Valentine’s Day at Home!

Going out for Valentine’s Day can be a huge hassle. Coordinating a babysitter, getting a reservation, and paying “holiday” prices make this one of those holidays where I would prefer to stay at home.  If you are like me and prefer to hang at home, here are some great ways to make that happen.

Set the stage:
I can admit that design and creative stuff is not one of my strong points, but you would be surprised at how simple it can be to create a tablescape that suits the mood! Some of you out there can really do this up, but I’m more of a simplistic gal when it comes to these things.  I like to check out some ideas of my “ideal” table and then scale it back….I mean, way back to suit my budget and time constraints.  The great thing is that you don’t have to go out and spend a lot of money on decor. You can use vases and candles that you already have. If you want to grab something new, try out your local tag sales and places like Home Goods and TJ Maxx. These places often have great items that won’t bust your budget.  If you want something a little more kid-friendly, grab some pretty paper plates and decorate with m&m’s or candy hearts.  I chose something really simple that can work for anyone.  Grab some flameless candles (awesome because they are kid-friendly), some candle holders (bought mine after Christmas for 70% off), some candy (red and pink for the holiday), and a glass vase (tag sale purchase for $5) and you can arrange your table however you like.  If this is too simple, add some fresh flowers, a nice table cloth, some cool placemats, or a homemade centerpiece.

Make the meal:
Most days, my husband is subjected to my paleo/vegan/whole food meals.  On Valentine’s Day, I like to make some things that he enjoys! Since one of his favorite meals is pizza, I usually opt for a homemade version.  Pizza is a great choice for V-Day because you can customize it to your tastes and making it won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours!  I usually buy pre-made dough and coordinate some toppings that we both enjoy.  If you aren’t a gourmet chef, you can still make something that’s simple and tastes great. All you need to do is press the dough into your pan, add the toppings you love, and bake. If your kids will be joining you for dinner, enlist their help in preparing the meal. Easy tasks like sprinkling cheese or squishing tomatoes make kids want to help. They will also enjoy eating something that they “made.”  If you plan to dine after the kids have gone to bed, try some inventive toppings like goat cheese, mushrooms, olives, or sundried tomatoes.

Dessert and Treats:
One of the easiest desserts I have ever made was in a mason jar. I used a trifle recipe I found on Pinterest, modified it a little bit, and served it on Thanksgiving. Assembling ten jars was a little time consuming, but they looked fancy and tasted amazing.  Imagine how easy this will be to do this for only three or four people. The best part about a trifle is that you can layer anything you want in there! Everything from pound cake to fresh fruit can be used. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, you can incorporate strawberries, raspberries, red velvet cake, or even strawberry ice cream. It’s all about what you and your family like to eat, so experiment and have fun. I serve mine in mason jars so everyone gets a healthy serving and can put the lid on to finish later. Mess free leftovers? Yes, please!

Gifts and Cards:
My husband and I no longer give each other cards. In fact, we setup a journal for each of us. Each holiday, we date the page and write our own sentiments into the journal. We don’t have to worry about finding the perfect card or even spending a ton of money on lots of cards in a year. Still, we always take the time to tell each other something nice.  Why not start this tradition this year?  You could gift the journal to your spouse on Valentine’s Day and explain how the process works.  Trust me when I say that my husband does not miss trips to CVS to buy last minute cards! Since our daughter was born, I always like to give my husband something from her on Valentine’s Day. There are lots of inexpensive homemade ideas online, but one that I really liked had a handprint on a piece of card stock. My daughter was only nine months old when we did this, so you can imagine why it looks so messy. I was so glad that after almost a year, he still has it.

In the end, it doesn’t matter whether you go out or stay home, make a meal or order in, watch a movie or plan something more romantic. The whole point of the holiday is to be surrounded by people you love and that’s always the best kind of day!

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day! Let us know in the comments!