Valentine’s Day
So, this weekend is Valentine’s Day.
I have to admit, I prefer it when it falls on a weeknight, because it feels much more special to go out to dinner on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. On the other hand, I don’t have children so I’m not looking for a babysitter, which means it doesn’t really matter to me. We don’t make a giant deal out of Valentine’s Day anyway, so it is all kind of a moot point.
In my imaginary life, I make fabulous handmade cards and small gifts for everyone I know, both locally and across the United States. My house is cleverly and perfectly decorated, without looking like a box of Sweethearts (bleck, I hate those) exploded in it. I make the whole day – nay, the whole week – a romantic and special occasion for Bart. We go to an amazing restaurant and do the $200 per person tasting menu.
In my real life, I (some years) buy Bart a box of Junior Mints and we go out to dinner and spend a grand total of $20. It is vair romantic and sweet.
Clearly, there is a massive gap between my imaginary and real lives. What clever and fun things are you doing to celebrate? Can I steal them?
First off, let me say that I love Junior Mints. Have you seen the heart-shaped Valentine’s version? Fun…
Anyway! Our Valentine’s Day tradition morphed in to one after (1) making dinner in the first year we were married (and dirt poor!) and (2) we hated battling the crowds on the actual day. Every year, we take turns making dinner in.
We have also added making homemade sugar cookies to our agenda. We make the cookies sometime around Valentine’s Day and then share them with friends and family. After I’ve had my fair share, of course. 🙂
We usually just exchange cards. We used to do the heart shaped boxes of chocolates or a rose or a couple of carnations. These used to be special treats. But now that we are older and have more stuff, it just is stuff – although the sentiment still counts 🙂
For our 1st Valentine’s day, just a few weeks into dating, I gave him a book, he gave me a CD, and he took me out to Pizza Hut (I love their cheese sticks). 2nd V-day we had a baby 5 days prior so same thing again except Pizza Hut delivery. 3rd- we tried the romantic reservation thing, only to find the restaurant seriously loud and overcrowded. Decided to opt for Pizza Hut and quiet park and privacy.
Ever since then we decided to always do a book, music, and Pizza Hut. Sometimes where you can be seated othertimes it’s take-out and to our own special spot.
We save the hugely romantic Valentines Day experiences for anniversaries (when it won’t be a full house). And it may be low-key but honestly is there anything more intimate and romantic then picking the perfect book or music for someone you love? That right there is a test of how much you know about your partner.
Fortunately for me, Ryan is oober-romantic. Every year he has an elaborate and usually pricey surprise for me. This year isn’t a surprise but we are going to see Billy Joel in concert (front row tickets) and dinner at a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. It’s the only time of year we ever splurge so we have fun with it. We usually get each other gifts depending on our current financial condition. After all it was Valentine’s Day in High School that we started liking each other more than friends, so it’s kind of special for us.
This is Mike’s and my first Valentine’s Day since we got married, so we don’t have any prior traditions to go on, which means that since I’m planning it I get to decide! That makes me happy. 🙂
So the first thing is that since I am planning Valentine’s Day, he will be planning our anniversary. Next year we might switch, or it may turn out that we always do it this way. In any event, I think that makes it easier to plan something special.
We’re spending this Valentine’s Day in a hotel by where he works; I’m making dinner, which we’ll have in the hotel room, and then I got a few games and other things that we haven’t played since back when we were first dating, so they’ll have some nostalgia as well as being fun for their own sakes. I’m also going to do one of those cheesy cans where I write either 101 things I love about him or some “remember whens” from the past year… I saw a cute way to decorate a Pringles can, so I’ll be trying that.
Anyway. The biggest part of it is that it’s a total surprise, so I think that’s what will make it really fun.
I always feel lame when I leave such long comments! Haha I hope you find something fun to do.
I am going to make us an indoor picnic and be super cheesy and cut the bread, meats and cheeses into hearts and also have heart cookiets, etc…things like that. 🙂
Who knows – our options around here aren’t much and it’s hard to get into a restaurant that night! I prefer something simple though. a number of years ago Dave surprised me 3 years in a row with a barbershop quartet showing up and singing to me, the first year was at a restaurant (semi embarrasing), the 2nd year was as we were coming out of a movie – right in the lobby in front of all the people waiting for the next show (extremely embarrasing). After that I told him I wasn’t going out in public with him again on Valentines day, so that year they came to our house – better. Luckily we moved and that put an end to the barbershop stuff! (I hate being the object of stares and smiles!) Home sounds good to me!
I am with you. I always have great intentions then reality comes. I am making a fun breakfast on Saturday. My mom gave me one of those pancake pans were there are little wells in the shapes of hearts. Ahhhhhh. So precious.
Then I made some fun Pennie Pockets to stick candy in. They are super easy. I think I will eventually make one for each family member. They are almost the equivalent of a Valentine ‘stocking’ but just filled with candy.
I am not a big present-giver on Valentines. I just like finding fun ways to say “I love you”. I didn’t have all the precuts.
Usually we do dinner and cards…not overly romantic. Which I think is sad. Last year…since Maddux was only 2 months old we didn’t even go out to dinner we got Chili’s to-go and ate at home.
So, this year me and three of my very best girlfriends decided to suprise our husbands with a weekend getaway to a Mountain Home. We’ve planned meals, activities, and we can’t wait! It has been so much fun to plan it. We officially invited the men last week and they were excited (and I’m sure a little thankful too) that we had taken charge this year!
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one not always living my imaginary life!