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This post has been compensated by the Women Bloggers LLC, in partnership with Ghirardelli and Josh Cellars. All opinions are my own.
I guess it’s a sign of impending middle age that I have exactly no interest in going out or doing much of anything special for Valentine’s Day.
It’s not just that I don’t like crowds, or the pressure of a perfect evening just because it’s some random day on the calendar that’s been deemed special.
It’s also that I think every day should be a little special. We should try to acknowledge our loved ones in a way that makes them feel loved, appreciated and cared for every day.
That’s not an easy thing to do.
But little gestures, I think, make a difference.
Like husband almost always makes coffee in the morning, even if he’s not eating breakfast at home. That makes me feel cared for, for sure.
I’ve been cooking and cleaning more lately, neither of which is my favorite, but it helps, when he’s as busy as he’s been lately, not to have to think about it as much.
We stopped sitting on the part of our couch with the cupholders and giant armrest between us so we can actually be close when we watch TV in the evenings.
It’s nice.
All of this is not to say we can’t do some little extra special things leading up to Valentine’s Day.
Like making a tasty treat to enjoy while watching TV, for example.
Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Snack Mix
I recently snagged a bunch of Ghirardelli chocolate from Walmart (they have the cutest Valentine-themed packages and special flavors right now) and decided to make a dark chocolate snack mix to pair with some Josh Cellars wine (Cabernet, please!) for a better-than-normal TV time snack.
It’s super simple to pull together and great for you and your sweetie or a crowd.
You can make it with whatever you like in a snack mix, but here’s what I did:
- 1 cup lightly toasted almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 cup sunflower kernels
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup (about 12 pieces) chopped Ghirardelli dark chocolate (I used 73 percent)
Mix all in a big bowl.
Pour some Josh Cellars wine. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon earned 96 points, and the Pinot Noir has a 95 score, both from the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition so you can’t go wrong either way (I’m sure their white wines are lovely, too, but red wine and chocolate can’t be beat).
Enjoy.
A Sweet Giveaway
To celebrate the sweet pairing of Josh Cellars and Ghirardelli, I’m excited to have the opportunity to give away two $75 American Express gift cards. Use them to mix up #ASweetPairing of your own and treat your sweetie to a little special something.
I’d love to know how you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day — a grand date night or a night at home?
We are celebrating a few days early with a show at the WAC!
We have been together for over 10 years and were actually friends before we dated. I think that is the best way to know you are right for each other.
We were friends before we started dating
we have been married for 12 years and we are best friends
We have known each other since childhood, went to different schools then met again while traveling abroad.
Our 6 month anniveersary will be on Valentines Day!
We compliment each other in many ways, very good friends. We will be celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary in April and our first date was on Valentine’s Day, 29 years ago. We know each other very well and are very supportive and encouraging 🙂
I think we are special because while we are both very independent, we work really well together as a team.
We love each other and are the best of friends. We became friends before we were romantic.
We’ve known each other 20 years and just had our 4th baby!
I am single so I don’t have a sweet.
We are best friends and constantly make each other laugh and smile.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
We have a lot of respect for each other and still act like we’re highschoolers in love!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
What makes my sweety so great is that he always thinks of the little things. Like doing the laundry or making dinner for me before I get home from work. He is considerate.
My husband and I have been together since I was 16 and he was 17, we got married at 19 & 20. A lot of people gave us a hard time for being too young to get married. We just celebrated our 12th anniversary on February 2nd. We have three beautiful sons and our love for each other is stronger than ever. In May it will be 15 years together for us and we’ve only ever fought twice. We are each others best friends and greatest support.
We really enjoy each other’s company.
Our 7 years anniversary will be on Valentines Day!
We were good friends before we were sweets. That counts for a lot.
We are happily (un)married and loving it! Plus we have a wonderful little boy! 🙂
We have great communication!
We love to laugh with each other.
My husband and I enjoy traveling together.
we are best friends
He makes me laugh and vice versa
I don’t have one. That’s why I need this instead.
No Valentine this year but I love everything about love & chocolate and wine pairings!
We love that we are the best of friends and that we have such a great relationship
I am married to my high school sweetheart!
Oh I would have to say that we are best friends and love surprising each other with little random acts of kindness!
My husband and I have been together for 23 years and through those years we have demonstrated unconditional love for one another.
We have a good sense of humor.
My husband and I have been together for 26 years. It’s been a wonderful ride and we love our three beautiful children 🙂
We both have a wonderful sense of adventure!
I don’t have a sweet, but I’m okay with that. I have more time to focus on my son (my sweet) and getting our lives where they need to be. So, here’s to a great future! Happy Valentine’s Day! 🙂
We have 3 kids together and without my husband I couldn’t do it. He’s there to help and do anything needed even after working a long day.
We have a lot in common and are best friends!
The fact that we were best friends first and then lovers.
What’s special about our relationship? We are best friends, my husband and I, and we have been together for 26 years. Lots in common and balance each other out 🙂
My husband and I have been married for 36 years. He is the most generous, caring, wonderful man, and I love him more every day!
That we’ve known each other for so long and can tell each other everything!
The most special thing about my sweet is that he’s my best friend. And he is awfully sweet!
We have great communication and the same sense of humor.
He is my best friend. I can’t imagine being married to anyone else. We are a sweet pairing
Spending a great time together & actually being there for each other. & the time of years of knowing him.
We can finish each other’s sentences.
I am so blessed to have my best friend as my companion for life!
We have been together 18 years and can still make each other laugh
We are engaged and have a baby boy!
We really enjoy each others company and have the same sense of humor so we always make each other laugh..
We are best friends, We make each other laugh, We lift each other up and most important we both put GOD first in our relationship
That he’s the sweetest guy who knows everything about me. Sometimes I feel like he knows me better than I know myself. He’s my biggest advocate and I love him to the moon and back.
We keep other in check.
My husband and I respect each other. We are a team. It’s truly special.
We have been best friends since Jr. High, so we’ve known each other for years. We always know what the other is thinking. It’s great since we now have 3 kids to chase around! He’s an amazing Husband and Father.
We’re special because we are an interracial couple with a 22 year age difference! And he is the love of my life so I wouldn’t have it any other way!