1) Send a card before the date. Planning ahead will show your lady you are thoughtful, that you are genuinely looking forward to celebrating the day with her. A simple message like, "Can't wait to see you tonight, beautiful" will go a long ways. Trust me. I recommend sending a physical card, of course. Ladies are sentimental, and we love having physical mementos to remind us of a fun experience.
2) Send flowers the day before, the morning of, or while she's at work. Although a little cliché, every woman loves to receive flowers. The key is to make the flowers a surprise. Preparation is important here; florists can charge a ton if you make a last minute order on Valentine's Day, so schedule a delivery a few days beforehand, if possible.
3) Make her heart melt with lines from famous love quotes. Whether from her favorite romantic comedy or her favorite poem, ladies swoon over beautifully expressed displays of affection. Find a line you know she loves and memorize it, then say it to her over dinner. Or write a few of these lines on pieces of paper and slip one into her purse, one into her coat pocket or maybe a gym bag. This is just another little way you can bring a smile to your special someone's face.
4) Plan an intimate dinner at home. Valentine's Day constantly gets knocked for being overpriced, but one way to beat the pricey restaurant rush is to avoid it completely by planning a delicious meal at home. A dinner at home will be much more intimate. Also, staying in will let you enjoy more time together without pesky commuting. Maybe choose something that you have been wanting to try for awhile, or spice up an all-time favorite. I recommend choosing a meal equal to your cooking experience. For example, if you never ever cook you probably shouldn't try Julia Child's Bouef Bourguignon for your Valentine's meal. Maybe try experimenting with some new sides or seasonings, without the fear of messing up the entire dinner.
5) Pair your dinner with the perfect wine or champagne. There aren't many holidays that beg for wine or champagne like Valentine's Day, but don't get intimidated by the overwhelming choices out there. Everyone can benefit from a sommelier's experience with the fantastic wine pairing apps in the market. One great rule of thumb, choose a wine with a similar intensity as the food you are preparing. You wouldn't want to serve a Pinot Noir with a NY steak; instead, choose a bolder and more flavor-forward wine, like Merlot or Zinfandel.
6) Brush up on current events and pop culture so you can have interesting conversation. When I polled a group of friends about their ideal Valentine's Days, great conversation was the one constant among them all. If you go through all the preparations listed above but then have nothing to talk about over the delicious dinner you just made, the night is going to feel awkward. In order to avoid this situation, brush up on current events or peruse conversation-starters online.
7) Create a romantic playlist to set the mood. There's something about beautiful music that strikes a certain chord with the ladies (pun intended). As far as planning the music for your special night is concerned, there are two basic ways you can go about it: 1) Draft a playlist of meaningful music that recalls experiences or inside jokes, or 2) Choose an artist or a mood and let the Internet create a playlist for you.
8) Go for a romantic stroll around the neighborhood, or find a park near you. After a delicious dinner together, you are both probably feeling full and lethargic. Grab your coats and take a stroll hand in hand; the fresh air will revitalize you. Also, this time will allow you to decide what to do the rest of the evening...
9) Find some local live music and relax together. Dinner and a movie is the go-to date scenario, but if you're looking for something a little different, find a local live music show. Whether it is a jazz quartet or a musician you both enjoy together, there's something inherently liberating about listening to live music.
10) After a successful day, go home and get a little creative. I'm pretty sure you all know where I'm going with this one. If you and your lady are already intimate, try mixing things up in the bedroom. You've already had an incredible evening together; keep it going into the night by experimenting with some new positions. She'll be thrilled to know that you've thought ahead about how to please her, and I'm sure she'll return the favor.
1) Burlesque Show. Spend this Valentines Day getting sultry by taking your date to a burlesque show. These old-timey acts are more sexy than skanky (think feather boas, long gloves, fans and tasseled pasties). Talented performers often accompany the campy humor and killer costumes.
2) Indoor Picnic. Skip the restaurant scene, where you'll inevitably be stuck with an overpriced pre-fixe menu and a seat that leaves you knee-to-knee with other star-crossed lovebirds. Spend your Valentines Day dinner enjoying an indoor picnic instead. Spread out the blanket, break out the fancy accouterments - and don't forget the bubbly.
3) "Glamping." Let's face it: camping isn't always sexy (bug spray and outdoor toilets can be a romance buzzkill, to say the least). But "glamping" (glamorous camping) can make for the ultimate Valentines Day staycation. Pitch a tent (not that kind) in the backyard or even the bedroom, whip up a batch of s'mores, light up the fireplace (on
4) Roller Skating. Most dates will be hitting the ice skating rink come Valentines Day, so go old school by taking your date roller skating instead. Bust out your tube socks and short shorts - the roller rink makes for a super-fun Valentines Day setting. You can hang out in the arcade, buy your date a candy necklace, and get cozy for a couple's skate.
5) Bowling. Bowling may not reek of romance, but c'mon, it's fun! Throw back a few cold ones, grab some junk food and settle in for some healthy competition this Valentine's Day. Make things a little more interesting by keeping score and promising the winner a Valentine's Day "prize."
6) Comedy Show. Some say laughter is an aphrodisiac, and who are we to argue with that logic? Also, what better way to celebrate Valentines Day than to laugh your butt off? Grab a date and head to the nearest comedy club for an off-the-grid V-Day experience.
7) Hot Yoga. Flexible? Get steamy with a Valentines Day "hot yoga" class for two. The flow of the poses in the heated room will increase blood flow and boost your endorphins - plus your partner will look sexy in a sweaty downward dog. The best part? A shower is absolutely necessary after this type of class, so make it a shower for two.
8) Concert. Skip the opera this Valentines Day and head straight for the ultimate rock-n-roll date: take your Valentine to see his or her favorite band. Or just hit up a local music venue for a live show. Seeing Jay-z or Fun. is a perfectly romantic Valentine's Day gift.
9) Sexy Scavenger Hunt. Design a sexy scavenger hunt for your honey this Valentines Day. Create clues that lead to special places you've been together and reward them with sexy prizes. (Try recreating your first kiss.) Bonus: This can be completely free, and you'll score major points for creativity.
10) Salsa Dancing. You don't have to watch "Dancing with the Stars" to know that salsa is super sexy. Work off your Valentines Day dinner by hitting up a Latin club, or take a lesson for two. Online deal sites like Groupon.com and Livingsocial.com often offer coupons on dance lessons, so check before hit the dance floor.
