Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Here at LOVEPOST we think we should try and shower our significant other with candy and love any day of the year, but Valentine’s Day gives us permission to be extra silly and obvious about it, so let’s celebrate in the best way possible!

This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday – I’m always a fan of a Thursday holiday because if you so choose to overindulge in food or dessert, for the majority of us, there is only one more work day until the weekend! Woohoo. Haven’t thought of what to do yet?

Below are some DIY Valentine date ideas for you and your love bug:

Dinner & a Massage:

This might seems simplistic, but the combo of homemade pizza and at-home massage can make for a fun and relaxing night.

First, the pizza. Of all the pizza stones and pans I’ve ever used, this one is by far the best and surprisingly affordable. Crust comes out crispy not soggy, which is key. The Analon Advanced Nonstick Bakeware 13” Pizza Crisper; $16.99 through Amazon; available at Macys too.

Ingredients/Recipe. Most of us might know how to make a pizza, but to make it real easy:

-Buy fresh pizza dough (which I typically get from Trader Joes or Whole Foods for less than $5) usually in the refrigerated section– using a bit of flour, knead it and spread all the way to the edge of the pizza dish
-Top with tomato sauce (not too much! Or it’ll get soggy) – you can go with fancy jar sauce or do something simple like the canned stuff
-Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses (preferably the big flaky kind of parmesan you find in the cheese section of the grocery store)
-Swizzle with some olive oil
-Sprinkle on some oregano and a dash of salt & pepper
And if you’re into it, you could get some pepperoni and make a pepperoni heart toppin!
This leads perfectly into dessert which is the at-home massage. The beauty here is all you need is a good oil and a relaxing space in your home.

I love this oil by Hugo Naturals in the Vanilla and Sweet Orange scent available at Drugstore.com for approx $11 or at Whole Foods (check their site for other retailers near you). What I love about this oil – it’s paraben, gluten, soy free and vegan – overall, some quality stuff I don’t think I need to get into how you’d use it. All you need to think of is – a fun pizza party for 2 – which you can spin as healthy or as indulgent as you want. And, because cooking and clean up is easy, it’ll leave you more time to relax. This entire evening is far less than you’d ever pay for a fancy dinner out on the town – and definitely more intimate.

Easy Chocolate Fondue + The 10 Reasons Why I Love You List:

This DIY date idea focuses on the dessert course, but it’ll likely fill you up like a main course. For this date, there is no need to buy a fancy fondue set.

What you’ll need/ingredients:

-A nice deep microwave-safe bowl for the chocolate
-Some nice melting chocolate – may I suggest this melting chocolate by Godiva approx. $12 comes in milk and dark
-Wooden or bamboo skewers which you can find in the kitchen aisle at the grocery story
-An array of dipping items – some ideas: strawberries (of course), gummy worms/bears, pound cake, marshmallows, mango, pretzels, oreos
-That’s it! Heat, dip, and indulge.

Now, the second course might sound cheesy to some, but like most things, if you keep an open mind, you might be able to learn something new or share something you’ve never thought to mention on a typical day. The good thing about this is it shouldn’t take too much time (i.e. you’re not making paper mache hearts, although there is nothing wrong with that!)

At some point leading up to Valentine’s Day, each of you needs to make a list of 10 (or more, if you want!) things that you love about the other person. They don’t have to be deep and dramatic. They can be simple and funny – such as, you love the face he makes when he’s doing his hair in the mirror or the way she always get the most excitement out of candy sales at CVS. The whole idea is, after dessert, you read your list to the other person. You might find out something you never knew. Or, realize something you thought as trivial is actually a quirky trait your significant other finds endearing about you. You’ll both have your list to keep and tuck away…something like this can be more thoughtful and memorable than any card you’d buy.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

-Beth McKenna

Tell us: Are you have having a DIY Valentine’s Day?