Give this guy an A++ for creativity! In what has to be one of the most elaborate engagement proposals ever staged, Blake Buck and co-conspirator Mike Metzger devised a plan in which Buck’s girlfriend, Kellie O’Leary, would reel in a fish – with an engagement ring attached – from the icy waters of Otter Tail Lake in Minnesota.

According to the Fergus Falls Journal, Buck and Metzger set up two ice houses on the lake. Buck took his girlfriend to fish in one, while Metzger, with scuba gear on, sat in the other.

Buck told O’Leary that he wanted to see if fish were biting for other anglers, but he really went into the other house to tell Metzger he was ready to pop the question. With O’Leary’s lure already in the water, the diver entered the lake, swam about 70 feet to O’Leary’s fishing hole, attached a rubber fish to Kellie’s lure and gave it a tug as if she had a bite.

“I tried to convince Blake to use a dime store ring,” Metzger told the Fergus Falls Journal. “But he wanted the real thing.”

As O’Leary was pulling the fish up, Buck was fearful she might hook his friend, so he told her to take it really slow. When she got her rubbery trophy to the surface, it was like nothing she’d seen before.

“It was a huge black and yellow fish,” O’Leary said. “It was kind of scary looking. But then I saw my ring on it.”

“He asked me to marry him and I said ‘yes’ three times, but I really just wanted to know how he did that,” she said. “I was really excited.”

The Fergus Falls Journal reported that O’Leary called her parents right away and told her mom, “I caught a fiancé.”

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Let’s head into the weekend with a romantic ballad called “Diamond Ring” by Bon Jovi, the forever-young rock band from New Jersey featuring lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora. Jon reveals in the intro of this video that, despite being one of their favorite songs, “Diamond Ring” was bumped from two albums – “New Jersey” (1988) and “Keep the Faith” (1992) – before finally making the cut in 1995 in “These Days.”

Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi has released 15 albums, sold 130 million records, performed more than 2,600 concerts in 50+ countries and has drawn a total attendance of 34 million fans. Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009.

Diamond Ring

Songwriters: Desmond Child, Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi

Diamond ring wear it on your hand
It’s gonna tell the world I’m your only man
Diamond ring, diamond ring
Baby you’re my everything diamond ring

Red red rose brought it home to you
Blood red rose tells me that you’re true
Red red rose, blood red rose
Like a fire inside that grows blood red rose

When you’re hungry I will fill you up
If you’re thirsty drink out of my loving cup
When you’re crying I’ll be the tears for you
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do for you

And when you’re hungry I will fill you up
If you’re thirsty drink out of my loving cup
When you’re crying I’ll be the tears for you
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do

You know I bleed every night you sleep
‘Cause I don’t know if I’m in your dreams
I want to be your everything

Diamond ring wear it on your hand
It’s gonna tell the world I’m your only man
Diamond ring diamond ring
Baby you’re my everything diamond ring
You’re my queen and I’m your king diamond ring
Now you’ve got me on your string

She wears a diamond ring

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All that talent, good looks and romantic, too. Is there anything this young man can’t do? Teen power couple Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez lit up the blogosphere yesterday when the 19-year-old singer and actress posted her Valentine gift from Bieber – a diamond ring in the shape of a “J” – on the photo-sharing site, Instagram.

The photo shows a closeup of Gomez’s hand being caressed by a larger hand (presumably Bieber’s). To the right of the photo is a simple caption that reads: “I’m finally home ,” referring to the end of her world tour, which concluded in Montevideo, Uruguay, a few days ago. Under her comment is a stream of messages from adoring fans, cooing about how romantic Bieber is and how lucky Gomez is to have landed such a prize boyfriend. Gomez has more than 714,000 followers on Instagram.

Celebrity bloggers and entertainment sites speculated whether the ring represented a Valentine’s Day gift or something much more, such as a promise ring. The ring was photographed on the ring finger of her right hand.

