Valentine's Celebrations

This year I was very lucky to spend my Valentine's Day with two of my very best friends, Lance and Hubert. 

It started with Lance surprising me at 7 am with two Betsey Johnson bracelets and some Lindt chocolates. These aren't just any costume jewellery but future promises to take me to visit the pandas and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Super sweet, right? I honestly don't even understand why I deserve all of this. I am so blessed.

Lance and I did our own couple-ly thing by having dinner at a Korean restaurant in China Town. We decided to keep the day very normal and small because another part of his gift to me this year was a trip to Banff for a few days the week after V-Day.

We ordered the Korean hot pot dish with spicy pork and oh my! Even though they say it's for 2 people... I bet 3 or 4 people could eat this and be full. I loved it because we knew that this place wouldn't be buzzing with couples so it was very quiet, but filled with our conversation! The food we got was the kind of comfort food I was craving and it definitely hit the spot.

Here's my arm candy for the night.

So pretty!

 After dinner, we took a stroll around down town for a bit where we saw a smart car parked along the road like this. Haha, I guess it's because he can. While walking around we also people watched. There were many couples out, obviously, and a few very cute old couples out and about, holding onto each other. It gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling inside because I hope that will be me one day! 

At the end of our walk, we sat at the Marriott while waiting for Hubert to get off work. We then went to dinner with Hubert at the Cheesecake Company. Lance and I didn't eat but we got dessert here. The dessert here is massive. We always get the cheesecake sundae and it's delightful! Unfortunately they ran out of bananas that night so we got extra strawberries and pineapples. All in all it was a good day because I got to spend it with the best people in the world.

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Hello my little love buggies,

It's almost that time of the year again where couples are celebrating their love for one another. Actually, who cares if you're a couple! Friends can surround themselves with other friends and celebrate their love of friendship with each other. There's nothing wrong with letting people we love know we love, adore, appreciate, or care about them. So don't be afraid to let your friends know how much you love them!

To me, Valentine's Day is stressful! I have to buy or make double the amount of gifts for Lance because his birthday is right before V-Day. So lucky... HAHA, kidding, because he spoils me in his own ways everyday. I am such a terrible girlfriend because we both can never remember our past V-Day celebrations... Oops... Seriously, we are both sitting beside each other right now, trying to think of what we did last year, but nope... The only one date that we remember is when he took me to the Calgary Tower for dinner. It wasn't even on Valentine's Day because I was in Vancouver for my mother's birthday then. That year I remember spending V-Day with my best friend in Van. He even bought me chocolate and food. But the day I came home, Lance brought me out for a nice dinner at the Sky 360. I remember the meal being mediocre but the view made up for it. Plus I was on Cloud 9 because I was up in the air in the morning (aeroplane) and by night time I in the air again at the Calgary Tower.

For those of you who live in Calgary, there are lots of options.

Valentine's Day is sometimes a hard day for people because many spend a lot on Christmas, so here are some low budget ideas Lance and I have done over the years. After all, we're on a students' budget.

You can do the all-day-thing or the evening date. For example, wake up with a hearty breakfast. Make her her favourite brekkie foods and EAT WITH HER. This is important, don't just dump the food with her and leave. Make her feel like she's wanted because it is the start of the day and women love being waited on.

Cater to her needs and make her feel like a queen or a princess for the day. Help her with the little tasks such as doing some laundry, some errands, or do what she likes. Plan out some activities such as taking her ice skating, to the zoo, a walk in the park or playing her favourite video games(IF she's a gamer). I would suggest taking her ice skating at the Olympic Plaza or Prince's Island Park, but since it hasn't been that cold lately, I highly doubt there's any ice to skate on. An alternative would be to take her to the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary. Why ice skating you ask? Because it's adorable when you can help her tie her skates' laces, hold her hand while you both skate, get a bit of exercise, laugh and enjoy each other's company. And the zoo? Well who doesn't love going to the zoo?! Those people must be hooligans. Check out the penguins, the tigers, the elephants, the red pandas, etc. Oh my! But make sure to dress warm for the weather.

Now to drag this on to an evening date, surprise her with a romantic home cooked meal! Get some rose petals and scatter them to the dining room in a pathway-like. Light up the room with some candles. Make a delicious meal, or plate your take-out food (I won't judge!). Or light up your fireplace, get some wine, a charcuterie and cheese board, some fruits, chocolates and cuddle up. Another fun idea is to build a fort and have a picnic dinner in it. I'm a dork, but I would totally appreciate that. And when it's all done, draw her a bath. Put some bath oils, bath salts, rose petals, etc in it! Top it off with a rubber ducky. Haha!

If you don't want to stay home to eat, there are some great options out there to wine and dine her. ;)
Milestones offers a pretty great V-Day package for $40 per person, you get wine or belini, a shared appie, a choice of salad, a choice of entree and dessert! You can look at the menu here. Some other restaurants you could check out are: The Old Spaghetti Factory, East Side Mario's or the Olive Garden. By the way, if you do choose to go to a restaurant, book in advance!! I bet a lot of restaurants are booked by now.

For those on a mid to high budget, take her to the Oak Room at the Palliser for some appies and drinks. Listen to their live jazz which is played on Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Take her for some fancy dining down town. If you like seafood, check out Catch on 8th Ave. SE. They have a great selection of seafood from fresh oysters to seafood pastas to lingcods, bass, trouts and of course, crabs and lobsters! For a more regional dining, try out Murrieta's. They have fantastic food and their atmosphere really helps create a more romantic and intimate dining. They have a live piano that plays in their lounge and their staff really waits on you. If you're in the mood for streak, I would try The Trib and Ruth's Chris Steak House. The prices at these places are really steep, but you're paying high quality food and service.

If you're looking to take her on a shopping trip, take her to Edmonton and have fun in the mall. Go to the indoor amusement park, the water park, the indoor skating rink or the shooting range! Book a night at the Fantasyland Hotel. Now you're probably thinking that that's a crazy love hotel, like the ones in Japan, but rest assured, it's not! They have different themes which you can view here.



And if you're super fancy, take her on a 3 day shopping trip to Las Vegas. Check out the food there, watch Cirque Du Soleil, a burlesque show, gamble and experience what Vegas has to offer.



Lastly, listen to what each of you have to say, be patient, kind and rekindle your love for one another this Valentine's Day.

I don't know what this year's Valentine's Day holds for me, but hopefully it'll be memorable!

What are your special plans this year?