The classic: Dinner and a Night Out
With a twist: Ladies, instead of crossing your fingers and praying that your man picks the perfect place to wine and dine you on V-day, try taking the evening into your own hands—and back to your place. Keep the mood classic by lighting a few candles and playing whatever you find sultry, be it Isaac Hayes, Maroon 5 or hell, the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing. Invite him over at a time when you know you’ll just be putting the finishing touches on dinner and let him walk in to find you hard at work in your apron, sky-high heels…. and nothing else. If the nearly full exposure isn’t really your style, try lingerie. Either way, you aren’t likely to make it back to the dinner table until long after the food is cold. But he sure won’t be forgetting that Valentine’s Day surprise anytime soon. Just don’t forget to shut off the stove before he carries you out of the kitchen.
The classic: Afternoon Picnic
With a twist: If you want a way to celebrate the day of love with nature by your side, you might be considering a picnic in the park. After all, a blanket, some sunshine and a basket of snacks is a pretty adorable way to romanticize the afternoon. But if you’re looking to make the outing a little more sensual, you could try moving it into the evening rather than the daytime. Gentlemen, you could pick up your significant other for a surprise trip to the beach, arriving toward the end of the sunset. Walk down towards the water and look for a good spot in the sand, or even a lifeguard tower. Spread out a blanket and have your date sit in the center, eyes closed. Set and light candles all around the outer edge of the blanket (mid-sized glass ones work great, they’ll hold down the edges of the blanket and won’t blow away if there is a breeze). Upgrade from the typical picnic snacks like sandwiches and opt for something more fitting for the occasion, like chocolate covered strawberries and maybe even a bottle of champagne. Tell your date to open their eyes and watch them light up when they see what you’ve created, just in time to watch the last of the sunset together. Yes, you might feel a little cheesy, but I doubt that word will go anywhere near your Valentine’s thoughts. Just stay away from the “when you fell from heaven” jokes.
The classic: Spa Day
With a twist: Any woman that says she doesn’t love being pampered is a big fat liar. In all their craftiness and cunning, men have managed to figure this out. And so a popular Valentine’s Day gift was born out of love, affection and yes, the easy way out: a gift card to the spa. But instead of sitting at home and waiting for her to return so phase two of V-day can commence (fancy dinner date), try joining her for a little relaxation. Yes, I can imagine that the phrase “spa day” could cause facial expressions similar to those of one getting attacked by a swarm of bees, but what about the word “massage?” I’ve never met a man who complained about getting the tension rubbed out of his shoulders. A couple’s massage and some champagne would be a great way for you to spend time together as a couple while you both get to unwind a little.
The classic: First Date Re-do
With a twist: If you’re in a long-standing relationship, one of the most sentimental things you can do for your boo is recreating the first night you first gave each other those tell-tale butterflies. If you feel yourself falling into a rut with your girlfriend or boyfriend, it is the perfect way to remind each other why you fell in love in the first place. Take it a step further and pretend you really are just getting to know each other. The rush of old memories at your initial awkwardness coupled with the warmth of your current closeness will leave you both blushing like high school sweethearts. If you want to add some interest to the date you both already know so well, end the evening with something you’ve both never done. Whether it be as mild as going to a new place for dessert or as daring as going skydiving, the contrast of experiencing something new together after the recreation of what brought you together in the first place will make for an unforgettable date. Trying new things probably doesn’t have to stop there either, as I would imagine there are some physical perks waiting at home that weren’t necessarily a part of your first date.
The classic: A Shopping Trip
With a twist: This is definitely the more materialistic option as far as dates go. But hey, if you can afford it and you enjoy buying gifts for your pretty lady (or handsome gentleman), a shopping trip is often the prime choice if you are looking to get your mate exactly what they want. No returns, no exchanges and no getting them a smaller size than you know they are for flattery purposes. Just straight from the shelf into the hands of the recipient. Some might go for a classic gift like a nice watch while others might be looking for an in-the-moment present, like a dress that their girlfriend can wear that night out for dinner. But what better way to spice up your Valentine’s evening than by shopping together for—you guessed it—lingerie. Agent Provocateur, La Perla, Nordstrom, Victoria’s Secret, Frederick’s of Hollywood and more—all these stores are specialized to bring you exactly what you want from the world of lingerie, whatever your price range may be. And however adventurous you are feeling. Even Forever 21 has some stuff that looks pretty damn sexy. Sure, it will probably feel more like his present than yours, but every woman deserves to feel sexy on Valentine’s Day. Find something that flatters you and you’ll probably have as much fun watching your man squirm while you try it on as he will have taking it off later.