White House / YouTube

When President Obama wants the attention of the nation's kids, he knows exactly who to turn to: Kid President.

In a promotional video for the upcoming White House Easter Egg Roll, the president calls on Kid President Robby Novak to inform his peers about the event. 

9-year-old Novak gained national attention — even paying a visit to TODAY — for his series of YouTube videos, in which he portrays a Kid President whose aim is to make the world less boring.

According to Recreation.gov, the White House Easter Egg Roll is a tradition dating back to 1878 and has grown to become the largest event held on White House grounds. The Egg Roll not only includes the tradition of having children roll eggs on the White House lawn, but now also features live entertainment, sporting events and interactive cooking demonstrations. 

The free tickets for the White House Easter Egg Roll will be given out through an online lottery system which opened Monday morning. The lottery closes Feb. 25 at 10 a.m.

More on TODAY.com:
'Kid President,' 9, is on a mission: To make grown-ups less boring
Boy, 8, donates his $1,000 prize to little girl, 2, with leukemia
18-year-old gives $40,000 scholarship to other teens

Pornchai Kittiwongsakul / AFP - Getty Images

Thai couple Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat make a new world record for longest continuous kiss at 58 hours, 35 minutes, and 58 seconds during an event n Pattaya, southeastern Thailand on Feb. 14.

Narong Sangnak / EPA

Ekkachai Tiranarat kisses his wife Laksana during an attempt to break the Guinness World Record time for longest continuous kiss in Thailand on Valentine's Day. The Laksanas were eventually successful by beating nine other married couples with a time of 58:35:58.

Narong Sangnak / EPA

Ekkachai Tiranarat and his wife Laksana cry after they achieved the new world record for the longest continuous kiss.

After 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds, Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat of Thailand were the last couple still kissing -- beating the competition and holding the new Guinness World Record for world’s longest continuous kiss.

The competition which began Tuesday in Pattaya, Thailand,  pitted nine married couples in a contest worth more than $9,000 in cash and prizes.

The milestone must still be verified by officials from Guinness World Records.

Related links:

• Slideshow: Guinness World Records 2013
• Earlier in PhotoBlog: Thai couples attempt to break world record for longest kiss

Slideshow: Valentine’s Day around the world

Majdi Fathi / Corbis

From San Francisco to Sri Lanka, China to Cuba, love and romance know no boundaries. See the many ways Cupid's favorite holiday is celebrated across the globe.

Launch slideshow

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day as the TODAY anchors get in the holiday spirit, sharing what they love most about one another.

More on TODAY.com:
Willie Geist: Nearly 10-year marriage is 'very special'
Isn't it bromantic? Willie and Al share a Valentine's smooch 

NBC News

Women are more prone to romantic jealousy spurred by Facebook posts than men, particularly if they think other people can see that their relationship may be in trouble, a new study suggests.

During the study, 226 heterosexual college-age men and women were asked to imagine that they had discovered a photo of their significant other with a person of the opposite sex on Facebook. In the hypothetical scenario, the study participants could view the privacy settings of their boyfriend's or girlfriend's Facebook account (which was still logged in) — and thus could see whether the photo was visible to others on Facebook.

Women reported greater feelings of jealousy when they imagined the scenario than did men. Women rated their level of jealousy as a six out of a possible nine, compared to a four out of nine for men.

Both women and men reported the greatest level of jealousy if the photo's privacy settings meant that  the photo could not be viewed by other people on Facebook — an indication that their romantic interest was trying to hide something. If the photo could be seen by other people on Facebook, men's level of jealousy dropped, while women's remained high.

Women were also more hurt by the scenario than men if there were relatively few photos of them with their partner on Facebook.

Together "these findings suggest that the public nature of potential infidelity may influence emotions differently for men and women," the researchers wrote in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. "Women may experience more negative [emotions] when they believe that others are able to view lack of evidence of being in a committed relationship," they said.

However, because the scenario was imagined, it's impossible to know whether the findings would translate into the real world, or actually cause a couple to break up. Future research should examine whether a situation on Facebook, similar to the one used in this study, would hurt a real relationship, the researchers, from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, said.

Previous studies have found that people who spend more time on Facebook report greater levels of romantic jealously, and more frequent viewing of their partner's Facebook profile, than people who spend less time on the social networking site.

Facebook also presents people with opportunities to misinterpret information, the researchers said. For instance, the scenario described in the current study did not necessarily provide evidence of infidelity, but it was interpreted that way. "Facebook can be a place where individuals interpret ambiguous information in a non-ambiguous way, producing negative emotions," the researchers said.

Pass it on: Facebook posts that suggest infidelity are more likely to incite jealousy in women than men.

Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, or MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also onFacebook & Google+.

• 5 Ways Relationships Are Bad for Your Health
• 5 Reasons Being a Woman Is Good for Your Health
• Myth or Truth? 7 Ancient Health Wisdoms Explained

Copyright 2013 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

It’s Valentine’s Day, and KLG and Hoda are feeling the love! Well, kind of.

“Valentine’s Day is such a wonderful holiday,” Hoda said, before quickly clarifying: “Not!”

TODAY

After joking around about how much fun (read: how awful) it is to watch other people get flowers on Valentine’s Day, Hoda started to reveal the real reason she doesn’t love the holiday of love.

“Valentine’s Day, I’ll be honest with you, is not my favorite holiday of the year, because—”

“Get out the Kleenex, this is sad,” KLG interrupted, leaving Hoda wishing for some liquid courage.

“I wish we had a drink — I'll explain why, then the drinks hopefully will come. I met my first husband on Valentine’s Day,” Hoda revealed.

As the crowd began to “awwww,” Hoda added: “Wait — it gets worse. And we signed our divorce papers on Valentine’s Day.”

Hoping a cocktail would appear to ease the heartache, Hoda looked around for some Fourth Hour-style love. “Do we have drinks?" she asked a little frantically. "Seriously? Are there any? There are none? There are no drinks?"

Luckily, two kind gentlemen showed up on cue with a “healthy” vodka cocktail for the ladies, making this year's Valentine's Day cheerier for Hoda than some in the past.

Meena Hart Duerson is a TODAY.com senior editor who would rather have a "healthy" cocktail than a dozen roses.

Getty Images stock

You can make your love last past Valentine's Day by following these tips.

While love is always in the air around this time of year, couples can struggle with how to keep the romance alive the other 364 days. 

“For couples that have been together for a while, I would suggest they remember that it was probably a lot of small things that got them together, like notes and phone calls or texts that say, ‘I’m interested in you, and you are on my mind,’  so never stop doing these things," said therapist Darren Wilk of the Gottman Institute, also known as the "Love Lab." "After children come along and life’s responsibilities take over, there is a massive shift in couples to focus on the big stuff and this is why only 33% of the couples are still happy and feel connected. They forget to keep doing the things that got  them together.”

