| Want to celebrate Valentine's Day in a different way? | | | | gym with a step or aerobics class. Plan for Valentine's |
| We've collected a bunch of unique ideas - special | | | | Day at least a week in advance - you'll find yourself |
| ways to show how much you care about your | | | | looking forward to your special treats and your quality |
| spouse, family members and friends you cherish. | | | | time with yourself, by choice. |
| Heart-Felt Valentine's Meal | | | | Picnic Fun ~~~~~~~~~~ |
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | Place a blanket on the floor near the lit fireplace with |
| Make up a batch of heart-shaped pancakes for a | | | | candles on the mantle and have your Valentine's meal |
| yummy Valentine's breakfast or brunch. Just pour the | | | | as a candle-lit picnic with a bottle of your favorite |
| batter in the frying pan in a free-form heart shape and | | | | bubbly. |
| serve with strawberries and whipped cream. | | | | Italian Romance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| Balloon Goodies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | Some soft Italian love songs on the CD player, a |
| Insert candy surprises into balloons before inflating | | | | luscious Fettucini Alfredo with a bottle of your favorite |
| them - add a folded-up Valentine's message then | | | | Italian vino, then some fresh canoli from the pastry |
| inflate each balloon. Tie with a red ribbon and attach to | | | | shop and cups of amaretto- flavored coffee for a |
| your loved one's chair for them to find Valentine's | | | | taste sensation - top it off with a sensuous scented |
| morning. | | | | bubble bath for two |
| Family Affair ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | A Cereal Surprise ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| Have the children help you prepare red Jello with | | | | Sneak in love notes and chocolate kisses in your |
| cinnamon hearts mixed in, mashed potatoes colored | | | | sweetheart's or children's cereal |
| with pink food coloring, heart- shaped cookies and any | | | | Notables ~~~~~~~~ |
| other creative ways to present your Valentine's Day | | | | Little notes in their lunch boxes, on the bathroom mirror, |
| meal. | | | | in his briefcase, stuck on the car windshields, in his |
| The Gift of Time ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | underwear drawer |
| Give a hand-made coupon for some work you can do | | | | I'm fortunate to have you! |
| to free-up some time for your spouse or parent. For | | | | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| example, a coupon good for cleaning Dad's garage or | | | | Mix up a batch of fortune cookies (see for recipe!) and |
| for a full-house vacuuming for your wife. How about a | | | | add your own little words of love |
| coupon for your best friend - you can walk her dog or | | | | Messy but Marvelous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| baby sit one evening. | | | | Make sure you wear old clothes for this one and plan |
| Coupon Day ~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | this escapade where cleanup will be easy (no carpets, |
| Each of you can create individual notes, say 4 or 6 | | | | please!) Make up a batch of chocolate pudding. Feed |
| each, to describe a special surprise - a back rub, a | | | | each other and wind up having a food fight! Ideally, this |
| bubble bath, kisses from head to toe, a special meal - | | | | is more fun in your birthday suits, then the pudding |
| fold up the notes and toss them into a jar. You can | | | | won't go to waste where it lands! Guaranteed for |
| take turns having fun plucking a coupon from the jar | | | | loads of giggles between the two of you - take a |
| and doing what it says. | | | | shower-for-two after this one and wash each other's |
| Scavenger Hunt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | chocolate-flavored hair! |
| You can prepare this one for your spouse or for your | | | | Take a Letter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| children to enjoy. Write up little notes about how you | | | | Take turns writing a love letter or love poem to each |
| feel and what they mean to you and place them | | | | other. Read them out loud |
| around the house along with a candy heart or other | | | | Valentine Sharing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| treat. Add a riddle at the end of each note about | | | | Plan some community work - help out at the local |
| where to find the next note. At the last note, have | | | | shelter, volunteer at your local church, work with other |
| something special waiting there. For example, you can | | | | volunteers to spread some caring amongst your |
| be waiting for your hubby in a candle-lit bubble bath | | | | community. |
| with two glasses of wine. For your children, then can | | | | All in the Family ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| find a teddy bear or other toy or treat. | | | | Spend some quality fun time with your niece or |
| Less Fortunate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | | | | nephew or other child in your family. |
| Visit a hospital or chronic care home to pass out small | | | | Long-Distance Caring ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| Valentine surprises to the residents. They will enjoy the | | | | Call your favorite aunt whom you haven't seen since |
| care and attention from something so unexpected. | | | | she moved far away, or your best friend who |
| Alone? ~~~~~~ | | | | transferred to another country - let them know you're |
| No one special to share Valentine's Day with? Sure | | | | thinking of them this Valentine's Day |
| you have! You! Why not pamper yourself with a | | | | Just For You ~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
| candlelit bubble bath, then prepare your favorite | | | | Have you wanted that delicate pair of earrings for |
| gourmet meal and rent the latest comedy video. Or | | | | awhile but kept putting off the purchase? Give yourself |
| treat yourself to a day at the spa, or a day at the | | | | a special Valentine's Day gift. |