Despite the various Valentine’s Day DIY and recipe posts you see here on the blog, that’s usually the extent to which we celebrate Valentine’s Day. I waiver between feeling like it’s a made up, Hallmark holiday or thinking of it as a day to show love just a little bit more. Sean and I are usually just really low-key about Valentine’s Day in general. It sort of feels awkward though, especially when we try to explain it to people. This doesn’t mean we don’t try to do something special for the other! If you’re in the same boat as us, I figured it would help to share a list of non-traditional ways to express love! Oh and p.s., these tips are great if you’re on a budget, too.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with These Low-Key, Easy, & Free Ideas:
Give your time.
To both of us, the biggest thing you can do for the other is to give time to them. We’re so incredibly busy that it can be really easy to slip into a repetitive routine. You know, the peck on the lips then out the door… or the peck on the lips, then roll over and go to sleep. We’re all guilty of it. In the week surrounding Valentine’s Day, we make sure to set aside time for just the two of us.
A secret note.
This tip is totally my jam. Even when it’s not February 14, I loooove slipping little notes into Sean’s pockets to find at work. It can be a little reminder of my love on a scrap of paper or a proper love letter in a cute card. Whatever your jam is, a love note is one of the easiest ways to express your love. It’s all about those small gestures, amiright? To celebrate Valentine’s Day in a simple, budget-friendly way, you could write a heartfelt note and place it on your partner’s pillow.
Plan a date night… not on Valentine’s Day.
Let’s be real here… getting a reservation, especially this late in the game, is next to impossible. We like to be super-flexible about our date nights, so instead we’ll most likely go to a nice dinner on Feb. 15 instead. One year we booked a snowy cabin via Airbnb for the weekend following V day and it was amazing. Not only did we have our pick of place, but it was really nice to get away on our own time.
Give a homemade gift.
Making a heartfelt, homemade gift is the perfect way to express love, especially if you’re on a budget. Personally, I love cooking a delicious, fancier-than-usual meal. Food is definitely my love language! But you could try any of our DIYs, such as:
- this cute leather catchall
- essential oil bath bombs
- rose shampoo bars with essential oils
- an extra- large crystal planter
The small things.
One of the things I love the most about Sean is how he does the small things to express love for me. For example, he’ll clean my french press and make me a fresh pot of coffee even though he doesn’t drink it… especially while I sleep in! This can mean anything, from doing a chore you ordinarily hate but know your partner will appreciate… to breakfast in bed.
So tell me: how are you celebrating Valentine’s Day this year?
