Valentine's Day doesn't have to be the same old boring red roses, chocolates, and chalky heart-shaped candies.
Here are some ideas for you of things I've done for my hunny over the years.
Homemade with Love:
:: homemade custom fortune cookies ::
This was a really fun one - and what I did for my husband the first Valentine's Day we were dating (years and years ago!) I got the recipe from Martha Stewart - they are oversized and so much fun. And although the first couple I had to throw away, I eventually got the hang of it and LOVED how they came out. This is a fun and quirky idea and allows you to write whatever you want on the fortunes. So cute!
For Martha's recipe, click here.
:: candy messages ::
Write sweet messages and tie them onto mini versions of your love's favorite candy with ribbon. It is no secret that Ryan has a sweet tooth - so one year I sent him an entire BOXFUL of candies, each with a small message of love attached to it. A sweet idea and perfect for anyone in a long-distance relationship (which we were at the time!).
:: playlist love message ::
Does your hunny love music? Make them a mix CD and have them decipher the message hidden in the playlist's song titles. I did this for Ryan one year when he was deployed over Valentine's Day. It took me a bit of time to go through my library, select songs and put them in order. But it was worth it! Ryan LOVED the idea - and loved that it came with a "hidden" message! This is really sweet and requires little more than a well-stocked iTunes library and your imagination!
Recent songs that come to mind that you might be able to use are Need You Now (lady antebellum), Stuck Like Glue (sugarland), and Your Love is My Drug (ke$ha). Of course - you are only limited by your imagination on this one!
Think Outside the Box (of Chocolates)
Skip the Roses
While red roses have somehow become synonymous with love, many girls these days would love nothing more than to get a bouquet full of their favorite flower instead. My sister, for example, LOVES lilies. Personally, I have a thing for cheery Sunflowers, mixed colored calla lilies, and bouquets of mixed white + green flowers.
Rethink Chocolate
And instead of a box of chocolates... why don't you visit your local bakery or chocolatier to find a few special chocolates to share after dinner? If your love adores chocolate, chances are they won't pass up truffles in favor of the same-old-boring-box-o-choc.
Make it Personal
Most people (ladies and gents alike) would prefer a personalized gift over anything traditional. After all - why bother with the traditional customs if you haven't even considered whether your loved one would actually appreciate them? Consider going to a cooking class together, go to a paint-your-own-pottery joint and create something together. Or harness your inner child and head to the arcade for an evening! Think about what you would both love to do together.
No matter what you do, I hope you have fun with it!
xoxo!
-h-
