Reinventing Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2017)


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Every February 14, millions of us do the most unromantic thing possible: we repeat ourselves with roses and chocolates and greeting cards. (Yawn.)

Here are five ways to make this Valentine’s Day a little surprising:

Explore together: What can be more romantic than discovering or re-discovering a place with the one you love. But who says you have to drive or fly to do it? Check out Google Maps or Yelp, plan a day trip by marking down scenic parks, funky stores, historic sites or new eateries you’ve never tried out and be tourists in your own town. Take a ton of pics and post them on your social media.

Learn together: If you’d rather stay indoors in February (and we don’t blame you), how about taking a class together? Your local community centre or college is sure to offer a range of activities, including cooking, painting and photography. You can even learn a new language together!

Valentine’s Day +/-7: Trying to book an intimate dinner around Valentine’s can be enough to suck every last bit of romance out of an otherwise special day. But who says you need to celebrate on February 14? Plan your special evening before or even after. It’ll reduce the stress, avoid the crowds and make it easier to get a dinner reservation!

A rose by any other name: Tradition is wonderful and roses are beautiful but why not try something original? After all, there are 400,000 types of flowering plants in the world. Surprise your special someone!

Spread the love: Approximately 200,000 animals enter shelters nationwide each year. Why not keep Valentine’s going all year-round by adopting a dog or cat that could use some love?

What are your favourite unconventional Valentine’s Days gifts and activities? Please share them in the Shop Talk Blog community forum!

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Albertans and Quebecers spend most of their Valentine’s Day budget on flowers. Ontarians tend to splurge on jewellery and British Columbians on candy. (Source)

38 thoughts on “Reinventing Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2017)

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  2. Every year for the past 8 years I’ve hunted down a cute original stuffy for my sweetheart for Valentine’s. He is now 55 and looks forward to seeing his surprise on the kitchen table when he awakens ea h February 14th

  3. For the last 2 years my wife and I spend Valentines day sharing God’s love for us with those who are less fortunate in Cuba where again this year part of the country is rebuilding after a hurricane. We live in a country where we are blessed with so much, it is a blessing that we are able to share with others. If you would like to experience the felling of giving then I would recommend a short term mission trip. Go to Extremeresponse.org to find a way or place that you can help.

  4. Hi i like Valentines day it is great.

    It great for others i would not say anything right now because i would not no where to start i have not had anything from admirer for along while maybe a friend or a Landlord or from a friend but really know one yet maybe that will come up is it age or something else .

    Is it because they are just going to give something because it is that holiday or does it really come from the heart of them not to be nasty but even would they think or this any time of the year on a plane day or a date they are going out will they still hand a box of Chocolates to the one they Love or is it because of Valentines.
    I Love Valentines day but i would love to receive roses or a box of Chocolates and maybe a candle light from the one i Love. Maybe even a proposal on that date well time will tell if that happens I am sure other ladies would go for that too.

  5. we always make a day of it. I always when possible take the day off and so does my wife. (i’m very busy with work from January to July so the gift of my time and doing fun activities together, playing pin ball or pool going for a leizurely walk, going to our favourite restaurant seeing a movie. I’m the romantic so I usually plan it all out and it is mostly a surprise for my wife as to the details. of course there is usually a Valentines’s day card as well, but I always also try to find some unique different gift every year as well.

  6. We always like to spoil ourselves with a nice day at a local spa. Its Valentine’s and then a nice fondu meal, wine and dessert. Its just perfect and not overboard on the wallet. Just wanted to share

  7. Not to take away from the suggestion of adopting a pet!
    What about taking individual flowers or candy to women a/o men or youth in shelters, seniors in retirement facilities or someone on the street who is homeless.
    Spend Valentine’s with your significant other babysitting for a couple who really need a night out together.

  8. Valentines should be all year around. We shouldn’t just appreciate our other half one day of the year. We always stay home with the kids and celebrate together by ordering food. My husband sends my kids to get me flowers d There was this one time he got me a red panty on a flower stem 20 years ago. I was not happy as he should no me Better I hate lingerie. He never bothered again and only gets me flowers and chocolates. Happy Valentines dddd

  9. My favourite thing for Valentines is going out for a “splurge supper”. We go to Burger King or something similar and get some high fat /high calorie “junk food” meal, stuff I usually wouldn’t order. Cool part– no one else is usually there on the 14!

  10. You do know that Valentine’s Day was made by the store to create revenue after Christmas. Christmas to easter there was a Lack of sales

  11. Years ago, I started a tradition that has lasted to this year, my rule for gifts to my wife is the 5 “C”s, cut flowers, cuddly toy, champagne, candy/chocolates and carats as in “bling”. I often do the same for anniversaries and for Christmas and Birthdays we often just give cards and something simple but V day and our anniversary are the ones we make a fuss of as they involve our love for one another. Until recently, we always went away for our anniversary to a place called Point No Point on the west coast of Vancouver Island; cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces and beaches for days. If you go be sure to have dinner at “Markus’s” in Sooke, B.C. World class food!!! Be Well and Bon Appetit…..

    d

  12. We do not do anything particular for Valentines Day other than attend our grandchilds daycare party. We buy things and treats when we see or want them, not necessarily waiting for this holiday.

  13. Im treating my boyfriend this year for Valentine’s Day breakfast . go for a ride to a small town and where we land up ?? And enjoy the day

  14. How about a surprise visit to a butterfly conservatory?
    There is a nice little one in Cambridge.
    What could be nicer than walking through a tropical warm humid environment holding hands with butterflies flitting about?
    Beautiful, gentle, peaceful.

  15. ” You’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me and I would like to give you the most precious gift that I can think of ”

    This card is a Time Voucher. I will spend my time with you in whatever capacity you choose.
    Please indicate how where and when and return this card under your pillow by tonight.

    I Love You

  16. Christopher says:
    January 21, 2017 at 9:49 am
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Youre the most beautiful woman in the world to me and I would like to give you the most precious gift that I can think of

    This card is a Time Voucher. I will spend my time with you in whatever capacity you choose.
    Please indicate how where and when and return this card under your pillow by tonight.

    I Love You

    Reply

    1. Christopher says:
      January 21, 2017 at 9:49 am
      Your comment is awaiting moderation.

      Youre the most beautiful woman in the world to me and I would like to give you the most precious gift that I can think of

      This card is a Time Voucher. I will spend my time with you in whatever capacity you choose.
      Please indicate how where and when and return this card under your pillow by tonight.

      I Love You

      Reply

  17. This year my husband and I wanted to do something different for Valentine’s Day that the flowers and jewellery were getting s little boring so we decided this year we have booked a weekend at a spa about an hour away from home and are planning couple massages quiet romantic dinners and pedicures and just gonna relax with each other.

  18. Living each day intentionally and expressing one’s love and appreciation does a good deal in keeping the flames of the love fire burning. Learning the four languages of love has been helpful.

  19. 1.How about trading tasks at home. If one does laundry and other washes the car trade tasks.
    2. Over your favorite drink, curl up on the coach and talk. Yes Talk something couples don’t have a lot to do.
    3. Extend the love to other folks like a friend, relative etc. You don’t have to be a “couple” to spread the love. ie Dinner with all your single friends and celebrate your friendship love.
    4. Do something for yourself that you have not done for a while. Go for a walk in your favorite park, get your hair done, go for a shave, listen to your favorite music, go to an art museum etc.
    5. Adopt the theme of Valitines all year long. Take on act and do it for the rest of the year. Do a household task, massage the feet or hands. Say I love you every time you part company with your loved one, touch each other for 5 seconds, and extend this to all your loved ones.

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