When it comes to Valentine’s Day there is often a lot of pressure around constructing the perfect date. The typical ‘go-to’ for couples consists of flowers, chocolates, a fancy bottle of wine, and an elegant dinner out. But every now and then it can be fun to throw the typical date idea out the window and go for something a little more you.
If you’re pregnant, Valentine’s Day can be a fun excuse to add a little something more to the holiday, especially if you’re not feeling up to the typical dinner outings. Here are 15 opportunities to get away from the day to day grind and chaos of baby planning to enjoy some romantic quality time with your partner for one last Valentine’s Day as a family of two.
1. Game On!
Whether your preference is board games or cards, clear off the table and grab your favorite games for a fun evening of laughs and a little friendly competition. You can even take a morning trip to the store to grab a new game and spend the rest of the evening enjoying finding new game strategies for the new challenges.
2. Movie Night at Home
Depending on your pregnancy experience, you may or may not be up to heading out to a theater and being in the Valentine’s Day crowds. Bring the theater experience to the comfort of your home by putting together a few of your favorite DVDs or enjoying something new that’s streaming. Indulge in snack food and candy and maybe bring in some takeout, for a comfortable dinner and movie experience that you can enjoy in your coziest clothes. Looking for a perfect romantic movie?
Here are some of the top romantic movies for the perfect Valentine’s Day viewing:
- 27 Dresses
- An Affair to Remember
- An American in Paris
- Beauty and the Beast
- Casablanca
- Definitely, Maybe
- Dirty Dancing
- Ever After
- Fever Pitch
- Gone with the Wind
- It Happened One Night
- Letters to Juliet
- Love Actually
The Notebook- Notting Hill
- Pretty Woman
- P.S. I Love You
- Sense and Sensibility
- Serendipity
- The Shape of Water
- Sleepless in Seattle
- Southside with You
- The Vow
- Titanic
- The Ugly Truth
- When Harry Met Sally
- You’ve Got Mail
3. Get to the Green with Mini Golf
If pregnancy has limited your ability to take in a little competitiveness when it comes to athletics, try a fun outing with a game of mini golf. You can be goofy or competitive without the fear of adding stress to your growing bump. Besides, what’s more fun than 18 rounds of silly?
4. Head to the Beach
This can solicit very different experiences depending on the weather where you are, but there’s something invigorating and romantic about sitting outside with the sound of the waves crashing on the beach and feeling the sand between your toes. If you’re lucky enough to be in a warm climate come February, take advantage of a nice walk on the beach with your loved one to enjoy a warm day or a pleasant moon-lit walk in the sand.
5. Indoor Picnic
For many couples, Valentine’s Day comes at a rather brisk time of year on the tipping point between winter and spring temperatures. For an intimate and fun dinner option, pack up a picnic meal, lay out a comfy blanket on the floor, grab a bunch of pillows, and enjoy an intimate dinner picnic-style with some deep conversation, a movie, game or background music.
6. Cook Up Something Fancy
When it comes to your calorie intake during pregnancy, there’s nothing wrong with splurging every now and then and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in flavors. If cooking is something you enjoy, make it a perfect date night with your partner by picking out a new recipe or one of your all-time favorites, and enjoy a culinary experience together in the kitchen. If you want to set out to cook a more romantic meal, there are a few special Valentine’s Day inspired recipes you can enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 (8 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 cups vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
Directions:
Step 1: Grind garlic and a pinch of salt together in a mortar and pestle until garlic is completely smashed. Add parsley and mix until completely incorporated. Pound butter into garlic mixture with pestle until parsley and garlic are fully incorporated into the butter. Wrap the butter mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 15 minutes.
Step 2: Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place 1/4 the butter mixture in the center of wider end of each chicken breast. Fold the narrower end of each chicken breast up over the butter to form a tight pocket around the butter. Gather the sides of each chicken breast to the center to form a round ball. The top of the chicken will be smooth and the bottom will be gathered. Tightly wrap each chicken breast ball in plastic wrap, put wrapped breasts on a plate, and chill in the freezer until the gathered bottoms hold together and are slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
Step 3: Whisk flour and 2 teaspoons salt together in a shallow bowl. Whisk eggs together in another shallow bowl. Pour panko bread crumbs into another bowl.
Step 4: Remove chicken breast balls from plastic wrap. Gently press each chicken breast ball into flour mixture to coat and shake off any excess flour. Dip into beaten eggs, then press into bread crumbs. Place breaded chicken onto a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and return to the freezer to chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Step 6: Working in batches, cook chicken, gathered-side down, in hot oil and until lightly golden on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle salt and cayenne pepper over the top.
Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven until you can hear the butter start to sizzle on the baking sheet, 15 to 17 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup pomegranate juice
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon white grape juice concentrate, Splenda, honey, brown sugar or another sweetener, or more to taste
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (each 4 ounces)
- Salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions:
Step 1: Pour the pomegranate juice, cider vinegar and grape juice concentrate (or other sweetener) in a small saucepan, whisk to mix and let it come to boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the juice mixture until it’s reduced to about ¼ cup. Set the glaze aside.
Step 2: Season the chicken with a pinch each of salt and pepper.
Step 3: Preheat the broiler or set up the grill and preheat it to high.
Step 4: When ready to cook, set aside 2 tablespoons of the pomegranate glaze to use when serving, then brush the chicken with the remaining glaze. Broil or grill the chicken until cooked through (there should be no pink), 5 to 6 minutes per side.
Step 5: Brush the cooked chicken with the remaining pomegranate glaze, then sprinkle the parsley over it. The chicken can be served hot or at room temperature.
Ingredients:
- 2 (4 ounce) filet mignon steaks
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to taste
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup cranberry juice (or dry red wine)
Directions:
Step 1: Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over both sides of each steak, and sprinkle with salt to taste.
Step 2: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place steaks in hot pan, and cook for 1 minute on each side, or until browned. Reduce heat to medium-low, and add balsamic vinegar and juice/red wine. Cover, and cook for 4 minutes on each side, basting with sauce when you turn the meat over.
Step 3: Remove steaks to two warmed plates, spoon one tablespoon of glaze over each, and serve immediately.
7. Get Intimate
What’s Valentine’s Day without the romance? Keep the physical romance alive with a little intimacy. Whether you choose to seek out some sexy maternity lingerie or stick with something classic and comfy, feel extra sexy this Valentine’s Day by showing off your new curves, lighting a few candles, setting the tunes low and enjoying some new positions with your partner that let you enjoy each other’s touch.
8. Craft Something Together
Nothing is more personal than a handmade gift, so when it comes to creating something special together a handmade item is the perfect thing for getting the creative juices flowing and have a few laughs along the way. Whether it’s a painting or home décor, a functional piece for your dining room, or a sweet item to hang in baby’s nursery, this is the perfect way to create a sweet memory and fun keepsake to cherish.
9. Do a Little Dancing
Remember the special moment of sharing your first dance? Maybe it was at your wedding or maybe it was the night you met. Regardless of the occasion, take a moment to put on some tunes and sway to the rhythm of your love.
10. Pamper Each Other
Enjoy an evening of R&R – romance and relaxing, with some aromatherapy massages and calming time soaking in the tub. If your due date has passed, ask your partner to focus a massage on your back, hands, and feet where acupressure points exist that may help get labor started. Enjoy the romance with a warm bath together (that is, if your tub is big enough for three) and add some candlelight and your favorite essential oils or soaps to set the mood for a calming and romantic night.
11. Start Painting the Nursery
Depending on where you are in your pregnancy and nursery planning working on the nursery can be exciting and sentimental or feel like extra work. If you’re in the sentimental and exciting phase, take this as an opportunity to embark on painting or designing your baby’s nursery together.
12. Play Tourist
If you happen to live in a tourist destination it makes it even easier to do this, but if not, get creative. Spend the afternoon hitting up the local sight-seeing spots, and tourist destinations. Take in a museum or spend some time walking around shops and the community storefronts. Enjoy a meal or two out at local restaurants or swing by a cafe you haven’t visited before to enjoy someplace new. You may even find a new favorite place.
13. Mocktail Mix-up
Have a fun evening toasting to your love with a pregnancy-safe “mocktail” or sparkling juice.
14. Take a Walk
Enjoy the simple pleasure of walking in each other’s’ company. Whether around the neighborhood, at a nearby park, or out on a dirt trail in nature, take a walk with your partner and enjoy some deep meaningful conversation. Talk about what your hopes and dreams are for your baby, what your goals are as a couple as you embark on parenthood, and don’t forget to enjoy some good laughs as well.
15. Enjoy a Maternity Photo Shoot
You may not feel very photogenic but trust us, your pregnancy is something you are going to want to have photos of. Take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to capture the moment on film. Find your favorite place or outfits and enjoy some time having your photo taken to document your pregnancy and the start of an incredible journey.
Fill Your Valentine’s Day with Even More Love
Regardless of whether you stay in or head out this Valentine’s Day, there’s a lot of extra love to celebrate this year before your little one arrives, so enjoy your moment together, have some fun, and make some lasting memories.
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