Every Day Valentine's Day

People who are reading my Anti-Valentine's Day post seem to think I am some kind of love-hating Nazi. Let me assure you that this is not the case. I DO believe that Valentine's Day is over commercialized and that it is preposterous that people need a day to remember to show love to their partner and alienate single people by doing so.

I believe we should show our love and compassion daily to our partners, our friends and our family. EVERY day should be Valentine's Day. In my family we show each other we love each other every day, and you can, too. I intend to share 365 ideas with you, so that you can treat EVERY day like Valentine's Day, and share love with your partner, these are the first 10.

This is Part One of what will be a Multiple-Part posting.

Every Day Valentine's- Part One: The little things

1. Every day, leave a special note in your partner's lunch box or briefcase for him/her to find when he/she is at work. It doesn't have to be long, just something sweet-"love you, miss you! See you soon!"

2. Along with the above idea, add a little something sweet, attach a Hershey's kiss or hug to the note once in a while.

3. Do a chore for your partner that they are not expecting-take out the trash or wash the dishes without being asked.

4. Leave a love letter on your partner's pillow before you leave for work, they can find it later and get excited for you to come home! (Write your own, or use a classic-Shakespeare is always nice.)

5. Cook supper for your partner, it can be something special or simple, but don't let them lift a finger.

6. Bake some yummy brownies, cookies or cake for a special treat for your partner. A good recipe: Heavenly Brownies

   Ingredients:

   3/4 cup flour

   1/4 teaspoon baking soda

   1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

   1/3 cup unsalted butter

   1 1/4 cups sugar

   2 tablespoons water

   12 ounces chocolate chips

   1 teaspoon vanilla

   2 eggs

   1/2 cup finely chopped toasted blanched almonds

   Preparations:

   Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and set aside. In a saucepan, bring butter, sugar and water just to a boil. Remove from heat and add 6 oz. of chocolate chip morsels and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Place chocolate mixture into a mixing bowl. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each egg. Blend in flour mixture. Stir in remaining chocolate chip morsels and the chopped almonds. Spread into a 9" square baking pan, and bake for 30 minutes in a 325 degree oven. Cool and cut into squares.

   Makes 16 Servings.

7. Pick up your dirty laundry off the floor.

8. Wake up early and clean the bathroom while your partner is sleeping. They will be pleasantly surprised when they go in to brush their teeth.

9. Always say, "I love you" before ending a phone conversation.

10. Ask then how their day was. Every day. This shows interest in your partner's life and gets you talking about your day. Smile, listen, comment, converse.

11. Send your partner an email at home from work or vise versa. It doesn't have to be long, just enough to let them know you are thinking of them.

12. Show interest in something your partner likes, plan this activity to do together.

13. Watch a movie together tonight-let your partner pick it, and even if you hate it, don't complain!

14. Hold hands.

15. When you leave to go to work/school/wherever you go, give your partner a long, passionate kiss.

16. Give your partner a massage. you can get free massage tips at: http://www.bodymechanics.net/subpages/tips.html

17. Laugh at a joke your partner makes, even if it is not really that funny...

18. Laugh at a joke your partner makes, ESPECIALLY if it is funny, and tell them how funny they are, then give him or her a big kiss.

19. Compliment your partner. Really take a good look and compliment him or her on something real.

20. Don't be afraid to relax and be silly with your partner. do something silly tonight- have a pillow fight or a tickle fight.

21. Make your partner some cookies and decorate each one special for him/her. A good sugar cookie recipe is at: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Sugar-Cookies/Detail.aspx

22. Send your partner a postcard while you are out during the day. write "Thinking of you" on the back, write the date and time on it, add a stamp and address and pop it in the mail. They will be happy and touched when they receve it, even if you live together!

23. Get up before your partner and brush your teeth in the morning, then crawl back into bed before giving him.her a kiss.

24. Cut out editorial cartoons or comics from the paper that your partner would think are funny, and tape them to the bathroom mirror, computer keyboard or fridge before you leave in the morning.

