TO LEARN ABOUT ROMANCE

Lauralee Bell of 'The Young & the Restless' wearing Leo Diamonds from Kay Jewelers.

Tune In Tomorrow....To Learn About Romance!

January 2004 (Newstream) -- To the average viewer, every day is like Valentine's Day in the world of soap operas. For as long as "continuing stories" have been told during TV's daytime hours, romantic plotlines have been the lifeblood. What can the viewer at home do in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day to bring a little more soap-inspired romance into the reality of work- and family-related stress?

According to Dawn Mazzurco, editor of the popular Soaps In Depth magazine, her readers are already inspired: "I think people can take those special romantic moments that abound on soaps and try to incorporate them into their real lives."

And it's not just lines of dialogue that can be copied at home. "We get tons of mail from soap fans who simply have to know where to buy a particular article of clothing that was worn by a star, or a set of candlesticks that was used during a romantic dinner scene," Mazzurco says.

One star from "The Young & the Restless" who literally has fallen in love dozens of times in front of her loyal audience of fans is Lauralee Bell. Bell's character, Assistant District Attorney Christine Williams, began on the series 17 years ago as a junior fashion model, "Cricket" Blair Romalotti, and grew into the confident and passionate woman now known as Christine.

"Fans always ask me how they can learn to bring some of the soap opera magic into their own love lives," says Bell. "Our plotlines always show how important communication is in a good relationship. But treating each other with special gifts and treats is a classic soap technique to spark a passionate embrace."

Fashion-loving Bell, who now owns a Hollywood-based clothing store called On Beverly Blvd., thinks any kind of wearable gift works wonders. "Jewelry is a very romantic gift and diamonds - a girl's best friend - are a real symbol of love and commitment...I've recently been wearing the 'Leo Diamond' that just is amazingly sparkly...dazzling...and you can buy it right at the mall at Kay Jewelers."

The Leo Diamond has a unique patented cut that allows more light to be returned through the top of the stone, resulting in a more dazzling, brilliant display. "Nothing is more exciting than opening up a gift box and finding a sparkling piece of jewelry. The Leo Diamond makes an ideal romantic gift because its unbeatable fire, sparkle and brilliance is a wonderful reminder of the love in your life," says George Murray, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kay Jewelers.

Soap wardrobers love to use diamonds in romantic scenes, along with satiny lingerie and evening wear. "They tell us they like it when the two principals in a romantic scenes are glowing...so the more brilliant and sparkling, the better," Bell declares.

Some other tips from Lauralee Bell on bringing romance into a relationship:

• With a busy career and two small kids, she knows it's hard to find time to really devote to her husband and their romantic relationship. One thing they like to do is set aside one night every week for each other, and plan a "date night." Whether it's renting a movie, cooking dinner together or going for a walk, they've found "date night" to be a great way to keep the sparkle and brilliance alive in their relationship.
• Another great way to build upon a relationship is to celebrate each other. Sending a card or just dropping an unexpected phone call to congratulate your partner on meeting a goal or just to say "I love you" will go a long way.
• Lauralee and her husband also like to give each other gifts throughout the year to help preserve the rituals and magic of their dating years, and a great romantic gift, is jewelry.
• Steal ideas from your favorite soap such as setting up a romantic scene, like candles and flowers in the bedroom and around the bathtub.
• Finally, it's important to always take time to pamper yourself. Having "me time" is so critical to maintaining the passion and excitement in a relationship. Allow time for rejuvenation as well as appreciation for your partner.

Bell also says fans ask her about the kissing: "They say, how can I get my husband or boyfriend to kiss me like they do on your show?" Bell confesses that each embrace is actually choreographed and not particularly intimate since there are 10 to 20 technicians on the set. "So that shows you what good actors we have in daytime TV," says Bell.

But sometimes all that kissing and embracing leads to real life romance for the stars. Editor Mazzurco says, "We've had a few actors admit that their co-stars are great kissers....and it must be true considering how many co-stars have fallen in love and gotten married in their off-set lives, such as Lesli Kay (Molly Peterson Conlan McKinnon) and Keith Coulouris (David Allen Stenbeck) on 'As the World Turns' and Kelly Ripa (Hayley Vaughan) and Mark Consuelos (Mateo Santos) on 'All My Children'."

With all of the romance in the air and on the set, people may be looking for ways to bring that into their own lives. You can find great Valentine's Day gift ideas, including the Leo Diamond, at the nearest Kay Jewelers or by visiting www.kay.com. The Leo Diamond is the first diamond to be independently certified for superior fire, sparkle and brilliance. For more information about the Leo Diamond, visit www.kay.com or www.theleodiamond.com.