Let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day is no longer only a holiday for just significant others to express their love for one another. When I think about Valentine’s Day, I think about love, hearts, and lots of chocolate. I love that there are different ways to celebrate with everyone you love. Here is how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with all your loved ones.
Celebrating with Your Partner
My husband and I have been married for a while now, so we have the whole Valentine’s Day thing down. We usually will celebrate by going out to dinner and exchanging a card. However, you can keep it simple and get your partner a box of chocolates or fresh flowers and a card or you can make it as extravagant as a surprise candlelit dinner or perhaps recreate your first date. Don’t forget to show your partner you love them more than just this one day a year. Feel free to surprise them with flowers or a love note just because! Celebrating with your partner can be as significant or insignificant as you want it to be. Even a cheesy #blessed post on Facebook is meaningful.
Here are some other things you can do for your partner on Valentine’s Day:
- Sign up for a class together – cooking, sports, photography – the possibilities are endless!
- Book a couples massage.
- Make them breakfast in bed.
Even if you’ve got kids and can’t get away for Valentine’s Day, you can still enjoy a date night in after they go to sleep. After all, they don’t call it Netflix and Chill for nothing….
Celebrating with Your Kids
Valentine’s Day with kids is meant to be a little more silly and fun. Buy or make your kids a card that they can enjoy. Decorate the house with pink and white heart balloons. Leave Valentine’s candy out for your kids to discover. This year, I plan on putting a heart on my kid’s doors every morning with a reason I love them! Kids love the surprise of Valentine’s Day, so have fun with it! Get your kids involved too! I enjoy serving my kid’s up a whole fun Valentine’s Day themed dinner! Surprise them with a heart-shaped pizza, a special pink drink (pink lemonade or red punch is a good choice!) and let them help make pink and red cookies or cupcakes! We also love to make Valentine’s Day cards for loved ones and other special crafts to celebrate the holiday. Ask your kiddo how they want to celebrate this special day and have fun!
Here are more ideas to do for your kids on Valentine’s Day:
- Send a love note with their lunch the whole month of February.
- Have a special Valentine’s dinner together with the whole family.
- Do some random acts of kindness with your kids for others to spread the love and set a good example!
Celebrating with Friends
Most of us have girlfriends that are in different stages of life. Single moms, single friends, married moms, and so on. There is no reason for anyone to be sitting around sulking on Valentine’s Day, make it fun for your whole circle of friends. Have a fun GALentine’s Day party and invite everyone over for a movie night, complete with your favorite snacks and beverages. Exchange Valentine’s Day cards with your girlfriends. I plan on meeting my friend’s out for a glass of wine as we catch up on each other’s lives. Spending time together and telling each other you’ll always be there is a great way to celebrate with friends. Other ideas include getting manicures and pedicures. You could go out to dinner and enjoy each other’s company for a few hours or go see a fun movie at the theater. The options are endless.
Here are more ideas to do with your girlfriends to celebrate Valentine’s Day:
- Send them a card letting them know how much you appreciate them and what a rockstar they are.
- Give your girlfriends small bouquets of flowers – they don’t have to be roses, they can be bright sunflowers!
- If you have a girlfriend that needs a break from her kids, offer to take them for an afternoon or evening!
Celebrating with the Grandparents
Don’t leave out the grandparents on this special day. If the grandparents don’t live close, send out a fun care package before Valentine’s Day gets here (Chocolate and homemade card would be perfect!). For the distant grandparents, video chat is also a really good way to peek in and say “I love you.” If the grandparents are local, create some DIY cards with the kids and make an in person delivery. The grandparents will love it!
More ideas to celebrate the grandparents on Valentine’s Day:
- In addition to a card, send a hug to the grandparents!
- Make up a song and record your kids singing it and then send to the grandparents.
- Make a collage of pictures of your child with their grandparents and have it printed into a large photo!
Celebrating with Your Pet
If you have animals, you already know that you can’t leave them out on Valentine’s Day! Because pets cannot have sugar, I try to get our pets a special treat from the pet store or you can make them a special treat at home. A special bone always does the trick for our doggies. Picking out a special Valentine’s Day outfit, bow or collar for your pet is always fun too!
More ways to celebrate with your pet on Valentine’s Day:
- Get professional pictures taken with your pet!
- Take them for a long walk.
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter in honor of your pet.
Everyone in your life, both big and small deserves to have a slice of your love on Valentine’s Day. Try not to make yourself crazy with all the Valentine’s Day celebrations. Plan ahead and you’ll be able to fit everything in and make everyone in your life feel special. Don’t forget to treat yourself too whether it’s digging into a delicious chocolate covered strawberry or taking a few hours to binge-watch your favorite show.
These are great ideas for the different loved ones in your life! For my grandsons, I usually buy them a Valentine’s themed stuffed animal and they are thrilled!