Let’s face it, once you have young kids at home, it suddenly seems like an insurmountable task to make it out anywhere for Valentine’s Day. On the off chance you can actually secure a good babysitter, you’ll probably be too tired anyway to enjoy yourself thoroughly.
This Valentine’s Day, embrace a “date night in” with these fun ideas:
Rent a Hidden Gem
We are so lucky to live in the age of television – where you have access to any movie you want at your fingertips. No more trekking to the store to roam the aisles of Blockbuster. Now you can surf a long list of titles right from your living room.
To make it special, search for older titles that are hidden gems. Ask friends for suggestions or spend time searching on Netflix. Hold a friendly competition prior to choosing and the winner gets the final pick!
Order In
Though a fancy dinner just might not be in the cards when you have a young family, ordering in is totally doable. Luckily, in many major cities you are no longer limited to pizza and Chinese food (unless that is what you prefer of course!). With companies like Skip the Dishes, now you have a large host of quality restaurants to choose from delivered right to your door.
Try something that you haven’t eaten before, whether it be an entirely new cuisine or just a new restaurant. My personal favourite is a quaint little Nepalese restaurant close to our house that allows for pick up. It’s such a treat to order from here and Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to splurge.
Get creative together
You’ve probably heard of the growing movement of “paint nights” where you can head to a local bar and sip wine while you paint a masterpiece. Why not recreate this experience at home?
Pop open a bottle of bubbly, and head over to Youtube for some great DIY tutorials. All you need to prepare are some blank canvases, paint, and brushes from your local craft or dollar store! And Voila! You’ll have created a lasting memory you can hang in your living room for all to admire.
Host your own Wine/Beer Tasting
My hubby and I love to try new varieties of craft beer or decadent wine. Luckily in Canada we can even enjoy several options brewed locally! Head to a local brewery and pick up a variety pack of their top-selling or most obscure flavours. Chances are they will be delighted to give you the inside scoop on their favourite varieties. If wine is more your thing, visit a local wine store (or winery if you are lucky) and scour the racks of mini bottles of wine so as not to break the bank.
After the kids are in bed, crack open a bottle and enjoy tasting. The bonus is that you don’t even have to cab home after!
Enjoy a Couple’s Massage
Slip into something comfortable and take turns giving each other a relaxing rub down to unwind and de-stress. Add in a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or eucalyptus to your favourite lotion as a special treat. You can set up camp on the couch or the bed. Have fun with it and enjoy being pampered. It’ll bring you closer together and give you a chance to reconnect.
What do you have in mind for this Valentine’s Day? Leave a comment below and let me know!
XO The Good Enuf Mommy
Tiffany Austin is a mom, a wife, writer, and educator living in Canada. Tired of never feeling “good enough” as a new mom, she began a blog to encourage other moms to feel confident and empowered in their own decisions. Her blog, The Good Enuf Mommy, includes everything from helpful parenting advice to product recommendations aimed at making the lives of moms just a little bit easier.
