Valentines Day is a dreaded holiday by some and highly anticipated by others. If you’re one of the lucky few to spend this day with your boyfriend or girlfriend but haven’t quite worked out the details, my valentine-less self is here to relay some dating expertise.

Fun, Easy to Plan Date Ideas:

• A Night on The Town:  To start off the night, take your girlfriend out for dinner at a local diner or restaurant. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, in fact, keep it relatively casual to set a more fun, light, mood for the evening. Following your dinner you have a number of activities to pick from. Going bowling is a fun activity that will bring out both you and your date’s competitive sides. If you would like to take a more serous romantic route you can go for a walk through a park or stargaze (it creates lots of hand holding opportunities, am I right?). To end the night on a sweet note go out for dessert, and make sure to tell your date how much fun you had.

• Indoor Picnic:  February’s in New Jersey are too cold to spend a night outdoors, so instead plan an indoor picnic. Set up an old-fashioned picnic blanket in the comfort of your living room and add some throw pillows and Christmas lights to light the area- candles can be hazardous. You also have the option to play some music or a movie for entertainment.

Menu Ideas:

• Entrée’s- Sandwiches, Pasta Salad, Mac n’ Cheese
• Snacks- Chips and Dip, Cheese and Crackers, Popcorn, Fruit
• Dessert- Red Velvet Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownies
• Beverages: Lemonade, Iced Tea, Smoothies

Gift Ideas for Him/Her:

• “Open when…” Letters:  If your partner’s love language is words, write five to seven letters using the prompts listed below. Address the letters beginning with “Open when…” followed by the prompt(s) of your choice. This gift is sentimental and lets him/her know you put a lot of time and thought into their gift.
  • Letter Prompts:
    1. Open NOW!
    2. Open when you had a bad day.
    3. Open when you need to know how much I love you.
    4. Open when you need to laugh.
    5. Open when you need motivation.
    6. Open when you’re feeling lonely.
    7. Open when you miss me.
• Candy Bouquet: A simpler easier gift option is an assortment of candies in a gift basket or bag. This is a good gift for someone you don’t know well enough to do something deeply sentimental, but feel compelled to get a gift for… or for someone who just really loves chocolate.

Best of luck, and Happy Valentine’s Day!