Valentine’s Day might as well be renamed The Worst Day of the Year to Go Out to Dinner. So, if you’re looking for alternate plans, with a friend or date, here are three ideas. Which would you pick?
DIVE BAR DRESS-UP Take your dressy selves to a low-key dive bar, order two Old Fashioneds and put The Rolling Stones on the jukebox.
1. Crystal Earrings 2. Opal Ring 3. Old Fashioned 4. Leather Clutch 5. Mira Heel 6. Music Love Note 7. Maison Louis Marie Perfume 8. Silk Tank Dress (Or this long-sleeve number)
PIZZA AND A MOVIE Every Valentine’s Day, two of our friends go to a movie and sneak in slices of pizza and a mini bottle of Champs. How fun is that? This year, The Big Short and Anomalisa are playing, and How to Be Single is also out, if that’s more your speed.
1. Plumping Rose Lip Balm 2. Movie Tickets 3. Cotton Heart French Bikini 4. New York Pizza 5. I Just Want To Like You Forever Card 6. Rose Hibiscus Face Mist 7. Plaid Button-Up, High Riser Jeans, White Oxfords
NETFLIX AND ACTUALLY CHILL Last, but not least, you could get cozy at home and watch a movie. If you are with a friend, stream funny movies that stand the test of time, like Clueless and Swingers. If you are with a date, watch a scary one. (After all, researchers have found a link between anxiety-provoking situations and feeling turned on.) What could be better than snuggling up with your favorite person and favorite snacks?
1. Pretty Pajama Set (These are cute too.) 2. Let’s Make Out Necklace 3. Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn 4. Almost Bare Perfume 5. The Departed 6. Favorite Beers 7. You’re The Cat’s Pajamas Card 8. Sweet Fig Candle
Thoughts? Which would suit your personality best?
P.S. Slamdunk date conversation topics, and my worst Valentine’s Day ever.
(Photo-illustration by Miss Moss)
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My tradition as a single girl is to get Mexican food and watch Kill Bill. Most years, my single friends (and a few couples!) join me and it is a blast!
I…I would not recommend Anomolisa for Valentine’s Day haha. I’m incredibly depressed as I sit next to my boyfriend who is vey confused why we just watched this. Haha I usually love the recommendations here, but I can’t stop laughing at just how dark and sad this movie is. Single or in a relationship, this will not cheer you up on the holiday of love.
That popcorn! You need to have a cravings trigger warning for us pregnant folk! But now I know what I want for Valentines Day so thanks!
I love that lets make out necklace!!!
maybe it’s the married women in me, but I’m totally always up fro staying in! Cute list, loved it!!
This is a fun & creative twist on Valentine’s Day posts. I loved the last one (mostly because it’s what I plan to do). Great job!
i love themed pajamas! makes them feel so special :)
hammyta.wordpress.com
netflix movie suggestion: cloudburst. hilarious, poignant.
Great ideas! I’m always looking for fun date-night ideas that don’t break the bank– especially on Valentine’s Day! I love the idea of sneaking champagne into the movie theatre!
-Nellwyn | http://www.thecardinalpress.com
The second one is the most like me. Although most of my previous V Days have been like the first one.
xo Azu
http://www.raven-locks.blogspot.com
Pjs – all day every day :)
http://www.smallestthing.com
We have never celebrate Valentine’s Day before but now that we a married we will, at least this year :) We will go watch Deadpool and have sushi afterwards. I’m really looking forward to it!
A bunch of us former roommates are on our third year of team valentines day with an awesome dinner at a family-style restaurant. Some bring SOs some bring friends, some just themselves, but there are so many of us who all love each other (between 10 and 14 on average) that no one ends up feeling left out! Booze, pasta and belly laughs FTW!
Netflix and chill. Yes and Yes! When you have three daughters and a husband who loves his ladies, there’s nothing better than staying in, making homemade pizzas and cuddling up on the sofa watching a classic film. Can’t wait!
http://brooklynchateau.blogspot.com/2016/01/wife-of-brooklyn-beauty-reals.html
I must chime in with the Wisconsin secret to the best Old Fashioned: swap Brandy for Bourbon. In Madison, basically all bars serve Old Fashioneds, and you can order them “whiskey sour” or “brandy sweet.” I am (definitively) team “brandy sweet” :)
Hilariously, for the first time SINCE WE MOVED TO THE CITY, I was off for enough of a stretch of time to go to a nice dinner with my husband. On Valentine’s Day. Let’s hope the rumors aren’t true, haha! We’re going to Print, has anyone been there?
