Simply mention the words “Valentine’s Day” and you might find yourself in the middle of a division you had no idea existed! From the “I hate Valentine’s Day” camp who believe V-Day is a stupid made-up holiday promoted by greeting card companies, flower vendors, and candy makers and only serves to put pressure on relationships…to the swoony, starry-eyed, can’t-wait-to-tell-you-what-I’ve-planned DIY’ers… to the not-single-by-choice group who find it an obnoxious reminder that everyone seems to be part of a couple but them, you may not be prepared for how strongly people feel about hearts, Cupid, and chocolates.
But whether you love it or hate it, February 14 will soon be upon us. And whether your spouse or significant other is home or away, I offer you the following…8 Ideas to Celebrate Valentine’s Day the Military Spouse Way
1. Ignore it completely.
Seriously! Can’t see your special someone today because they’re TDY or deployed? Or is your spouse around but neither of you really give a flip about Valentine’s Day? Then ignore it and treat is as just another day. No harm, no foul. (Unless you post a sour diatribe about it on social media, in which case the lovers among us will likely roll our eyes just a bit.) And you might want to avoid restaurants on Feb. 14 as it’s one of the busiest days of the year.
2. Love all things red, pink, and heart-shaped? Then do it up big!
Embrace your inner Cupid and go all out with no apologies. While you might not be able to fill a room with a thousand roses a la Kim and Kanye, check out this list of the “100 most romantic restaurants in America”—maybe one is near you! Some other ideas to make the day special: set up a beer or wine tasting tour for two, indulge in a spa day, cook together if that’s your thing with gourmet, expensive ingredients you wouldn’t normally buy (All Recipes can get you started with their complete Valentine’s Day menu), or throw a big party for all your fellow Valentine’s Day loving friends.
