“I hate Valentine’s Day … it’s even worse than Earth Day!” — Liz Lemon, NBC’s “30 Rock”
Funny how a day set aside to celebrate love can solicit such vitriol.
At least some Valentine’s Day backlash is tied to the retail holiday marketing cycle, which has stores readying their pink-doily-heart displays even before the Christmas lights come down.
And while everyone should test-drive an ooey-gooey Valentine’s Day at least once in their lives — gifts, flowers, chocolates, dinner…. the works! — Cupid’s sneaky little secret is that the most memorable romantic overtures rarely cost much money.
Here are a 10 ideas for romance on the cheap gleaned from a Facebook query on the subject:
• Surprise your sweetheart with a homemade morning latte or favorite cup of tea.
• Make a mix tape.
• Tuck love notes or nostalgic pictures into your loved one’s sack lunch.
• Pick up an extra chore around the house, with a smile.
• Let your significant other select the movie, then watch it and enjoy it. (Or least pretend to.)
• Create a scavenger hunt that leads your sweetie to the sites of relationship milestones.
• Scribble your intertwined initials on a steamed-up bathroom mirror after you shower. “Then when he showers, it shows up again like magic.”
• Toss a few of those Necco Conversation Hearts in the car change compartment.
• Bake cupcakes.
• A back rub.
— Elana Ashanti Jefferson
