Fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air, there is an abundance of heart-shaped confectionery everywhere and the pressure for what to do on this day of romance is building. While I love all of the themed chocolate I can get my hands on and love romance in general, the overwhelming pressure to celebrate this day in a sweet, meaningful way can be a bit much.

What happens if you can’t afford to go to an expensive restaurant? What do you do if you pulled out all the stops last year but now this year have no idea what to do? What if you’re single and don’t have a date for the night? What do you do if you honestly feel like spending the evening in your sweats and would rather not be seen in public, but don’t want to seem sad and lonely? Oh, this pressure! I don’t know how we cope with it year after year.

Well, fear not because this year I am here to help. No more stressing about what you can do to celebrate this day of love (whether you are in a relationship or single, wanting to spend time with other people or just be by yourself) because I’ve got some ideas to share with you all. I’ve experienced Valentine’s Day in many different ways – I’ve had a few celebrating with my boyfriend, a few celebrating with friends and one or two where I celebrated with my cat and my laptop. And, let me tell you, all of them were fun in their own way. I didn’t feel lonely or depressed, and I didn’t have to cough up half my savings to have a good time. So, if you are looking for fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day that aren’t monumentally expensive (and can be adapted to suit who you will be celebrating with), then this is the post for you!

Romantic, candlelit dinner 

Nothing says romance like an intimate dinner with your special someone, complete with candles to really set the mood. Restaurants all over the place will be advertising Valentine’s Day specials where you and your partner can enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner at a secluded table for two. However, it will probably cost you a small fortune and may not be as peaceful as the restaurant implies. So, why not skip all that trouble and have dinner at home. You can have an even more romantic dinner in the comfort of your own home. If both of you enjoy cooking, you can enjoy a homemade meal, but if that sounds like a little too much work, then you can order your favourite take-out meal. Who says pizza can’t be romantic? A meal like this is an excellent way for you and your partner to spend some quality time together, so make sure to make the most of it (that means put your phone away and be in the moment!) and enjoy the romantic setting.

DIY Spa night 

Simply looking at the price of spending some time at a spa can give one heart palpitations, but that doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to enjoy the serenity that a spa treatment can bring. A DIY spa night can be fun, romantic and a great way to unwind and relax together. If this is something you both would be interested in, then pull out all the stops to truly make the most of it. Dig out the foot spa, try some facials (you get double points for homemade facemasks), maybe treat each other to a massage or even settle into a great big bubble bath. (For tips on how to have the best at-home spa bath, click here: https://tallblondetales.com/2020/01/08/how-to-have-the-perfect-spa-bath-at-home/ ). What’s great about a DIY spa night though is it doesn’t just have to be a romantic activity for you and your partner. This can be great fun to do with friends, or simply as a way to treat yourself and, bonus, it isn’t too expensive.

Drive-in movie 

Who says you need to go out to enjoy a film when you can do it from home? If you have a movie you’ve been dying to watch with your partner or friend(s), then why not have a drive-in movie at home? If the weather allows you could haul some pillows or beanbags outside and use a projector, or if you’d rather be indoors then you could build a pillow fort and enjoy from the warmth and cosiness of your fort. All you then need to do is choose what movie, or movies, you want to watch, pop some popcorn and get comfortable. It’s cheap, easy, super comfort-orientated and fun to do no matter who you’re with (plus an excuse to eat popcorn and junk food). Lights, camera, action!

Let’s get cooking 

Are you a good cook? Or do you and your partner enjoy cooking? Well, then why pay for a meal someone else made when you can make it a memorable dinner in your very own kitchen? If this sounds like something you would enjoy, then consider cooking up a signature or favourite meal to spoil your special someone. Or, if your partner enjoys cooking just as much as you, then why not make the meal preparation part of the date? My boyfriend and I love cooking together and even sometimes make a game of it. You can enjoy cooking up a delicious feast together (or maybe turn it into a cooking challenge like Chopped if you are the more competitive types) and then the best part, you get to eat everything you made. You literally get to have your cake, and eat it too!

