VALENTINE’S DAY DATE NIGHT AT HOME

Date night at home is something we love to do! Beyond candlelit dinners, we like to create scenes, and incorporate activities into our date nights at home. Me and my spouse can agree that our favorite nights are ones where we are either cozied up on the sofa with blankets, watching a movie or enjoying a glass of wine with music playing in the background and getting lost in conversation. With Valentine’s day fast approaching next week, I thought I’d share a few activities we plan on doing and I’ll share some gift ideas too.

Set the scene with Valentine’s Day Activities…

Date night at home shouldn’t feel like every other normal night at home. Since Valentine’s day falls on a Monday this year, you can plan on celebrating over the weekend. It can feel a bit inundating when trying to set something up after work.

• Start off the morning with a special breakfast. Our favorite is Orange-Grand Marnier flavored waffles! Check back on Friday as I will be sharing the recipe! While many would say breakfast in bed can be considered romantic, I find that if the TV is on, you are not paying attention to each other. So I opt for a casual area in our home where we can get cozy, with ‘Feel Good Jazz’ playing on Spotify. Get fancy and pull out your champagne glasses and make a mimosa.
• Not a breakfast person? No problem! Let’s have some late afternoon fun with a Paint & Pour, alongside a charcuterie board for snacking. Set up a table for two – with enough elbow room to paint. Protect your table by covering it against paint drips. In the center of the table, set up your shared (sweet or savory) charcuterie board, a bottle of wine, two wine glasses and your laptop or iPad to view an online class. You can find all the necessary paint supplies from your local craft store or Amazon. I already have canvas panels, acrylic paint, a few paint brushes but I did order this 16″ tabletop easel set, this Fan Paint Brushes Set (we plan on painting a landscape with trees) and this Wooden Paint Palette set. You may also want to have disposable aprons or painters canvas aprons. YouTube is a great source for FREE How To Paint Tutorials or for a nominal fee, you can reserve a spot for an online paint class like Painting to Gogh or Painting Parties.
• Learn a new dance or refresh your moves! Whether it’s salsa, tango, or any other dance that will bring your bodies close together (wink, wink), make room for a dance floor and practice by watching online videos on YouTube. Make it more enjoyable and dress up to get you in the mood.
• Plan an Evening with an Indoor Picnic in your Living Room. It’s still winter so a set up like this inside your home is both cozy and romantic. Remove your coffee table or ottoman and place blankets (goose down insert if you have), and lots of pillows. If you have a movie projector and screen, set that up too for a Netflix & Chill kind of evening. Set up a tray with candlelights or cascade battery-operated fairy lights, savory sandwiches and a bottle of wine or a drink of your choice. In order for us not to nod off, we don’t get too comfortable by wearing lounge-wear. I’ll be wearing a free-flowing dress that is comfortable to sit on the ground with.
• Order in from your favorite restaurant. There is one vegan restaurant in the city that we love. Ordering in from your favorite restaurant takes the pressure off of having to cook but if you both LOVE to cook, trying a new recipe and cooking together can be fun too! Enjoy your favorite dish during your indoor movie-picnic night or set up a romantic table for two. For more of an intimate feel, I will either make our dining table smaller by removing the leaf, or choose a smaller table to eat on and relocate it in a different area of our home – by a window, or in front of a fireplace is always nice. Enjoy listening to the romantic sounds of Soft Brazilian Jazz (instrumental) on Spotify.
• Take it outside. Go for a drive and play tourist in your own town. We love to explore neighborhoods we’ve never been to before and cruise around. Sometimes we luck out and find the cutest shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Lots of times, we find really attractive residential neighborhoods with beautiful houses that has us inspired.

Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas…

I ordered this DIY Hand Casting Kit to create a mold of our hands for a hand hold statue to display in our home (most likely in our bedroom somewhere).

Turn your love story into a custom song with Songfinch. A perfect gift for not just Valentine’s day but for an anniversary, wedding gift, or birthday. I gifted this to my spouse for our anniversary last year and it’s something so special and can be replayed.

Another musical gift idea – The Melodia – where you turn your loved one’s name into a unique melody. You can create an audio and digital file. My spouse and I both have one unique to our names.

Is your special person a Jane Austen enthusiast who love shows like Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Emma, or The Gilded Age? Romantically Written has package options where your loved one will receive weekly letters filled with stories of 19th-century romance and intrigue.

Speaking of letters…a heartfelt handwritten note may be a thing of the past but for those of us who remember, receiving love letters was (and still is) the best feeling and gift! I have a large box filled with letters, cards, and love notes I have kept over the years. When re-reading them, it brings me back to all the memories we created together and the love we share. Write each other a love letter…pour your heart and feelings onto paper and remind that special person in your life how much he/she means to you.

Skip the chocolate and try this Valentine’s gourmet fruit collection by L’Amour. It’s nice to have an alternative since I am living a vegan lifestyle. These delightful treats are vegan & vegetarian, gluten-free, no preservatives, artificial flavors free, no added sugar, and low carbs.

Looking to celebrate Valentine’s with your girlfriends, or enjoying a solo night – below are some ideas…

Host an At-Home Spa. Relax with self-care essentials. Mani/Pedi, face masks, massages, meditation sessions, or yoga, with soothing/calming music playing in the background.

Host a Galentine’s Day Tea Party. Fill your table with pots of tea, delightful tea sandwiches and a variety of treats.

Plan a date with your single friends. You can go out or cook a meal together and watch a comedy show. Nothing like laughter to put you in a good mood!

Doing something sweet for someone else. Cook a dinner for your parent(s), a neighbor who lives alone, your grandparent(s), or anyone you think would truly appreciate your kind, generous, and loving gesture. This can be a pick-me-up you all can enjoy together!

Take a trip around the world…virtually that is. Heygo offers live streams with a travel guide to anywhere in the world. It’s FREE to sign up and there is no subscription fees. Explore and get a glimpse of places you’ve never been all from the comfort of your sofa. I’ve experienced Heygo for my birthday last year and we took a virtual tour in Paris. I enjoyed the scenery and the historical facts our travel guide shared.

Sign up for a Master Class. Whether it be photography, cooking, writing, acting, music, sports, or business, Masterclass makes it possible for anyone to watch or listen to hundreds of video lessons taught by well known artists, and icons in the world.

Spoil yourself. Stay in and pamper yourself or get pampered…get a new haircut, get a blow out, take a bubble bath indulge in self-care activities that will having you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.