valentines day ideas for couples

Since Valentines Day is all about love, spending the day loving yourself makes perfect sense. Play hooky from work or just leave an hour early and do whatever you want, be it pampering yourself with a lavish mani pedi or staying home, ordering take out and marathoning every movie your celeb crush has ever been in on the TiVo Roamio Pro. Since it comes standard with Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube and more, there isnt a thing your little heart desires that you cant watch on it. You could be watching your favorite shows live anywhere you want and Roamios in it for the long haul, with its 450 HD hours of storage. So go ahead, binge watch that hospital drama if you want. After all, you have no one to please but your own darn self.

If indulging seems a little too indulgent, go the opposite direction and use the day to finish or start something youve been meaning to tackle. Secure that promotion youve been after at work, sign up for Mint.com to get your finances in order, or rearrange your bookshelf by color.

Interested in taking up yoga? Want to learn how to dance ballet? Wish you could cook risotto? Challenge yourself to do something you havent done before, or seldom get to do because of your schedule.

That kindness spreads, so start an epidemic. Give Valentines Day cards to those close to you, like your co workers and friends, as well as those not so close to you, like the barista who serves you your coffee. Not the Hallmark type? Volunteer locally and help those less fortunate than you. Seeing a face light up from your small gesture will fill you with love and make the world a better place.

Invite friends over for wine, appetizers, gossiping, and good times. To mix it up, make it a theme party, like suggesting that everyone wear all pink or black, if you caught the Singles Awareness Day bug and create an iPod playlist with songs like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Holding Out for a Hero.

Go out to dinner at a fancy restaurant with other single friends. Treat yourself to some place really special, and get a delicious dessert you dont have to share it

Get out of town! Plan a special trip to some place youve always wanted to visit. It could be something as dramatic as a foreign cruise or as simple as a day trip enjoy being able to just do something you and only you want to do.

Gather up your other single girlfriends for a night at the movies. Be sure to pick something thats anti romantic no sappy chick flicks allowed! Be sure to get giant buckets of popcorn to share.

A Valentines Day gift doesnt have to be expensive or huge. Gauge what your date might like, and go from there. Some suggestions Many women enjoy the traditional gift of flowers on Valentines Day. You can go for the classic roses in any color, or get a bouquet of her favorite flower. One thing to keep in mind: if the flowers look like something youd send your sick grandmother, reconsider. Reds and pinks are generally romantic colors; roses, gardenias, tulips, orchids and wildflowers are good bets, as well.

Whether youre going out or staying in, you can do a few things to establish a romantic ambiance and put your date in a good mood. Dress up a bit and take extra care for your appearance. Speak in gentle, loving tones. Hold your dates gaze and sit or stand close to him or her. And smile.