Fredflare.com

Self-adhesive mustaches, $10, Fredflare.com
Would he laugh in your face if you gave him a serious V-Day gift? We suggest a fake ‘stache. These actually come in rather handy during dinner parties, awkward moments or serious discussions.

Ahalife.com

Noble maple syrup, $50, Ahalife.com
Pancakes deserve top-shelf condiments and Ahalife boldly claims these ambrosial syrups, compared to Aunt Jemima, are “what Guinness is to PBR.” Feed your favorite foodie with the very best in taste – and bottle design.

JSx55

Hamburger print by Jon Chonko, $55, Jsx55.com
True love is a good sandwich (I think Liz Lemon of "30 Rock" taught us that). Celebrate tastiness with a gorgeous, glossy print of stellar sandwiches from Jon Chonko’s “Scanwiches” JSx55 exhibition. The collection extends beyond burgers to such classics as a BLT, sub, lobster roll, fluffernutter and more. (Tip: If you're already at Jsx55.com, check out their playful, Tiffany-inspired "diamond rings" for the ladies).

Rina Raphael is a TODAY.com editor who considers cheese the ultimate aphrodisiac.

More: 7 Valentine's Day gifts for the gentleman in your life
 The 9 best-rated face scrubs

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, head Thirsty Girl Leslie Sbrocco treats Kathie Lee and Hoda to retro-chic drinks ideas packed with romance. From the classic glamour of a sparkling cocktail to hearty red wines to pair with chocolate fondue, these ideas will take you from cocktail hour through dinner to end-of-the-night gift giving in style. 

Cocktails to kick off the evening
Cava Twist
This is my modern take on the classic champagne cocktail, which pairs bubbly with brandy and sugar. Instead, I use rose cava from Spain and infuse it with a dash of lightly sweet, elegant Chamomile liqueur:  

• Villarnau Brut Rose Cava, Spain $16 
  Deep garnet in color, this is a beautiful bubbly over which to gaze at your lover. Scents of red berries are followed with a crisp, dry finish in a wine that goes from the beginning of the meal to the end of dessert. 
• Montanaro Liquore di Grappa alla Camomilla, Italy $60  
  This unique spirit is made with grappa infused with chamomile flowers. Honey and floral aromas jump from the glass while a hint of sweetness rounds out the finish. This luscious drink is calming and curative and can be served alone, over ice, or with a dash of tonic or sparkling wine.  

Ruby G&T (gin & tonic)
Taking one of the standards of the cocktail world, the gin and tonic, I've turned it into a Valentine’s night sip. Use top quality tonic and gin then add pomegranate seeds frozen in ice cube trays to add the ruby color:

• Bloom London Dry Gin, $30
  Made by the first female master gin distiller in the world, triple distilled Bloom is an aromatic and refreshingly smooth gin. Using chamomile, honeysuckle and pomelo as botanicals, this gin captures the essence of nature in a bottle. 
• Q tonic, $8 for (4-pack)
  This artisan tonic is made from hand-picked quinine from the Peruvian Andes and is sweetened with organic agave making it less caloric and sweet-tasting than other tonics.

Moving from drinks to dinner is easy if you head back to the 70’s and warm up with fondue.

Fondue brings back memories for many of us of Friday nights at home dipping frozen fruit draped in chocolate. Well folks, fondue is back. I recommend a dark chocolate called BRIX, made to pair with wine. Instead of using only sweet bites to dip in chocolate, add savory tidbits to your offering. Skewer sliced figs and bacon chunks then pair with dry-styled red wine. 

• 2008 Numanthia "Termes" Toro, Spain $30
  A sexy Spaniard is always a Valentine's night treat. The region of Toro is home to some of the oldest grape vines in the world and Christopher Columbus is said to have brought wine from this area when traveling to America. Numanthia is a leader from Toro and their intensely seductive red made from Tinta de Toro grapes is ideal with foods from steak to chocolate. 
• 2009 Clos de los Siete Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, $18
  Cupid would enjoy sipping this sultry red. Wines made from Malbec are perfect paired with dark chocolate, and this complex version is an affordable luxury. 

End the night with a little vino and gift giving. These fun, holiday-appropriate wines are affordable allowing you or your mate to spend more money on flowers, lingerie, chocolates or other gifts…whatever your heart desires.

• 2009 Simply Naked Chardonnay, California $10
  Go ahead, get naked. This zesty, snappy white with the hot name refers to the wine being made without using oak barrels. If you think you don't like Chardonnay, give this one a try. 
• 2010 Red Knot Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia $13
  Their motto is “Get Knotty” and that goes without saying on Valentine’s day. Spicy, smooth Shiraz from one of Aussie’s top regions, McLaren Vale, makes for a lovely wine to sip or give as a gift. By the way, the knot refers to the knots in the wood of the local gum (eucalyptus) trees.  

Leslie Sbrocco is the author of "The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide" and founder of ThirstyGirl.com. 

More from Bites:

• Christina Tosi's tips for choosing Valentine's Day chocolates
• Weekend wines: Value vino that tastes great, under $15
• Burgers and wine: A match made in heaven