Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day besides flowers and chocolate

Now is the time to start planning a special Valentine’s Day celebration for your main squeeze/spouse/partner.

And special does not mean typical.

First of all, avoid the clichés say NO to Chocolate and Flowers.

The #1 New Years Resolution is to lose weight – so don’t sabotage your hard work with ho-hum Valentine chocolates.

Everyone loves flowers, but NOT on Valentine’s Day. Send flowers on March 14th, April 1st, any day, but not Valentine’s Day.

Plan something special – give something different.

If you have kids, pre-arrange a sleepover for the kids at Grandma’s. No family in town? Trade babysitting offers with friends or neighbors. Valentine’s Day is Monday February 14th, but you may want to celebrate a few days early or even the weekend before.

Shop online to find fun and unique romantic ideas. Stick with the red or pink theme – but choose something different than what you find at a drugstore or department store. Need some ideas? Checkout eBillme’s best Valentines ideas for both men or women.

Once you have the gift ordered, plan a romantic evening. Maybe this means dinner out at your favorite restaurant, or staying in for Chinese food in front of the fire.

Or plan an evening that isn’t all about dinner. Go for a nighttime stroll and hit a coffee shop, take in a concert, rent Casablanca or one of your favorite movies.  Can you remember the 1st movie you went to together as a couple? Rent that one. It makes the night not only memorable, nostalgic and unique but more importantly, romantic and special!

Don’t forget even gift cards make great gift ideas for Valentine’s Day. Choose a gift card to Macaroni Grill or Chili’s and wrap it up for your Valentine. When she opens it, she’ll be surprised to see where the night plans to take her (at least where it will begin). Check out more gift card ideas in this gift card mall.