The Love Lab's leader, Dr. John Gottman, and his researchers have studied thousands of couples over 40 years, from newlyweds to people in long-term marriages, and he says he can predict with 90% accuracy within the first three minutes of meeting a couple whether their relationship will make it or not. Here are the behaviors he and his researchers have isolated that make the difference between breaking up and going the distance:

1. Start strong to stay together

“Couples starting out must realize that how they start their relationship can predict how they finish," Wilk said. "They are making a long-term investment but do not even know it. Eventually their relationship will rely on these early memories to get them through tough times later on." If you're in a new relationship, get to know your partner now by asking lots of questions.

2. It's OK to fight, but you have to be friends

"In my research, I found that 69% of the time, couples fight about perpetual issues in the relationship that never get resolved. That's OK!" Gottman wrote in a Facebook post. "What matters is not solving these problems, but the affect around which they are discussed." That means even if you're in a disagreement, try to communicate with humor, affection, and acceptance. If things really get heated, take a 20-minute break — that's how much time you need to calm down.

3. The magic numbers are 5:1

Gottman found that of the couples he observed, the most stable relationships had a ratio of five positive interactions to every negative one. That 5:1 ratio is a key indication that a marriage will last — Gottman saw that more negative interactions were more likely to lead to divorce. "Maintain this ratio of positivity during an argument by avoiding the following three statements completely: you never, you always, and anything insulting or superior," he advises.

4. Turn to each other

Couples who look to each other for support, in what Gottman calls making "bids" for their partner's attention and affection, form stronger bonds than those who don't. "In one particular study, I found that newlyweds who were still married six years after their wedding had turned towards each other 86% of the times while in the lab," Gottman writes. "Those who were divorced six years later, however, had only turned towards each other 33% of the time." To maximize your emotional connection, don't take the little things for granted. "It is my philosophy that the small things done often make the most difference in a relationship."

5. Stay positive

“It’s a choice to really cherish your partner, and if your partner really is the right person for you, you have to actively cherish your partner’s positive qualities and think in your mind how fortunate you are to have this person in your life," he advises. "If both people do that with one another, then a relationship can last forever.”

Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

Feeling like George Clooney is the only thing missing from your Valentine's Day? If you're in London -- and don't mind your Clooney a little waxy -- you're in luck.

Ahead of the holiday, Madame Tussauds' Wax Museum placed a statue of Clooney on Carnaby Street. Sitting atop a settee, the actor is poised in perfect position to welcome passersby who want to snap a photo. And we have to say, that rose he's clutching s a nice touch, too.

As far as the real Clooney is concerned, it's likely you'll next see him at the Oscars on Feb. 24. He's a producer for "Argo," which is nominated in a total of 7 categories, including best picture, adapted screenplay, and actor in a supporting role, for Alan Arkin.

Clooney's rep didn't respond to comment regarding the actor's alter, waxy ego.

Related content: 

• George Clooney pays diner's bill in Germany
• Clooney is Abraham Lincoln's distant cousin
• Clooney joins Neil Diamond to sing 'Sweet Caroline'

Patrick M. Gookin II

Bake vegan peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for your Valentine.

Our favorite thing about Valentine's Day? Spoiling our significant others with delicious desserts, from boxes of chocolate to tasty homemade treats baked with love. And even if your sweetie is vegan, they don't have to miss out on the tasty fun!

With more alternatives for milk and eggs readily available, it's easy to bake up vegan treats. 

“It’s healthier cooking with whole plant foods instead of animal products and it doesn’t contribute to animal suffering," Gene Baur, president of Farm Sanctuary, told TODAY.com. "You don’t have to worry about the issue of how it [the product] was raised.” 

So try these vegan recipes to please your Valentine's sweet tooth, without sacrificing the decadence of dessert. 

Celine Steen

You won't be sacrificing taste by going vegan with these peanut butter cups.

Peanut butter cups

For the chocolate

• 1 1/2 cups chopped vegan semisweet chocolate
• 2 tablespoons natural creamy no-stir peanut butter
• Pinch of salt

For the filling

• 12 tablespoons natural creamy no-stir peanut butter
• 1/3 cup evaporated cane juice or granulated sugar, packed light brown sugar, or sifted powdered sugar (for less crunchy results)
• 2 tablespoons vegan graham cracker crumbs (optional)
• Pinch of salt

Prepare a standard muffin tin with 12 paper liners.

To make the chocolate: Combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 1-minute increments until melted and smooth, keeping a close eye to avoid burning and stirring often. Alternatively, use a double boiler.

Place 2 teaspoons of the melted chocolate in each cup-cake liner and with the back of a spoon carefully spread across the bottom and one-fourth of the way up the liner. Repeat with all 12 liners. Place the chocolate-covered liners on a plate and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a medium-size bowl, stir together the peanut butter, sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and salt.

Divide the peanut butter filling among the 12 liners, about 1 heaping tablespoon per liner, pressing down gently to make sure the filling spreads out. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 20 minutes.

Top the filling with 2 teaspoons of the remaining melted chocolate, spreading carefully so that none of the peanut butter can be seen. Let the cups chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before enjoying.

Store in the refrigerator or freezer. 

Yields 12 candies.

Recipe courtesy of Farm Sanctuary. From "Hearty Vegan Meals for Monster Appetites," Celine Steen, Joni Marie Newman, Fair Winds Press 2011.

Peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

• ½ cup non-dairy butter
• 3/4 cup organic evaporated cane sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 heaping tablespoons smooth peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 teaspoons egg replacer, dry (Ener-g egg brand preferred)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¾ cup un-bleached organic all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup organic rolled oats
• ¼ cup vegan dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl or bowl of a standing mixer, cream butter and sugar until well mixed and soft. Add vanilla extract, peanut butter, maple syrup, sea salt, egg replacer and cinnamon. Mix until all ingredients are uniform.

Add flour and oats. Mix until all ingredients look evenly distributed. Fold in chocolate chips. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (or use cooking spray). Scoop the dough with a tablespoon for even-sized cookies. Place about 1 inch apart.

Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through, to ensure even baking. Bake until edges are golden-brown.

Yields about 16 cookies.

Recipe courtesy of Farm Sanctuary and Spork Foods, a Los Angeles-based gourmet vegan food company owned and operated by sisters Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg.

More:

• Like the molten chocolate cake at Arby's? So does dessert's famed creator
  
• Skip dessert and try chocolate wine for Valentine's Day
• Chefs share romantic Valentine's Day recipes

Reuters

Prasit Rangsiyawong, 29, kisses his bride Varuttaon Rangsiyawong, 27, during a wedding ceremony ahead of Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok on Feb. 13. Three Thai couples took part in the wedding ceremony arranged by a Thai resort, aimed at strengthening the relationships of the couples by doing fun activities.

Reuters

Prasit Rangsiyawong, 29, and his bride Varuttaon Rangsiyawong, 27, jump in a pond during a wedding ceremony ahead of Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok on Feb. 13.

Most couples are happy when their wedding goes according to plan. Some Thai couples, though, look for a day full of the unexpected. A day before Valentine’s Day, three Thai couples took part in an adventurous wedding ceremony that involved being chased by pirates, dangling from cables, and falling into water.

Reuters

Chutima Imsuntear, 37, falls as she runs with Sopon Sapaotong, 41, during a wedding ceremony ahead of Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok on Feb. 13.