25. Take instant polaroid pictures of you smiling, giving a wink or giving a kiss and slip them into your partner's wallet with a little note on the back that says "Love you!"

26. Clean up after yourself when you make a mess.

27. Fill their tank with gas without them asking.

28. Keep your toenails trimmed, your fingernails clean and your body hair to a minimum-ready to touch your partner at any minute!

29. Pinch his or her bum when they walk by, not in front of other people, and not all the time, just once in a while. Give him or her a wink when they gasp at you.

30. Surprise your partner with breakfast in bed! It doesn't have to be a Birthday or any special day, it is more fun if it is just a regular day so they don't expect it. Find some good breakfast in bed recipes here: http://starchefs.com/features/breakfast_in_bed/html/index.php

31. Be nice to your partner's family- even if they drive you nuts.

32. Dedicate your partner's favorite song to him or her on the radio during a request hour.

33. Make some delicious hand-dipped chocolate truffles for your partner. Get a recipe at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/233316

34. Give your partner a framed photo of the two of you.

35. Get rid off your old holey underwear. Invest in some nice ones.

36. Surprise your partner with a big dinner of his or her favorite foods.

37. Play hookey from work or school and stay in bed together all day.

38. Turn off the TV tonight and just talk.

39. Put on some lipstick, kiss a napkin and tuck it into your partners wallet with a note for them to find later.

40. Make the bed and leave a chocolate on top.

41. Leave fresh flowers in a vase in the room beside the bed when you make it.

42. Play a board game or a card game together tonight.

43. Wash your partner's car.

44. Choose a special ringtone for your partner's number when they call your cell phone.

45. Blow your partner kisses across the room.

46. Repeat the day you met. Go back to the place you first met and recreate the day.

47. Recreate your first date.

48. Do laundry together.

49. Rent a movie, get some popcorn and stay in.

50. Go on a driving date- find a drive-in theatre in your area (there really are some still around!), get drive through dinner, go park somewhere with a good view.

51. Do something you have always talked about- maybe you've always talked about going out to eat at a special place or go skydiving-whatever it is, do it!

52. Go to an arcade or laser tag place and play like kids!

53. Volunteer at a soup kitchen together.

54. Do some more extensive volunteering together- go to Africa to work at an orphanage, Build a House with habitat for humanity, or raise money together for a charity.

55. Go see a play. Not enough people go to the theatre, it is even more fun than the movies because they are right there in front of you! It doesn't have to be Broadway, you can go to the local High School play and have just as much fun.

56. Relax for the day and go on a picnic together.

57. Go to the library together, pick out some good books and go home and read them together. Take turns reading out loud to each other chapter by chapter, this may sound corny, but it is relaxing and enjoyable.

58. Travel to Paris- put up a big poster of the Eiffel tower, set a Parisian cafe table, cook some French food, play romantic French music.

59. Travel to Italy- follow the instructions for paris above, but to it with an Italian flair- cook some Italian food.

60. Mimosas and Chinese food in the park- get some paper take out boxes and fill them with some homemade chinese food (or order some take-out from a restaurant), pack some orange juice and champagne. Find a quiet space in the evening in a park or by a river and enjoy your grub and each others company.

61. Take dance lessons together.

62. Go for a bike ride.

63. Go for a summer evening walk- hold hands.

64. Go Flea marketing together some weekend.

65. Go ice skating together in the winter.

66. Remember your partner's Birthday! Memorize it, write it on the calender, tattoo it on your hand if you have to- don't forget it!

67. Pick up some card-making, scrap-booking or craft supplies and make a birthday card for your partner. Give it to them first thing in the morning or at dinner.

68. Wake up your partner with a passionate kiss... or more!

69. Start the day off right by making your partner's favorite breakfast.

70. Take the day off work if you can, so you can spend it together. If you have kids, drop them off at a relative's or babysitter so you can have the day to yourselves.

71. If you can't get the day off work, pack a yummy lunch for your partner with a nice Happy Birthday note.

72. Greet your partner in your Birthday suit (it is called that for a reason!) when he or she comes home. Have fun with that.

