I’m a sucker for the holidays… any holiday, I love them. And maybe even more so over the past year. Anything that makes a day feel just a little more special than the previous and I’m all over it. So of course I wouldn’t let Valentine’s Day be any different…

I always think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday for everyone. A day to simply share how much you love those around you. For me it doesn’t have to just be reserved for your significant other (or romantic relationship), but is extended to my girls, family, and friends.

If there is anything that 2020 taught me it was to always let people know how much you care about them. Given that, I put together a few February 14th, love day, ideas for “the couple,” “the family,” + “friends/extended family….” that can all be done at home, with minimal cost, but with maximum love.
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FOR THE COUPLE

(My Outfit Above: Cardigan | Jumpsuit)

TJ and I will be celebrating by heading down to the beach on Saturday evening (my sister/BIL will watch the girls)… we’re going to get take-out sushi, bring some vino, and watch the sunset on the sand. Super simple, but happy hour on the beach has been our favorite over this past year….

At home ideas that we’re contemplating on the day of include:

I put together a few at home date night ideas over the past year… a Mexican Themed + Italian Themed evening… maybe something from one of those will spark some creativity!

Make a fun Valentine’s Day, blush cocktail… my favorite is the Paloma… have a side of homemade guac and chips… and then order out Mexican food…

Play a game together… we bought this one around Christmas Time and it was super fun (meant for a larger group, but easily modifiable).

Face Masks… TJ’s into all that skincare so it’s fun for us!

Movie Night… pick out your Significant Others favorite candy/treats, decide on a movie together, and make the couch extra cozy with blankets + pillows….

How about a fun virtual cooking class together?? Whole Foods is offering them, with a donation… read more here!

FOR THE FAMILY

I’m not one to pass on an opportunity to celebrate a holiday with the girls. Harper, especially, loves decorations and anything holiday specific, so it makes it extra fun for us (me). Aside from the traditional “fun activities” I bought these cute nail art heart stickers so that we could do manicures in the morning (I also love this pink + heart nail polish option) and I saved this special Valentine’s Day book to read to both of them.

We will also make a special breakfast… some simple heart shaped waffles (this is our favorite mix), toss on some pink + red sprinkles, and make some hot coco.

Another activity that I started last year was to cut out small heart shapes (about 10 for each girl) and on each heart TJ + I wrote what we loved about them. Then we placed them in a tiny mailbox for them to open up throughout the day (you can easily make a mailbox out of paper, that they can decorate, too.).

I love little ones because the smallest change from normal is all it takes to make a day feel a little extra special!

FOR THE FRIENDS + EXTENDED FAMILY

I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day as a special way to let your friends know how much they mean to you… and while most of us can’t get together with our friends right now, I thought I’d put together a few easy ideas to still connect with them despite our current circumstances!

Virtual Happy Hour + Cocktail Making- pre select a cocktail to make, assemble together and then see below……

I love this article which gives some great multiplayer apps that you can host a game night with your friends….

Or you could all cook a virtual meal together…. we recently did this with TJ’s work, as a team building activity, and it was so fun!

Poppy Flowers offers a fun floral experience where they send flowers, unassembled, you watch a simple DIY video, and then put together the arrangement yourself. It could be fun if you and your friends all had a bouquet to assemble together over a zoom call. code SHANNON10 for 10% off.