Raspberry Jam Filled Heart Cookies + 40 Valentines Day Ideas

Do you think of Valentines Day as a greeting card holiday or a day lovers express their love for one another? I prefer to not think of Valentines Day as a Hallmark Holiday. Call me old fashioned, but it is nice to have one day out of the year to pay special attention to the one you love.

Valentine's Day is one of the most romantic days in a year. So it is natural that each one of us wish to celebrate this day in our own special way. But the question arises as to how to celebrate this wonderful day in a special and unique way. Use your own romantic and thoughtful ideas for creating a unique Valentine's day celebration. There are numerous valentine ideas and tips but the first and foremost thing to be kept in mind is to create the love ambience around you and your beloved. Your valentine day gift to your beloved need not be expensive but it should be straight from the heart.

40 Valentine’s Day Ideas:

A Valentine’s card, whether it’s cute, classy or traditional, is considered the most important item to receive on Valentine’s Day – personalize it by writing more than just love and your name.

Home-made gifts show thoughtfulness, consideration and creativity- think along the lines of home-made cookies, a personalized photo frame or a delicious three course dinner for extra brownie points.

What you write in your personalized Valentine’s day card says way more about your relationship than what you buy. Be sure to put the date and year, so you can look back over time.

Personalized messages and private jokes show openness and the ability to be honest about your feelings. Be somewhat careful unless you can guarantee no one will read it beside you and your loved one.

If you want to write a poem - remember it doesn’t have to rhyme to be romantic – so just give it a go. Check out the internet for ideas if you have writers block.

Think staying home – enjoy a home-cooked meal, foot massage, bubble bath or even agreeing to watch sports or Desperate Housewives are all activities that are easily achievable and just as effective as love hearts and roses.

It's no secret that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Create a decadent, sexy supper for your loved one and ensure romance from the first course through the sweet ending.

Don’t worry about restaurant reservations - this Valentine's Day, the real romance is at home. And best of all, it doesn't involve a five-course meal with hours of preparation (less cooking leaves more time for canoodling!).

Shower him with kisses by putting on bright red or pink lipstick and smooching post-it notes. Write a note on the post-its that there's more where those came from and stick them in his laptop bag and wallet when he's not looking.

Serve your partner breakfast in bed to set the tone for a heart filled Valentine's Day. Use heart shaped cookie cutters to make heart shaped pancakes or French toast. Add red food coloring to the pancake batter for an extra touch.

Are you looking for a romantic flick to watch with your love this Valentine's Day? Here is a list of movies that span the decades with unforgettable stories mixing passion and heartbreak. Here are a few classics to consider: Casablanca, African Queen, Love Story, Dirty Dancing, Ghost, Sleepless in Seattle, Jerry Maquire, Titanic, Love Actually and The Notebook

Sure, diamonds are a girl's best friend, but there are other ways to show some love this Valentine's Day. Here are a few last minute ideas for that one have you breaking bank: chocolates, romance novels, flowers, sexy yet comfy sleepwear, jewelry box and a gift certificate to a nail salon for a manicure or pedicure.

The first and most important thing you should keep in mind while thinking about romantic valentine ideas is the setting. Whatever romantic ideas you are considering, set a romantic atmosphere beforehand. This plays an important role to implement a successful romantic valentine idea. A passionate kiss to your beloved in the early morning sets the perfect mood for the day. If she/he is away from you, you can send message like 'Good morning sweet Valentine' or a small love note which he/she loves to treasure.

Send a romantic message through facebook of twitter to your loved one to start the Valentines Day celebration.

Recreate your first date – Maybe your first date was the standard dinner and a movie. If the restaurant where you dined is now out of business, dine in!

Create a Spa Day – Certainly this Valentine’s Day gift is ideal for ladies, but now a days many men will enjoy it too.

Create a Scavenger Hunt – Purchase a few small inexpensive gifts that your mate would be sure to like. Hide the gifts wherever you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Have a portrait drawn – Have an artist duplicate an image from a photo you submit, into a hand-drawn pencil sketch.

Create or buy a coupon book – be creative with this classic gift

Love letters - Send a love letter from a famous author every day starting February 1, then on Valentine’s Day present an original love letter. Purchase a beautiful box to give your last letter in and then you are able to store the other 13 letter.

Cater to your loved one: Set up the whole day to cater to the other person. TiVo or DVR their favorite shows, cook their favorite meals, run a bath and give them a massage. Be sure they don’t lift a finger for their special day.

Have a Spa day: Buy bath salts, candles, massage oil, pedicure products, etc., from the store and set up a spa at home. Invite the lucky lady or guy over and pamper them.

Make chocolate candy together - after the candy is made enjoy it together.

Take cooking class through a local culinary school or college.

Weekend get-a-way to a bed and breakfast – they are often quaint, quiet and perfect for a romantic get a way.

Skip the restaurant and crowds, make each other’s favorite dinner for the other person or make a “red” dinner together. Make spaghetti and tomato sauce, drink red wine, then bake a red velvet cake or cupcakes together.

Prefer to kick it old school? Stick to one of the classics, write a love poem, song, or just call to say “I love you.”

Serve breakfast in bed. Use cookie cutters and make heart shaped pancakes, heart shaped toast, and even heart shaped melons (watermelon or pineapple).

Use an old pill container and turn it into a 'prescription for love' and fill it with Valentine heart-shaped conversation candies. Create a label on your computer that says: Take twice daily with a kiss.

Romantic note in their lunch asking them to be your valentine

Leave little love quotes all around the house

Send him/her a dozen of their favorite flowers to work – think beyond the traditional roses

Serenade your sweetie with a long song such as “My funny Valentine” or another favorite

Wear pink or red lipstick and leave a kiss on the mirror, on a card or on a love note

Get a box of kids Valentines Day cards and fill them with love notes. Put them in a one large box or envelope for them to reach throughout the day. Perhaps have them choose one each 30 minutes.

Create a love song CD filled with Valentine’s Day related songs or love songs that describe your relationship.

Most local bars also throw together something special for Valentines Day, have a ball enjoying the music and some dancing with your partner.

Make your own Valentine's Day card. You can buy own special paper and use free software that you can get online.. You can use your own pictures and create your own poetry.

Cut out little pink and red heart notes. Write clues and messages on the hearts in obvious places for her to find. Send her on a treasure hunt with the notes. End up the evening with dinner, music, and dancing.

Role-play with your loved one and pretend you're on your first date. Recreate everything down to the last detail.

Raspberry Jam Heart Cookies

2 Sticks butter, room temperature
1 C. Powdered sugar
1 Egg
1 T. Vanilla
2 ½ C. Flour
1 t. Salt
Raspberry Jam
Powdered Sugar for dusting

In a stand mixer, cream together the butter and confectioners sugar on medium speed until smooth. Add the egg, vanilla and salt and mix well. Mix in the flour on low speed slowly until all is incorporated. Form the dough into a ball and flatten and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for one hour, until firm.

When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, a silpat or use a non-stick cookie sheet.

Roll the dough out on a well floured work surface to about ¼ inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters as desired. Half the cookies will have a smaller heart cut out of the middle. Bake about 6 to 8 minutes until lightly brown on the edges. Let cool.

Spread about a teaspoon of raspberry jam on the whole heart cookies and with the cut out cookies, dust with powdered sugar and place gently on top of jam cookie. Repeat process until all cookies are complete.