Valentines Day Off the Beaten Track

Valentines does not have to be all flowers and candy. Those things are great, but there are couples who prefer less typical fare. Why not do something different, or enjoy something together, that is not quite the tradition on Valentines Day?

1) Watch a Movie that You Love
Instead of watching a movie about love, watch one that the two of you love, or a movie that one of you loves and wants to share with your partner. Maybe you are a slasher movie fan, so rent your favorite slasher movie of all time to share. Maybe the two of you met at a Star Trek convention, so stay home together, in costume or not, and watch Star Trek movies. Love comes in all shapes, sizes and genres!

2) Make your Meal Instead of Being Served It
Sign up for a cooking class on Valentines day. It's something you can do together, in a controlled environment for those who need instruction, and enjoy being creative. At the end, you get to taste the fruits of your labor. If you can not find a cooking class, pick a recipe together, that you both love and make it at home, together.

3) Make it a Family Day
Your love for each other is the reason you brought kids into the world. Why not spend Valentines day with your own family? Making it a family day will show how much you love each other and the kids. It's pretty likely that there is something all of you like to do together and maybe don't do it often or have not in a while. Take the family for pizza and bowling. Go ice skating or roller skating with the kids for the first time. If there is a theme park nearby, spend the day there. Make it a family movie day where everyone picks their favorite movie, and the whole family watches each one.

4) Go Green
There are a lot of ways to have a green Valentines Day. Give your loved one a potted herb garden that you planted. You can also plant vegetables or anything that will grow and can be used. Going green can also be sexy and money saving. Give your significant other a massage with all the fixings. You can set up a table at home with comfortable pillows, use lotion that he or she already uses, light candles you already have in the house, and put on a CD you both like to listen to. Another green way to celebrate is make a donation together to green groups that help with environmental protection, conservation, botanical gardens, nature centers, parks and more.

5) Creative Gift
Give the flowers and chocolate if you want, but this year, add something a little different to add a new flavor to your Valentines Day. How about a spooning poster? This cute poster with spoons on it means "spooning" which is when you and your partner cuddle together in bed, one behind the other. This is a romantic gesture that the artist thinks you should hang in your bedroom. Are you and your partner sporty? How about personalized Nike's? And if you get the shoes, maybe sign up for exercise classes together. There are so many ways to be creative and think out of the box.