Better Than Chocolate: Get Yourself Organized for Valentine’s Day

The sentiment behind Valentine’s Day is lovely: take one day and remind the important people in your life that they are cherished. But somehow, when you’re hurtling through life at a million miles an hour, slowing down long enough to figure out how to make your loved ones feel truly appreciated on Valentine’s Day can be difficult. Have you ever woken up on the day itself with nothing to give your significant other, annoyed that it snuck up on you, annoyed that you can’t just pretend the day doesn’t exist – you have to do something, and annoyed flowers and chocolate are so darn expensive (not to mention unoriginal)? When you’re caught in that trap, it’s easy to go bah humbug on the day and blame the ‘commercialization’ of the day for your woes. The fact of the matter is, you don’t have to spend anything to make the people in your life feel loved. All it takes is a little planning and organization. Take a few minutes this week to plan and execute a truly meaningful Valentine’s exchange.

Sarah on “It’s the Message That Counts”

“How do you feel when someone you love recognizes you, I mean really takes a few minutes and acknowledges and thanks you for all that you do and lets you know how much they love you? It feels wonderful, right? Why not make this Valentine’s Day all about doing that for the special people in your life? Schedule some quiet time this week, like 8pm on a weeknight, and grab your computer or a pencil and pad of paper and write down the things that you love about that person. What makes them special to you? Why are you lucky to have them in your life? Once you’ve done that, ask yourself, what is the best way to communicate these sentiments? Brainstorm a few ideas, and then schedule the time in the next week to actually bring those ideas to life. You’ll wake up on the 14th ready!”

Alicia on “Don’t Get Caught in the Spontaneity Trap”

“In the frenzy of our busy lives, the act of writing things down and taking a moment to plan things out can see wasteful and inefficient. But really, it’s the best thing you can do to avoid the stress that comes with not being ready at the last moment. You may think you can wing it, but when you live your life that way, you tend to get caught up in the urgent, and then wake up on a day like Valentine’s Day without a plan.”

Here are a three things you can do this week to make your Valentine feel loved on the 14th.

1. Plan a Scavenger Hunt.

For all you men out there who are looking to do a little something different this year, try this recipe for an amazing gift. Start with a card letting your beloved know you’re sending them on a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt with the objective of finding the most beautiful object in the world. Sprinkle some fun ones around the house, but end up directing them to a mirror, where she will see herself as the most beautiful person in the world. For an extra touch of flair, draw a heart on the mirror with lipstick.

2. Make a little book of love.

You can either make your own book out of something like a deck of cards, or buy a little notebook. Then write down 25, 50, or even 100 things you love about your significant other (or mom, dad, sibling, grandparent, etc.). For ideas on execution, check out this blog: http://transcraftinental.blogspot.com/2008/02/valentine-gift-idea-little-book.html.

3. Music from the heart.

There’s nothing like music to capture the feelings of love. Why not make a little mix, on iTunes or even on a tape. Start with a theme that is meaningful to you and the person you will be giving this to, and picking the songs will be a piece of cake.