Reuters

Sorawich Changtor, left, 28, and Rungnapa Panla, 30, run to escape a man dressed as a pirate as other couples look on during a wedding ceremony ahead of Valentine's Day in Prachin Buri province, east of Bangkok on Feb. 13.

Previously on PhotoBlog:

• Pucker up, buttercup: Thai couples attempt to break world record for longest kiss
• Japan's loudest lovebirds shout gratitude to their wives
• Several weddings and a giant green sea turtle: Valentine's Day celebrations around the world

Maxwell, Kegel, Lynn, MacDonald

We asked TODAY viewers to define love as a Valentine’s Day kickoff. Their responses — through photos and words via #ValentinesTODAY and #LoveIs hashtags — have gotten us in a lovey-dovey mood for the chocolate- and card-filled holiday.

Whether the love was attributed to a spouse, a canine or a hot dog from a New York street vendor, the responses were fantastic.

Celebrities and guests even had the chance to wax poetic behind the scenes at the TODAY photo booth this week. Josh Duhamel quoted Wikipedia, swimsuit-clad Sports Illustrated models encouraged unyielding support and Jenna Bush Hager thought first of her cat Bernie (and her family, of course!).

Feeling inspired? Take a look at what viewers have to say about love: 

More on TODAY:

• Love is in the air! Incredible images of human and animal kindness
• Women beat men at Valentine's Day gift giving, at least on Google
• Make your own heartfelt Valentine's Day cards, gifts

Mary C. Gardella / Courtesy Amy Webb

Amy Webb 'hacked' online dating to meet her perfect match, her husband Brian.

Webb was a successful, career-driven single woman, but found herself striking out in love — both in the real world, where she spent too long in relationships with men who were all wrong for her, and online, where she went on a series of nightmare first dates before nearly giving up on the whole proposition.

9 steps to the perfect online dating message

So she took her search to the next level, "hacking" the system to figure out what she was doing wrong. First she reverse-engineered the process by creating 10 profiles as men – inventing doctors, lawyers and high-achievers to scope out her competition. She then took copious notes on how the women on the site presented themselves and communicated with these male profiles, gathering piles of data on what worked best.

Red flags for online dating

While it wasn’t the most scientific of experiments, Webb managed to develop a strategy she thinks will help other daters. After all, she’s had 100 percent success with it so far: After creating her system, the first date that passed her new test turned out to be her future husband.

Step 1: Make a list — and stick to it

“Online dating sites are excellent places to find casual and serious long-term relationships, but only if you have a plan first,” Webb told TODAY.com. “I don't advocate crunching numbers like I did, but I do strongly recommend that you start off with a list. What, exactly, are you looking for in a partner? Be extremely specific, even when it feels embarrassing...If having someone who's three inches taller than you is important, for whatever reason, then write that down. If you absolutely cannot stand cats, write that down, too. Don't self-edit.”

Once you have your criteria in place, use it to weed out people who don't make the cut. "Come up with a system to evaluate any potential future dates," Webb says. This way, you won't waste time with anyone who wouldn't be a good match.

Mary C. Gardella / Courtesy Amy Webb

Amy Webb and her husband Brian met online.

Step 2: Create your own "super profile"

 You can't find your soul mate if you're attracting the wrong people. Webb's research made her realize she was ending up with losers because she was putting out the wrong signals, by doing things like posting her entire resume as her dating profile instead of a few fun tidbits about herself. "I'm not suggesting you dumb yourself down," she writes in the book, but "your online profile isn't the place to show off your near perfect SAT score." On that note, here are her tricks for putting your best foot forward:

*Keep your profile short, about 90-100 words (three sentences), and use vocabulary that's "aspirational, positive and optimistic"
*Post three to five flattering pictures of yourself where you're the only one in the frame
*Don't talk about yourself in the third person
*Wait to talk about your job until you end up on an in-person date
*Don't lie about your physical appearance

Step 3: Start dating!

Being single this Valentine's Day could be the best thing that's happened to your dating life, Webb says, because you can take the opportunity to get organized.

“I know it's rough to face Valentine's Day, and that a lot of people will ultimately wind up on bad dates feeling even worse than had they stayed at home alone watching a great movie,” Webb says. “While you can't turn a blind eye to all the pink and red hearts festooning storefront windows, you can decide to dedicate this year's V-Day to yourself...Thursday night, pour yourself a big glass of wine (or your drink of choice) and dedicate the evening to writing out a list of what you want in a partner. Make a scoring system. Then resolve to honor your list before you log back on to the dating site you're using.”

9 things to do when an online date goes IRL

Another option is to round up your single friends and do it together. “I've been getting a lot of email and tweets from people who've read my book saying that they're hosting 'list parties' on Valentine's Day," Webb says. "Groups of single friends are getting together, writing out lists like I did, and then sharing them with each other for ideas on how to score the traits. That's a great way for online daters to feel empowered and excited – rather than despondent – on Valentine's Day.”

Francesco Tonelli

Warm Valrhona chocolate cake with cocoa bean brittle and vanilla bean ice cream prepared by chef Jean Georges and Chris Beischer of Mercer Kitchen in New York City.

In a world where food trends are fleeting, it's comforting to know that some things stand the test of time. Jean-Georges Vongerichten's molten chocolate cake is one of those dishes, acting as a sweet and steady beacon of warm cocoa amidst decades of chef shifts, dazzling  fusion, and mind-bending modernist technique. The dessert has become so popular since the Alsace-born chef introduced it in 1988, in fact, that it's now on Arby's fast food menu.

But it's not just chains that have glommed on. Everyone from the likes of fast casual concepts such as Chili's to the esteemed kitchens of Daniel Boulud have riffed on the idea. It's a natural pick-up because the dessert is inherently decadent, surprising and romantic.

And it's easy to play with. Its malleability and simplicity are what make it so attractive to chefs.

Chocolate pairs really well with so many flavors, like coconut, raspberry, passion fruit and caramel, so sorbet or ice cream flavors of that nature go perfectly alongside the ooey gooey cake.

Vongerichten likes to toy around with those flavors, as well as adding a little something special to the center on occasion.

 “Keep the cake neutral and then play with the embellishments,” he told TODAY.com. “You can put nuts or dried raisins or even a fried banana in the center. I baked one with raspberry, and it was delicious.”

When asked how he feels about Arby's adapting his recipe for the masses, Vongerichten seems flattered instead of being peeved. “When you deal with dessert and pastry, it’s a very exact science. They did a great job. I've tried it,” he said with a chuckle. “The original is better, of course. ”

It's a fascinating progression for a dessert that resulted from a kitchen mistake.

“It started with a warm moist sugar cupcakes we were preparing for a big party of 500 people,” Vongerichten told TODAY.com. “The temperature dropped with that many in the oven. I almost ripped my hair out. I got a standing ovation for it.”

Twenty-five years later, you'll still find the warm chocolate cake on menus. Which isn't at all surprising if you've had a taste. As soon as your fork pierces into the warm center, a lava flow of luxurious chocolate oozes out. It's a visual pleasure that's similar to bursting the yolk of a perfectly fried egg.

“It's very sexy,” Vongerichten said. We agree.

