Valentine’s Day. The one day of the year where the pressure to be romantic increases tenfold, and reminders of the fact that you have to splash the cash and show that you care seem to be staring you in the face every which way you turn. It can be hard to find the balance between vomit inducing sweetness and seeming aloof, but hopefully this is where I can help, with some fairly cheap and personal ways to treat your loved ones, the kinds of gifts that are guaranteed to score you brownie points for weeks to come.
THEMED MOVIE NIGHTS
It’s the kind of occasion where Netflix and Chill just isn’t going to cut it, but if you’re still one for a quiet night in, or a movie boffin, then a themed movie night just might be the gift idea for you! Themed movie nights are a cheap and personal way to spend some time with your other half, and show them you really know what they enjoy. It could be a relaxed evening filled with John Hughes movies and 80s romance, or a selection of movies from their favourite film star. Or perhaps they are more into horror movies and looking for someone to cuddle when things get scary? Whatever their movie preference, buckling down for an evening filled with their favourite movies and the obligatory popcorn can be a great and romantic way to spend your Valentine’s Day.
INDOOR PICNIC
Picture the scene, it’s a few days before Valentine’s Day, and you’ve neglected to book a table for the evening. You phone up their favourite restaurant, and what do you know, it’s booked, unless you want to start eating at 9pm that is. You panic, call a few other restaurants, until you come to the fatal conclusion that nothing but Oki’s is going to have a table for you tonight. An indoor picnic can solve all your Valentine’s Day problems, and be just as romantic as going out. Eating it on a picnic blanket, indoors, surrounded by candles and fairylights creates the perfect setting for a technology-free, romance filled evening that’s just the two of you, and guaranteed to be better than the generic restaurant meal where you are surrounded by other couples. Plus you avoid the awkwardness of sitting next to the couple that is fighting/overly touchy/in the middle of a proposal.
WHIMSICAL COOKIE COMPANY
I’m a sucker when it comes to themed food. Or sweet messages that are edible so I can hide the fact that either my boyfriend or me ever thought of buying something so sickly sweet for one another. Novelty themed cakes or cookies are a quirky take on the more Valentine’s Day chocolates if your one for the more traditional romance. The Whimsical Cookie Company, featured on notonthehighstreet.com, have a great selection of Valentine’s Day treats from cookies shaped like moons (“I love You to the Moon and Back”) to ones shaped like a cookie and a glass of milk with smiling faces (“We Go Together”). If they’re more of a chocolate fan then why not try their “Valentine’s Day Couple Robots” for something a little bit different and unique.
HIS AND HER JUMPERS
Fashion faux pas or ironically cool? No one will ever know, but for the ultimate lovers statement don one of rad.co Valentine’s Day selection. Be it colourful jumpers with R2D2 and C-3PO printed on, Spoon and Nutella, Shrek and Fiona or Bonnie and Clyde, these slogan jumpers are epitome of Valentine’s Day commitment
STAR GAZING – THE ALIGNING OF THE PLANETS
According to astronomers and avid stargazers out there, the aligning of all five visible planets for the first time since 2005 is occurring from around the 20 January to the 20 February. The appearance of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus all around dawn is certainly something worth staying up for, with Mercury appearing about an hour and a half before dawn. For optimum results grab some blankets and head out to a secluded spot in the countryside. Who knows what you could happen under the blankets whilst you wait for Mercury to show up.
TREASURE HUNT
The great thing about a personalised Treasure Hunt is that it can be anything you make it to be, from the elaborate Leslie Knope style ones across town to little paper clues leading to a box of chocolates, or you know, you. Linking the clues to things you’ve done as a couple or memories you share are a great way to reminisce about all the great and stupid things you’ve done.