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Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching.  We thought this would be the perfect time to bring you ideas on how to “swoon you sweetie” without breaking the bank.  Thanks to some of our SC readers, we’ve compiled a list of 10 ideas for romance on a budget.

1.   It may seem old-school, but a mixed CD with some of your sweetheart’s favorite songs is sure to be a big hit…no pun intended.  Be sure to add “your special song.” What? No special love song?  That’s okay.  Here are a few suggestions off the top of my head. 

                  You & Me – Lifehouse

                  At Last – Etta James

                  It’s Your Love – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

                  Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden

                  Run to You – Lady Antebellum

2.      Breakfast in bed. 

3.      A lunch date & a matinee movie. 

4.      A live plant.  The gift that keeps on giving.  (Peace Lilies are nice.)

5.      Movie at home with a picnic in the living room floor.  Makes for a happy camper!

6.      Satin Sheets.  Need I say more?

7.      Get back to nature with a leisurely walk or a hike.  Spending quality time together is priceless.

8.      Give your significant other a back massage or a foot rub.  He or she will probably reciprocate.

9.      Go to a bookstore or a coffee shop.  Simply hanging out together is fun & relaxing.

10.  Make your sweetheart’s favorite meal or order from their favorite take out menu.  Light a few candles.  Play some soft music in the background, and you’ve got the makings for a very memorable evening.   

No matter what your idea for romance, I think the key is to be creative.  While jewelry, flowers and expensive chocolates are nice, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to show love.  When my husband helps me out with everyday household chores like doing the laundry or washing the dishes, I feel so good and it brings smile to my face.  That makes me feel his love in a special kind of way.  I GREATLY appreciate the fact that he puts forth the effort to help lighten my load. 

One Southeastern Charm reader wrote, “My husband did this for my birthday, but I think it's a great idea for any special occasion and it sure made me feel loved! He bought me 8 individually wrapped chocolates and gave me one each day for 8 days leading to my birthday.  The special part???  Each chocolate had a little piece of paper with one word or phrase that was significant in our journey of love! SO CUTE! Another twist would be to have a message that you find out by unscrambling the words on the last day.” 

Another idea is to give your loved one a really nice card with just the perfect sentiments or better yet…write a love letter!!  A love letter is sure to be treasured. A final suggestion is to is to give a fun and sweet treat like cookies.  Besides…who doesn’t like cookies?  Be sure to read the article about KJ Cookies in the food section of SC.

No matter what, the main thing is to always show kindness and respect to your loved one every day...not just once a year on Valentine's Day.

You probably recognize Laurie Smith as one of the interior design stars from the successful hit TV series, Trading Spaces, which aired on TLC.  She was often referred to as the “southern-belle” and grande dame of design.  Her primary goal on the show was to create rooms that could be lived in.  Laurie’s room designs were also permeated with her self-described modern-classic approach which infused sophistication and Old World elegance.  Combining classic & contemporary elements along with great furniture and beautiful fabrics, Laurie’s rooms were always a big hit.

Laurie was born on May 23, 1971 and was raised in Houston, Texas.  Smith told SC that she had studied dance and thought she'd become a professioal dancer, but that later she became very interested in architecture and design.  She graduated from Southern Methodist University where she majored in broadcast journalism.  Later she attended the prestigious New York school of Interior Design where she graduated in 1999.  In the Spring of 2000, she was working at an interior design firm when the call came from Trading Spaces.  Smith said, "This was just an exciting opportunity for me to do what I love."  Since Trading Spaces, she has added an impressive list of credentials to her resume.  In 2004, Smith became a spokesperson for Lane Home Furnishings through commercials and in-store appearances.  She also partnered with Hancock Fabrics to launch a nationally successful designer fabric line.

By 2005, fans were able to purchase Laurie’s first book, Discovering Home – Find Your Personal Style, which takes the reader through her personal journey of the renovation and design of her mid-century home. Upon its release, Discovering Home was honored at The National Book Festival sponsored by The Library of Congress, where Laurie was featured as a guest reader.

Laurie resides in Jackson, Mississippi with her husband Brad and their son, Gibson and daughter India.  She continues to be passionate about design and enjoys spending time with family, friends and loves to travel.  She has appeared on several television shows and has also been featured in a variety of magazines.  As for her latest project, she partnered with Quoizel Lighting and designed their “Illuminations” collection. 

A busy wife, mother and designer, Laurie remains faithful to her roots and is true southern lady who lives life with an abundance of style and grace. 

Many wonderful people are proud to call the southeast home, and we can't wait to introduce you to a few of them in this section.