Valentine's Day....yes, it's here again! What better excuse for strengthening your marriage, and reconnecting with your spouse could there be than a day devoted to love? Here are our Top Ten "out of the box" ideas for celebrating the love you have for your significant other with or without your kids tagging along. (Because let's face it, we've all missed out on snagging a babysitter on Valentine's Day at some point in the parenting stage!)
10) Burning Love - Build a small campfire in the backyard, and roast hot dogs, or marshmallows, or just sit and watch the flames. Don't have a backyard that will allow you to do that? Purchase a small portable grill, and have fun with it!
9) Love is blind - Instead of deciding where to enjoy Valentine's Dinner (or going back and forth with..."I don't know, where do you want to go?") flip a coin, Heads is right, and Tails is Left. Start at your driveway, and every time you come to a stop sign or light, flip the coin to determine your direction. Stop at the first restaurant you arrive at.
8) Picnic Perfect - Spread out a tablecloth or sheet on the living room floor, light candles and place them all around the room, turn out the lights, and enjoy a simple non-fussy meal.
7) Come away with me - Find out where your significant other has always dreamed of vacationing or exploring. Clip pictures from magazines or purchase a few items that reflect the customs or ethnicity of that country or area and decorate your entryway and dinning room with them. Have at least one food or beverage of that country prepared to serve your love. Talk about all the things you would do together if your were visiting that place.
6) May I have this dance - Dress up in your finest clothes or purchase some second hand evening attire at a thrift store, and have a "Ball". Crank up your favorite music and dance the night away.
5) How do I love thee - Count the ways! Make an anagram of all the things you love about each other out of the letters of each person's FIRST name. Together, make an anagram out of the words that represent your family with the letters of your LAST name.
4) Puzzle your Partner - Purchase some inexpensive puzzles from a dollar store and enjoy putting a puzzle together or for couple who like to compete, buy identical puzzles, and see who can put theirs together the fastest.
3) Awaken your inner artist - Get out the kid's craft supplies: paint, finger paints, paper, etc... and paint a portrait of your spouse. For several minutes you'll really get to look at them, and perhaps notice just how wonderful they really are.
2) Sweet Serenade - Using the melody to your spouses favorite song, change the lyrics to describe them, and why you love them. Perform the songs for each other. Not that creative? Search for a song file on the Internet that fits your feelings for your significant other, and play it for them. Let them know you're dedicating that song to them.
1) Bursting with love - Purchase a bag of balloons. On small strips of paper, write out the things you love about your spouse or things that you forgot to thank them for doing, and the things you would miss if they were not in your life. Take those strips and roll them up so that you can slip them into the mouth of a balloon. Fill all the balloons in the bag with the papers, and inflate the balloons. Have your spouse pop the balloons and read each sentiment aloud.
Do you have something special planned for your sweetie? Tell us about it!
