With Valentine's just a week away, it's time to start planning the most.romantic.night.of.your.life. Might be over exaggerating just a little bit but regardless of your feelings of the day, it's a great time to really snuggle your sweetie a little harder.

Since we are currently on a spending freeze for the month of February our Valentine's Day will be free, free, free. No flowers, extravagant gifts or dates. With all the hype of a spending holiday, it can seem a little crazy to think you can actually have a free Valentine's Day but still celebrate and make it special. Let these 5 Free Valentine's Day Ideas be your guide and starting point.

Go on an Adventure.

Since Valentine's Day is on Saturday this year, it's the perfect time to plan a whole day adventure. It can start with breakfast in bed followed by heading out with no particular destination in mind. Find the best spots to stop and take pictures of the view and of each other.

Just sitting on a park bench.

Cook Dinner Together

Find a new recipe you have wanted to try and plan it into your meal plan. Spending time in the kitchen together has it's benefits. It's fun, intimate and allows you to work together. Light a few candles, open a bottle of wine you have been saving for a special occasion and sit down for a romantic meal. Dessert is always fun to have after, too. If you can make heart shaped brownies together, bonus points.

Take advantage of reward points

If you have a credit card with rewards, it would be a great time to look into using those points. A romantic weekend away, just the two of you for Valentine's Day. This also applies to Swagbucks, Shopkick, Viggle. These all have gift card options that include Netflix, Resturant.com, Visa Gift Cards and many other options. Since you earned these points, it's still a free option.

Game Night

Have a game night in with your significant other. Board games, video games, any other kind of games. Up the stakes for the winner. Naughty or nice ;)

Get Creative with the Gift

Sentimental gifts always mean the most. Handmade goes a long way. Think back to the days of a mix tape. If you are fresh out of ideas, visit Pinterest for a little inspiration. Some are very simple, all you need is paper, and the rest of the supplies you already have. If you need some ideas, The Dating Divas has some great free printables for Valentine's Day. My favorite?

If you are really talented, you can do all 5 of these on your Valentine's Day. I might just have to give myself that challenge.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

Valentinversary

First married Valentine's Day is in the books and it was a delicious, perfect success.

Wednesday was our "anniversary"  or as we call it around here, Valentinversary. The hubby was super sweet and made us a fancy dinner reservation at Macaroni Grill. It was a place we went to as freshmen, aka. 9 years ago.

We drew on the table, had some gluten free pasta and just reminisced about our years together. It was a very nice night out.

Yes, this deliciousness is gluten free!
 

AND I got a little Valentiversary gift..

Lovebirds!

Our actual Valentine's Day was pretty low key. I found out Thursday night, someone who I always called "Grammy" had passed away. So Friday was a weird day of emotions.

Woke up to this cutie looking out the window

And she got me flowers!

My husband took over the kitchen for the night. Grilled us some steaks, potatoes and broccoli. He may only end up in the kitchen a few times out of the year but he is quite good at it ;)

And in my personal opinion, I was gifted one of the best things of all...CSI:Miami Final Season!!

Gals, I love me some Horatio and I had just said last week how I never saw the last season. He DOES listen after all.

The gifts I gave to Brian were a bit different. One, a wedding plaque for his desk at work to look at me all the time, of course. Just some Xbox Live as a continuation of his Christmas present and then some things a little more personal ;)

I made some heart brownies, had some wine and curled up to watch random movies we found on Redbox Instant. One may or may not have been an old school sorority thrasher.

Sugar Free!

It was a perfect Valentine's Day. Always a nice night to look back on when we are old and gray and doing the same exact thing. Although, personal things might have a different meaning!


How did you spend your Valentine's Day?

Loving the Love in Your Life this Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day. It’s coming.  

