Chocolate + flowers + fancy dinner + a movie = Valentine's Day.
That's typically the Valentine's Day equation, am I right? We seem to be in a Valentine's Day rut. Not to mention...what do we get for the guys?! (Right ladies?!)
A lot of us are lost on what to do for our significant other on the one day of the year that we could really spoil them and show them just how much they mean to us.
Why does gift giving have to be so hard in the first place???
The beauty of this is, gift giving is actually really simple. We're just overthinking all of this! Then it comes down to the day, and we're left empty handed for all the thought we put into it.
But you don't want to leave your significant other with a gift they won't use, or worse, tries to return for something else that they actually like! Yikes!
It all starts with thoughtful and intentional gift giving. Here are a few things to consider that will help you to pick out the perfect gift that they will love!
1. What are their hobbies?
Fishing, golfing, shopping, video games, hiking, woodworking, painting, cooking, etc. They've talked about their favorite things enough by now (or shown how they spend their time) for you to know some of the things they really love to do. This is a great time to get involved a little!
Having some shared interests is nice. At the very least, you'll finally understand some of what they're talking about. Have them teach you a new skill, spend some time together, and then switch! Now it's your turn to teach them some of your favorite things!
You know what they love! Pick something they love and marry it with something you love! Which leads us to number 2.
2. Can you give them a memory?
Below are a few ideas that you can try or to get your mind working for something that the two of you can do together!
Video game and spa night -- Actually, this is a favorite date night for my husband and me. Like I was saying before, sometimes you just marry the two things you love together. He loves video games and I love a good spa night. It was an awesome idea! We try to play a two-person game and work together to get through a couple of bosses. Then I take over with soaking our feet, general nail treatments, and teaching him how to paint my nails. Surprisingly enough he loves the spa time too! We both feel loved, pampered, and connected while learning a new skill! (For the nail painting he said, "Just in case we have a little girl and she asks me to paint her nails for her" đ)
P.S. If you're a guy reading this, and this makes you feel a little uncomfortable, I promise you that your gal will be so happy to teach you how to take better care of yourself. We love to do that anyway! It doesn't make you any less manly. We know you can beat up anybody. Now you can do it with healthy nails!
Creative night. Make something together! It builds teamwork and you come out with something wonderful at the end! You can look up DIY videos of YouTube or even whole classes to watch! Bob Ross painting can be really fun together! Hang it up or take pictures to remember this fun night!
Speaking of!
Take a class together. It helps if you're both new at whatever you're trying. There will probably be one that is a little more gifted than the other. Just remember it's not a competition to see who's best at something, it's about spending time with the other person. Cheer each other on!
Try food that neither of you have had before --if you like to cook, make it a thing! If not, search for new food near where you live! The selection may surprise you!
Breakfast in Bed (for both of you!) -- Make a lovely breakfast together, grab a tray, and then go back to bed to enjoy it together! Play with the times of day, dates don't have to be at night only!
Actually do the things in the movies (instead of watching them!) -- being cliche isn't always a bad thing! Do all those really cute, couple things in the movies that you would have gone to see instead of going to see yet another chick-flick!
Weekend getaway (or stay-cation!) -- Valentine's day is on a Friday this year! That means that you can plan something beyond the Valentine's Date Night and go on a Trip. Get that AirBnB and go! Or stay home for a whole weekend! Having a weekend dedicated to you and your S.O. is so nice and getting away from "normal" life for a bit is really good for your mental health!
3. Can you make something?
Are you crafty? Or can you follow simple directions that you found online for something?
Great!
Make your own, unique present! Look up a video to follow. Make that card! Whatever project you have in mind, they will absolutely love that you took the time and effort to make them something. The best part? It doesn't have to be perfect! Don't explain away the imperfects of the finished product. Love is just two imperfect people coming together to celebrate life together!
This one kind of plays off #2. The great thing about this list is that you can mix and match to make your own special night!
4. If you really don't have the time to make something yourself, buy local!
Not only are you buying something that someone "DIY"ed themselves, but you're giving them a Valentine's Day present as well! The cherry on top is that NO ONE ELSE will have that gift you are giving them! Buying locally means that each piece was crafted individually and each one is completely different from the other!
You also have someone who truly wants you to be happy with whatever products you choose. Whether it's a wreath for your front door, a spa kit (that they will be more than happy to help you pick out), signs, artwork, jewelry, and everything else in between. (All of the above items are made by local artists near Mebane, NC and for sale right now!)
Especially those working at Impulsive Creativity đ Couldn't resist the shameless plug here lol! It's all true though. We would much rather see you happy than picking something that isn't right for you and your significant other. We love to support our local community AND our local art community!
You take all the stress out of getting something unique for your S.O. and then keep the chain going by allowing that creator to get something special for their S.O.
Win-win!
P.S. If you need to put in a custom order for any of our artists at the store, please let us know soon! We want to make sure you get exactly what you want on the exact day you need it. No more looking like you forget this year...again!
5. Mix and Match
Try some of these ideas all together! Maybe you still like the dinner and a movie with flowers, so you make your own flowers. Perhaps you do the getaway with all the normal chick-flick things in them. Why not make a dinner that you both haven't tried, make an indoor picnic in front of the fireplace and play board games. Try grabbing a local, handmade gift that you think they'll like and sneak in a set of tickets to their favorite show.
The possibilities are endless! Just remember to start with something that they like and something you like. You won't go wrong. You got this!
In the end, all you need is a little time to plan and you can have the Valentine's Date of your dreams! Don't overthink it, remember that it doesn't have to be perfect or even look like someone else's date for it to be amazing for you and your S.O. â¤
The only equation you need is that you + them = love.
If you have any questions, or want to leave your own Valentine's Day ideas, leave us a comment below! We would love to try some of your ideas!
Have an amazing day with your significant other this year!
XOXO - Impulsive