St Valentines Day - Valentines Day Ideas

Your wife will love money as a valentine's gift. The pitfalls of this, however, is that she may consider it a "no-brainer" gift that you gave her as an afterthought. Or worse, she'll take the money and run and spend it on you and the kids. The alternative? Give her a gift certificate, gift card, or e-certificate (online gift certificate) to one of her favorite stores. This could include a store that sells clothing, perfume, jewelry, handbags, shoes or any other things for women only! Put a deadline on it (say 30 days), and that'll force her to think and buy quickly.

No one special to share Valentine's Day with? Sure you have! You! Why not pamper yourself with a candlelit bubble bath, then prepare your favorite gourmet meal and rent the latest comedy video. Or treat yourself to a day at the spa, or a day at the gym with a step or aerobics class. Plan for Valentine's Day at least a week in advance - you'll find yourself looking forward to your special treats and your quality time with yourself, by choice.

When my husband came home from an extended business trip, the first thing he saw when he came through the door, was I LOVE YOU spelled out with the kids big plastic blocks on the floor just inside the front door.

When he went to take a shower there was another message on the wall, I MISSED YOU, spelled out with foam letters that stick to the wall when damp. And on the refrigerator was another message made with the magnetic words.

Having the kids toys spread around isn't a bad thing when they tell him how much you care.

Submitted by: Theresa Germain

Found a small red mail box, addressed it to him with the flag up, and made up my own coupons (free manicure, free facial, free foot rub, free I'm Sorry, free day with the guys, free wash and wax, free 'I don't want to have to go to ________, free to do what I want to do day,etc. He used them all up for his special occasions! And I got the benefits of all those coupons too, because I love doting on him!

My girlfriend used to get disinterested easily, so I had to keep finding new ways to keep her interested. One way was something out of character for me, was to take her to the Cemetery for a picnic. Before I got her, I purchased her favorite drink (diet coke) and her favorite food (pineapple pizza) and set up a picnic in the cemetery with two wine glasses set across from each other.

Hers was the one with her favorite flower sitting inside of it (a rose) and beside that was a heart shaped box. When we got there she opened the box to find chocolates surrounding a heart made of barbed wire, after the laughing subsided, we had a wonderful afternoon of relaxing in the most quiet place I knew of. I chose the quiet place because we had earlier discussed that we did not have enough time for each other as our obligations to other people got in the way.

Submitted by: Cam Baker

Get family fun- Decorate for Valentine's Day with the kids
and everyone make love coupons for each other. Incorporate
family fun that day with love surprises throughout the day
and encourage your kids to come up with love surprises
for siblings and adults as well. What's a love surprise?
Say, do, or give something to express your love and make
the other person feel happy.

The most creative thing I've ever done for Valentine's Day, is decorate a huge piece of white poster board with memories. I took candy wrappers that I saved from the first date, as well as love notes received from my honey, a receipt from a date that I paid for (since he was broke), a stuffed animal from one of those claw machines (which cost my beloved at least $25 to win), movie stubs, and other little reminders of the special times spent together. I safety-pinned the items in the shape of a heart.

Submitted by: Shanna M. Wright

Get treated- Treat yourself to a "love surprise gift".
Think about something you can give yourself to make yourself feel
good about yourself and joyful. Try a first time treat, perhaps
something you've fantasized about doing but haven't done yet. For
instance, you could schedule yourself a massage or a morning or
day at a spa, buy yourself something you've been wanting as a
personal item or something you've been dreaming of getting for
your home. You could simply enjoy a good rental movie at home
or a new release at the movie theatre. Go by yourself or invite a
friend.

Tell your Valentine "I Love You" in Different Languages:

French - Je t'aime
Spanish - Te amo
German - Ich liebe dich
Hebrew - Ani ohev otakh
Japanese - Ai shite imasu
Italian - Ti amo
Russian - Ya lyublyu tyebya
Chinese - Wo ai nei
Greek - S'agapo
Cantonese -Moi oiy neya,
Indonesian - Saya cinta padamu
Spanish - Te quiero
Turkish - Seni seviyo*rum
Norwegian - Eg elskar deg
Hindi - Mai tumase pyar karata hun
English - I Love You

Instead of spending money on corny, overpriced gifts, you could use a bit of creativity, time and effort to make a memorable and unique token of your affection.

Chocolate, believed to be an aphrodisiac, has been a Valentine’s Day tradition for many years. But gourmet chocolates are often ridiculously expensive and drugstore chocolates are, well, less likely to be appreciated. Making your own chocolates is an easy and economical way of showing that you care.

For Students...send your significant other on a romantic scavenger hunt around campus. Prepare by hiding candies in secret locations with clues attached to each. Begin the hunt by giving your significant other the first clue.

Messy but Marvelous

Make sure you wear old clothes for this one and plan this escapade where cleanup will be easy (no carpets, please!) Make up a batch of chocolate pudding. Feed each other and wind up having a food fight! Ideally, this is more fun in your birthday suits, then the pudding won't go to waste where it lands! (smile) Guaranteed for loads of giggles between the two of you - take a shower-for-two after this one and wash each other's chocolate-flavored hair!