Posted by Jennifer Popper on Wed, Feb 04, 2009 @ 07:35 AM
It's that time of year - it's still cold out, and it will stay cold a little longer, thanks to that darn groundhog. With Valentine's Day approaching quickly, I thought I'd share with you a list of things you and your special someone can do for each other.
There are two especially sweet Valentine's Day rituals that I
treasure, although they may not seem like much to others. The first
one was started by my husband, who surprised me the first year we lived
together by putting candy hearts into my coat pocket. As I headed off
for the train into New York City, reaching into my pockets for gloves,
imagine my surprise at finding these simple, yet touching messages.
And every year since, I look forward to this silly little ritual.
The
second one started in Washington, D.C. We were killing time in the
hotel room before we headed out to dinner, and sat
down to write out cards to our nieces, nephews and good friends'
children. We laughed so hard, remembering how much fun it was to
exchange these drug store cards with our classmates back in those early
school years. The grown-ups of these children thought we were just a
bit crazy after they received our cards, but now they, too, look forward to seeing what type of theme
card we will come up with, be it Bugs Bunny or Hannah Montana.
It's
the little things that I remember in life, not the expensive bouquet of
flowers purchased on a Hallmark holiday. If you want to buy me
flowers, send them to me on a day when I don't expect them. That will
truly make my heart skip a beat.
How will you spend Valentine's
Day this year? In these tough times, even random acts of kindness
toward strangers can be appreciated on a truly deep level by both
parties. Buy coffee for the person behind you in line. Volunteer at
an animal shelter. Or offer to go to the grocery store for a sick or
elderly neighbor. Do something to make someone else smile, and it will make you smile, too. Inspire us with your stories here! But first, read on for a list of ways to celebrate on February 14th.
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50 Cheap Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Sweetheart (Without Looking Cheap)
If you’re like most couples, you’re watching your pennies this year
and looking for ways to romance your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day
without breaking the bank. The following list will help:
1. Create an indoor picnic with available props, i.e., picnic
tablecloth, paper goods. Share finger foods and favorite treats along
with a glass of wine. Spice up “dessert.” Enjoy your picnic on the
living room floor or in bed. Play card games, board games, or make up
your own.
2. Decorate a unique-looking jar or box with craft items. Write
numerous love notes on small pieces of paper and fill the jar with
them. Present the jar to your sweetheart.
3. There are many local and national Valentine’s Day giveaway
contests with great prizes. Enter as many as you can and maybe you’ll
get lucky.
4. For young couples with kids, get them involved in an all-family
fun Valentine’s Day dinner at home. Mom can prepare a dessert for two
and light the candles while dad puts the kids to bed.
5. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday, celebrate with a day full
of low-cost activities you both enjoy doing (depending upon your
location and weather). Do something with your significant other that
he/she rarely has time to do, but loves.
6. Take a 2-hour, one-time salsa or tango dancing lesson together.
Or, identify some other interest you share and find a place to give you
one-time extended lesson on Valentine’s Day.
7. Gals…Make the entire day full of his favorites: the breakfast of
his dreams, the dinner of his dreams, TV that is his favorite, his
music, etc. Don’t say anything about it, surprise him all day long.
8. Take the person you love to experience something spectacular in
nature: a sunset, a sunrise, the calm of the beach, share an evening
walk gazing at the moon.
9. Create a framed group of photos that put your relationship in
chronological order of events, by months or years (depending on how
long you’ve been together).
10. Create a CD with songs that make you think of your sweetheart, and give it to him/her.
11. Choose specialty foods, such as wine, cheese, fresh
bread/dessert from a favorite bakery. Enjoy in front of your warm,
toasty fireplace.
12. Create an at-home spa day for your mate. Deliver the gift in a
basket filled with inexpensive candles, bubble bath, rose petals,
facial mask and scrub. Then give your mate time to enjoy it. When
he/she is done, heat up towels in the dryer for drying off.
13. Give each other long-lingering back rubs or head-to-toe body massages. Invest in luxurious lotion or oils.
14. Create a favorite drink together. Try all kinds of ingredients.
Enjoy taste-testing. Be sure to record the ingredients, so you can make
the “your” drink again on Valentine’s Day year after year.
15. Watch an old movie at home together, with popcorn and soft drinks and candy – movie-theater style.
16. Share a scrumptious dessert and latté at a local patisserie or bakery.
17. Pick a few household chores your Valentine usually does and
surprise them by doing it before they get a chance, i.e., making the
bed. It doesn’t sound romantic, but the thought will most certainly
count.
18. Walk around a favorite part of town, stopping at a nice locale for a glass of wine and appetizers.
19. On Valentine’s Day, place three pair of sexy undies on your bed
and let your mate pick out which one you should wear. It’s your secret!
20. Write a “Top 10 Reasons Why I Love You” list.
21. Since Valentine’s Day is on Saturday, if you’re a member of a
wholesale club (like Sam’s or Costco) have fun eating all the free
samples! Then fill in any empty holes left in your stomach by going out
to lunch. (That way you won’t spend a lot of money at a restaurant!)
