If you’ve been keeping up with the blog over the last week or so, you’ve learned why I won’t dine out on Valentine’s Day (and you entered to win the Olive Garden gift card, too? Go do that, then come back here!). With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, I thought it would be a great time to share my ideal Valentine’s Day celebration.
I don’t want a massage. Though I wouldn’t turn it down.
I don’t want a dozen roses. They die too quickly, and everyone else is getting them.
I don’t want a sparkly bauble. Though I wouldn’t turn one of those down either!
I don’t want a new car. Well, eh, maybe?
What I do want is for my husband to know that he does not have to buy me gifts to show that he loves me. I am so blessed to have a strong marriage and a supportive husband. I don’t need “things” from him to prove that we’re in love.
The Texan shows me that he loves me every day through his actions. The small things like making the bed if he’s the last one to get up in the morning. By putting the lid and the seat down on the toilets. By tossing his dirty laundry in the basket. By facing all of the product labels out to ensure that I can read them (I’m a little Seinfeld-ish.). By surprising me with my favorite bottle of wine after a long day.
And by being an amazing father to The Boy.
I guess I’m living my ideal Valentine’s Day every day. I’m so lucky.
This post was written as part of BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo February 2013 challenge. Today’s prompt was “What is your ideal Valentine’s Day celebration?” Sign ups to participate in this month’s Blog Roll have closed. You can still check out the participating bloggers and the daily prompts. Daily writing prompts can often become a great source of inspiration and encourage you to write about things you haven’t previously explored.
I agree with your list. My husband almost always forgets holidays and birthdays. I am okay with that. He is forever apologizing for it, and I keep telling him that I don’t need anything more than an I love you and a kiss and a hug. I am just happy that he is with me and loves me. I don’t need all the “trinkets” and things that seem like such a waste of money. I don’t like to dine out for holidays either. I can cook up something that we will enjoy in (usually) under the time that I would be waiting at the restaurant. I hope that you enjoy your Valentine’s!
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day Jennifer!
oooo a massage sounds great!
You’re so lucky to have your ideal Valentine’s day everyday. Valentines day is just another day in my relationship, which is fine. I’m not TOO big on all of the mush anyways. It would be nice though if his clothes could make it, even remotely, near the hamper. *sigh* Were things always so good between you and The Texan?
I’m so fortunate Eileen, The Texan and I have always had a strong relationship. I think that comes from being brutally honest from a very early point in our relationship. You know, that time before you’re really invested emotionally – when you aren’t super concerned about someone’s feelings (it sounds awful, but true!)? Well, during that time we were both upfront about what we wanted our lives to look like. We continue to be honest and open about everything, and our marriage grows stronger every day. In the fall, we’ll celebrate ten years of being together and eight years being married! It’s been an amazing adventure, one that I can’t imagine doing with anyone else.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I agree with the fact that this is not the only day that someone should be expressing how they love you — its in the every day, little things. Gifts are a nice touch, but really this is a media fabricated holiday..it’s much more important to me that I just get to enjoy a nice night with my boyfriend.
Enjoying time together is what is most important. It doesn’t matter what day it is.
Have a great weekend!
Love it. Sounds like you have an amazing relationship, and I agree that when your partner is sweet on a day to day basis that means way more than anything he could buy you on one day of the year. I do love going out to eat though, I have to admit. It makes me feel pampered when I don’t have to cook! I do see your point though!
Don’t get me wrong, Celina. I love dining out. We used to dine out ALL the time when we were both working (before The Boy was born), as parents we need to set an example for good eating habits, we’ve cut back on restaurant visits. It is one of my favorite things to do, just NOT on a holiday!
Happy Weekend!
This is one of the reasons I love your blog. You write some amazing posts!! This is so true, it’s the small everyday things that matter the most. I don’t need him to buy me something just because it’s Valentine’s day. I won’t turn it down either. He shows me how much he loves and appreciates me every single day. He is a great father to our kids and that means a ton to me. After almost 24 years of marriage I am crazier about him now than the day I married him. So I too am living the dream.
Thank you, Tammy! That is the sweetest comment anyone could give me.
Congrats to you on living your dream. It’s such a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?!
Have a wonderful day!
I’ve never gotten any of those things for V-Day. I wouldn’t turn any of them down, though!
I wouldn’t turn them down either, but those things are necessary to me either. I’d rather be surprised on a random day in June with a massage than get one on the same day as a bunch of others!
It is the little things that make the difference, isn’t it? I’ve never been a flower girl and I’m not about to wait in a restaurant for an overpriced meal while paying premium prices to go out to dinner for V-Day. Instead, I’d rather order take-out from our favorite Vietnamese place, watch a movie and be thankful I didn’t have to get dressed up. 😉
Just say yes to yoga pants and take-out! Getting dressed up in the winter is one of my least favorite things to do, perhaps that contributes to why I hate going out for Valentine’s Day?
It sounds like you’ve got a pretty good marriage there. I always thought it was stupid to go all out on one day a year called Valentine’s Day because it is the “day.” A husband and wife should treat each other with love every day of the year and surprises each other every once in awhile with a little something extra to show their love. I don’t think a certain day should be set in order to do it. Congrats on your marriage!
Thank you Charlotte! It is stupid to show you love someone only because society is telling you “today’s the day, go do it!”
I love your list, I agree with you that significant others should not have to shower with gifts. It’s the little everyday things that count!
YES! The everyday things are more important that a trinket.
Hope your Valentine’s Day was wonderful!
You ard and I are both on the same page with this.
Todd and I often say it’s valentines everyday for us.
We didnt even believe in soulmates until we met and now we absolutely do!
We are also bff’s!
We keep hearing marriage is hard work and in each of our one other previous marriages that is all it was was hard work and no blessings. Now we giggle to one another about how easy and natural our relationship is, we are such a perfect fit. We have fun together no matter where we are or what we’re doing even when we are doing nothing at all, we are content to be in one another’s presence.
PLUS I always tell not only my husband but my 5 young adult kids and other loved ones too that if I really want or need a material thing I end up getting it for myself or just ask Todd for it anytime during the year so I really dont like to get those types of gifts.
My favorite gifts are time spent with me doing something special or making happy priceless memories with me that will last long after I am gone.