I am the ever-single, and when I was in college, I decided that I could feel sad about Valentine’s Day, or I could really enjoy it. So for the past couple of years, every Valentine’s Day I do nice things: I go to a movie, buy myself a book and flowers, and have a nice meal. Sometimes I’m with friends, sometimes not. Whatever, I look forward to Valentine’s as simply a nice day.
Love the idea of just staying cozy at home and watching a nice movie with my hubby but am likely to have a good meal out of the house too!
Prudence
http://www.prudencepetitestyle.com
We’ve had a rough couple of months lately. Me expecting our second daughter and going back to college (and exams coming up this week) has taken a toll on our usually peaceful routine. So I have special plans for us this year, though we rarely celebrate Valentine’s Day.
I want to surprise him and celebrate this past months will be over by then!
Eight years ago, our Valentine dilemma was solved when our first-born came two weeks early. Now we do crafts, eat birthday cake and hold up piñatas, then crash for movie night amidst the streamers, new toys and sugared-up little girls. Not very romantic but sure fun and giggly. :)
A friend of mine is throwing a Cookies decorating party for toddlers, lots of heart shaped cookies, all sorts of sprinkles and pink and red icing, it should be fun!
We’ll probably do a mix of the 3 with my husband in the evening, a good movie (Irrationnal man, from woody Allen maybe) at home, with cocktails and pizza, a wood fire, candles, blankets and fancy chocolates!
Every time I think of something romantic, I think of the “bridge” experiment from my undergraduate social psychology class. If men were asked to fill out a rather boring, meaningless survey on a rickety, wobbly bridge (as opposed to the sidewalk outside of the library), they were more inclined to be interested in the outcome of the study and would even call (!) the girl experimenter a couple of weeks later to hear more about the statistics. So, I always try to plan something testosterone inducing during the day – some form of outside activity – and we both end up enjoying the evening better (regardless if we movie it up or take the town on).
Charitie
https://visavisjournal.wordpress.com
#3 made me laugh! Google ‘Netflix and chill’ and you’ll see why :D
All great ideas though, either way!
Ha, yes! I teach high school seniors and one recently asked me if I Netflix and Chilled over the weekend. I said, “Of course!” and they all died laughing. Awkwaaaarrrrd.
I made the mistake of asking my teenage son if he was going to “Netflix and Chill” with a male friend. His mortified look said it all.
I’m voting for having a baby for Valentine’s Day… or before. Ha. Due date Feb 17th!
Congrats!!
I love the last look!
The Fernweh Wolf / Travel & Lifestyle Blog
Agree on Valentine’s Day being the worst night to go out to dinner. I love the “Netflix + Chill” option. IMO, it’s the MOST romantic. Spot on, as usual, Cup of Jo! And, FYI: There’s a card on Etsy that reads, “I Heart You More Than Horror Movies.”
We usually do something for Valentine’s the day before or after, just because we want to celebrate our love but not buy into the commercial hype!
I’m taking my husband to watch Deadpool for Valentine’s this year…I’m trying not to get more excited about my date with Deadpool on Valentine’s, than my date with my husband. But I don’t think I’m kidding anyone lol!
I’m a #2 kinda gal, with #1 kind of aspirations. Actually, #2 sounds good for this weekend, even!
I think options 2 and 3 would be great on the same night :)
I would do pizza and Netflix! In general I’m more of a homebody so that would be right up my alley! Xx Yael
http://www.yaelsteren.com/blog
Okay I am between one and two, I want pieces from both sets to make my own. I fall asleep watching netflix so number three is out. lol xx
I hate scary movies and not so fond of the departed. Since I’m making the plans, reserving the sitter and just celebrated Xmas, I’ll take some old fashioneds please.
Love this post. I’m not huge in to Valentine’s day but have a bf for the first time in a while so I’m loving #2. Anyone have any ideas for a small, creative gift?
Definitely Netflix & chill. Since we never ever have a sitter, we usually order takeout and drink champagne after Luna’s bedtime. I love to include Luna so heart shaped pancakes for brunch.