Fans of Bieber and Gomez are flush with speculation that the power couple will get engaged when Bieber turns 18 next month. Although the “J” ring would be inappropriate as a engagement ring choice, according to MailOnline it could be a promise ring since there is a tradition for teenagers to don each other’s initials as a precursor to an engagement. Other bloggers presumed that the Valentine gift was, in fact, a friendship ring.

The couple has been together since early 2011, when Bieber escorted Gomez to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party and confirmed several months of media speculation about a romantic relationship between the pair. In June 2011, pop sensation Bieber was ranked number 2 on the Forbes list of Best-Paid Celebrities under 30.

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A new survey conducted by TheKnot.com and Men’s Health magazine reveals that 17% of U.S. men would wear a “man-gagement” ring. The responses from 1,400 survey participants seem to confirm that the much-debated phenomenon of a man receiving an engagement ring from his significant other is starting to take hold in the U.S.

Many males in other countries are already proud to wear rings along with their female counterparts upon their engagements, but it wasn’t until Canadian crooner Michael Buble showed off his “man-gagement” ring in the summer of 2010 that the clever hyphenated term became an acceptable part of the jewelry lexicon. The term “man-gagement” made its Urban Dictionary debut in March of 2008.

Here are the highlights of the co-branded fifth-annual Proposal and Engagement Survey. According to TheKnot.com and Men’s Health magazine…

Men Want to Sport Some Bling, Too! Ladies, don’t be surprised if your man asks for a ring: 17% of men surveyed said women shouldn’t be the only ones to wear a ring before marriage and that they’d love a “man-gagement” ring. What woman wouldn’t want other ladies to know her man was off the market?

Carat Size AND Quality Matter to Brides. Guys, take note. The quality of the ring is important, but don’t forget about the size of the bling! When asked how much carat size really matters, more than half (59%) of brides said both size and quality matter to them. When asked if they thought carat size matters to her, a whopping 76% of the men surveyed said, “No, she doesn’t care that much – quality over quantity!” Think again, guys.

Brides Care What Friends and Family Think of Their Ring. Nearly one in four (22%) brides surveyed admitted that it matters what their friends and family think about the ring. Maybe the 44% of guys who chose the ring themselves should’ve enlisted some extra help from her side.

Tradition Reigns for Men. A massive 76% of men said it is essential to propose on bended knee, while only 48% of women agreed. Yet when it came to asking both Mom and Dad for their daughter’s hand in marriage, men and women were pretty much on the same page, with 21% and 28%, respectively, saying it’s important.

Brides Love to Post Their Ring on Facebook. Exactly 57% of brides say “yes” to sharing their happy news on Facebook by posting a picture of their ring.

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’ve discovered a brand new social platform for couples called LOVEPOST.com, where anyone in love is invited to share engagement news, events, wedding details, photos, videos and more.

LOVEPOST provides easy access to answers from a community of like-minded couples who are all experiencing these exciting events in their lives. Couples can pose a question, answer someone else’s and browse topics.

To help bring attention to the new site, recently engaged celebrity couple Mario Lopez and Courtney Mazza shared their love story in a special Valentine’s Day post.

According to the couple’s latest profile post from Courtney, “Just when I thought our life couldn’t get any more perfect, on New Year’s 2011 Mario proposed on a private beach in Ixtapa-Zihuatanjo, Mexico. It was our first destination holiday with Gia (couple’s daughter) and we were joined by most of our family and friends.”

“One afternoon, Mario asked me to take a walk on the beach. It was absolutely gorgeous! After he told me how much he loved me and our family, he said there was one thing that he didn’t like – that I didn’t have his last name. Then he got down on one knee and proposed. I was in complete shock! After I said yes, we headed back up to our house and there were balloons and a Mariachi band playing, everyone in my family knew. It was truly magic.”

The way the site is set up, the woman’s profile fills the left column, the gentleman’s profile fills the right column, and the details of the couple’s engagement or wedding occupies the center of the layout.

In the coming weeks, LOVEPOST will continue to add fun features and tools including video upload and sharing functionality, and a video channel that will promote the best proposal and wedding-related videos. Enjoy!

