Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show your spouse, family members and friends how much you love them. The question is how? Obviously you can’t really go wrong with a box of chocolates but it’s not exactly the most creative gift to give year after year. There is something extra special about a Valentine’s Day celebration that is unique and makes the recipient feel that the one who spent time planning the celebration really invested both time and thought in it. We’ve collected a number of ideas of unique ways of celebrating Valentine’s Day and hope that they will inspire you to make this year’s Valentine’s Day something really special for those who are most important to you…

Make a Homemade Meal

There is something very touching about enjoying a meal that someone has taken the time to prepare especially for you. In this day and age when people try to take as many shortcuts as possible there is something charmingly thoughtful about a homemade meal.

You could make a hearty breakfast-in-bed of pancakes, fresh fruit and whipped cream and for the kitschy ones among us, pancakes made in special heart-shaped moulds are especially appropriate on Valentine’s Day.

Alternatively, you could take your loved one(s) on a picnic with a hamper full of fresh sandwiches, champagne, cheeses, chocolates and any other light foods that will be appreciated. Spread a blanket and enjoy the feast in your local park, your back-yard of even your living room that has been appropriately decorated.

Don’t forget that a candle-lit homemade supper is also most appropriate and if you have the time to make a three-course meal then this is a very special way to say “I Love You.”

Balloon Madness

For a different kind of surprise, you can insert different kinds of your lovers’ favorite candies into balloons. Insert Valentine’s messages too and then inflate the balloons and place them somewhere where your loved one will find them in the morning. This is a lovely way to bring a smile to a loved one’s face.

Family Fun

For those who have children, it is always a lot of fun to involve the children in the preparations for Valentine’s Day. There is nothing healthier for children to see than the love between their parents and involving them in preparing surprises for your spouse for Valentine’s Day is a lot of fun for them and also provides them with a wonderful feeling of security. You can prepare lots of fun food together when your spouse is not at home such as heart-shaped cookies- there is no shortage of ideas on the internet of Valentine’s Day themed foods.

Treasure Hunt

This is also a great idea for a family but can be just as fun for a couple. Prepare little notes about what the person finding the notes means to you and add little treats such as chocolates to go with them. Each note should include a riddle that helps the person on the hunt to arrive at the next clue. At the last note make sure to have something special waiting. If you are a couple then it could be you waiting in a romantic location with two glasses of wine and if you are a family then you can plan some family-friendly surprise or involve the children in the surprise at the end.

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About The Author

Uriel Sela, Owner of Ajudaica. An online Jewish jewelry and Judaica Store.

Image by: ‘Shagamaroo’

Until two years ago, I was a typical twenty-something spending Valentine’s Day with my girl-friends getting slowly tiddly and eating fast food while watching horror films where the ‘hotty’ dies at the end. Then I met my boyfriend and, honestly, not much changed.

I’m not ‘against’ or ‘for’ spending one specific day loving the person you love just that little bit more than, apparently, you do any other day. In fact, I’m especially fond of one particular Valentine’s custom – excessive eating.

Aphrodisiac garlic, anyone?

With every tradition however, there has to be a downside, and Valentine’s Day definitely encounters a few problems where aphrodisiacs are concerned.  At the top of the list are asparagus, oysters and garlic – Otherwise known as foods that have an allure of eroticism to their purpose, but that you generally wouldn’t want yourself or your partner to go near on a night which you’re hoping will end in the bedroom.

A girl’s best friend

If I’m being honest, Valentine’s Day is all about chocolate. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s notoriously known to provoke a chemical reaction in the body akin to the feelings of love and lust.Whether you’re with your friends, your boyfriend or yourself, it’s always a winning choice.

Single gal Vs Coupledom

Gather your friends together, put on a trashy CD, open a bottle of vodka and bake a Devil’s Food Cake big enough for a whole family. All you need is chocolate, sugar, water, butter, flour and eggs (alongside the most imperative ingredient, the icing) – and you have yourself something you and the girls don’t even have to use cutlery for. Just tuck in and get messy!

Surprise your boyfriend, or maybe he could surprise you, with that old romantic classic – strawberries dipped in chocolate. You can do this with milk, dark and even white chocolate. Just dip the strawberries in and leave to refrigerate for 30 minutes. He’ll be eating out of the palm of your hand, literally.

Have some you- time

For yourself, arguably the most important person in your life, I’d suggest making some mouth-watering, double chocolate chip cookies with even more chocolate dribbling from the centre. Indulge yourself to the point where you lick the spoon and the bowl (but maybe not the table cloth) and, best of all, eat every single one yourself without feeling that guilty ping as jealous eyes stick to you like glue.

Nevertheless, what we all need to keep in mind as the lengthy 24 hours of February 14th approaches us and we’re exposed to way too much PDA, is that Valentine’s Day is largely meaningless. It’s a day for consumerism galore and pretty much everyone you see with a giant ‘I Love You’ balloon and a ‘Be Mine’ lollypop will be laughing at St Valentine and his incredibly peculiar choice of gifts by February 15th!

Have you got any special Valentines plans? Any romantic recipes to share

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•  License: Creative Commons image source

About The Author

Beki Kidwell is a Welsh graduate in English Literature and Creative Writing with a broad and more than often sarcastic outlook on the world today. She writes for Wipe Easy Tablecloths.

Life after a divorce can be confusing. You have two choices: wallow in self-pity or move on. Hopefully, most see the wisdom in making this period in their lives one of self-discovery. Spending some solo time is an effective way to take an inventory of things to improve. You can take this time to make yourself over and start fresh.  The years after a divorce give you an opportunity to figure out who you are and what you want from life.

Take a Walk on the Creative Side

Everyone has a spark of creativity in them. Now is a good time to unleash the inner artist in you. Take a class in pottery or learn to paint. Being creative might mean rehabilitating furniture or knitting. Sit down and write the great American novel or master haiku. It doesn’t really matter what you try, only that you do. Play around with some different hobbies until you find one that helps.

Lose the Negativity

There is a lot of pain associated with divorce. Hanging on to that negativity will bury you. Avoid triggers that can bring you down. It might be necessary to put some friendships, especially couples, on hold for a while. Avoid traditional situations that used to be “couple” activities. If you and your significant other always joined a bowling league, try something else this season. If romantic comedies were your favorite, watch an action film for a change. Shake things up to lose the divorce blues.

Start a Blog

Blogging is technology’s answer to “Dear Diary.” It is a cathartic activity that provides a way to express yourself. You can create a blog that helps connect with other people going through life changes or divorce. You can set up pages that no one sees but you. It is your choice.  Use the opportunity to explore your feelings, swap stories with a like-minded community, or let your friends know what new movie to check out.

Change your Look

You can’t really feel good about yourself unless you are happy with how you look. If you are feeling low after a divorce, getting a makeover might be the cure. Collaborate with some friends you admire and make a list of things you want to accomplish.  Some items may include weight loss, a chic hairstyle, and new clothes. Residents who want to get the perfect smile might opt for dental implants. Start small and build until you find a look you love.

Divorce is not the end of anything unless you fall into that trap. It is the beginning of whatever life you choose to build. Take productive steps, even if they are baby ones, to move on after divorce.

About The Author:

Hailey Andersen like to write about personal development and motivational strategies that she finds useful. Follow her on Twitter at: @HaileyWrites.