I’m not gonna lie. Valentine’s Day isn’t a huge deal to me. While I love the fact that it is a day to celebrate love, I also never feel the need to go all out with a fancy dinner out and buy my husband a big present. Perhaps some of that is due to the fact that Ita says every year, “we don’t need to celebrate Valentine’s Day because we celebrate our love every day”. I know. I can feel the eye rolls. So cheesy and he is half-way joking but it’s also one of the reasons I love him. Our first Valentine’s Day together we went to Outback Steakhouse (we were in college in Amarillo, TX guys…) and they had crammed so many tables together we were literally almost bumping elbows with couples on either side of us. We laughed so much that night and got to listen to some interesting conversations but we both agreed that we would not go out to eat on Valentine’s Day in the future.
In honor of our 9 year streak, I put together a list of things to do on Valentine’s Day other than go out to eat. Take a look through the list and let me know what your plans are!
1. Eat in – Eatzi’s gave me a sneak peek at their Valentine’s Day menu last weekend and it is as close as you’ll get to having a chef prepare a meal for you at home. They have everything from filets to ahi tuna, lobster mac and cheese, mushroom risotto and even heart-shaped crème brulee and chocolate covered strawberries. If you’re looking for something easy (or maybe you’re not the greatest cook), I highly recommend checking out their special Valentine’s Day menu. You’ll get the gourmet meal at home without all of the work!
2. Hit the spa – There’s nothing like a good couples massage to relax and disconnect with your significant other. You guys know I love the Hilton Anatole here in Dallas and they have the best spa! Their “Romancing the Stone” massage (love that movie) is so good and I also received an express facial that left my face feeling so refreshed! The great thing about their spa is that you can really spend as much time as you want there. They have a pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room that you are free to use after your spa services. They have several Valentine’s Day specials right now that you can check out on their website here.
3. Binge watch your favorite show – We’ve probably all been there where Netflix asks “Are you still watching *insert your latest series obsession*? Ita and I rarely get the chance to watch more than a couple of episodes of our favorite shows lately so I think dedicating your afternoon or evening on Valentine’s Day to binge watching your favorite show together would be so fun. But don’t just turn on the show and lay on opposite sides of the couch. Make a pallet on the floor or move your sectional around like we do so you can really snuggle up together. You know, make your lazy Netflix binge “Valentinesy”. Some of our favorite past shows to binge watch are: Stranger Things, Narcos, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Breaking Bad (the best), Better Call Saul, Lost and New Girl. We’re thinking about starting Sneaky Pete but I would love any recommendations!
4. Wine tasting at home – grab a few bottles of your favorite red or bubbly for a little at home wine tasting. You can buy cheeses and sweets to pair with them as well. If wine isn’t your thing, do the same thing with whiskey or beer and have your loved one guess what’s what! If alcohol isn’t your thing go ahead and move on to #5.
5. Dance Lesson – I think it is so fun to try new things with your spouse so if you haven’t taken a dance lesson, this can be a really fun thing to do on Valentine’s Day. My husband and I have taken a few salsa lessons back in the day and have had our fair share of nights out dancing to Latin music (he definitely has his moments where he thinks he’s Marc Anthony… if only I could dance like JLo. Sigh.).
6. Play a Game – it may sound silly but turning off the T.V. and breaking out an old school board game or your favorite card game is a great way to have a good time with your loved one without leaving the house. Mix this with #4 and you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time.
7. Turn off your phones – disconnect. We always talk about “disconnecting” for a day or even just a couple of hours but it rarely happens. Use Valentine’s Day or at least that evening to really disconnect and not check social media every two seconds. I know this one is much easier said than done but I know Ita would love for me to put my phone away for a few hours so I’ll be sure to make this one happen.
So what do you think? Will you be doing any of these things to do on Valentine’s Day? Keep in mind if you are spending Valentine’s Day with your girlfriends you can still do a lot on this list! And if you still need something to wear, be sure to check out this post and this post for some last-minute outfit inspiration or shop some of my favorites below.
Thanks for reading!
Love your Valentine list
Thank you!