Valentine's Day Is Coming - Yikes!

You can't miss it. The sea of red and pink cards filling half an aisle in the grocery store. The heart-shaped chocolate boxes that popped up everywhere the day after Christmas. Your favorite restaurant's advice to make your February 14th dinner reservation now. The red lingerie and silk boxer shorts. Even everyday items like socks, pens, and toilet paper have joined the party.

Valentine's Day is clearly big business. And for many, it's also big emotion.

Valentine Flowers Are Too Expensive!

Just like restaurant dinners, flowers (especially roses) are overpriced for the holiday.

Not only that, but because so many more bouquets than normal are being delivered, there is a good chance that yours will be loaded onto the delivery truck at 4:00 am, ride around all day, and finally be delivered, dehydrated and limp, at 10:00 pm. (Yes, this has happened to me.) The thrill is gone.

Try this alternative.

Check your local nursery or home store for pots of flowering plants. You may be surprised at what's beautiful and available, at a price that is significantly less than a dozen red roses. One big advantage is that a potted plant will outlast cut flowers, and may even end up with a permanent spot in the living room or garden. Your sweetheart will be reminded of your thoughtfulness for a long time.

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Valentine's Dinner Costs Too Much!

3 Steps to Relieve Valentine's Day Pressure

Breakfast in Bed?

Guys - Make Valentine's Day Easier on Yourself

If you are a man who looks forward to Valentine's Day with feelings of dread, you are not alone. Many men say that they feel pressured to satisfy their partners' expectations, and that doing so seems impossible.

The situation is not hopeless. As I wrote in a guest post for Digital Romance, it is possible to Relieve Valentine's Day Pressure in 3 Steps. (Follow the link to see the article.)

Although this article is aimed at guys experiencing their first Valentine's Day with a new love, the same basic principles apply to relationships of any length, and can be used by both men and women. A little understanding and common sense go a long way!
 

Valentine's Dinner Costs Too Much!

Perhaps you would like to take your sweetheart out for a special dinner on Valentine’s Day.

The first problem is that you need to make your reservation early. The good restaurants are fully booked for February 14. Those that don’t take reservations are crowded, with a long line of people waiting to get in. Even lower-tier diners may be jammed.

The second problem is the expense. Most upscale and mid-level restaurants have special Valentine’s Day menus. These have far fewer choices than the regular menu, at a much higher price.

Here's the solution.

Go out on February 13th. It's quieter, it's easier to get a table, you can choose anything from the menu, and the price is within reason. In fact, for the same amount of money you’d spend on the special V-Day menu, you can probably go out on both the 13th and the 15th.

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A Valentine Story

Something Special Today?

Arts and Crafts

Something Special Today?

If your sweetie craves extra attention on Valentine's Day, be generous and provide it. If you have been hoping for something special and your partner fails to provide, be generous and forgive. Don't let the presence or absence of grand, romantic gestures influence the future of your relationship.

A Valentine Story

One year, early in our marriage, my husband and I decided to go out to dinner on Valentine's Day. Somehow, we didn't realize just how crazy it would be to try this without making reservations. The restaurant we chose was, of course, packed. And there were plenty of naive couples like us waiting for tables. We were told it would be a long, long, long wait.

Arts and Crafts

Are you an artsy-craftsy, do-it-yourself kind of person who enjoys working on handmade projects that add a delightful personal touch to gifts, decorations and special occasions? Me neither. Knowing that, my hubby will be super surprised when he finds a bunch of clever, homemade Valentine greetings tucked into his sock drawer, lurking in his laptop case or dangling from the shower head. (Or maybe not, since he is reading this right now.)

The Balloon Bites the Dust

The end was inevitable. There it is, lying quietly on the carpet, the deflated Valentine's Day balloon. I paid less than $10 for this at the grocery store on February 13. It floated proudly for weeks, cheerfully displaying its shiny message every day. It took nearly three months for it to gradually sink to the floor. Despite its fall from grace, it is a reminder that you don't always have to spend a lot of money to make a big impression. But today is trash day, time to let the balloon go.