Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and what better time to go above and beyond for your spouse?

This doesn’t even mean that you have to spend a bunch of money on lavish gifts…

The real point here is to make the effort to show your spouse how much you care about them.

These ideas will help you make your husband or wife feel special and appreciated, and make you feel closer together too! Give any or all of these a try this Valentine’s Day, and go the extra mile to show your spouse just how much you care!

1. Leave a Loving Message

After your spouse goes to sleep, leave sticky notes on their steering wheel or write a message in lipstick on the bathroom mirror…. You could even write a short letter and sneak it into their coat pocket.

Let them know not just that you love them, but WHY.

Shower your spouse with compliments about all the things you find irresistible – their looks, their talents, how they make you feel, how good they are with the kids, how they provide for the family…

It could be anything! Just think about the things you appreciate the most, and leave them a special message spelling it out!

2. Take a Day

Perfect for a “day of” Valentine’s celebration, but if it has to be another day close to the holiday, that’s fine too…

With this idea, simply take the day off of work – and everything else – to spend as a couple. No kids, no distractions, no plans with friends or family, just a day for the two of you to indulge in being a couple.

Spend some time in the bedroom, enjoy a nice meal together, go somewhere special – just dedicate the day to each other’s company!

3. Build a Scavenger Hunt

Make a fun little game for your spouse by leading them on a romantic scavenger hunt. Have them solve riddles or puzzles you’ve devised, or even hide clues around town.

This can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but it’s a good idea to have at least some of the clues/riddles involve memories you share, inside jokes, or special things only the two of you know about!

The final clue of your scavenger hunt should reveal your Valentine’s Day plans – whether that’s dinner, the bedroom, or something even more unique!

4. Kisses!

On little pieces of paper, write down every type of kiss you can think of – from a little peck on the cheek to a full blown make out session. Write down a few copies of each type you think of, and put all the little scraps in an inexpensive container (a red felt bag is especially nice).

Give your spouse the bag in the morning (or whenever your Valentine’s Day together begins), and over the course of the day, have them pull out one piece of paper at a time. Whatever they draw, give them that type of kiss!

5. Nostalgia for Dinner

If you can, plan a dinner at a restaurant you enjoyed in your early days as a couple! This blast from the past will give you a reason to reflect on falling in love, the happy memories you share, and how those things can make your future together even better!

For an extra layer, take a little time to make a list of all the positive memories and emotions that this place brings up for you, then exchange your lists to see what you have in common – and what memories your spouse thought of that you didn’t!

You’ll have a great time sharing stories, and leave feeling more connected than ever!

6. Romantic Night In

Have a dinner for two that’s all in your hands. Plan a meal together, pick up ingredients together, help each other prepare and cook, and sit down for a candlelit dinner of your own handiwork.

All the while, listen to romantic music, flirt with one another, and soak up each other’s company.

Make sure you’ve got the house all to yourself, ditch distractions like TV and cell phones, take care of the clutter beforehand so you’re not taken out of the moment, and create a romantic evening in the comfort of your own home.

Slow dance while you wait for dinner to cook, indulge in some wine or a decadent dessert, and enjoy Valentine’s Day with the kind of freedom and relaxation you could never achieve in a restaurant.

7. Leave a Trail…

Give your spouse a sexy surprise! Plan for when they’ll get home and leave note for them to follow the path…

You can lay out Hershey kisses leading a path from the entryway to the bedroom – where you’ll be waiting. This may be a little easier for wives to pull off for their husbands (at least the “waiting in the bedroom” part) – but guys, don’t underestimate yourselves!

Go the extra mile to set the mood, and plan a sexy evening to surprise your spouse!

There are plenty of other ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but hopefully these ideas will get you started making your own plans – and above all, help you see the real opportunity that this holiday presents to show your spouse love and affection, to make them feel appreciated, and to truly articulate just how much you care about them.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

For more advice on how to strengthen your marriage, check out the StrongMarriageNow System today!
[i4w_m_vsl_promo2]
Dr. Dana Fillmore and Amy Barnhart, co-Founders, StrongMarriageNow.com