Valentine's Day is upon us and although I personally like this date because it's all about celebrating love, I do understand that for some it's a date that feels like it focuses just on (to quote Bridget Jones) "smug married couples". And for busy parents, securing a babysitter on Valentine's Day is about as likely as you having the winning lotto ticket. Therefore, this date can sometimes be hard to manage and gets overlooked.
I wanted to share ideas where you can enjoy Valentine's Day and tailor it to suit you and your circumstances.
Why not make Valentine's Day more about you. Put yourself first today and learn to love yourself. Make time today to focus on you. Treat yourself to a coffee in a cafe before work, or after the school run. Whenever I see a person sat in a coffee shop reading a book I always get a pang of jealousy. Having that time to yourself to enjoy a coffee and a book is a luxury in my eyes. Be that person today.
Enjoy flowers or house plants? Buy yourself a pretty bouquet or new plant for your home. Move away from the red roses and buy a Spring themed bouquet to bring cheer to your home. As Miley Cyrus has told us, we can buy ourselves flowers!
After work or whatever you have planned for today, cosy up at home in the evening. Cook your favourite meal. If that is a dessert, go for it! Have two servings! Maybe you fancy a takeaway and want to enjoy a glass of wine whilst you binge watch a Netflix series.
Or if you enjoy a little pampering, prepare a face mask, run a bubble bath using your favourite bath oil and light some candles.
Put your comfies on and curl up on the sofa with your book in a candlelit room, or call a friend who you know would appreciate a chat on Valentine's night and catch up on some gossip.
Whatever it is that you love doing, do it! Make today about you.
Many of us are busy working parents who are dashing around from one day to the next with a million things on the family calendar. The idea of a romantic meal in a fancy-smancy restaurant isn't very likely.
But if you would like to mark the day with something then there are some easy things you can do at home to make it special.
Leave handwritten love notes for your partner to find throughout the day. Pop them in their work bag, or wallet / purse. Hide them in the biscuit tin or tucked into the pile of ironing you know they will tackle that day. Pop one in their work diary, or in their car.
Wake up ten minutes earlier and make your loved one a coffee to enjoy in bed before the chaos begins.
Or at the end of the day have their favourite drink ready for when they get home or after the kids have gone to bed.
As an after school activity, bake heart shaped cookies to enjoy at tea time. Use icing to write nice message on them.
Even if you're having beans on toast with the kids for tea, set the table so it looks pretty and light some candles. Or have an indoor carpet picnic for more fun.
Or you could cook a nice meal for just you and your partner, open a bottle of your favourite tipple, set the table, light candles and just enjoy catching up with each other.
If you have some sort of notice board or blackboard in the kitchen, scribble down 10 reasons why you love them for them to read in the morning or when they come in from work.
If you have some time in the evening, light the fire, dot candles around the room and offer your partner a massage or foot rub. Or simply snuggle on the sofa together and watch a film. (See list below for Valentine's film choices).
You could of course, just give them a lingering hug and a kiss and tell them that you love them and they'll always be your Valentine.
Whatever you do on Valentine's Day, I hope you have fun.
Valentine's Day Films
Valentine's Day
Notting Hill
Your Place Or Mine
The Notebook
Time Travellers Wife
Pride & Prejudice (any version)
Bridget Jones's Diary
One Day
PS I Love You
While You Were Sleeping
About Time
The Proposal
Dirty Dancing
Chocolat
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