Want to make these gorgeous cakes for your Valentine? Here's how it's done by Vongerichten:

Chocolate molten cake
Makes 4 individual cakes

• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
• 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

Preheat the oven to 450°. Butter and lightly flour four 6-ounce ramekins. Tap out the excess flour. Set the ramekins on a baking sheet.

In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the butter with the chocolate. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the egg yolks, sugar and salt at high speed until thickened and pale.

 Whisk the chocolate until smooth. Quickly fold it into the egg mixture along with the flour. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and bake for 12 minutes, or until the sides of the cakes are firm but the centers are soft. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute, then cover each with an inverted dessert plate. Carefully turn each one over, let stand for 10 seconds and then unmold. Serve immediately.

More from TODAY Food:

• Skip dessert and try chocolate wine for Valentine's Day
• Chefs share romantic Valentine's Day recipes
• Erica Hill: My dad's love lives on through his boeuf bourguignon

Courtesy Pizza Hut

PIzza Hut changed the formula for their Eau de Pizza Hut, and are giving away bottles for Valentine's Day.

If the smell from that pizza box sitting on the front seat drives you wild, start dropping hints to your sweetie: Pizza Hut is giving away its new Eau de Pizza Hut cologne in time for Valentine’s Day.

The scent actually began as a joke on the company’s Facebook fan page in Canada, as TODAY.com reported in December, but the company soon produced a prototype.

Pizza Hut Canada’s scent started off sweeter — more doughy — but the new version, available for the first time in the U.S. this week, is move savory, with a “base scent of freshly rising dough” and finishes of “oregano, vine-ripened tomato sauce and crisp fresh-sliced vegetables” with “wafts of cheesy goodness,” Chris Fuller, a spokesperson for the company, told TODAY.com.

The fragrance is not yet available for purchase. “We’d rather sell the real deal,” Fuller joked — though the company is evaluating demand. In the meantime, Pizza Hut is giving away 72 bottles of the stuff this week via a Twitter contest. To try to get your hands on one, tweet your most impassioned plea to the company by Wednesday using the hashtag #lastminutelovers. Winners will receive a $20 gift card as well as a bottle of Eau de Pizza Hut. Aphrodisiac effect not guaranteed.

To make the scent, designers at Aromachology in New York City, a custom-perfume bar, ordered tons of pizza and took samples of the fragrance out on the street to make sure they had it right, said co-founder Ashlee Firsten. Even the most die-hard pizza fans in the office had to swear off pies for a few weeks, she said.

The pizza cologne is just the latest example of a larger “ambient scenting” trend, explained fragrance expert Sue Phillips, founder and president of Scenterprises. Supermarkets, malls and hotels are pumping food smells into the air more and more, she says; her company recently created a roast turkey aroma that wafted into deli aisles.

And let’s not forget, there was that Whopper-scented body spray that Burger King put out a few years back. It’s all part of the plan to get us to open our wallets, Phillips added. “It’s that Pavlovian dog syndrome.”

But guys, before you douse yourself in Eau de Pizza Hut on Thursday, you may want to listen to Tony Gemignani, the 11-time world pizza-throwing champion and owner of four California pizzerias.

“I’ve come home from work smelling like pizza every day for 22 years,” he said, “and my wife always complains.”

More from TODAY.com

• Celebrate yourself at single-friendly restaurants on Valentine's Day
• Skip dessert and try chocolate wine for Valentine's Day
• Lusty lagers! Sip on aphrodisiac beers for Valentine's Day

News 13 Orlando

Three days before Valentine's Day, Florida woman Melissa DeGeso-Jones donated a kidney to her husband, James Jones, who was suffering from renal failure.

Three days before Valentine’s Day, a Florida woman gave her husband the most special gift of all – life.

On Monday, Melissa DeGeso-Jones had her kidney transplanted at Florida Hospital in Orlando to her husband, James Jones, who has been suffering from renal failure.

"(I’m) giving as much love as I have," DeGeso-Jones told Orlando’s News 13 before the surgery. "It's completely from my heart. James has said things to me about it being a huge sacrifice, and I said, 'It's not; it's an investment. This is our life. It's not just your life that I'm giving, too. There can't be an ‘us’ without it.' So, that's what it's about."

Slideshow: Awkward Valentine's Day photos

The love between the couple from Lake Mary, Fla., who met two years ago on Valentine’s Day, impressed the surgeon who performed the procedure on Monday.

"Melissa is making the rest of us look bad," Dr. Giridhar Vedula told News 13. "Most of us buy an expensive box of candy and call it a day, but this girl is just something phenomenal."

News 13 Orlando

James and Melissa coincidentally met on Valentine's Day two years ago. When he learned he needed a transplant, she immediately went for tests and was found to be a perfect match to be a donor.

When it was determined James needed a kidney transplant, Melissa immediately got her kidneys tested and was revealed to be a match for donation.

"There wasn't any reservation, or never did I ever fathom the idea I wouldn't be," she said. "That's the funny part. I never thought, 'Oh, what if I don't match?' I just assumed I would."

Story: Love is in the air! 11 images of kindness

James also knows that some roses or a nice dinner can’t exactly measure up to the Valentine’s Day gift he has been given by his wife this year.

"It's one of those things where I'll continue to reciprocate this for the rest of my life, because you'll never be able to give her anything that's going to be able to match life,'' James said. 

Read more on TODAY.com: 

• Top 10 songs that'll help you get in the mood
• Cupid hits the stars! Josh Duhamel, Kate Upton talk love
• Slideshow: Most romantic movies of all time
• Video: Models show off sexy Valentine's Day looks 

By Brit Morin, DIY expert

If I know anything about Valentine's Day, it's that handmade gifts are much more meaningful than anything you can buy at the store.

If you want a surefire way to leave your Valentine in stitches, then it's time to try your hand at a cross-stitched Valentine's card! This is one project that's much simpler than it looks – perfect for both the amateur DIY'er and expert crafter.

Brit Morin

Need a last-minute gift? Make your loved ones feel extra special with DIY Valentine's Day cards.

Materials:

• Needle
• Push pin
• Red embroidery floss
• Card
• Downloadable template

Brit Morin

Directions:
First, print out your heart template (available here). Tape it on your card and use a push pin to poke holes through the black dots on the front side of the card. Then, take your needle and embroidery floss and start stitching! Pull the needle through the holes you've made, and create a series of X-shaped stitches, also known as cross-stitches.

Tie a knot on the inside of the card when you've reached the end, and you're done! Wasn't that easy?

Brit Morin

'Like' it!
If you want to take your stitching to another level, try creating a matching Valentine's gift box, too! Inspired by the Facebook "like" button, this box is a cute way to tell that special someone you really, really "like" them.

Materials:

• Box
• Needle
• Push pin
• Red embroidery floss
• Downloadable template

Brit Morin

Directions:
Print out the "like" template (available here) and tape to your box. Like you did with the cross-stitch card, use a push pin or needle to poke holes through the box around the outline of each letter. Now start stitching back and forth, tying knots when you're done with each letter.

And that's a wrap! Within minutes, you've now got a couple of cute and simple ways to give goodies to the ones you love... erR, like.

