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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Where There is Love, There is Life


Hey y'all!


I have taken an unexpected hiatus from blogging, but student teaching has kind of overtaken my life and left me feeling pretty exhausted. After spending all day in the classroom and then using my afternoons for gym-time and planning (and grading, etc.), by the evening I just want to relax with my hubby and take care of household chores!

I definitely respect teachers (even more than I did when I first started student teaching) now!

Today I want to share with y'all a couple of Valentine's Day date ideas that are more than your typical "dinner and a movie" type thing...enjoy!

Go for a Hike
My husband and I are blessed to not only own property that is ideal for exploring, but we also live close to Alabama's highest peak, Mount Cheaha.
I think that grabbing a backpack with some snacks and waters and taking a short hike (and maybe seeing some awesome views in the process) is a great way to spend Valentine's Day.
Even if you can only make it to your local park, spending time together and just talking while you walk could be fun!

Make Dinner at Home
There's no doubt that going out to dinner is fun; you can get all dolled up, you don't have to do the dishes, and you don't have to worry about running to the store for last minute ingredients. 
But if you both like to cook, then try out a new recipe and eat it by candlelight in your dining room.
You can even dress up if you want to!

Do a Service Project
There are so many people that don't have a Valentine on this day, especially those in nursing homes or widows in your neighborhood.
Get together with your significant other (or best friend!) and make cookies or handmade cards and bring them to your local nursing home or neighbors that might be alone on this little holiday.

Do a Gift Challenge
Let's face it, sometimes budgets are tight-you might still be reeling over Christmas spending!
But that doesn't mean you have to go gift-less on Valentine's Day.
Set a budget, say $20 or less, and then that's all that can be spent on the gift.
It's a fun, challenging way to think of something thoughtful but also sweet.
Suggestions for guys include a deck of cards (52 reasons why you love your guy) and maybe for the girl in your life, you could make her a photo book of your favorite memories. 
Shutterfly always has cheap deals on printing pictures (& so do Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens!)

Be Tourists in your Own City
This might be more difficult if you live in a small town, for my husband and I it would be really hard!
But we could go to Birmingham (the closest "Big" city to us) and go to all the sights like Vulcan, the Alabama Theater, or the Civil Rights Institute.
For supper, we could have something iconic to Birmingham like Saw's or Bottega. 

Choose something iconic in your city and check it out, just like tourists would do!


I hope this helped y'all out just a little bit, and I hope y'all find a way to celebrate this holiday of love.
Because it's not just about wives and husbands, it's about loving your best friend, your mom, your children, or your grandparents.

Find someone to love and show them!

Until next time. . .

xoxo, 






17 comments:

  1. These are all such great ideas! My boyfriend and I aren't doing anything extravagant for Valentine's Day. I think it's more fun (and special) to do something small, but meaningful! Happy Valentine's Day, by the way!

    Lauren | www.alilstyleblog.com

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  2. Such gorgeous flowers! Happy Valentines day!!

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  3. Going hiking and doing a service project are such fun ideas! Happy Valentine's Day!

    XO, Brooke
    https://livethepreplife.blogspot.com

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  4. This is such a sweet post! So many people get so caught up in these major holidays and go all out with expensive gifts and dinner but in reality all we need is some quality time with our loved ones! Thanks for sharing!
    xoxox
    May

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  5. I love being a tourist in our city! New restaurants are opening up all the time so we like to play foodie and check them out! Have a great week!

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  6. This is a great list of ideas. I love the idea of finding uncommon ways to practice love together with your partner. One of my favorites on the list is doing a service project; my long-term boyfriend and I once handed out free flowers at the hospital to spread cheer. It's a different kind of service, but it comes from the same place!

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  7. Love the idea of being a tourist in your own city. We've done that before and it was so fun!

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  8. Such pretty flowers! So many great ideas. I always love exploring where we live. So much to see.

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  9. I love being a tourist in my city, so much fun! I wish I had a trail or two to explore around my place, I love walking and exploring. I hope you had a great valentine's day.

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  10. What a clever idea to do a service project to include others especially with your partner. I'm going to keep this in mind for next year! :-)

    Chloe|hayitschloe.weebly.com

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  11. I love the idea of a service project, it is so sweet.

    XO,

    Hannah from HMS Jewels
    http://www.hmsjewels.com

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  12. I love playing tourist in my hometown-- and I'm from Orlando, so it's very easy to do! :)

    xo,
    Stephanie
    Diary of a Debutante
    www.thediaryofadebutante.com

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  13. So great to have you back from your hiatus! Great tips for Valentine's Day, I hope you had a good one! xx Merisa | Monogrammed Magnolias

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  14. Great tips! I love the idea of exploring your own city. It's always so fun to discover new things close by!

    Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Etsy

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  15. Great post. Well done. Keep going
    You have a interesting blog. I hope you will like mine
    www.welovefur.com

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