The Potteries reminds shoppers to appreciate the ones they love with its Valentine’s Day competition.

The UK center has asked shoppers to offer up the single most romantic thing anyone has ever done for them. Entries are posted on their website to bring a smile to any lover’s face – and maybe provide a little inspiration. Those brave enough to put forth their sweetest memories for all to see are entered into a contest to win a day spa for two (because isn’t Valentine’s Day stressful enough?), and a package of romantic gifts from center retailers.

Most of the posted entries involve grand romantic gestures, but some remind us that the little things are what really matter. One romantic remarked on her hubby’s habit of making her coffee every morning, while another appreciated her husband taking the day off to care for her when she was home sick.

Speaking of the Olympics, Wagga Wagga Marketplace recently had a visit from a couple of Olympians.

As part of a promotion for Davenport’s line of “Australia Day” underwear, the shopping center hosted the Great Wagga Wagga Wedgie Tug of War. Australian swimming champions Stephanie Rice and Eamon Sullivan are the brand ambassadors for the line, and they came out to head up the Tug of War Teams.

By all accounts, it was a mighty battle, with teams chosen from a crowd of over 400 eager fans and onlookers. In the end, Rice’s team won, but the good-hearted Olympian and World Champion both made sure fun was had by winners and losers alike.

With the 2010 Winter Olympics less than two weeks away, malls in the Vancouver area are getting into the spirit.

Coquitlam Centre is kicking off its celebrations next Thursday, the day the Olympic Torch relay passes through its suburb. The Community Centre Celebration Event (the name’s a bit of a mouthful) showcases some of Coquitlam’s top talent with the finals for the Coquitlam Centre Tri-Cities Songwriting Contest. The Awards ceremony for the contest will be the highlight of the event, with the grand prize winner taking home $1000 in gift cards and more than $1500 in secondary prizes. The Grand Prize and the two Category Winners will also have their songs professionally recorded.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Olympic spirit event without a fashion show – Team Canada and Vancouver 2010 fashion lines will be shown throughout the day.

The shopping center’s “What are you shopping for?” campaign even has an Olympic turn – “Community Spirit” is the reply.

Mardi Gras is almost here — it falls on February 16th this year. Will you join the celebration?

The events start early. Cordova Mall’s Mardi Gras celebration was last weekend — the annual Cordova Mall Ball. The Ball is organized by the Krewe of Les Petits Enfants (Order of the Small Children), and it raises funds for Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital. Last year, with over 2300 attendees, the Ball raised over $300,000 for the hospital. This year they were aiming for a sold out event of 2500, the most the mall can hold.

The mall closed early for the event, which started at 8pm. Visitors took in food from 25 local restaurants, enjoyed live music performances and danced the night away. A silent auction was held to raise money for Sacred Heart.

It seems that White Oaks Mall wants to keep shoppers coming back for a good, long time.

The shopping center is hosting the Prairie Heart Institute’s “Prairie Heart Fair” next weekend. At the, er, heart of the event is Art Smith, Oprah’s personal chef for over a decade. He’s a contributing editor to her magazine, the chef for her international events, and a cookbook writer, chef, and restaurant co-owner on his own time. So he knows a few things about food. He’ll be offering a heart-friendly cooking demonstration, a Q & A session, and a book signing.

If shoppers want to get up close and personal with Mr. Smith, they can visit the Institute’s website and take their Heart Risk Assessment. The first hundred to do so win a pair of tickets for the reserved seating area of the event – whether their hearts are at risk or not. Staff from the Prairie Heart Institute will be on hand at the event to offer free health screenings, and to explain the warning signs of a heart attack.