22. What’s a new activity you’ve both wanted to try that’s low cost?
Do it. Or, how can you creatively modify it to make it low cost? Do it.
23. Leave a note on your mate’s pillow expressing how special you
think he/she is. Place a couple of mints on the pillow, too (or a
single rose)…all to be discovered at bedtime.
24. Guys…If you want to cook dinner, remember, she doesn’t care what
you make. There are many easy recipes on food web sites that look like
you spent hours in the kitchen. Be imaginative and set the table
special. Play romantic music softly while you dine. Leave the clean-up
until morning!
25. Guys or Gals…When you make that special dinner…Just like when
you go to a fancy event and a “dinner menu” is put on each plate
describing each food item, do something similar. For example, on your
menu, write “Spaghetti & Meatballs, made with passion to be with
YOU.” Don’t forget to give your “event” or “restaurant” a name at the
top of the menu.
26. Make a simple dinner at home, then go out dancing or to listen to live music at a jazz club.
27. Buy two champagne flutes for use on Valentine’s Day only to
annually toast your love. Keep them in a visible location as a
year-round reminder of how special you are to each other.
28. Play a sport together that you haven’t played in awhile, or that
you rarely get a chance to enjoy. Before you start, determine what the
“winner” gets (making it something to do with caring, loving, etc.).
29. Leave a “racy” picture on your mate’s cell phone. Text a romantic message at a time of day when you know things get hectic.
30. Present your Valentine IOU coupons: I will make dinner; I will
do the laundry; I will take care of the kids one day a month for the
next year; I will clean the kitchen for a week; I will serve you
breakfast in bed.
31. Together, go “shopping” at a sex-toy store without spending any money. It’ll give you ideas and get you “in the mood.”
32. The tough economy has lured many upscale restaurants to have
high-end early-bird specials. Find out what’s available in your area.
33. Some volunteer fire departments use holiday fauna to create
flower and rose bouquets as a fund-raiser. Prices are reasonable; just
get there early.
34. If she loves chocolate…Take her on a chocolates tour. Find your
hometown chocolate purveyor and ask for a behind-the-scenes tour. Next,
go to a restaurant that serves her favorite chocolate dessert. Return
home to snuggle with a cup of hot chocolate.
35. Use a bar of soap to draft a love note on your bathroom mirror.
Or, if you shower first, write a love note to your sweetheart in the
steam on the mirror.
36. Write “I love you because….” notes and insert them into
balloons. Blow up the balloons, and spread the balloons throughout your
bedroom for your Valentine to pop and capture each message.
37. Many drug stores with photo departments offer a variety of
Valentine’s Day specials to make gifts from photographs. Use a good
picture of the two of you together.
38. Make homemade chocolate-covered strawberries: 1) Melt a package
of chocolate chips in a double boiler and add a small amount of oil; 2)
Remove from heat and quickly dip the strawberries into the chocolate;
3) Place on wax paper and refrigerate for several hours until chocolate
is firm.
39. Guys…If you want to order flowers for your gal, supermarket
florists are generally half the price of the stand-alone or on-line
stores, but the trick to for seeing real savings is to order two weeks
or more in advance and pay for the flowers up front………..Another trick
to save money, get other guys who want to order flowers to join you and
place your orders to the same florist all at once. The florist may give
you a “bulk” discount. Again, important to plan ahead.
40. Plan a scavenger hunt. Write clues and place them in envelopes,
and place the envelopes around town. Make the final clue a doozey of a
destination.
41. Get a small radio and take your partner dancing at a romantic hideaway, such as the woods or riverfront or ocean.
42. Use fabric paint to decorate a Valentine’s Day pillowcase for
your loved one. Check arts-and-crafts web sites for other easy-to-make
gifts.
43. What did you do on your very first date? Repeat it.
44. Create a year-long calendar with photos of just the two of you
above (top page) each month. Office supply stores will insert the
spiral/binding for you.
45. Have a progressive dinner. If you’re single, appetizers at his
place. Entrée at her place. The middle course, dessert, after-dinner
cordials…map it out a few days ahead. If you’re married, one course at
home, one course at her office, his office, etc. Use your imagination
to set locations!
46. Write new “updated” wedding vows, both serious and humorous, and
share them with each other over a glass of wine in a candlelit room.
47. In the morning, tuck a love note in his pocket or her pocketbook
or other certain-to-be-found spot. Jot down some meaningful words on a
piece of paper – “Can’t wait to wrap my arms around you tonight!”;
“What’s for ‘dessert’?”; “You make me happy every day!” – and tuck it
in a conspicuous location to be easily discovered during the day.
48. Have a 15-minute kissing session and try some new ways and
places to kiss. The same old smoocheroo can get boring. Use your
imagination…and perhaps a little whipped cream, chocolate syrup, etc.
49. If you don’t have a special sweetheart, focus on bringing a
smile or laughter to everyone you come in contact with on Valentine’s
Day.
50. What are your mate’s quirks and habits that irk you? Don’t nag
about any of them the entire day. Then try to extend the no-nagging
effort to every day of the year. Remember, you’re never going to change
the other person.
Posted by Jennifer Popper on Fri, Dec 12, 2008 @ 04:02 PM
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