1. Give them a card.
I know that one of my favorite things to get is a card. They can have the cutest pictures and heartfelt messages in them and they're so easy to store away and keep for a lifetime! Whether you make your own or buy one from the store, your valentine will appreciate this little memento. In today's world, you can buy all sorts of cool cards! They make cards that are the size of small children, cards that sing until you rip them and glitter comes out, cards that sing, even cards that come with little gifts attached! To add to the sentiment, add a picture of yourself or yourself with that person, write a heartfelt message inside, or even tie a bunch of small cards to a balloon bouquet! No matter how you give the card or what you give it with, cards are a quick and easy way to remind your valentine of how much you care for them.
2. Make them a meal.
The easiest way to a person's heart is through their stomachs! Taking the time to cook your valentine a nice meal is a great way to show them you care. Cook their favorite dish, look up a fun new recipe, or get creative in the kitchen! Your valentine will appreciate the time and effort you put into trying to fill their heart, and stomach, with love and joy! If you don't want to cook a full meal, making them a snack and adding a loving note or making them something as simple as heart-shaped cookies still tells your valentine that you care about them and took some time out of your day to make them something special. And plus, you get something yummy to eat too!
3. Give them jewelry.
Jewelry is always a great way to show your Valentine you care for them. It is also a great way to remind them of your love and care all the time! Giving them something they can keep close to them at all times will keep you and your valentine connected even if you're miles apart. Now, you don't have to necessarily break the bank looking for the shiniest piece of jewelry you can find if you don't want to. Many craft stores sell the prettiest gems, charms, and beads and have jewelry making supplies. Putting your initials a cute message, or a pretty charm on a necklace, bracelet, or even a key chain will keep you with your valentine always. You can even make yourself a matching one to keep your valentine with you! Whether you're buying a lovely of jewelry or making your loved one a key chain, jewelry, and small keepsakes keep a reminder of your love for them with your valentine for as long as they have it.
4. Make them a playlist of their favorite songs and songs that remind you of them!
While not many people give CD's or cassette tapes anymore, making a playlist is still a cute gesture to let your valentine know you are thinking of them. Make a list of their favorite songs, songs you both enjoy together, and songs that remind you of that person and make a playlist on one of the many music apps we have access to today and share it with them. If you still listen to CD's, burn them a CD and give it to them. Music is a great way to evoke feelings of love and joy into those who mean the most to us and is something that will never go away or go out of style! If there's a specific band or artist you both enjoy, even buying them concert tickets is a fantastic gift you can both enjoy. Making a playlist and listening to it together is a great way to spend time with each other and is something your valentine can constantly use and have.
5. Go on a penny date.
Penny dates are cute and simple dates that anyone can enjoy. My boyfriend and I go on them a lot during the summer and is a quick and easy way to get out of the house and enjoy each others company. The idea of the date is to end up somewhere you would not normally go on a date and the rules are simple. Pack a lunch or dinner or grab a bite to go. Get in the car with your valentine and begin driving. Have yourself or a valentine pick a number between 5 and 20 (you can go higher or lower depending on your location). Begin driving and each time you reach an intersection have the person who is not driving flip the penny. If the penny lands on heads, you turn right and if it lands on tails you turn left. After you flip the penny the allotted number of times, find a spot to park. If the weather and location permits, you can get out of the car and have a nice picnic. If it does not, you can either stay in the car or continue flipping the penny until you reach an ideal location. It's a fun and simple way to get out of the house and spend some quality time with your valentine.
6. Enjoy a night In!
Our lives get so busy and it can be hard to be able to just sit and relax. Staying in for the night and doing activities you enjoy together is something you and your valentine can really appreciate. Make a list of activities you and your Valentine enjoy and write them on popsicle sticks. Pick a popsicle stick and do the activity on it. Activities can be anything from board/ video games to cooking contests. After each activity, pick a new popsicle stick. If you just want to relax, make or order a nice meal for the both of you, dim the lights, light some candles, turn on Netflix and just enjoy each others company. Either way, nice night to yourselves is a really simple way to enjoy Valentine's Day with someone you care about.
7. Create a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts are always fun no matter what your age and are super easy to come up with. You can make them as simple or elaborate as you want and can pretty much set them up anywhere you want. You can leave little gifts at each clue/ destination or save a big surprise for the very end. You can set it up at home or get some friends, or even strangers you encounter, in on the surprise to make it huge and elaborate. I know I personally would love the thought that someone took the time to plan a fun and interesting activity just for me.
8. Plan a surprise!
Valentine's Day is all about surprises! Get creative with this opportunity to surprise your valentine! Surprises can range from filling their room with balloons, notes, and flowers to recruiting strangers to give individual gifts to the person when they're least expecting it. Incorporating things you both love into the surprise is always a good idea. The most important part of the surprise is making sure you don't give it away. You can use the classic "oh I completely forgot" move or even "your surprise is coming late". Either way, making sure you don't give the surprise away is key. If you're having trouble thinking of a creative surprise, Pinterest is always a great resource for finding the perfect surprise.
9. Give them chocolate covered ... anything!
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You can either buy your valentine something pre-covered or cover it yourself. The possibilities and ideas are endless!
Whether you use all, some, or none of these ideas, I hope I was able to give you some sort of inspiration for your Valentine! Valentine's Day does not have to be a stressful time. Make it fun and make it your own! No matter what you do, your Valentine will appreciate the thought and effort you put into your gift for them
