How To Get Cozy And Have Fun This Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is the time of the year when lovers express their affection with gifts and greetings. Although love should be expressed more than once a year, I look forward to celebrating this holiday with my blended family. You heard it right! Being in a blended family with four children, our Valentine’s Day includes every member of our home, including me, the family dog. This Valentine’s Day will be quite different. No reservations to fancy restaurants or any family getaways. We are going to get cozy at home and have some family fun. We had to get creative, so my mom had a few ideas. Whether you are celebrating with your entire family or your lover, here is how to get cozy and have fun this Valentine’s Day.

Being in a blended family, the four boys have two places to call home, one with each parent. I miss the boys every second weekend as they are away. However, I do understand how important it is for them to see all the people they love. For that reason, we decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little earlier this year.

Here are the steps that my mom took in order to create that fun night for the whole family this Valentine’s Day

Step 1 – Pick-up special Treats

Who does not like special treats? My parents bought candy treats for each of the boys from our local Candy store called Candy Depot. When you choose to buy a special treat for the one you love, make sure it is something they love, not necessarily what you love. If they like chocolate, peanut butter or even ice cream, try to find the perfect combo to surprise them.  

They might not even like sweets, so a salty treat might be the best choice, such as chips or popcorn. And, of course, if you have a family pet, do not forget to bring his favourite treat as well.

The four boys love candies, so my parents bought them boxes of Sweethearts and a red Ring pop. Those candy-shaped Ruby will fit perfectly with what my parents had planned for the night.

Step 2 – Set the mood

My mom will decorate our sunroom and dim the lights to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Since we are all staying home, they will wear comfortable clothes. She even bought little invitation cards for each of the boys to formally invite them to our family Valentine’s night.

Step 3 – Board game night

We all know how important it is to bond with your children. It is even more so within a blended one. Since Valentine’s Day is an excellent time to express their affection, they decided to do something that would allow them to interact with each other, unlike simply watching a movie in silence.

Family game night has been away for my blended family to bond with each other for quite some time now. No screen, no TV, just a board or cards and a lot of laughter. You would be surprised how well they get to know each other too. We learnt that Xavier was quite good at drawing and that Benjamin was a good actor while playing “Get a Hint.” Plus, in addition to learning teamwork, patience and, of course, how to win and lose gracefully, it can have significant benefits for our brains as well.

This Valentine’s Day, my family will be playing two new games, Jaipur and Splendor, from Asmodee’s popular games. Both games have some similarities where the main goal is to trade your way to winning the game. Here you will trade to become more prosperous with gold, Ruby, diamonds, etc., perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Let me explain both games.

Jaipur

• 2 Players
• 20-35 minutes
• Age 10+

The goal of this game is to become richer than your opponent while trading goods in the Maharaja’s Market. You need to collect or exchange goods (cards) and then sell them for rupees. Also, you get extra rewards if you manage to make a large sale.

The game is easy to carry with you anywhere. It comes in a small box with cards and tokens, and I can see ourselves bringing this board game to our camping or travel trips. That is once we can travel again. It can be played in many languages, and a single game lasts between 20-35 mins. The game is easy to understand and is well suited for ages ten years old and up. It’s a game for two players only, so my family will need to play both games simultaneously. It will give each parent some precious one-on-one time with each child.

Splendor

• 2-4 Players
• 30-35 minutes
• Age 12+

The goal of this game is to be the first to collect 15 points. To do this, you must become a wealthy merchant and turn your raw gems into beautiful jewels. This game needs more thinking and strategy to plan and develop your treasures. Jewels are used to acquire the necessary points to win the game. It can also be played in many languages and lasts between 30-35 minutes. As previously mentioned, this one needs more critical thinking and is recommended for ten years old and up. In my opinion, 12 years old and up is more accurate. It’s a game that can accommodate 2 to 4 players. I’m sure the four boys will be enjoying this one for years to come. Here is the link to find a retailer near you.

We know how much some couples look forward to this special day, but for those who are alone or single on this Valentine’s Day during a pandemic, Splendor can be played online. Play the official digital adaptation of Splendor on Android, iOS and PC. So, get out of your comfort zone, set the mood, and get online for a fun and cozy Valentine’s Day and don’t forget to pick up your favourite treats.

Check out this great article of 14 inspiring online date success stories written by Kaitlyn Short. My parents are number 14!

Final thoughts

On a final note, this Valentine’s Day will be different, to say the least. I hope our post gives you some ideas on getting cozy and having fun this Valentine’s Day. If you like board games as we do, check out our blog: Top 2 Games by the boys or How to enjoy the Holidays.

Let us know what your plan this Valentine’s Day is. We cannot wait to hear from you.

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