*Had to take a picture with this bottle of wine! I wonder how it tastes. Has anyone tried it?
Valentine’s Day is RIGHT around the corner. Whether you’re wanting to keep things romantic and spend quality time with your significant other, or you’re heading out on the town with your Galentine’s, here are some things you can do to celebrate on February 14th!
1. Cook a romantic dinner at home. Personally, this is my absolute favorite thing to do. Sure, restaurants are great and the food is delicious, but there is something to be said about someone who wants to cook for you (including if you’re the one doing the cooking. You know you care about someone if you want to cook for them!). To me, a home-cooked meal “date night” has always meant a lot more than going out for an expensive, fancy meal. Pop open a bottle of wine, light some candles, and you’re good to go. If the food doesn’t turn out, well… that’s what Chinese take-out is for.
2. A fancy restaurant. Ideally for me, this would be at an Italian restaurant, but that’s just my personal opinion. If the above home-cooked meal doesn’t sound appealing to you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going out! Put on that new dress you’ve been wanting to rip the tags off of, strap on some heels, throw on some lipstick and enjoy each other’s company over a fabulous meal.
3. That new restaurant you’ve been dying to try. How often do you ride around town and see restaurants you’ve never been to, but that you’ve heard amazing things about? Now is the time to try them. Grab your S/O or your girlfriends and go try out that new place everyone’s been raving about with the outstanding Yelp reviews.
4. A couple’s massage. I have ALWAYS wanted to do this. Not just because I think it would be a nice thing to do with a significant other, but also because I really want/need a massage. If you are in this same boat, grab your guy/girl and head to your nearest day spa! Couple’s massages sound relaxing and romantic, and chances are, the spa will be running some sort of special for Valentine’s Day. Score.
5. Go to a movie. I don’t know about you, but it’s getting harder and harder for me to make it to a movie theater with Hulu and Netflix always available. I feel like I never actually go out of my way to drive to a theater when I can watch a ton of movies from my couch with the click of a button. This year for Valentine’s Day, grab your Valentine and head to the movies. I know there are tons of theaters that also serve dinner and drinks, which would allow you to make it a dinner date as well. If anyone heads to the movies and sees anything worth recommending, be sure to let me know!
6. Breakfast in bed. These days, especially during the work week, it can be tough to spend any quality time together in the mornings. Surprise your significant other with some breakfast in bed to start their day off right! You really can’t go wrong with this one. Hopefully my roommates are reading this and will appear in my room on Wednesday morning with waffles.
7. Weekend getaway. Sure, a date night on Valentine’s Day would be great, but sometimes it’s hard to interrupt a busy week. Plus, maybe you go on dates all the time. Spice things up this year and go for a little weekend getaway. Create new memories together with a mini vacation — whether it’s a stay-cation at a hotel or to a city a couple hours away, a weekend getaway is always a great time.
8. Take a day trip. Okay, so going out of town for an entire weekend might be a bit aggressive for some, which is completely understandable. So how about a day trip? This is completely feasible and less expensive than a weekend getaway, since you wouldn’t need to spend money on a hotel. Pick a fun nearby place that you’ve never been to that’s within a couple hours from your home, and go on an adventure together.
9. See a show. No, I don’t mean a movie. I mean an actual show — with talented actors, singers, and dancers on stage just a few feet away from you. This can be tough depending on where you live, however, Valentine’s Day is a special occasion and it’s worth driving to a theater if a Broadway show is in a town near you.
10. Tour a winery. This is one of my all-time favorite things to do, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to do it. Not only are wineries great for couples, they’re awesome for Galentines as well. Who doesn’t love a scenic view with endless amounts of wine and cheese?! Sign. Me. Up.
Hopefully this inspired some of you to spice things up for Valentine’s Day this year! Leave some comments if you try out any of these ideas, or let me know of any creative date night ideas you might be trying out that aren’t on the list.
If you need a date night look, shop my outfit below!
xo, Ashlen