What are you doing for Valentine’s Day this year? Why not spend the beginning of the month leading up to Valentine’s day making him feel extra loved.  Start by sending him a sweet note and end by planning Valentine’s Day. If he normally does this, make sure to tell him, so you don’t double plan.

When my husband and I were dating he sent six long-stemmed roses to my school!  I received a note from the school teacher’s assistant to go to the office to pick something up.  As I walked to the office, I wondered what might be waiting for me.

When they handed me flowers, I’m pretty sure I blushed and then had perma-grin for the rest of the day. He made me just bubble over, I was over the moon ecstatic. I totally wasn’t expecting anything to show up at school. He lived about 4 hours away at the time.  I felt so special and was the envy of all my friends! I’m pretty sure I know what cloud nine feels like.

Many, many, many years and two kids later Valentine’s Day is more of, “Hey, what do you want to do this year?” It doesn’t quite feel as glamorous or magical as it once did. This year I want to rekindle a little of that spark by reminding my husband every day that I love him.  I’ve created a 14-day challenge and I would love for you to do it with me.  If you post it to Instagram use #14daychallenge.

1. Hide a sweet note

2. Share your favorite memory

3. Send an “I love you because…” text

Just because you see each other every day, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t say, “I love you because…” It’s always nice to attach a reason why. It means more than just saying, “I love you.”

4. Do something out of the ordinary

My husband likes to play video games but it’s not really my thing, so on this day, I’m going to play a game with him.  Maybe your man likes to watch sports, surprise him with dinner and sit down and watch the game with him.  He will love it! I promise!

5. Find a way to say, “I love the way you…”

This one is such an easy one, but I don’t think we acknowledge our men nearly enough.  I know I don’t.  Find a way to say, “I love the way you…”  Compliments go along way.

6. Sneak him a small “thinking of you” gift

Who doesn’t love gifts?  Buy something for him, maybe something he doesn’t normally get for himself.  My husband loves powdered raspberry filled donuts, so for this day, I will be sneaking some into his car before he leaves for work.  Think of something that he would like, something small, something that says I was thinking of you if perfect!

7. Send a letter through snail mail

How often do you receive a heartfelt note through the mail? Probably not very often. Feel free to send this letter early maybe on day 5, if you want it to get there on day 7.

8. Play a game together

How often do you actually sit down and do something other than watch TV.  My challenge for you on this day is to find a game that you can play together. If you’re not into card games or board games, play truth or dare or I spy!

9. Call him just to say, “I miss you.”

How often do you call your man? I text my husband quite often, but I rarely call him during the day.  This will come as a nice surprise and he will love to hear your voice in the middle of the day.

10. Do a chore for him

Is there something that he normally does that you could do for him? Could you take out the garbage, pick up one of the kids so he can watch the game, walk the dog, etc.  Find something that he normally does and do it for him.

11. Bring/Order him lunch

Who doesn’t like food? On this day, bring your husband lunch or order in from his favorite place and have it delivered to his work.  This is bound to make him smile!

12. Create something homemade

I challenge you to make something today. Don’t worry if you aren’t very crafty or don’t like to cook, he will enjoy the fact that you made something just for him, no matter what it is.  It could be as simple as making him a card.   Think about him and what he might like.  Maybe he loves his mom’s homemade cookies, call her and ask for the recipe.

If cooking isn’t your thing, think about his favorite candies and make him a little love note with candy.  for example… I love you to “pieces”, use Reece’s Pieces.  You make me “laugh”, use Laffy Taffy.

13. Write down why you are proud of him

This one may not mean a lot to you, but I can tell you from experience that it will mean the world to him.  He needs to know you are proud of him.

For my husband’s 30th birthday, I gave him 30 things which were all in large envelopes, some were small and some were big (doughnuts, movie tickets to a movie he’d been wanting to see, skittles, remote-controlled airplane, etc.).  In between the gifty type things, there were cards.  I had written 5 different heartfelt notes.  I wrote one card about how proud I was of him, his accomplishments and being such a good dad, etc… Guess which card he still has inside his bathroom mirror, you guessed it, the one where I talked about how proud of him I am.

Don’t skip this day, it might just be his favorite!

14. Plan Valentine’s Day

Maybe he usually plans Valentine’s Day.  This was our arrangement for a long time.  I always expected him to think up something romantic and amazing and I was constantly feeling disappointed because he didn’t know how to live up to the invisible expectations in my head.

Do yourself a favor this year and take it off his plate.  Let him know that you have everything covered. Take him somewhere he would like to go for a change. Maybe go go-carting, indoor shooting range, his favorite restaurant, go see his kind of movie.  Really try to think about what he might like to do with you on a night out.

I hope you plan on spoiling your man this Valentine’s Day because he will love it!

Want to plan out each day? Grab the printable below.

I am always looking for new ideas! What was your favorite Valentine’s Day and why?