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If you want everything coming up roses this Valentine's Day, including how much you spend, here are some pointers on picking the perfect bouquet.

SmartMoney, an online Wall Street Journal publication, has seven money-saving tips on buying flowers.

Weekday delivery: Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year. That means you're going to pay a premium for weekend delivery.

Have them delivered on Friday instead. At the office? Even better.

Cut the stem length: Longer stems mean more expensive roses.

Pretty in pink: You can save some money by ordering roses that aren't red.

Mix blooms: Try mixing that bouquet with tulips, oriental lilies and carnations to save.

Check for quality: Do your homework to make sure you're getting the real deal. Does the bouquet come pre-arranged? Vase included?

Coupon codes: Check Web sites including RetailMeNot.com and CouponShack.com for coupon codes.

Order a single stem: You'll pay just $3 to $5 for a single, long-stemmed rose.

"It's a romantic and economical gesture that leaves you plenty of room in your budget for a fancy dinner out or more long-lasting gift," SmartMoney says.

Read more at www.smartmoney.com/spending.

Sweetheart brunch aids breast cancer research

Get discounts, enjoy a free brunch and other goodies while supporting breast cancer research at Smith Beautiful Living (403 Pisgah Church Road, Greensboro; 275-6414).

The event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The brunch features homemade specialties by store co-owner David Messmer including triple chocolate muffins and almond cakes.

You can also register to win free gifts including a Vera Bradley drawstring Emma handbag.

Also receive a Kiss Me Twice lipstick case ($10) with any Vera Bradley purchase of at least $65.

Ten percent of net sales from the event go to breast cancer research.

RSVP by Thursday at 275-6414 or by e-mail to ruth@smithbeautifulliving.com.

Smith Beautiful Living is at the Village at North Elm shopping center.

More information at www.smithbeautifulliving.com.

Special Valentine's gifts available at Mary Contrary

Mary Contrary (227-A S. Elm St., Greensboro; 272-5700) has Waechtersbach heart-shaped red plates ($27) with white lettering that reads "You are special today."

The store also has heart-shaped soap ($5) and crystal doilies ($15) that fit over the top of the vase to arrange flowers.

A new shipment of 10-ounce ($20) and 4-ounce ($10) candles with scents including "love spell" and mango has also arrived.

Shipments of stained-glass hearts and red bud vases should also be arriving any day now, store owner Mary Wasse said.

Chocoholics, rejoice: Check out these gourmet gifts

Satisfy your Valentine's Day sweet tooth with some gourmet chocolate.

Loco for Coco (1420-D Westover Terrace; 333-0029) is offering heart-shaped, red-satin boxes filled with 16 truffles ($22) or 36 truffles ($40).

The store also has wine lovers chocolate featuring its best-selling dark chocolate truffles, strips of glaceed Italian orange peel drenched in bittersweet chocolate, and tuxedo bark, a bittersweet chocolate laced with white chocolate.

Eight ounces is $16. A pound is $26.

Dark, milk and white chocolate solid hearts are $6.50 for six ounces.

The store also has 6-piece packages of pink, heart-shaped Peeps dipped in milk chocolate for $8.50

You can order at www.locoforcocochocolate.com or call 333-0029.

Winstead Commons shops plan Valentine's deals

Stores at Winstead Commons at Pisgah Church Road and Lawndale Drive in Greensboro are having a number of specials tied to Valentine's Day this week.

Mimi Nails Salon (2920-E Martinsville Road; 288-0105) is celebrating its grand opening with special Valentine's Day discounts on manicures, pedicures and gift certificates.

Sip free champagne and enjoy cupcakes while you shop at Jack Cecil (2920-D Martinsville Road; 286-1100).

Select clothing is on sale, and free gift wrapping is provided.

Gift certificates are also available.

At Wildbirds Unlimited (2920-A Martinsville Road; 282-4458), seed and suet is on sale.

A special setup for bluebird houses is also on sale.

Men looking for a Valentine's Day gift can buy gift certificates at Arthur's Fine Shoes (2920-B Martinsville Road; 286-9290). The store is also having a final clearance sale on fall footwear with prices reduced by 50 to 70 percent.

Refreshments will be served.

Does your valentine like coffee? Port City Java (2920-F Martinsville Road; 285-7074) is having a buy one gift certificate, get one free deal.

You can also buy one drink and get one free.

Deals at Winstead Commons begin Monday and end Saturday.

Send animal shelter love via Greensboro hair salon

A local salon wants to spread some love this Valentine's Day to our four-legged friends at the animal shelter.

At Hairworks by Dianne (311 Smyres Place, Greensboro; 275-5351), $5 is being donated to the Guilford County Animal Shelter for every $50 manicure, pedicure, facial or shampoo and blow dry gift certificate purchased.

If you buy the gift certificate for your sweetheart, you can enter that person's name in a drawing for a $50 spa and hair gift basket.

Store owner Dianne Teague is also matching every $5 donated to the animal shelter.

The special, which is under way, ends Sunday.

Hairworks by Dianne is open Monday through Saturday by appointment only.

Buy jewelry, help Haiti recover from earthquake

Custom Jewelers Gallery (2447 Battleground Ave., Greensboro; 286-7273) is donating half of its Valentine's Day weekend sales (Friday through Sunday) to help with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

The money will be donated to the American Red Cross.

See red, save green at local resale boutique

New items that are red are 25 percent off this month at Mechelle's Resale Boutique (403 State St., Greensboro; 574-4496).

New items that are not red are 20 percent off in February.

The store has a clearance corner, where all items are 50 percent off, including new and consigned merchandise.

Winter clearance sale offers frames at low prices

Picture this: Choose from a variety of frames, some priced as low as $2.50, during a sale at Graphik Dimensions Ltd. (2103 Brentwood St., High Point; 887-3700).

The sale is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Most frames cost about $5.

The store also custom-cuts molding and sells mat board, framed mirrors, photo frames and collage frames.

You can also receive e-mails about future sales at www.pictureframes/com/subscribe.

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Contact Mike Fuchs at 373-3465 or michael.fuchs@news-record.com