Women Living Beautifully

Valentines Day Is Just Around The Corner, Made Your Plans Yet? It’s one of my favorite Holidays; of course, to be fair, I love most of them. It doesn’t take much to get me in a Holiday mood.

I thought I’d share some of my favorite Valentines Day ideas with you. Luckily this is a Holiday that can be celebrated in many different ways, depending on how much time or how involved you choose to get.

If you’re really busy but you still want to do something special, think about surprising your honey with a romantic night away at a hotel. This may be hard if you have children, but think about swapping weekends with another friend with children. One of you could keep the kids overnight one weekend and then trade off for the following weekend. The nice thing about Valentines Day is you can easily celebrate it the weekend before or after.

Personally,one of my favorite things to do, and it’s easily duplicated, is planning dinner at your favorite restaurant (let your favorite guy take care of the reservations) and then you surprise him over dinner with a hand written invitation to spend a romantic night in a hotel close by (make sure he’s available to do it before you make the plans). Just make sure you pack his shaving gear, toothbrush and favorite after shave and have it ready to go or in the car, and something to wear the next day is always good. You can always buy mini travel sizes of the things you know he needs and pack him a little surprise overnight kit. And for fun, you can always give him your favorite smelling after-shave as a gift right before you give him the invitation!

Let’s talk about what to bring along for your romantic evening. Remember lots of candles (scented tea lights work great for this and they’re easy to pack), they help set the mood. Just don’t forget matches or a lighter for them. Remember not to put them anyplace where they will get knocked over, and make sure you have something to set them on so they won’t burn the surface from sitting directly on it. A bottle of champagne, wine or your favorite beverage can be packed in one of those portable little fabric coolers. You can actually tuck it into your luggage and if you put some cold packs around it, it will stay cold. And of course, champagne or wine glasses, (it’s fun to use these even if you’re not drinking champagne).

Chocolates are always great and they are considered an aphrodisiac. A few really extravagant ones, his favorite flavor, are good and very decedent. Strawberries are excellent as well and if you can find chocolate dipped ones, even better. Bring a pretty little dish to put them on and a couple of pretty linen napkins, one to put on the table or dresser so you can set the champagne on it along with the glasses and chocolates and a couple of extra ones in case the champagne overflows. They also make great covers for hotel ice buckets.

Music helps set the mood. A small portable CD player or an ipod you can plug into small external speakers is perfect. Play some romantic music and set the mood for your romantic evening. Just remember to bring something fun to wear and you’re all set! Here’s a fun tip, if your hotel isn’t too far away from where you live you can actually go over early and have everything all set up ahead of time, you can add flowers, chill the champagne in an ice bucket and even turn down the bed. Imagine walking into a room greeted by soft music, flowers, chilling champagne, and having him be totally surprised. It’s incredibly romantic.

Don’t have the time to make it a night? Try fixing a very light but elegant supper and serve it in front of the fire if you have a fireplace (Or get one of those DVD’s that looks like a roaring fire and play that. You can usually find them at Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens-n-Things, and they really do add ambiance). The easiest thing to do is to pick up a simple yet really good takeout meal you know he’ll enjoy, and keep it covered so it won’t dry out, in a warm oven (works especially well if you’ve worked all day). Then you just have to plate it, and you’re ready to go. Keep it simple though, too much food and he’ll be falling asleep instead of concentrating on you. When he arrives, meet him at the door in your most romantic outfit, with his favorite beverage or a glass of champagne, and once again remember the candles, and the music.

Want to be really decadent, try strewing rose petals across the floor of the bedroom and all over the sheets. Or plan a bubble bath for two with scented essential oils, candles and music. Whatever you do, just make sure you both enjoy each other and have fun.

More Fun and Romance next time.
Have a Beautiful Day, Until later …
Heart Hugs,
Susan Marie