Call us mushy, but we really do believe that love is all around, and we also believe that you don’t have to buy a darn thing for your S.O. to prove it. So, we’ve rounded out a list of experiences you can do with your loved one on Valentine’s Day, because #experiencesoverstuff, right?
Exploring the Outdoors
Ok, so it might be too cold where you are to run around outdoors (see option #3 on this list if so!). If it’s not, there’s nothing like nature bathing with your loved one that can help you reconnect and spend some serious quality time together. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93% of their life indoors. 87% of that time is spent inside, while the other 6% is spent in automobiles. This means that only 7% of the average American’s life is spent outdoors.” So, get outside and reap the many benefits of doing so including increased happiness, reduced stress and an increased energy to power through the day.
A Home-Cooked Meal
You know what they say, the best way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. The Purpose Purple team loves cooking at home and finds inspiration from a myriad of sites including: Healthyish; Food52 and more. Need a recipe idea that won’t break the bank, is a tried and true crowd pleaser and has amazing leftovers the next day? Try Chef David Chang’s Ginger Scallion Noodles and add any (or none!) protein you want such as chicken, steak or tofu! Full recipe below…
What You Will Need
Mixing Bowl
Yield: serves 4
Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 1⁄2 cups thinly sliced scallions (greens and whites; from 1 to 2 large bunches)
- 1⁄2 cup finely minced peeled fresh ginger
- 1⁄4 cup grapeseed or other neutral oil
- 1 1⁄2 tsp. light soy sauce
- 3⁄4 tsp. sherry vinegar
- 3⁄4 tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste
- 6 cups (1 lb.) cooked ramen noodles
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the scallions, ginger, oil, soy sauce, sherry vinegar, and stir to combine. Season with additional salt as needed, then cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 days.
- When you are ready to serve, add the hot noodles to the bowl, toss well to coat with the sauce, and serve immediately.
Source: https://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Ginger-Scallion-Noodles/
Scavenger Hunt
Ok so if you are somewhere cold, or the outdoors just isn’t your thing, how about a scavenger hunt? Pick 3-4 places that are special to you and your S.O. and make it a day of visiting old stomping grounds and reliving old memories while you create new ones. Some ideas include your first-date spot; marriage proposal venue or the moment you realized you were in love. Get creative, make up some fun (and not too hard to decipher) clues for each spot and take a walk down memory lane together.
Volunteering
One of our Purpose Purple Tea team members is volunteering with Meals on Wheels to make Valentine’s Day cards to be delivered with their meals. How fun is that? Give back and give love not just to your immediate family, but to many who may need it most this time of year. Check for local opps in your area and sign up for a day of spreading love all around.
No-Pants Day
So we really don’t mean don’t wear pants – you can if you want though – what we mean is actually a day of doing nothing. In an article in the New York Times on “8 Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself in 2020” one recommendation was to do nothing. “Counterintuitively, idleness can be a great productivity tool because ‘if our energy is totally shot, our productivity is not going to be good because we’re not going to have fuel to burn with which to be productive,’ said Chris Bailey, a productivity expert and author of the blog ‘A Life of Productivity’”. And we think this can apply to not only your work life but your love life too. Sometimes, it’s about doing nothing together where you can find moments of true connection. So, put on those PJs and get busy doing nothing!