Want to see more DIY Valentine's Day tutorials? Check out Brit's wrap up on Brit + Co.

And be sure to follow Brit's picks on our TODAY Valentine's Day Pinterest board!

More from TODAY:
Mason jar chic: Sweet (and tasty) DIY Valentine's Day ideas
Martha Stewart's chic Valentine's Day crafts

Slideshow: Coveted creations from DIY style bloggers

Why buy it when you can make it? We rounded up the top DIY fashion bloggers and showcased some of their best projects.

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It's not too late to plan a perfect Valentine's Day.

So, Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and you’ve got nothing: You haven’t come up with a gift or made dinner reservations, and you forgot to order flowers. Have no fear! The perfect Valentine’s Day is still within reach. Here are some tips for how to salvage a romantic night.

1. Get on the same page. "The biggest mistake couples make is waiting until the last minute to talk about Valentine's Day," dating guru Chiara Atik of the website HowAboutWe told TODAY.com. "What often ends up happening is that one person assumes they'll be going out, the other assumes they'll do something low-key, or they each assume the other person is planning it. TALK ABOUT VALENTINE'S DAY BEFORE HAND."

2. The food. It’s OK if you missed the boat on booking a trendy table for two; nothing wins over a date quite like a romantic home-cooked meal. However, now is not the time to experiment with the most extravagant recipe – stick to something simple. Try these foolproof classics from the TODAY archives: 

Romantic Valentine's Day pasta
'Top Chef' contestant's foolproof brick chicken
Treat your valentine to a savory salad, perfect pasta and sinful dessert 

Most importantly, do NOT turn this meal into a stressful experience — if cooking's not your thing, order take-out from your date's favorite restaurant. "What makes Valentine's Day romantic isn't the setting, or the gifts," Atik says, "it's spending time with each other, and taking an evening to really show how much you value one another."

3. Flowers: Roses are red, violets are blue, and picking up flowers is so easy, your Valentine will be thrilled if you do. If you act right this second you could still place an order online, but if you miss the delivery deadline head to your local florist (sites like Foursquare's Valentine's Day Guide can help you find one in your area), armed with these tips for how to snag the best deal.

And remember: You don’t have to stick to a traditional bouquet of red roses (especially if you waited too long and the selection is picked over). Surprise your date with something beautiful and unexpected, like tulips or an orchid — or try a flower delivery subscription service like H. Bloom to keep the romance going after February 14.

4. Gifts: Admit it: You blanked on the big day, and now you're starting to feel panicked. Don't just rush out and buy a random gift; you still have time to put together something thoughtful:

For the music lover: Load her iPod with this romantic playlist
Show off your crafty side with these adorable DIY Valentines, or make these Martha Stewart-approved gifts
For the techie in your life, scoop up one of these: Tech to keep your love alive
If your Valentine loves being pampered, head to SpaFinder.com to give the gift of relaxation
Make a getaway: For the definition of a last-minute plan, book a same-day room at HotelTonight.com.

But don't blow your budget just because it's a holiday. "Don't spend crazy amounts of money on one elaborate date," Atik says. "Taking time to regularly spend time together and celebrate your relationship, however modestly, is ultimately much more romantic than one big (forced) blowout." A handwritten card expressing your love goes a long way.

And if you're celebrating this Valentine's Day solo, celebrate yourself at these single-friendly restaurants, and pick up some of these best gifts for that special someone — yourself!

More from TODAY:
V-Day visuals:  Photos that will restore your faith in love

Get in the mood with these Valentine's Day love songs

How to safely send a digital valentine

This story was originally published on Mon Feb 11, 2013 12:25 PM EST

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Valentine's Day doesn't have to be sad if you're single. It just means there's more food for you!

For many, Valentine’s Day is an excuse to go out for a fancy dinner. For others, it’s just another reminder that they’re still single. But who says the two have to be mutually exclusive? Instead of sitting home on the couch drowning your sorrows in a tub of ice cream, give yourself a night out on the town complete with a meal that’s worthy of your sophisticated palate and all ‘round excellence.

With more restaurants embracing the communal dining trend putting extra long butcher-block tables front and center, solo dining is no longer taboo. Still, for those who are a bit more traditional or simply want their own space, we’ll admit, some restaurants cater to lone patrons better than others.

Either way, whether you’re on business in a new city or simply not afraid to break out “table for one” with gusto in your own town, we’ve scoured the map for a few eateries in which you’ll be proud to dine alone.

Simply observing the mastery that goes on in the open kitchen of Sable Kitchen & Bar Chicago will keep you plenty distracted while sitting alone, but you’ll also have fun perusing the diverse menu, too. Solo diners will be pleased to know they can order smaller versions of Sable’s most popular plates such as bacon wrapped dates, housemade beef jerky, ranch truffle butter burgers or New England lobster rolls without splurging. One more reason to love Chef Heather Terhune: She even shares her recipes.

Courtesy of Saen Mullix Photography

Sable's short rib sliders with root beer glaze. One for you, another one for…you.

Surround yourself with a cornucopia of delectable dips at the Persian oasis, Rumi’s Kitchen in Atlanta and you won’t even care if someone sits next to you. The newly designed restaurant features an open Mediterranean inspired kitchen, plenty of seating and a tranquil atmosphere that keeps you from feeling rushed. Solo diners can easily fill their plates with starters including Rumi’s famous dolmeh (ground beef, rice and mixed herbs wrapped in grape leaves and simmered in pomegranate sauce) or a variety of eggplant, garlic, yogurt and spice dips served with fresh, hot pilowy pita. Tender lamb and chicken kabobs or koobediah (ground chuck wrapped in flatbread) come with your choice of saffron basmati rice or rice with cherries, with enough piled on your plate to brown bag lunch for the entire week.

Channel your inner Descartes by grabbing a seat at Raoul’s in New York City and a goblet of Pinot Noir. Between the Euro-boho atmosphere and eclectic art gallery, you can easily lose yourself for a few hours taking it all in. Steak tartar and warm octopus salad are succulent and tasty any day of the week, but for a special night out, pricey as it may be, treat yourself to the Colorado grilled rack of lamb and a side of crispy pomme frites. Don’t forget to save room for the banana coconut bread or sticky fig puddings for dessert. C’mon, you know you’re worth it.

One could easily argue that the communal nature of the sushi bar was intended for the solo diner. Still, when you find one that stands out for the atmosphere as well as the food, it’s worth noting. So we’ll give a special shout out to Sugarfish in Downtown Los Angeles. For just under $20, we highly recommend the “Trust Me Lite” special which includes organic edamame, tuna sashimi, one piece of albacore sushi, salmon sushi, yellowtail sushi and nozawa shrimp sushi, plus a toro hand roll. Grab a spot at the spacious bar or linger longer in the comfy booths. Sugarfish doesn’t take reservations so you won’t be competing with couples who’ve had their Saturday nights planned for weeks. 