Movie marathon

Ah … A movie marathon. This has to be in my top five list of favourite pass-time activities. I get to snuggle up in my pj’s, and whether I am with my boyfriend, my besties or my cat, I know that I’m going to have a fantastic time. It’s so simple and easy to arrange and guarantees hours of enjoyment. A date like this is the perfect way to catch up on movies you’ve been meaning to watch, or re-watch old favourites and have a few laughs. If you’re feeling creative, you could even have a themed movie marathon and arrange your snacks, even clothing to match the films you’ll be enjoying. It’s another super cheap and easy, yet fun date idea that you can do with a partner, friend or simply by yourself. (If you need an idea of Valentine’s day movies to watch, click here: https://tallblondetales.com/2020/02/01/valentines-day-movie-night-list/ )

Who doesn’t love picnicking? 

There is something so elegant yet simple about the idea of packing a basket full of food and enjoying a picnic somewhere with someone special. On my first Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend, he actually surprised me with a picnic on top of this little hill. It was peaceful, romantic and delicious. If you’re in the mood to get outside and enjoy nature, then have your picnic in the park. You can soak up the sunshine, lie in the grass and even play on the playground equipment. Or, if it looks gloomy and miserable or you’d prefer not to expose yourself to the outside air, you can picnic indoors. Grab some pillows and get comfortable on the floor, and it’s just as good as being outside (except with fewer insects). Depending on the mood and how much you want to spend, you can either have an elegant picnic with more expensive dishes, or a simple one that is more of the sandwich and iced tea variety. Either way, this is another fun way to enjoy a meal with a loved one in a more unique way.

Game night 

Now, what do you do if you and your date would prefer to stay at home but don’t want it to be boring, or do something simple like watching a movie? Games! That’s right – break out the board games and have yourselves a game night. If you’re like my boyfriend and I and love playing games together without getting too competitive (okay we do get very competitive sometimes) then you can just play with each other. Or, if two doesn’t seem like enough for monopoly then invite some friends over and make an evening out of it. Another way to look at a game’s night is to play video games. I’m not much of a gamer, but my boyfriend is so sometimes the two of us play a few, some I’m not so bad at and some I’m a disaster at, and have a ton of laughs in the process. Games are fun, light and you can play with just about anyone. You just can’t really have a game’s night by yourself so save this one for when you have company.

Take a class 

I always think about how fun it can be to learn something new with your partner (or friend) or get some more experience or instruction with a hobby you already love. If this isn’t too far out of the budget or is something you would really like, why not take a class with your partner or best friend? A class where you can either learn a new skill or enhance a hobby is a great date idea and is a fantastic way to share a fun, memorable experience with each other. You could take a cooking class if you both love food, or even go to the gym and join a class where you have no idea what you’re doing. No matter what it is, it will be fun, spontaneous, and a memory you can cherish for a long time.

Get crafty 

Getting crafty has become something so trendy nowadays whereas I know that years ago it was more of a chore than anything else. Generally, people now enjoy making things. If you and your partner both enjoy crafting, then why not head down to a craft store, pick up some supplies and make something together? Or if this is something you’d have more fun doing with your friends, invite them over and make cards or gifts for each other. Pinterest is full of amazing ideas that are incredibly easy to do so if you have an urge to get creative with glitter and cardboard, this could be the date for you.

Go out on a date 

Last but not least, going on a date, out in the real world, is still a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one. In fact, sometimes going out can be just what you need. If you’re always cooking and never have time to enjoy a meal you haven’t prepared, then go out for lunch or dinner. Or, if there is a new movie out that you’ve been dying to see, use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to go watch it. (P.S. you can sometimes get discounted ticket prices if you go earlier in the day so keep that in mind if you’re trying to save). There are plenty of fun dates you can do, with your partner or your friends, that involve going out to public places instead of getting creative at home and if that is how you want to spend your Valentine’s Day then go for it! This day is about love so as long as you’re spending it with someone who means something to you, that is celebration enough.

And so there you have it! I hope you all enjoyed today’s post – if you were looking for inspiration and ideas, then I hope this post was helpful, and if you were looking for ways to save money but still enjoy the day, I hope the post helped too. No matter who you are spending the day with, or what you are doing, it is a day to embrace love and what the people around you mean to you so as long as you get to spend time with people you care about, that is good enough. As always, thank you all so much for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please don’t forget to hit that like button, share with friends so they too can get some celebration ideas and subscribe so that you don’t miss any future posts. If I missed any fun ways to celebrate that you always do or know, please share them and your thoughts in the comments section! But otherwise, that is all I have for today.

Lots of Love

Blondey on a Mission xxx