Yes, Valentine's Day has become a totally overcommercialized mess — but it's still the perfect opportunity to let little romantic gestures shine. And who couldn't use a chance to celebrate love in their life a little more?
Though you might be hard-pressed to find someone who will actually turn away a box of chocolates, there are plenty of other things you can do to show your love that are a million times more meaningful than buying things. We've come up with 100 little ways to be lovey-dovey to celebrate Valentine's Day — no credit card needed.
Remember, the simplest things can go a long way in your relationship.
100. Send your sweetie a sweet, short and sexy text or email. (Not to a work email!)
99. Leave a little note in his/her briefcase or laptop bag so they will find it when they get to work.
98. When your significant other gets home, be waiting in the bedroom dressed in your favorite sexy lingerie (or nothing at all!)… you know what happens next.
97. Plan a surprise outing! Start with dinner at your partner's favorite restaurant, then reveal tickets to a show or sports game.
96. Take a hot-air balloon ride together.
95. Surprise him/her with that special something they have been coveting (no matter how big or small).
94. Send flowers or cookies for no reason at all.
93. Take the dog for a walk or complete another "chore" your partner usually tackles.
92. Stock the fridge with his/her favorite beer or wine and the shelves with his/her favorite snacks.
91. Stop by your sweetie's office around lunchtime with his/her favorite noontime nosh.
90. Take a drive together — car trips provide some of the best time for talking one-on-one.
89. Snuggle after sex — even if you are tired.
88. Give a back massage.
87. Offer a foot rub — without asking for one in return!
86. Fill up your partner's gas tank.
85. If he/she comes home after a night with friends way past the time he/she said they would, let it go.
84. Make breakfast in bed.
83. Stay in bed all day — pajamas optional.
82. Take a late-night, hand-in-hand stroll around your neighborhood.
81. Sign up for a class you know he/she has wanted to take together.
80. Make up silly nicknames for each other that you only call each other in private!
79. Make a mouse pad (or a mug or a calendar) with your picture on it (or your pet's picture).
78. Start a new hobby together.
77. Do something nice for his/her mother, brother, sister, etc.
76. Let him/her pick the movie this time.
75. Make a special dinner.
74. When your sig-o gets home, hand him/her a glass of wine, sit down together and talk about your days.
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73. Do chores or errands without being asked and without complaining.
72. Put the toilet seat down (or up) with a funny/cute/snarky Post-it note.
71. Leave a note on the bathroom mirror so he/she will see it first thing in the morning.
70. Send a sexy picture message.
69. Leave a note for your sig-o to meet at his/her favorite bar or club. When he/she arrives, do some fun role-play and pretend you are meeting for the first time.
68. Wash his/her car and leave a love note on the air freshener.
67. Do his/her laundry if you don't usually own this chore.
66. Recreate your first date — then recall all the feelings you had for each other that very first night.
65. Make a creative coupon book (free massage, free night out with the guys, etc.) without an expiration date!
64. Book a couple's massage.
63. Plan a romantic getaway to a bed and breakfast.
62. Dedicate a day to the one you love — plan a day filled with his/her favorite things.
61. Plan a surprise party.
60. Send him/her a nice (or naughty!) card. Even if you live together, mail it!
59. Take out the trash. Again, this only works if you don't usually do it.
58. Buy a calendar and fill it with important dates (our first dinner together, our three-year anniversary, etc.).
57. Have a romantic/sexy photo session done together or have sexy pictures taken of yourself and make a private album for your partner.
56. Make a big deal out of the holidays.
55. Scatter rose petals on the bed
54. If he/she has to work late, have his/her favorite takeout delivered to the office, and prepay, of course!
53. Have a talk about the future and let him/her know that he/she is a part of it (even if you're married, this is a nice reminder).
52. Buy his/her favorite perfume or cologne, and simply put it in the medicine cabinet for him/her to discover.
51. Declare a day of the week "your" day — always spend that day together, even if you just snuggle on the couch together.
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A version of this article was originally published in February 2011.
50. Take him/her home to meet the family.
49. Propose.
48. Go on a picnic.
47. Explore your adventurous sides together — do something daring that neither of you have tried before, such as bungee jumping or skydiving. The experience will bring you closer.
46. Designate a place as "yours" — your favorite restaurant or bar — and vow to frequent it together often.
45. Volunteer together. Work side-by-side at your local animal shelter, nursing home or as you gather donations for your local food bank.
44. Take him/her to an art gallery or art walk.
43. Arrange to have a house cleaner come to his/her place and spruce things up!
42. Introduce him/her to your best friends. Actions speak louder than words.
41. Walk him/her out when he/she leaves for work. In long-term relationships, it's easy to get in the habit of forgetting a kiss goodbye. So start it again.
40. Make him/her a special bag lunch with a note written on a napkin inside.
39. Get a subscription to his/her favorite magazine.
38. If he/she has a business trip, offer to drive to the airport.
37. Leave a sweet note on a Post-it on his/her car windshield or steering wheel.
36. Flirt with him/her unabashedly.
35. If your sig-o has been working out extra hard or dieting, compliment their progress.
34. Rent some silly comedies and spend the night laughing together.
33. Take a shower together.
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32. Offer to shave each other's legs or faces. Sounds weird, but it's known to be very intimate.
31. Offer him/her the last bite of the dessert you're sharing.
30. Go stargazing. Bring a bottle of Champagne.
29. Try an activity that he/she loves that you don't usually do together.
28. Get up early on the weekend and do some of the chores on your partner's list.
27. Laugh at his/her jokes.
26. Compliment his/her new hairstyle, shoes, outfit, etc.
25. Frame a picture of the two of you during a special trip.
24. Ask his/her parent(s) or grandparent(s) for the recipe to his/her favorite dish growing up.
23. Take him/her to a sporting event for his/her favorite team — extra credit: Splurge on front-row seats.
22. Leave a note on your pillow when you're not there.
21. Get his/her oil changed and brakes checked.
20. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride.
19. Buy him/her something quirky that shows how well you know him/her.
18. Buy your partner a new accessory or something else he/she wears often.
17. Iron his/her clothes and leave sweet, simple notes in the pockets.
16. Feed each other dinner. Or better yet, dessert.
15. Sneak a sexy note into the pocket of his/her pants.
14. Kiss when you leave in the morning and when you get home at night. Small gestures of love go a long way.
13. Brag about him/her to his/her friends.
12. Tell his/her family how smart you think he/she is during conversation. Reminding your partner you're on their side is essential.
11. Go on a bike ride — extra credit for using a tandem bike.
10. Baby him/her when they are sick.
9. Leave lipstick kisses or shaving cream hearts on the bathroom mirror.
8. Go to the park together (even if you don't have kids). Go down the slide, play on the teeter-totter and go on the swings.
7. Let him/her teach you a new skill.
6. Buy a little gift and surprise him/her at the end of a long week.
5. Go hiking together.
4. Take a trip to the beach.
3. Watch the sun set or rise together from your backyard or nearby park.
2. Share the morning paper and some mimosas over the weekend.
1. Grab your sig-o spontaneously and kiss like you mean it.
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