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The 10,000-unit Pizza Hut chain made a surprising crossover into the jewelry business last week with its $10,010 “Ultimate Valentine’s Day Proposal in a Box.” Starting on February 7 and lasting until Valentine’s Day, customers visiting PizzaHut.com can order what the company calls an “epic collection of proposal goodies inspired by the new $10 Dinner Box on the Pizza Hut menu.”

Among the goodies included in the $10 Dinner Box Proposal Package are a ruby engagement ring, limo service, flowers, fireworks show, photographer, videographer and, of course, the new $10 Dinner Box. The edible part of the package contains a medium pan pizza, five breadsticks with marinara sauce and 10 cinnamon sticks with a sweet icing cup.

“Our customers want the best of everything, from their food to memorable life experiences,” said Pizza Hut Chief Marketing Officer Kurt Kane in a press release. “So we decided to make one of those experiences – the marriage proposal – second-to-none and offer it at PizzaHut.com right alongside the new $10 Dinner Box.”

The Pizza Hut website provides scant details about the engagement ring. It simply describes the ring as having a “stunning ruby stone flanked by shimmering diamonds.” With only 10 packages being offered at PizzaHut.com, the company is imploring those “looking to pop the question in a unique way” to act fast.

We believe that if you’re planning to propose with a ruby-and-diamond engagement ring this Valentine’s Day, consulting with your favorite professional jeweler may be a better bet. We would love to show you a wide array of possibilities to make her Valentine’s dreams come true.

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Valentine from Ted Zbozien on Vimeo.

As we head into the most romantic weekend of the year, let’s enjoy the powerful vocals of Martina McBride as she performs the 1997 hit, “Valentine.” Co-written by Jim Brickman and Jack Kugell, “Valentine” first appeared on Brickman’s album Picture This and later on McBride’s album Evolution.

The song reached #3 on the Adult Contemporary charts and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1997. The song was also a cross-over hit, as it climbed to #9 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1998.

Both McBride and Brickman have gone on to enjoy stellar careers. McBride has been called the “Celine Dion of Country Music” and has sold 14 million albums. She was also named “Female Vocalist of the Year” four times by the Country Music Association (tied for the most ever with Reba McIntire).

Jim Brickman, a songwriter and pianist, is credited with being the “most charted male Adult Contemporary artist.” His signature style has brought him six Gold and Platinum albums, 30 charted adult radio hits, and two Grammy nominations.

“Valentine”

Performed by Martina McBride (feat. Jim Brickman)

Written by Jim Brickman and Jack Kugell

If there were no words
No way to speak
I would still hear you

If there were no tears
No way to feel inside
I’d still feel for you

And even if the sun refuse to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart
Until the end of time
You’re all I need
My love, my Valentine

All of my life
I have been waiting for
All you give to me
You’ve opened my eyes
And showed me how to love unselfishly

I’ve dreamed of this a thousand times before
In my dreams I couldn’t love you more
I will give you my heart
Until the end of time
You’re all I need
My love, my Valentine

La da da
Da da da da

And even if the sun refuse to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart
Until the end of time
Cuz all I need
Is you, my Valentine

You’re all I need
My love, my Valentine

Gentlemen, if you were thinking about giving your significant other a gift card, cash or a vacuum cleaner for Valentine’s Day, you may want to read the rest of this posting… It could keep you out of the doghouse.

In a recent survey conducted for Sears by Sentient Decision Science, women were asked, “If you could pick only one gift to receive for Valentine’s Day this year what would it be?” Nearly one-third of women (29 percent) said they would choose jewelry.

Runners-up on the Valentine Wish List included flowers or chocolate (20%), perfume (9%), the latest technology product (8%), lingerie (8%), a kitchen or home item (6%), shoes, handbag or other accessory item (5%), clothing item (5%), or a fitness/exercise item (1%).

And while 29% of women would love to receive jewelry on February 14, a new survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation reveals that not enough men are getting the message, as barely one in five (18.9%) are planning to buy jewelry for Valentine’s Day.

