The lovey-dovey part of Valentine's Day should never be lost on your sweetheart. No matter how cheesy and Hallmark-y you think this holiday is, your partner will be disappointed if you don't recognize it in some small way (even if they SAY they don't really care). We're not talking long-stemmed roses necessarily; there's plenty of room for humor and kindness, too.
Audrey explains:
My husband and I wanted to make Valentine’s day fun and stress-free. So we have a $14 limit to spend on each other. It eliminates the pressure and expectations. Sometimes I get crafty, and create something like the “key to my heart” which turned out VERY cheesy! And sometimes, like this year, he is getting an assortment of magazines he likes, but just doesn’t buy all that often. It’s just a little treat, but we both love to shop and receive them!
More: Valentine hacks
And: Marriage and relationship hacks
Very Cute. Here’s an amusing list of the top ten WORST Valentines Gifts to get your wife, including a vacuum cleaner: http://www.buzzillions.com/valentines
I need to express how much I agree with this hack!!! I know so many people who see Valentine’s Day as an all or nothing proposition: you either go all out and spend yourself into a hole, or you do nothing.
It doesn’t need to be like that! Simple little actions do the trick and bring so much happiness into a marriage. My husband and I write a short card/letter to each other, often on regular ol’ paper, and we have a special dinner and some tasty chocolate. Sometimes we hide valentine-y love notes for each other.
It may not be what the commercials are showing, but it works for us! And we always look forward to Valentine’s Day instead of just dismissing it.
My husband and I keep it low key too. He gives me flowers (roses) and I make him his favorite biscotti cookies (and don’t eat any of them). We also have a nice meal together at home – something a little more expensive or involved than we do on a normal evening.
The only thing is, that after 7 years, it is feeling a little rote. I ADORE getting flowers, but I would be happy with a much less expensive potted plant, or flowering bush to plant in the yard, than the long stemmed roses. Haven’t figured out how to tell him this without it sounding like I don’t like what he is doing for me.
Julie,
If you don’t mind taking a chance on not getting what you’re wanting, you might be able to say something like: “This year, let’s mix it up! Let’s do everything different than we usually do. All surprises this year!” If you act excited about it, I’m sure he’ll get into the spirit.
OR if you really do want a potted plant, you could even suggest that this year for kicks you “mix it up” by writing out a valentine’s wish list for each other. Heck, he might be getting bored of the biscotti too! 🙂
A friend and her husband each “get” a holiday: he spoils her for Valentines’ day and he gets spoiled on St. Patrick’s day – it seems to work out pretty well for them.
This hack, however, would work great for DH and I because our wedding anniversary is 2 weeks after Valentines’ day, so budget is always a consideration!
My husband & I once went into Walgreen’s on Valentine’s Night and had 10 minutes to spend $5 on each other as a V-Day present. He came up with a long & drawn out love story that cleverly linked a $.50 vanilla candle, an Easter basket, and a stuffed animal. It was hilarious, and all my girlfriends (even the ones who got long-stemmed roses) were verra jealous.