You’ll get the most out of your solo dining experience at OLA Miami if you step outside of your comfort zone, sit at the bar (and yes, that means putting your book/phone away) and just see what happens. Prepare to dive right into the ceviche as well as the cast of characters who sit next to you (or chat it up with the bartender). You’ll fall in love with the wahoo ceviche with watermelon juice, fois gras empanada or the plantain crusted mahi. Of course no Miami culinary experience is complete without OLA’s deconstructed key lime pie. 

If there’s ever a time to brunch alone, it’s at Revel Seattle, because you’ll want to keep a plate of bacon, hazelnut and pickled pear doughnuts all to yourself. The black currant porridge is also a treat, or, if you’re more traditional, go with the two eggs, bacon and scallion potato hash. Reservations aren’t taken for parties less than six, so you’ll be in line with the rest of ‘em the morning after your fabulous date with…yourself. 

Still not in love with solo dining despite our venerable recommendations? Hey, it’s not for everyone. If you’re a woman, check outInviteforabite.com, a website created with the business traveler in mind, to allow solo female diners to meet up with other solo (female) diners anywhere in the world (sorry, guys). Or, check out grubwithus.com, an experience (available in select cities only) for solo diners who pre-pay for a meal and get a ticket to a specific restaurant to meet other diners. 

More from TODAY:

• Valentine's Day gifts for that special someone: yourself
• Skip dessert and try chocolate wine for Valentine's Day
• Chefs share romantic Valentine's Day recipes

Google

Ah, Valentine's Day! It's the most romantic event ever concocted by the greeting card industry. While the cliché would have it that it's a time when droves of husbands and boyfriends descend on jewelry, candy, and flower shops, Google has a different take: Searches for "gifts for boyfriend" outpaced "gifts for girlfriend" by over 240 percent in the last 30 days. Similarly, searches for "gifts for husband" were made 39 percent more often than "gifts for wife."

What's afoot here? Are the ladies really doing more of the work of keeping love alive? Or is there simply an asymmetry in the sexes' shopping approaches? One would think that most of the fellas would take advantage of the Internet and research the ideal trinkets for the objects of their affections, but the evidence suggests otherwise.

That said, love is certainly in the air. Searches for "how to break up" and "divorce" have fallen by 15 percent and 41 percent, respectively, going from 2012 to 2013, says Google. Additionally, searches for "how to propose" jumped up by 66 percent in the last 30 days — California, New York, and Texas saw the highest increases in those searches — and that's been accompanied by a 13 percent increase in queries for "jewelry."

In other Valentine's Day news, "heart shaped cake" searches are up 4,900 percent in the last week. So if you can't find love this Thursday, at least you may get a slice of leftover cake.

Related stories:

• 'Dirty Dancing' is the soundtrack for sex, says Spotify
• Three-quarters of people think it's OK to reach for iPads after being intimate
• App sorts your Facebook friends based on relationship status

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both 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+.

Jean Liebenberg for Farm Sanctuary

We're not the only ones who enjoy a little PDA on occasion. Here, a sheep and a goat cuddle up at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Humans show their love for one another in myriad ways everyday — through gestures both big and small. We celebrate that shared love on Valentine’s Day, with thoughtful words and sweet exchanges. But if you’ve ever questioned the true spirit of the holiday or wondered, “Where is the love?,” take a look at these beautiful expressions of both human and animal kindness captured on camera. Cynics, beware: Prepare to have your hearts melted.

Marina Cano / Solent News via Rex USA

This month-old elephant became trapped in a watering hole in Spain’s Cabarceno Wildlife Park, but not to fear: Mom soon appeared and pulled him up to safety. “His mum saw it in seconds and helped him before he fell deeper into the water and what would have been a much more difficult situation,” photographer Marina Cano told Rex USA.

TODAY

Taylor Morris and Danielle Kelly’s love story went viral last fall, when 22 moving photographs depicting Morris’ recovery from a bomb blast in Afghanistan with his devoted high school sweetheart circulated online. Morris lost all four limbs, but Kelly has essentially replaced them, giving him piggy-back rides and assisting him with his physical therapy every step of the way. 

Hannah Stonehouse Hudson/Stoneho

Speaking of “going viral,” this image of John Unger floating with his arthritic dog Schoep in Lake Superior became the photo seen ‘round the Web last summer. And for good reason: Ungers’ commitment to alleviating his pup’s pain is an inspiration to anyone who has cared for an ailing loved one. “I’ve never had a lot of money and especially going through the depression I couldn’t hold a job,” he told TODAY.com in August. “Schoep has given me his all, no matter what the circumstances, even when I can’t get him the best food.”

Marc Piscotty / Getty Images

Love knows no heights? In this photo taken at the Loveland Ski Area in Colorado, Dan and Elaine Vardamis renew their vows during their first official wedding ceremony at the 20th annual Marry Me and Ski Free Mountaintop Matrimony on Valentine’s Day in 2012. The mass wedding, which included more than 75 couples looking to marry for the first time or renew their vows, was held at 12,050 feet. The newlyweds celebrated the nuptials with a champagne toast, wedding cake and music following the ceremony.

Brian J. Clark / AP

After 80 days at sea, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., on Dec. 22, 2011. The “first kiss” is a time-honored tradition in the Navy, and this pair was the first gay couple to be chosen to participate following the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Adam Hunger / Reuters

Acts of kindness abounded during and in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and that included rescuers and everyday citizens risking their lives for our four-legged friends. Here, a fireman carries a resident’s dog to safety in Little Ferry, N.J., on Oct. 30.

Stout Photography

Melissa Crisp and Owen Cooper didn’t let their cerebral palsy get in the way of the wedding they’d always dreamed of, complete with a trip down the aisle and wedding dance. The Oakland, Calif., couple rehearsed their wheeled choreography for weeks, the bride in a power wheelchair and the groom riding his Segway.

“I promise to roll across our uncharted future, get lost along the way, and discover all the beauty, surprise, and love inherent in our journey,” the last line of their vows read.

Jim Watson / AFP - Getty Images

This moving photo of the Obamas in a warm embrace was shared by the president on Twitter after his re-election and became his most tweeted note ever, according to Twitter Government.

Rich Lam / Getty Images

Now an iconic photograph, this couple’s middle-of-the-street kiss shows an altogether different kind of passion that erupted in the streets of Vancouver during the 2011 riots started by the Canucks' loss of the Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins. While it may look like Scott Jones and Alex Thomas were trying to get close in the midst of chaos, the pair had actually been knocked down by the police, and Jones was trying to ease his girlfriend's mind.

“I was just trying to calm her down,’’ Scott Jones told TODAY’s Matt Lauer and Ann Curry in 2011. “It was pretty scary for her, and it seemed like the best thing to do.’’

TODAY

Cameras were scarce when Wu Conghan, 101, and his wife Wu Sognshi, 103, wed in 1924, so the couple wasn’t able to capture their big day permanently.  That is until a local photographer snapped these pictures in the couple’s hometown of Nanchong, in Sichuan province, 88 years later.

Getty Images stock

Try and play it cool all you want, but when it comes to romance, we all want to know what love is.

Streaming music service Spotify released the top 10 most streamed love songs in the U.S., based on data from "love song" playlists. There are some oldies on the list, as well as new songs like "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes.   