The NRF expects Valentine’s Day purchases to top $17.6 billion this year, with $4.1 billion being spent on jewelry, up from $3.5 billion last year. Couples will spend more than $3.5 billion on a special evening out, $1.8 billion on flowers, $1.5 billion on candy, $1.4 billion on clothing and $1.1 billion on gift cards.

While jewelry is your BEST BET, these are the eight WORST possible gifts to give your significant other on Valentine’s Day, according to the staff of ModernMom.com:

1. A gift card
WAY too impersonal. This just shows that your man didn’t put much thought into looking for a gift.

2. Cash
Even worse than a gift card! Couples should never give each other cash – come on!

3. A scale, vacuum cleaner, anything practical
Yes, you may need these items but V-Day isn’t the time for practical gifts.

4. Fake flowers
Yes, flowers are super expensive on Valentine’s Day. We get that. But, we’d rather get no flowers than fake flowers.

5. Clothing (especially when it’s the wrong size)
A man buying clothing for a woman is a bad idea 99% of the time. If it’s too small, then we think we’re fat. If it’s too big, then we think you think we’re fat. And if it’s ugly, well, we don’t want to wear it.

6. Sugar-free or reduced-calorie candy
Nothing says “I’d love you more if you weighed less” quite like an artificially sweetened treat.

7. Facebook gift
Cute on random days during the year, but a virtual gift for V-day? No thank you!

8. Gym membership
Even if we’ve been saying that we need to join a gym finally, this is not an acceptable gift. What are you trying to say, anyway? Nothing good can come out of this.

Press Release

Ben David Jewelers to Host Weddings, Vow Renewals on Valentine’s Day

On February 14, 2012, Ben David Jewelers will be one of the many places where couples choose to say “I Do” for Valentine’s Day.   From 10:30 am until 6:00 pm, couples will declare their love in front of Pastor Pam Spencer.  Couples will be married or renew their wedding vows every 30 minutes.  Ben David Jewelers is excited to offer this free service again this year to couples in the Dan-River Region.

Leon David, owner of Ben David Jewelers said, “This is such an exciting and special time for these couples.   Ben David’s has hosted weddings on Valentine’s Day in our store for the past five years.   Especially now, with the economy in turmoil, it is our pleasure to allow area couples to get married in our store for free.  It is our way of giving back to the community.”

Ben David Jewelers is fortunate to be able to partner with many local companies to provide a wonderful wedding experience.  Each couple will receive a free wedding package, which includes flowers, photography, and wedding cake for their special day.  The wedding bouquet & boutonnière are provided by Giles Flowerland and Kitty’s Kakes will be making a wonderful wedding cake for the reception area.  Traci Shannon Photography will be capturing all of the memorable moments.

Ben David Jewelers is also giving away an amazing Bridal Pampering Package from Genesis Day Spa.  The winner of this package will be chosen February 7th in a drawing of those who have made reservations up to that point.  Genesis Day Spa will provide one lucky bride with a facial, 30 minute massage, manicure, pedicure, and a “color and cut” in their salon the day before the wedding. To follow up that great day of pampering, Genesis will also provide the bride with an updo or hair style of her choice and airbrush make-up on the morning of her wedding.  Since the winner of this wonderful package will be chosen on February 7th, couples are encouraged to RSVP to (434) 792-6561 by February 6th.

On February 14, there will also be a grand-prize drawing and one lucky couple will win:

• Complimentary one night stay and breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn – Greensboro courtesy of Daly Seven Corporation
• “Dinner for Two” gift certificate from Outback Steakhouse
• $50 savings bond from American National Bank

Ben David’s will provide a pastor on Monday, February 14 to join you and your sweetheart in holy matrimony or to renew your vows.  All you need to bring is a marriage license, and of course, someone to marry!

In order to reserve your preferred time and to qualify for the Genesis Day Spa Bridal Pampering Package, we ask that you RSVP to (434) 792-6561 by Monday, February 6th.

Ben David Jewelers is a second-generation jewelry store in located in Danville, VA, and owned by brothers Mark and Leon David.  This family-owned store has been operating in Danville since 1959.