73. If naked is not your style, put on some fancy lingerie, men can purchase some fancy lingerie and put it on their pillow with a note that says, "Wear this".

74. Go old school, take your partner out to a dinner and a movie.

75. Go for a walk on the beach- if it is nearby. If you don't live near the beach, drive until you find one. If you don't live ANYWHERE near a beach, just take a walk and enjoy the outdoors together.

76. Take a bubble bath together.

77. Make a mixed tape or cd of songs that have meaning to your partner or your relationship.

78. Start a birthday scrapbook, take photos of yourselves this birthday, and make a scrapbook page. Continue this tradition every birthday, so you have a scrapbook page for each year.

79. Plan a romantic dinner, get ideas from http://www.bettycrocker.com/baking/birthdays/birthday-parties/adult-birthdays/Romantic-Birthday-Dinner.htm

80. Make your partner his or her favorite meal for dinner.

81. Sing a song to your partner (play an instrument or actually write a song, if you are that talented.)

82. Do a strip tease for your partner.

82. Build a special-shaped cake for your partner. To make something cool, you can make sheet cakes, let them cool, then cut them into geometric shapes and piece them together to make the shape you are going for. Coat with a layer of icing and refrigerate to make a crumb coating. When that is dry, you can coat it with the top layer of icing. Fill a sandwich bag with icing, spin off the end with scissors, twist the end and squeeze to pipe lines, words and designs.

83. Play a game of strip poker over some beers.

84. Clean up the house for your partner.

85. Celebrate kiddie style! Pick up a DQ ice cream cake or make your own. Find a recipe at: http://www.recipes4cakes.com/icecream/

86. If your partner drinks, treat him or her to a bottle of his/her favorite liquor.

87. Rent a hotel or motel room for the night.

88. Go to a bed and breakfast for the night.

89. If you can't afford the above two suggestions, dress up your bedroom for the night.

90. Give your partner something useful. Take note of something you think they need, but wouldn't buy for themselves.

91. Remember coupon books when you were a kid? Make a gift of coupons for your partner with coupons good for 1 massage/ A day off the housework/ a night out/ 1 breakfast in bed, make up your own.

92. Don't fight with your partner, be nice and pleasant to your partner on his or her birthday.

93. Whatever you do, make this day all about your partner.

94. Make a gift for your partner, homemade gifts mean so much more.

95. Create a painting for your partner, even if you think you can't paint-anyone can paint, it doesn't have to be an immaculate portrait, just the thought and effort you put into it will make it incrdibly special.

96. Make a gift basket for your partner. Put in all the little things he or she loves- treats, jewelry, tools, hobbie items, movies, underwear- the sky is the limit. Whatever you think he or she likes.

97. Send an ecard to your partner. You can find free ecards at http://www.1000greetingcards.com/

98. Hide your present and prepare a scavenger hunt for your partner to find his or her present.

99. Send virtual flowers.

100. Finish the evening with a big fat kiss... and more!

Stay tuned for more Everyday Valentine's Day Ideas in my next hub post!

People take life too seriously, and in the process tend to take their relationships too seriously! These Every Day Valentine's Ideas are about taking risks and having adventures!

102. Bungee Jumping...

103. Or Base Jumping...

104. Or white water rafting...

105. Or cave diving....

106. If you are a little faint of heart, try a less death defying adventure, such as rock climbing...

107. Or scuba diving...

108. Or parasailing...

109. Or hot air ballooning...

110. Or water skiing!

111. Design a tattoo for the two of you to get together (you can have someone else design it for you if you are not that creative)

112. Go get piercings together.

113. Go to a really expensive restaraunt.

114. Go camping (this can be extreme, especially if you are in Northern Canada!)

115. Go to a monster truck rally together!

116. Take a stunt driving course together!

117. How about making love to the extreme? Try a new forbidden position...

118. or use some handcuffs...

119. or wear a costume...

120. or do it in public!

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for my next installment of Every Day Valentine's Day: 365 Ways to show the love!