Valentines Day-What are Your plans?

I like a good holiday as much as the next person.  A lovely card in the mail for DD#2 from her snowbird grandparents reminded me that Valentines  Day is less than a week away.  I'm not horribly sentimental, but I don't want to be left out of letting my loved ones feel cared for on this little holiday that is supposed to be all about love.  I've always gone beyond romantic love in my sentiments. Both my mom and my MIL always remembered the kids and grandkids with little trinkets and treats. With my new belt tightening, things need to be a bit more creative than just popping a gift card in the mail to DD#1 and DS, new books and candy for DD#2, and dinner reservations for DH and I.

For practicality reasons, I have access to make deposits and transfers in both grown kids accounts.  It was very useful when timing did not work out on something they were planning, and being able to float a bit of cash for a short period of time was far better that pulling out the credit card.  I think they each might get a little spot of cash popped into their account, along with a nice e-mail with a cute pop up e-card link, along with a recipe and ingredient list to go out and purchase a couple grocery items they might not have on hand.  No buying of a card, no postage stamp, but a little "I love you" hug courtesy of g-mail.

I had purchased a ginger bread cookie mix the end of November with the intent of another batch of ginger bread men, but with being  out of my normal routine in December, the mix still sits in my pantry.  I think I will use that mix and make gingerbread heart shaped cookies.  Perhaps a little butter cream frosting, with cinnamon, but tinted pink, added to sweeten them a bit more. DD#2 has another tournament next weekend, and this might be a nice treat she can bring along to share with her team, and a few the day before to share with friends at lunch.  I'll make the traditional heart shaped pancakes for breakfast, but will need to think more on something else, little to no money involved, just for her.

No doubt the hubby will get in on the cookies, as well as the pancakes, but what for just him and me?  Last year we took advantage of a $19.99 heart shaped pizza and appetizer special, along with some wine at the Green Mill.  Reservations  made on-line earned a bonus 100 points, which we have used to earn free pizza's or appetizers during the year.  We do still have gift card money from that restaurant, and the deal is on offer this year as well.  They've also a Saturday special where  you get a free bottle of wine if two pasta dishes are ordered. I'm for being frugal, but that seems uncreative, since we did it last year.

I won't know the basketball schedule for the 14th for a couple days so not sure if spending the day cooking would work out, but I am leaning on maybe getting some nice fish and some steak and doing a surf and turf, at home, eaten in the dining room with candles. I am not much of a fish or steak eater, but it would be something DH would thoroughly enjoy.  We've wine a plenty, and I found a delicious looking recipe for a molten chocolate cake.  The cake, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, seems pretty much in the spirit of love. 

I'll let  you know how I fair next week. In the mean time, suggestions and stories welcome on how you've celebrated the love for the people in your life on Valentines Day or any other time. Who among us has this Valentines Day stuff down to an art form?

 “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”  Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey