Happy February! I don't know about you but I'm thankful January is complete so we can begin to look forward to spring, longer days and all around warmer bliss! With this month of course comes the holiday to shower your loved ones with a little extra appreciation and it's almost here, so why not get started a little early? Every year I attempt to make Valentine's Day more special than the last. From planning a day date and coordinating evening plans, to creating gifts for family and friends and adding pops of reds and pinks throughout the home, here's my guide to making the day and evening spectacular. Whether you are spending the day with your sweetheart or your celebrating Galentine's Day, my guide will help get you in the spirit by highlighting some Bay Area events, Do-It-Yourself crafts and gift ideas, delicious recipes and even some day date ideas to inspire you to plan something memorable this year.
There's a lot going on before, during and after Valentines Day in the city and the Bay Area. Here's the ones that caught my eye.
When it comes to holidays, I really enjoy adding pops of color and decor throughout my home without spending a lot of money. I don't see the necessity in opening up my wallet for pre-made decorations that I will most likely donate the following week (storage in a San Francisco apartment is basically impossible). So because of this I tend to spend an afternoon making home decor instead, which to me is more fun anyways for any holiday. This year, I have rounded up my favorite food, drink, and decor projects. I typically choose to create simpler decorations that aren't too over the top to match my personal taste and style of my already existing home decor. The majority of these projects and recipes are so easy and can make a huge impact on the overall vibe of your home this Valentine's Day!
Montara Beach that had touches of love everywhere. Once we arrived, I had him wait in the car as I went to prepare. The set up included lit candles along the blanket, rose petals, framed photographs I brought with me from our home, pom-pom garland I handmade the week before and strung to wooden poles I picked up at Home Depot, the memory book I've created over the past four years and of course, an extra blanket to keep warm. For food, I packed brie and pre-sliced a baguette, brought a tomato and mozzarella salad and handmade chocolate covered strawberries to pair with peach champagne and sparkling French lemonade. I brought real forks, plates, and glasses to make the picnic extra special, which added a really nice touch. Valentine's Day only comes once a year so why not make it special? We exchanged our cards and gifts during the day, which made the entire afternoon extra romantic. So what are you waiting for? Pack up a bag full of goodies and surprise your sweetheart with a not so typical afternoon picnic. Pick a spot that means something to you both, perhaps a place you discovered together on a road trip or that perfect spot that holds a special memory. You can always re-create all of this inside your home if you are feeling like staying in and cozying up!
We are so lucky to have Valentine's Day fall on a Saturday because it opens up a lot more opportunity to have a day date. Last year, I set up a special picnic at I rounded up some of my favorite spots in San Francisco and along Highway One that are excellent places to have a day date. I absolutely love being outside and exploring new places and spaces with my man. I hope these spots inspire you as well!
It is tradition that I plan an adventure filled day date and he plans a romantic, candle lit evening. This is how its been several years in a row, not only on Valentine's Day but also on birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. By doing this, we each get the opportunity to plan something special for each other. We enjoy doing dinner later in the evening to ensure a stress free day and we find it's more romantic to have a quieter dinner once the craziness has died down a bit. Try preparing a small, delicious cheese and wine sampling before dinner to help ease into the night and make the evening that much more memorable. This year we are dining at an extremely romantic and perfectly quaint Italian restaurant we celebrated our anniversary at last year. I can't wait for next Saturday!
Here are a few simple but oh so sweet gift ideas I discovered while researching what I am going to gift my loved ones.
I hope you find this guide helpful to create a beautiful home and a special memory this Valentine's Day! I'd love to hear what traditions you and your sweetheart, family, or friends may have as well as your plans for this year! As always, chat with me on Twitter, follow along with my adventures in San Francisco and beyond on Instagram and connect through Facebook!