Xo Lendy
http://www.twoplusluna.com
A gal pal and me (who are both pregnant and have toddlers) are taking our mamas and babies to brunch. Both of our hubbies are out of town this year. I’m hoping for heart-shaped pancakes and lots of love for all!
I don’t know about you but the Departed does not get me in the mood. No amount of leo and matt damon can make up for all the, uh, departures haha
I’m planning a fondue night at home for our first Valentine’s day as a married couple! I’m excited!!
that is so cute!
Would have loved this to have been written from a less specifically-romantic POV! Not all of us are celebrating romantic love on Valentine’s this year. :)
It’s Sunday night so, date night the night before :-) then we are going to the zoo breakfast with the kiddos and making a fun dinner and dessert at home (thinking Lobster, heart shaped pretzels, and chocolate pudding)
My boyfriend and I are not into Valentine’s Day — our anniversary is Feb 4th, and both of our birthdays shortly precede that– so we do a Valen-birthda-versary trip: this year, Portland! We will joyfully eat dinner when it is normally priced (on the 13th) and then just explore and eat and enjoy doing so. That’s when I love him most, after all!
You mean, not everyone sneaks wine into movies all the time? I’m a cheap lush ;)
The third option sounds like my typical weekend plans. I adore my husband, but I’d rather celebrate us on any other day. We use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to celebrate our family. With two young kids I like to make a festive breakfast (pancakes with sprinkles) then get a latte from our favorite coffee shop and head to the park. My 4-year old calls it “loving day”.
Valentine’s Weekend for me this year involves attending an engagement party on Saturday and a brunch wedding on Sunday (both by myself) and hopefully love actually with wine and wedding cake to cap off valentines night! (So Option 3 would be my pick!)
To be honest – I’ve never really worried about being single for Valentines before – I’ve tried to always celebrate all of the love in my life and I am thankful to have amazing parents and a few good friends but at 25 this is the first year I am totally daunted by the prospect of being alone forever.
since we haven’t been to a movie since way before our daughter was born, she’s 14 months, we decided that going to a movie was just perfect enough without having to go to dinner before or after. this post, however, has just upped our game; totally sneaking in dinner and a libation(s). i’m excited to figure out exactly what it will be. i love that your friends do this, and it just maybe something we do each year too.
I love the first one! I throw a party for V-Day every year, inspired by the scene from Julie & Julia. Everyone pins paper cut out hearts on their lapels. This year will be my 6th annual.
the middle one! the outfit is too cute.
My favorite would have to be #2! It’s fun and kinda sneaky. Plus hey who doesn’t love a good movie? I’d probably sneak in homemade cookies, but that’s me :P – I wonder if other people sitting next to them smell the pizza and get jelly (jealous)! lol
Number two is my favorite! This year I’ll be spending it with 700 junior high and high schoolers as a leader at a winter camp, pray for me ha!
http://www.kelseymarie.co
These all sound great! We have a toddler and a baby so we were thinking about a Valentines day brunch (pre nap time). The adventures of parenthood! :)
That sounds great!! How fun! :D
where are the boots from in the photo of the red dress? they’re not everlane.
Hi Kelly! They are from Everlane’s Capsule Collection: http://bit.ly/1ULdpGX
I’m so excited for Valentine’s Day! I’m a sap who loves it all.
If weather permits, I imagine us doing a hike, having a picnic and doing the groceries (the reality of life!). Since Sundays are the only days that husband cooks, I would likely score myself a home-cooked meal too ;)
Every Valentine’s Day my boyfriend and I stay in, drink wine, and cook a new recipe together. Its fun for me to share the kitchen with him… and it’s gift free and stress free :)
Although it’s not usual for our generation in Bavaria to celebrate this day I love your first suggestion!
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
Anomalisa is darkly cynical and visually inspired but also ultimately boring and sexist. The script is not that great, either. Sorry to be negative, but Cup of Jo readers, go see something fierce or gal-written. If you want a interesting take on men getting bored with women (basic plot of Anomalisa), read Adelle Waldmann’s The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.
Love this blog so much, which is why I comment. Thank you for this insightful place on the ‘net.
Thank you! Good thoughts. Love Affairs has been on my list forever.
First thought upon seeing this: Oh crap. Is Valentine’s Day soon? Sigh.
Ha ha ha! And that’s why I think I prefer the third option.
:)
Alina
http://www.eclecticalu.blogspot.com