Don’t you also have the impression, that we just kissed 2010 goodbye and that it has only been a few days since you had to muse about what Christmas gifts to get for your partner…!? And now it is almost Valentine’s Day again!
Time flies, but don’t worry… In order to help you with finding the perfect little surprise for your Valentine, I came up with a little list of things to do this year…
Write a love letter
This sounds pretty simple, but there is no better way to let your Valentine know how loved, cherished, and treasured they are. If you do not know how to get started, you will find some inspirations here: http://www.loveletterbox.com/love_advice_love_letter_in_six_easy_steps.htm or at http://www.getromantic.com/romance/romance_advice/spice_up_love_letters.html.
If you are still mulling over a blank card, writing a list of things you love about your partner would also make a cute gift and might be a little easier.
Start the day with a breakfast in bed
Though the 14th will be a Monday, this should not be a hindrance for having a romantic breakfast in bed. If you like to snuggle as long as possible, try to do some of the preparations the night before, e.g. while your loved one is enjoying a bath. A couple of items not to be missed on your tray are strawberries and cream and something chocolatey 😉 But don’t blame me, if you have to call your boss in order to take a day off…
Make a love coupon booklet
Create a little book of love coupons that your Valentine can redeem together with you. You can either buy a little notebook or staple some memo size stationary together and fill the pages with favors like: a romantic massage, a home-cooked dinner, a picnic in the park, … The ideas are boundless. If you, however, need some inspiration, check out http://www.whodoyoulove.com/lovecoupons/page2.php or http://www.romancestuck.com/love-coupons.htm.
Create a scrapbook
If you are creative and have a little time on your hands, take a scrapbook or photo album and collect pictures and other memories of your relationship in it. Start with pictures taken when you started dating, include those 1st movie tickets you kept ever since and advance through your relationship: holidays, your engagement, your wedding and honeymoon, etc. and include some written memories and/or drawings.
Pamper your special someone
Pampering always comes far too short during our weekly routine. Plan this event a little ahead and send your Valentine an invitation to an evening of pampering. Make a reservation in your partner’s favorite restaurant and draw him or her a bubble bath afterwards. Decorate the bathroom with candles and rose petals and enjoy the warmth together whilst sipping on a glass of bubbly before you offer your sweetheart a sensual massage.
Say “I love you” in 100 different ways
A simple and fun way to say the famous three words is to hide little love notes all over the house. Get a stack of sticky notes, write down your personal love messages on them and hide them in his/her drawer, his/her wallet and the bathroom cabinet. Make sure to put some messages in extraordinary places, where he/she would not expect to find them, e.g. in the fridge, in the book he/she is reading, in the cover of his/her favorite DVD or CD, on his/her coffee mug, etc. … This will probably give you some more days of V’Day fun, when the little flashy notes pop up unexpectedly from time to time 😉
Cook a romantic meal…
…and set the mood with candlelight, soft music and have it in an unusual place, e.g. on the floor or in bed. No matter, if you prepare dishes that are said to be aphrodisiacs, like oysters, or your Valentine’s favorite meal, there is certainly truth in the adage “The way to a man’s/woman’s heart is through his/her stomach” ;-). A selection of romantic dinner ideas can be found here: http://www.simply-romantic-ideas.com/romantic-dinner-ideas.html and here: http://www.everythingvalentinesday.com/everyday-romance/canle-lit-dinner.html.
Of course, you can also take a break from your busy schedule on any other day of the year. I bet your special someone would be pretty surprised to come home from work one day to find some rose petals on the bed or a heart shaped desert with their name written on it on the dinner table ;-). Please visit my Facebook profile or to Follow my Twitter feeds for more romantic (Valentine’s) ideas…
Yours,
Nomi
Nomi Tang 