Today is Valentine’s Day, a day filled with cards, flowers, chocolate and usually a nice dinner out. Most of the time we think of a candlelight dinner, complete with romantic music, and a very expensive meal.

The most important thing about an intimate meal is that it is what both parties really want. For me the ultra expensive meals always made me uncomfortable. I could prepare much better tasting food at home for less than half of one plate. So, even though we were supposed to be out for a romantic evening all I could see were dollar signs. So much for romance.

Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza can be a romantic Valentine's meal, if that's what you both like.

When I asked  my husband, whose birthday just happens to be on Valentine’s Day, what he wanted for his birthday dinner he immediately responded pizza. We make the most awesome from scratch pizzas and that is what he wanted, and actually I couldn’t have agreed more. It is something we love to eat. It has a lot of fun memories for us, as we used to eat pizza every Saturday night and watch the new Start Trek series. Now I know that doesn’t sound all that romantic, but we really enjoyed the program, loved the huge pizzas, and it was a very cozy intimate time for us.

Maybe you’d rather do Chinese at the place where you met each other, even though it’s a dive and still has the same five menu items it had 15 years ago when you were in college.

Maybe food isn’t really what you’d like to share this year, especially if you’re trying to lose a few pounds. Maybe exchange back rubs, or go to a spa together.

I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t just do something because it’s what you’ve always done, do something because you both enjoy it and it will build intimacy between the two of you, even if your friends would laugh at it!

Happy Valentines Day!