Mindfully Written

Amber Erickson: Denver Content Marketing Strategist & Freelance Health and Lifestyle Writer

Forget Flowers and Chocolates: 3 Unique Valentines Day Ideas

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unique-valentines-day-ideasAre you over flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Or are you single and just tired of the hype of the day in general? You’re not alone. This year, forget the hype, forget the standards, forget the cost, forget the expectations (those brutal expectations!) and do things differently. Here are 3 unique valentines day ideas that will celebrate love, whether you’re a unit or flying solo.

Stay In For The Night

Just because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on going out. This year, stay in instead.

Consider cooking a nice meal together, sharing a bottle of wine and making a special dessert. Or order in and take it easy.  Perhaps you could create a tradition of ordering Chinese or pizza on valentine’s day and celebrating your love privately. Maybe turn on some nice music, light some candles and have a “no electronics” night. Focus all your energy on each other, reflect on fun things you’ve done together in your relationship or make a plan for new things you want to try or things to work on in your relationship in the coming year.

Other ideas include arts and crafts night to make each other valentine’s cards. Rent a romantic movie, make some popcorn and spend the night in your pjs. Play board games, do a puzzle (what’s sexier than a puzzle!?) or spend the night doing other home-bound things you love. Have a bonfire outside or just snuggle. The options are there if you look for them.

Make Some Memories

Take this opportunity to do something new and special. Rather than just going out for dinner, plan something fun and different. Not that dinner is a bad option, but often you need reservations to get in and they serve a special (read expensive) menu. And is it worth it? Perhaps, but maybe that money could’ve gone elsewhere.

No idea is off-limits, but here are a few simple thoughts:

  • Ice Skating
  • Sledding
  • Take a night hike
  • Sign up for a class (think cooking, pottery, painting, dancing, yoga, etc.)
  • Go to the theatre or a concert (either movies or live, think symphony, dinner theatre, etc.)
  • Go work out or get some exercise together
  • Get a couples massage
  • Bundle up and walk around downtown hand-in-hand
  • Check groupon, living social or other deals sites for random events and activities
  • Go to a museum, aquarium or other educational institution
  • Skip dinner and go out for special desserts or drinks
  • Look for a valentine’s fundraising event for a local nonprofit (if there are any in your area)
  • Volunteer together at a nonprofit that interests both of you

Celebrate With Your Pals

Valentine’s Day is about love. That’s it and you most certainly don’t have to be in a relationship to appreciate and celebrate love. Why not celebrate with your favorite pals? Take a group outing or stay in and have a party. Make valentine’s treats and bring them to work. Or if you’re single, take another single pal out for dinner or do something fun together. Get pedicures, go for ice cream – whatever it is, make sure it’s fun and not filled with bashing on coupled-up folks. Think positively about the good in the world, the power of love and perhaps count yourselves lucky for not having any pressure on Valentine’s day this year.

Whatever you do this valentine’s day, celebrate, acknowledge and appreciate the love in your heart.

I’m interested to hear, what do you have planned for this year? Share your plans in the comments.

Falling in love at a coffee shop.

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There is just something about coffee shops. I can’t explain it. I don’t even have a desire to explain it. I just love the feel of them. The smell. The people. The music. The environment. The culture. Coffee shops are unique – and not all have that same feeling. As I sit here gazing out the window, buses, cars and people are strolling by as if they are in some outside world. Inside the coffee shop, it’s like the world stands still. Only this coffee shop exists – just me and my computer and my tea. Tonight I’m drinking tea. I’m writing. Time, place and circumstance aren’t relevant. They have no place here. When I’m here, nothing is relevant. Nothing matters, nothing stays the same, everything must change. The doors will close and I will go home, richer because of it.

Sounds a bit like meditation, doesn’t it.

Isn’t that interesting.

(Photo Credit: Snowfrog Photography)

 

Creative Arts as Therapy: The Making of a Gift

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A dear friend of mine recently married. I made them a card and it ended up to be an incredibly healing activity.

Some time ago, I decided that buying cards was silly since I could make them. I should add, I haven’t yet tapped into my creative potential and struggle with arts and crafts projects. But I decided making cards was a good way for me to be creative, while still having a purpose to keep me focused. My first cards were awful. Sometimes I’d laugh as I sent them because they were ridiculously childish, but handmade and made with love.

The fun part about making cards for people is the opportunity to truly make them unique and special for the recipient. For this particular wedding, I knew the couple, I knew some of the themes of the wedding and I felt inspired. As I made the card, I worked in silence and was able to reflect on their relationship and the stories I’d heard when they first met, started dating, got engaged and most recently, wedding planning and moving in together. I was able to think about my emotions and question any insights that arose. I worked and I thought and I worked some more. In the end, it was by far the best card I’ve ever made. It was pretty and legitimate looking. The whole card fit together and made sense. I was able to find fun materials that were representative of my friend, and used colors that were part of the wedding. It meant something to me. I’m not sure if it meant anything to them, if they even know it was handmade or if they thought it was well-made. None of that matters. I was proud to write in that card. I loved taking the time to reflect and write words that were meaningful to me. And most of all, I enjoyed taking the time to make something for a friend. I think the world needs a little more of that.