Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! John and I don’t go all-out for the holiday, but we do enjoy an excuse to celebrate our love. In the past, we’ve both made dinner at home and gone out to eat at fancy steakhouses. While going out to eat on Valentine’s Day was fun, this year we’re opting to stay in. There’s really nothing better than being at home with the one I love – plus, let’s be honest, no one likes to be in crowded restaurants and spend money on overpriced food.
This past weekend, our local grocery store – Publix – had a Valentine’s Day tasting event. It may be pathetic, but yes, I planned my day around this event. Free samples of desserts, cheeses, wines and yummy food – yes please. We sampled a Blackened-Barbecue Shrimp Salad with Orange Dream Shakes that were both to die for, so that’s what we’re making on Saturday. We budgeted $50 for the meal, but if you look at the ingredients, it doesn’t look like it will cost more than $25 or so.
As far as gifts go, we sometimes exchange and sometimes don’t. It really depends on what’s going on with our financial situation at the time. The year we went to the steakhouse, we didn’t exchange, but normally we buy each other something small to exchange over dinner. John has also gone all-out before and surprised me with jewelry, candles and clothing. Even though I’m a saver, it’s a really sweet gesture to be surprised, regardless of cost 🙂
So, I thought it would be fun to create a little gift-guide for your loved ones. All of these ideas are affordable and less than $35!