But with "Careless Whisper" taking last spot, looks like some classics never go out of style.

More on TODAY.com:
How to safely send a digital Valentine
Skip dessert and try chocolate wine for Valentine's Day
Chefs share romantic Valentine's Day recipes

Getty Images/OJO Images

Seriously: Try to choose a one-to-one way of letting your valentine know you care, and avoid doing it on social media.

By Leslie Meredith, TechNewsDaily

With just days until Valentine's Day, the surveys on how lovers connect on the year's most romantic day are pouring in. We culled the best bits to help you find the most effective (and safest) way to send a digital message to your valentine.

More than 75 percent of people said they call, text or email to communicate with significant others, according to a survey of 200 tech users conducted by Sendmail, a company that provides an open source email platform. The lesson here is to choose a one-to-one channel, not social media . None of the respondents sent a tweet to their partner, only 1 percent used Instagram or Google+, 5 percent used a video chat service like Skype and 11 percent posted to Facebook.

But the results were different when responses were broken down by age. For those under the age of 24, video chatting was their top choice, while people over the age of 54 found email most appropriate.

And forget sweet nothings — many will be sending sexy photos instead. More than a third of Americans plan to send their partner sexy or romantic photos on Valentine's Day via text, email and social media, McAfee, a security firm, said this week in its study, "Love, Relationships and Technology." But your photo may get more exposure than you're anticipating.

Related story: Ex-sweeties threatening to post your naked pics? Odds are, they'll do it, survey suggests

In a new Match.com report, more than half of male daters and 45 percent of women said they've received a "sext" (a sexual text or picture-based text message), and 23 percent have shared their sexy messages and images with three or more people. Men  don't seem to mind when women share men's photos with their friends, but if the tables are turned, nearly 90 percent of women said they'd be offended if their guy showed pictures to his friends.

That's why Cosmopolitan magazine recommends using Snapchat , a free picture-messaging app that self-destructs your photos — sexy or otherwise — after a few seconds. The venerable girl-guide also suggests taking a close-up picture that shows only a bit of cleavage or hip, so you can't be easily identified by others.

But once you've sent a photo or posted a message, your privacy is no longer guaranteed — even Snapchat photos can be captured with another phone camera or by a practiced user who can manage to grab a screenshot in a second or two. And after a break-up, the risks soar that your ex will share intimate photos. Read more: Technology Fuels Revenge of the Ex .

One last tip: Double check who you're sending your romantic message to before you tap send. About 16 percent of people in the Sendmail survey confessed they've sent sexts to the wrong person.

If you've decided to play it safe and send an old-fashioned message, try Red Stamp, a charming free app for iPhone that lets you make and send your own cards — digital and paper.

• 4 Pro Tips for Better Online Dating Photos
• 3 Scam-Busting Online Dating Tips for Valentines Day
• The Secret Science of Online Dating Revealed!

Copyright 2013 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Chocolate and wine: Some say it's a pairing you should skip, but we'll admit, we love a chocolate wine when it's done right.

Pairing chocolate with wine is nothing new, but some wine makers have been pairing them in the bottle. The result, a rich, dessert-like beverage that, when done right, tastes similar to a smooth port – a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day.

Of course, wine geeks aren’t eager to push this vino.

“I think it's just as bad as wine coolers,” said Jonathan Cristaldi, a wine educator and consultant at The Noble Rot. “It creates more unfortunate associations for wine. Sweet and chocolate? Who needs this? Drink chocolate milk or Bailey's.”

Maybe wine snobs don't approve, but hey, some of them taste pretty good. For example, coming out of California is ChocolatRouge, a wine made with chocolate flavors sourced from cacao beans. There, the owners sampled chocolate from across the globe to pick the ones they thought paired best with their wine, and in the end, their Dark Red blend tastes like a slightly sweet velvety dessert wine rather than an overly cloying drink.

Trentadue’s Chocolate Amore is a delicious port that uses Merlot grapes to create the base, and then, includes a natural chocolate extract to finish the blend. Another port-based option to try is Joseph Filippi Winery’s chocolate-infused Fondante Ciello, which is produced in the Cucamonga Valley in California. Want something more exotic? Try Vinedo De Los Vientos Alcyone Tannat, an Uruguayan wine made from the tannat grape. It’s a perfect fill-in for dessert – it’s rich, smooth and like drinking the center of a molten chocolate cake.

There’s also chocolate wine that looks and tastes like chocolate milk. New Jersey-based Opici Wines produces their Cocoa di Vine, which when served chilled, tastes like a Nestle drink with a little buzz. Unlike its dark counterpart, this vino is made with the Pedro Ximenez grape, or Spanish sherry.

Owner Don Opici writes on the website that, “We tried several different chocolate formulas using a red wine base and didn’t find an appealing flavor profile. It wasn’t until we combined the chocolate with a white-wine base that the delicious aromas and flavors jumped out of the glass.”

Of course, you can always skip the bottled combinations of chocolate and wine and instead enjoy them separately. Cristaldi says that the combination generally doesn’t go well together because “the sweetness and bitterness and acid of chocolate tends to heighten the same characteristics in the wine.”

He isn’t alone in this assertion. At Lakewood Vineyards in New York’s Finger Lakes wine region, winemaker Chris Stamp said he has struggled to find the right pairings for the annual Seneca Wine Trail’s chocolate and wine event happening at around 30 wineries this coming weekend.

“It took me a lot of long and hard searching to find these, but I have been surprised a few times that some things can go together,” he said. “You want to use higher cocoa and less sweet chocolates, and try to pair with a fruit that has some acid.”

Juliette Pope, beverage director at Gramercy Tavern, shared her tips for pairing the two.

"If you have chocolate with berries or other fruit, go for a vintage port," she said .

She suggests trying Dow’s Vintage Port 2007, or, for a less expensive option, their ruby port. For a more exotic and expensive option, Recioto della Valpolicella is a good bet.

"If [you’re eating] chocolate with nuts and/or caramel and/or anything else in that vein, go Malvasia from Blandy’s or Leacock’s, or a sweeter style of Oloroso sherry," Pope added.

More from TODAY:

• Mason jar chic: Sweet (and tasty) DIY Valentine's Day ideas
• Lusty lagers! Sip on aphrodisiac beers for Valentine's Day
• For food lovers, think exotic Valentine's Day chocolates

TODAY

We've rounded up some romantic dishes to share on Valentine's Day. Try Giada's spaghetti with beef, smoked almonds and basil.

Remember when Valentine’s Day consisted of a gussied-up shoe box stuffed with rip-and-share cards, followed by a mad sugar rush and the inevitable chocolate coma? Those were the days. But whether you’re a cootie-infested 7 year old or a (Sadie, Sadie) married lady, this day dedicated to love always includes one perk: An excuse to indulge.

While more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold in honor of St. Valentine, according to the National Confectioners Association, that doesn’t mean you should pick up a random assortment of truffles and call it a day. Show that you care by whipping up a heartfelt homemade meal to share with loved ones. Food may be the way to a man’s heart, but we’re pretty sure it works on women (and the kiddos!) too. 

