Being loved and sharing love are two of the most beautiful gifts in the world. So when I have the opportunity to do both, I take it!
That’s why Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. In our family, we love it so much we extend the celebration. For an entire month, we take the time to appreciate our family and friends with little loving gestures. My daughters love to cut out paper hearts, adorn them with messages, and give them to teachers, friends, Mom, Dad, and other family members. These simple acts of love and kindness light them up with laughter and fill their hearts with joy. Their enthusiasm inspires all of us to share more love with those we touch. Spreading our acts of love over a month helps us stop and “smell the roses” during the busy-ness of our daily routine.
But with many commitments crowding our schedules, it can be hard to make time for special expressions of love. I wanted to make it easier so we can all get in on the fun. There are various ways to celebrate this special day. That’s why I put together these ideas to help you recapture romance and embrace the love of the special people in your life.
Enjoy an Intimate, Indoor Picnic
This is one of my favorite ways to celebrate and share love. You can design it for a party of two, or with your entire family in mind.
When I first tried this idea, it was just my sweetheart and I…and now he’s my husband (wink). When we were dating, he was not keen on Valentine’s Day, and he definitely did not want to go to a restaurant. I, on the other hand, loved this holiday, and there was no way I was going to let it pass without a celebration. So I needed to be creative to meet both his needs and mine. He had no idea what I was planning, and I wanted to make the surprise worthwhile!
I chose a Hawaiian theme, then laid out a beautiful picnic setting in the middle of the dining room floor using my favorite china and stemware. I decorated the entryway with Valentine balloons and little hearts that led from the door to the picnic area. I lit candles and displayed photos of us to create a romantic ambiance that showed how great were together. I wanted him to know that Valentine’s Day is special, and that he was very special to me.
When he arrived, I greeted him at the door and escorted him to a dressing room where I asked him to change into a Hawaiian outfit. I then served some of his favorite dishes and plated them picnic-style. Because he loves seafood, I made a shrimp ceviche, mini crab cakes, watermelon salad, and baked stuffed tilapia with crab in a lemon butter sauce. I served this with a crisp Chardonnay wine. For dessert, I served an assortment of delectable chocolates and, of course, chocolate dipped strawberries – a Valentine’s Day favorite. We finished the evening with a warm cup of tea and laughs to carry us forward. It was simple yet elegant, with attention to detail that gave us lasting memories we cherish to this day.
When planning your picnic or other special event, consider these key elements.
- Ambiance: Setting the room and creating the right atmosphere is essential. It signals to the guest or guests that they have arrived and it’s time to be entertained. With great ambiance, guests are intrigued and engaged to see what is next. They are fully present in the moment, which is what you are striving for when you entertain. The details in your décor represent your thoughtfulness to make this moment everlasting.
- Meal Planning: When planning, carefully consider your ingredients. Quality ingredients make dishes taste better. Choose dishes you can prepare well; I don’t recommend trying new recipes on this occasion. If you choose to order take-out, it can be more challenging to get quality ingredients. But you can pick up cuisines from your favorite restaurant and choose items that are delicious and healthy. I also recommend pairing food with a selection of wines, cocktails, and beers, as well as coffee and teas. A great bouquet of aromas is pleasing to the senses and balances the meal.
- Service: Consider how you’ll serve your guest or guests, taking into account the flow of the room so that there is movement among your attendees. This will help to prevent a large gathering in one small area. If you want to completely relax and enjoy the occasion, consider hiring a service company, even if it’s just you and your sweetheart. It is a wonderful feeling to be pampered on Valentine’s Day. When someone else manages the details of the occasion, you can be fully present to focus on your loved ones and make memories that last a lifetime.
Go on a Romantic Adventure
If you’re like me, you occasionally like to spice things up by getting away from your routine. Whether you indulge in a trip to the tropics or a “staycation” close to home, you can strengthen your bond and renew your love as a couple through exploration and adventure. Consider taking a cooking class together, or trying new foods, or choosing a bucket list item to experience.
Short on time to plan? Enlist the help of a travel agent or other reservationist to help you discover unique ways to have fun at your destination. If you’re staying close to home, see and do tourist activities that you never get around to experiencing as a local.
Show Your Appreciation & Affection
We all have certain tasks that never get done, or that we wish someone else would do for us on occasion. Well, Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to be creative and show your appreciation by doing some of these tasks for your family.
For example, during this month, my husband will come home from work and cook dinner for the family. He will sit down and watch a movie with me after the children have gone to bed. He will even wash my car after the children have totally destroyed it.
For my daughters, I add little chocolates to their lunches every day to give them a dollop of sweet affection. We also have our own special “girl time” at Starbucks or the local ice cream parlor. These small gestures make a big impression.
Create Treasured Time
We don’t have to plan a big occasion to connect with those we love. Time together is a gift in itself!
It’s meeting with friends at a favorite coffee spot or restaurant after work and just enjoying each other’s company. It’s a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood or a park where you’re able to listen to each other without distraction. It’s having a glass of wine and sitting on the porch watching the beautiful sunset in perfect stillness. It’s listening to your favorite song while your family sings and dances to the tune.
Treat Yourself
With all this emphasis on loving others at Valentine’s Day, we often forget to take care of ourselves. But that’s equally as important! This is also a time for you to do what you love to do. Whether that is reading a book, playing your favorite sport, journaling your dreams, taking a spa day, or eating breakfast in bed while watching your favorite movie or TV show.
I enjoy going to the theater to see a great movie for adults – no children allowed – with popcorn and a cold bottle of water. Some movie theaters even have personalized service to bring food and drinks right to your seat. This is heaven, as there are no interruptions or requests for Mommy to do it! I can completely relax and lose myself in the story line of the movie.
Remember, you are important! Before we can love on others, we have to be full of love for ourselves.
Love and Elegance, Anytime
I hope these ideas have ignited your imagination and inspired you to consider new ways you can show love to yourself and others this Valentine’s Day. The goal is to have fun, enjoy the time with your loved ones, and collect treasures of the heart.
You can get even more ideas and inspiration for recapturing elegance and showing love throughout the year in my new book “Entertaining and Celebrating: An Elegant Feast for Every Season”. 
A visual extravaganza, this coffee table treasure features monthly themes highlighting each season’s bounty. Each month is designed to spark your own creativity, with stylish table settings, four-course menus with cocktail and wine pairings, and suggested ways to serve that will wow your guests. And, with your pre-order, you’ll receive an exquisite wine glass as a special gift to toast your love or bestow on your favorite recipient.
What are your favorite ways to recapture romance and share love on Valentine’s Day? I’d love to hear YOUR ideas!
ABOUT KRISTAL DAMRON:
Chef Kristal Damron is the owner of Reward Your Appetite Catering, a fine dining catering company committed to providing exquisite culinary dishes with exemplary service.
Chef Damron spent more than 20 years in corporate finance before redesigning her life around her family and her passion – entertaining. Chef Damron has a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She graduated, with honors, from the Arizona Culinary Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband, Jared, and their two daughters, Arianna Victoria and Alexandria Isabella. She and her family enjoy traveling, visiting parks and museums, and spending time with family and friends.
