How to Plan a Romantic Valentine's Day at Home

You don't have to spend a fortune on a night on the town to let your significant other know you really care. Spice up your at-home ambiance a bit and get ready for romance!

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Poetry Books
• Aromatherapy Candles
• Flowers
• Champagne
• Food
• Bubble Baths
• Massage Oils
• Champagne Flutes
• Music For Lovers
• Romantic Movies

1. Plan a romantic dinner. Serve foods such as asparagus, oysters, caviar or other dishes believed to have aphrodisiac qualities.

2. Create a romantic ambiance by arranging flowers, lighting candles and playing soft background music. Don't forget to dim the lights.

3. Use your best linens, china, silver and crystal.

4. Dress up. Wear something sexy but understated.

5. Take the phone off the hook and turn off cell phones and other distractions.

6. Serve champagne with dinner and something decadently chocolate for dessert.

7. Continue the mood after dinner. Read love poems to each other, rent a romantic movie or put on some music and dance cheek-to-cheek.

8. Take a bubble bath together. Light candles around the tub and drink champagne.

9. Give each other a massage using oils (such as lavender) designed to heighten the romantic mood.

10. Fill in the blanks, then fall asleep in each other's arms.

Tips & Warnings

• If applicable, be sure to make arrangements for babysitting or farm the kids out to grandma for the night.

• If you're on a budget, get the best wine you can afford and buy a couple of good steaks instead of caviar and oysters.

• The invited guest for a romantic evening should arrive bearing roses, chocolates, jewelry or another gift that says, "I love you."

• Before you go overboard with romantic notions, be sure the person you invite over for a romantic dinner feels the same way about you. Otherwise, this could be a very embarrassing evening for both of you.