Last year I happened to be out shopping on Valentine’s Day. My husband had been sick, and I knew there was no chance of a romantic dinner, so I decided to treat myself and my kids to a day of shopping and lunch at my favorite restaurant.

While browsing through the sparkly pink earrings at the department store I noticed that chaos had broken out at the jewelry counter. Everywhere I looked men were frantically grabbing at pieces of jewelry, crowding and pushing, or lunging for frightened sales-girls for help in picking out the “perfect” Valentine’s Day gift for their loved one.

Honestly, what woman wants a gift that someone just grabbed last minute out of desperation?

I smiled at the scene, and was rather proud of myself in being able to let go of my illusions of romance around this time of year. I had come to realize that while my husband loved me very much, Valentine’s Day scared the “you-know-what” out of him.

Many of us women expect perfection at this time of year. After all, it is a holiday for our men to show us how they truly feel about us, and their gift is a reflection of that. Right? Wrong! For many men, Valentine’s Day is filled with pressure to not only find the most romantic (expensive) gift, but also to plan the most perfect romantic evening imaginable! Who wants this kind of pressure?

How about relaxing what our idea of Valentine’s Day is, and getting back to the basics?

Valentine’s Day is a holiday of love. What is it that we can do to show how much we love and appreciate someone?

Valentine’s Day Coupons
How about making a set of coupons for things like a romantic drive, cleaning the bathroom, planting a garden, or arranging a babysitter for a parent’s night out? The coupons can be utilized over time, so the gift is enjoyed for much longer! Let your creativity flow, and you could come up with at least 20 ideas for great coupons! (My personal favorite was “clean the bathroom.”)

Dinner and a Movie - At Home
Restaurants can be so crowded on Valentine’s Day. Why not enjoy a favorite meal and DVD at home. Make something simple (like tacos or soup and salad) and don’t forget the dessert! Get some ice cream and enjoy a sundae! Or try strawberries dipped in chocolate.

Make a CD
Most of us have a pretty good MP3 library on our computers, along with a CD burner. Pick out 10-15 songs that remind you of your loved one and make them a CD! This will be a reminder to them of your feelings, and bring a smile to their face every time they listen to it.

Give a Picture
Everyone loves receiving pictures of loved ones. Give a mom a picture of her kids and hubby, or give dad pictures of his wife and kids. If you are particularly inspired, you can use your cell phone and send a sexy pic to a loved one during the day (just make sure it only goes to your loved one – Grandma would probably not appreciate it!).

Appreciation
We all love to be appreciated, and this includes our loved ones. Most of don’t express our appreciation as often as we should. So why not try creating a letter of appreciation for a loved one at Valentine’s Day. Things to include could be: I appreciate that you are such a great cook, you get my laundry done, you always gas up the car, you always change the light bulbs, you do the grocery shopping, etc. It doesn’t have to be the most romantic of lists! Everyone loves to be appreciated for the everyday stuff too!


Many people loose sight of this rather significant holiday because of the pressure to perform. Expressing our love for each other should be something we do everyday. The things we choose to do for Valentine’s Day should be something that truly expresses how we feel, and allows our loved ones to experience our feelings of love and appreciation.