Valentine’s Day This & That
I do love Valentine’s Day! Baldy and I don’t normally go out to dinner because the restaurants are crowded and the menus are prefixed but just the idea of a day to celebrate love is so nice! No matter how you decide to celebrate…whether through grand romantic gestures or simple acts of kindness, Valentine's Day is a reminder to connect and appreciate the important people in our lives.
When our three girls still lived at home, I always made a special dinner and had a gift bag for everyone and we had a small celebration. This year, I’ve gotten them a gold Quilted Koala bag and I’ll fill it with goodies to surprise them! Valentine’s Day is low key for us and I think that’s part of the reason I like it so much! Also…it’s a little bright spot in winter because by February, I’m usually over the cold and sooo ready for spring!
Be sure to scroll to the end…I know this is a long post, but there are treasures to be found!
My fabulous red jacket is from Boston Proper and I absolutely love it! It’s definitely what I’ll wear on Valentine’s Day because it just couldn’t be any more perfect…paired with flare jeans from AG and my gold Madison Maison booties! This jacket is butter soft and I can’t get enough of it…plus it matches almost every room in my house!
Today, I thought I would share a This & That for Valentine’s Day so you can begin to make plans to make a special day! Even though I do like to keep things simple, making a memorable day takes some advance planning! If you’re staying in, what will you eat? Will you watch a movie? Will you exchange a small (or large) gift? Would you like to have flowers on the table? And…what in the world will you wear? I’m here to help so read on…
Let’s start with the movies…there are so many romantic movies to choose from and here are a few of my favorites and I’m sure you’ve seen most of them!
Mamma Mia! - The story of Donna, whose daughter may have been conceived by one of three men she had flings with in one summer.
Love, Take Two - Lily's world is turned upside down when her ex is cast as the groom-to-be on her wedding reality show.
Titanic - A 17-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a poor artist on the ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.
Brokeback Mountain - A forbidden love affair between two cowboys in 1960s Wyoming.
Harold and Maude - A young, rich man obsessed with death is changed forever when he meets a lively septuagenarian at a funeral.
My Best Friend's Wedding - Childhood friends Julianne and Michael agreed to get married if they weren't already married by the time they were 28.
The Princess Bride - A whimsical and romantic tale based on the novel by William Goldman.
Pride and Prejudice - A classic romantic drama that follows the intelligent and strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates matters of love, class, and societal expectations in 19th-century England, particularly her tumultuous relationship with the enigmatic Mr. Darcy.
When Harry Met Sally - Two friends, Harry and Sally, try to convince each other that men and women can't truly be just friends, leading to a romantic comedy that spans several years and a series of misadventures.
Sleepless in Seattle - A romantic comedy about a widowed father whose son calls a radio talk show to find him a new love, leading to an unforeseen connection with a woman listening from afar.
And a little outfit inspiration!
And some ideas for gifting…
What to eat on Valentine’s Day…
Last year I did a very in-depth post on cheese and chocolate pairings and made an extravagant spread. You could definitely do this on a smaller scale and have nibbles while watching a movie, or make a cheese and chocolate board for pre-dinner nibbles!
I also made Valentine’s Day Chex Mix with my grandsons! It was so much fun and we made enough to share!
You also might enjoy making this Creamy Boursin and Tomato Pasta! It’s delicious, easy and a little indulgent!
I also love this recipe for Cocoa Spiced Steaks with Red Wine Chocolate Sauce from Food & Wine!
Or…if you really want to keep it simple, pick up a special bottle of wine and some chocolate truffles and order a pizza!
Cheese board inspo above…
I made this simple arrangement of pink and white roses with flowers from the grocery store. I put tape in a crisscross pattern over the top of the vase to hold the stems, removed the leaves and cut the stems to make them pretty uniform. This takes only about 10 minutes and it’s a beautiful arrangement that costs a fraction of what you would pay at the florist.
And you know I’ve found some Valentine’s Day treasures on Amazon…the collage below is just a sample! Be sure to click the button below (or any of the highlighted text) to see the entire list!
It does take a little time and planning to make a day special, but you’ll never regret it! These are just a few ideas to inspire and I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! Happy Friday…
Baldy has been gone since Monday and was supposed to fly home tonight but is stuck in Bermuda because of high winds. I’m on my own tonight and I may just order a pizza and watch a romantic movie!
~XOXO Suzanne