Spaghetti with beef, smoked almonds and basil, tarragon and Merlot truffles, and chocolate honey almond tarts (above)
Get the recipe

TODAY

Scottos’ Valentine’s Day: Heart-shaped pizza, lasagna and banana pudding
Get the recipe

TODAY

Eric Ripert’s Pork tenderloin in herbed salt crust, lentils du puy stew and curried cauliflower "en papillote"
Get the recipe

TODAY

Gavin Kaysen’s crab fettuccine with lemon 
Get the recipe

TODAY

Giada’s rib eye steaks with smokey arrabiata sauce, linguine with shrimp and lemon oil and gianduja soufflé 
Get the recipe

TODAY

Hen-of- the-woods mushroom ravioli
Get the recipe 

TODAY

Jacques Torres’ chocolate mousse
Get the recipe

TODAY

Martha Stewart’s chocolate ganache tartlets with meringue hearts  
Get the recipe

TODAY

Sexy, sophisticated cocktails: L’Amour de Fleur, The Honeysuckle Rouge and Sparkling Sunset 
Get the recipe

More from TODAY.com:
So easy! These Valentine’s Day dishes will make your kids smile
Lusty lagers! Sip on aphrodisiac beers for Valentine's Day
Cocktails, vino to spark Valentine's Day romance

TODAY host Willie Geist and his wife, Christina, have been together since middle school, yet the couple still make time for romance by going on dates several times a week.

“Life gets so chaotic. I could be on my BlackBerry around the clock,” Willie told USA Weekend in an article celebrating Valentine’s Day.

One special date night coming up will be Christina’s Feb. 18 birthday. Both agreed it’s a mixed blessing to have it so close to Valentine’s Day.

“We don’t ignore it,” Christina said of the holiday, “but we really try to make each other happy every day.”

Willie said they usually will go to dinner, but he acknowledged he often gets away with “going extra-big on her birthday.”

“The other thing is, all the Valentine’s Day roses are on deep discount on her birthday, so I can get her, like, a hundred roses,” he said. 

Story: 7 photos that prove Willie Geist HAS been sexy at every age 

The Geists have been inseparable since middle school, when Willie spotted the 11-year-old former Christina Sharkey in Mr. Kaplan’s sixth-grade homeroom.

“She was noteworthy for a sixth-grade boy. I kept an eye on her,” he told USA Weekend.

But they didn’t date until ninth grade. The two eventually went to college together at Vanderbilt and got married in 2003. The couple now have two children, Lucie, 5, and George, 3.

Their admiration for each other remains strong. Christina noted that her husband's growing celebrity was never something he sought. 

"People are drawn to him, and it has always been that way," she said. "Of course, I'm very proud of him, but it's no surprise to me that he's in the job he's in."

Story: Willie Geist's wife: He was 'memorable at first sight'

Willie said the two are each other's biggest supporters. 

"It's fun to know the person in the sixth-grade homeroom and see her now being such a great mom to our two kids. It's a journey that not a lot of people have together, and it's very special," he said. 

Both feel blessed to live in New York, not far from where they grow up, and close to both sets of parents. They feel fortunate that their children have strong ties to their grandparents.

The family also remain close to friends from their childhood. Christina points out to the magazine that each of her three siblings married a high school classmate.

“I don’t know what was in the water,” she joked.

Slideshow: Willie Geist

NBC

Launch slideshow

More: Isn't it bromantic? Willie and Al share a Valentine's smooch 
Separated at birth: Willie and Woody? 
Jeff Rossen investigates Willie's tush tap of Matt 
Want to parallel park like Willie Geist? Here's how  

Rebecca Davis / TODAY

Make it a sweet Valentine's Day! Chelsa Skees shares a cute (and tasty) mason jar gift.

By Chelsa Skees, TODAY contributor

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to make some sweet, handmade gifts for your loved ones. For this round of DIY, I decided to go with a jar theme, for really no other reason than I just adore Mason jars and they are great to stuff full of sweets and flowers.

I don't think of Valentine's Day as strictly a couples holiday – these gifts are for everyone: parents, friends, or significant others!

First up, let's show our moms how much we love them by giving them an adorable cookie mix. These are great to give to anyone you know who loves to bake (or just loves to eat yummy treats!). Take your favorite recipe and add each ingredient so each layer is prevalent. Keep in mind that these jars look better the more textured layers you can add. I made mine festive by adding peanut butter M&M's in Valentine's day colors.

Ingredients (listed in the order they should go into the jar):

• 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup cooking oats 
• 1/4 cup peanut butter M&Ms (or plain chocolate, preferably in their Valentine's colors) 
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
After you add your cookie mix into the jar, decorate the outside with ribbon and use a small note card to write a handwritten message. Make sure it includes the following additional instructions: Combine all contents of the jar in a bowl with one beaten egg, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix all ingredients well, roll cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls on a cookie sheet, and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Want a rundown of how it's done? Here's a super-fast version:

Sweet cocoa
Have a loved one living in a cold climate? Give some hot cocoa for two! To make it extra special, throw in some heart-shaped marshmallows. This gift can be as simple as putting your favorite cocoa in the jar with some store-bought marshmallows – or you can create your own mix if you’re feeling ambitious. I used an entire 16 oz. can of my favorite mix by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.

The directions are simple: Just pour the mix into the jar and top with marshmallows! Decorate it however you'd like and don't forget to write sweet nothings on the card. It’s perfect for aprés-ski!

Rebecca Davis / TODAY

Rebecca Davis / TODAY

Flower power
Finally, I didn't want to leave out my girlfriends, so I made them vases complete with their favorite flowers. Since everyone has different taste in home décor, I customized each vase to fit their style.

You can create two different looks simply by using some spray paint and sand paper. All you'll need is 16 oz. or 24 oz. Mason jars. The first look – chic and modern – is a simple matte white vase. This is obviously really simple but does require some patience since you will have to spray a few different coats and rotate the jar several times to secure an even application. I set my jar on an old newspaper and started spraying (following the directions on the back of the paint can). Once dry, which typically takes about 10 minutes, rotate and repeat. You know you're done when the jar is evenly covered in its new white outfit.

Rebecca Davis / TODAY

The second look you can create has a very rustic feel to it and looks gorgeous with fresh flowers. Use the same method I explained above, but first spray paint your jar with a gold color. Once dry, add the matte white paint. After about 10 minutes – or when the paint is completely dry – use a small piece of sand paper and scrub away some of the white, letting the words "Mason Ball" as well as that rustic gold shine through. Before giving the jars away, make sure you clean their insides with warm water and soap to wash away any remnants of paint chemicals, so the flowers’ water doesn't get contaminated. 

Another great gift for a friend is to repurpose old vases you may have laying around the house – add special words or messages using a hot glue gun! On a clean vase, write your message and once dry, spray over entire jar using the same method above. This is a super cute customized vase that will surely put a smile on anyone's face. 

Rebecca Davis / TODAY

Enjoy your DIY project – and happy Valentine's Day! 

More from TODAY:
Valentine's Day gifts for that special someone: yourself
Martha Stewart's chic Valentine's Day crafts
DIY: Michelle Obama's embellished J.Crew belt