Honestly, I love Valentine's Day. The concept of red, pink, white, hearts and love, it all excites me. It always has and always will. It never changed from when I spent my Valentine’s Day with friends and now, with my husband

Now that I am married, I’m blessed that I have a forever Valentine. But I will never forget who my first Valentines were. The people that truly teach you about love. Your family and friends. I have honestly never understood the people that get sad and depressed on themselves during this holiday. They call it Singles Awareness Day and say it reminds them they are alone. What happened to loving yourself first? Or just focusing on all the love that is already in your life? Because I guarantee you all have love around you.

Some of my favorite memories of Valentine’s Day were my mom always made us Valentine's Day baskets to celebrate the day of Love. Candy, little gifts, you name it just to shower love to us as daughters. It was one of the biggest things I missed after she was gone. We also always made Valentine's Day cards for aunts, uncles and cousins because families are filled with love. Send a card, flowers to those people that give you unconditional love everyday. 

There are friends that have helped you move, listened to your troubles and done the craziest things with you. I spent my single Valentine’s Days with my friends at basketball games or out to dinner. Give them a shout out and thank them for the friendship of love that they provide you.

When February 14^th rolls around, I always look around at all the love in my life. One of my favorite things to do on Valentine's Day is to send out Valentine's cards to my friends and family. It's my version of grown up valentines that you used to shove in bags or small mailboxes. Who says they have to stop when you become a certain age? This year, I went the route of Shutterfly . Same cost as a paper card, but a little more personalized. 

On top of all this love, you have the love for yourself. I refused to let myself be down for the fact I didn’t have a guy in my life. I knew if it was meant to be it would happen. And even today, I love my husband but I know I have to continue to love myself and have a little treat. So get a massage, mani/pedi because you are pretty awesome with or without someone else and I’m a pretty awesome wife and might just do the same.

This Valentine's Day, start the tradition to love the love that's already in your life instead of focusing on a love you think you are missing. And yes, this even includes any special furry friends in your life.

I Lovey Dovey Wovey Youuuu

I already have one post up about this guy...what's another?

He is my very special Valentine. My soon to be forever Valentine. 

Fun Fact: This is our first Valentine's Day we actually get to see each other in 5 years! Yes, we are a tad bit excited. The wonders of long distance. 

And I also have another cutie Valentine...this chunky kitty. 

Fun Fact: She has been my Valentine date for the past 2 years. 

Surrounded by much love this Valentine's Day...and I hear a special surprise!

Valentine's Linky Love

Such a cute idea to share some thing about your significant other especially on the day of loveee

...linking up with Hallie from Life:Oceanside!

1.) How did you meet your significant other?

It's a college love story. Girl met best friend who lived in another dorm. Hung out there a lot...met boy who lived down the hall...the rest is history!

2.) What/where was your first date?

That would be a trip to the mall. oh young kids.

3.) What's your best relationship advice?

I am no expert but I would say letting each other be YOU. Still having your own identity and friends is important to being the best BOTH OF YOU  possible.

4.) What is your most embarrassing moment in front of your SO?

I don't embarrass easily buttt maybe the things you hide from your significant other but can't when you move in together? (ahem, personal things)

5.) What most attracts you to your SO?

The way he tells me how beautiful I am everyday...even in my sweats and bee hive hair. And his love for my little fur baby, Lily. 

6.) If a movie was made about your SO, what actor/superhero

would play their part?

From what I heard....this guy is a big hit...

Happy Love Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Today everyone should love, love. There's all different kinds of love and everyone has some in their life they should celebrate and be thankful for. 

(instead of being a nancy ;))

Remember the love you have for your parents, siblings, rest of your family. The love for your friends in your life and anyone else that has been there for you. You have love in your life, just look around and you will see you have all the love you need. 

And especially, there should always be love in within yourself. If you love yourself, you can spread the love to the world. Am I right? So take the time to remember you today. Treat yourself to a Valentine's Day massage or manicure. Just love, love today. All around you.

And of course a special valentine's shout out to my love, my fiance 

~Where there is love, there is life - Mahatma Gandhi~