Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Creativity This Year
By MARNIE FERNANDEZ
LOVE ADVENTURES: Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in so many ways. This year, step out of the comfort zone and do something different and creative like going to a park.
So I am deviating a bit from my usual travel column. Since Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the week and with most everyone in a budget-conscious mode, I thought I would explore some out-of-the-box and inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
According to the greeting card industry, Valentine’s Day is supposed to be the most romantic day of the year. Talk about pressure! And let’s face it – not everyone wants a box of chocolates or a dozen roses. There are many other ways in which you can profess your love to your significant other, family or friends.
Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
1. Heart-felt breakfast
Instead of a romantic dinner for two, have a Valentine’s Day breakfast for the whole family. Heart-shaped pancakes, red plates and napkins, orange juice, strawberries and whipped cream would be the perfect way to show your family you love them.
2. Balloon goodies
Insert candy surprises and a folded up Valentine’s message into balloons before inflating them. Tie with a red ribbon and attach them to your loved one’s chair to find Valentine’s morning.
3. Coupons of Love
Who says couponing can’t be fun? Create individual coupons to describe a special surprise like a back rub, a bubble bath, a special home-cooked meal and fold them up and toss in a jar. Your loved one can pick one each week.
4. Scavenger Hunt
Write little notes about what your significant other means to you and place them throughout the house along with some candy. Add a riddle at the end of each note about where to find the next note. At the last one, have something special waiting there.
5. Spread the Love
Spend some time helping others who are less fortunate. Helping at your local church or homeless shelter, or visiting residents at a nursing home and passing out Valentines is giving the best gift of all: your time and your heart.
6. Indoor Picnic
Place a blanket on the floor near a lit fireplace with candles on the mantle, and eat your meal on the floor with your favorite bubbly. Even pizza or can be romantic in this setting.
7. A Notable Idea
Place little love notes in the kids’ backpacks, lunchboxes, bathroom mirror, briefcase or windshield of the car.
8. Love Letters
In the age of online communications, a handwritten letter is almost a lost art. Take time to write each other a love letter and read them aloud to one another.
9. Alone Time
If you don’t have a special someone – or just would like a day to yourself – this is the perfect opportunity! Pamper yourself with a candlelit bubble bath, grab your favorite takeout and rent the latest comedy video. Or treat yourself to a day at the spa or do a workout class.
10. How do I Love Thee?
Take some red or pink paper and cut into 52 squares. On each square write one reason why you love your partner, child or parent. Fold the squares and toss them into a jar that you can decorate with photos. Your loved one can pull out a square every week and be reminded of your love.
And most importantly – always take the time to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you. Heartfelt words can mean the most of all.
Updated 02-13-2012
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