Skip the Scene & the Sitter. This Year, Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Home.

Valentine’s Day in a restaurant: a) romantic or b) amateur hour? If you picked ‘b’, a night in with a fabulous meal and the one you love may be enough to cure your Valentine’s Day-itis. Here are a few ways to make it a night to remember.

1. Dress It Up. Just because you’re having a meal at home doesn’t mean throwing on your comfiest pjs for a night in front of the TV. Don that sexy cocktail dress and his smartest suit to show off the stylish couple you are. Prefer something more casual? Pair your favorite jeans and top with a great pair of shoes.

2. The Meal. Pick up a copy of The Date Night Cookbook (romantic recipes for the busy couple) and make it a meal to remember. The first book by Meredith Phillips, a classically trained chef who you may know better from her stints on ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, the recipes are simple yet elegant. The book is equally suited for the coffee table with its beautiful pictures. Plus, a section in the back puts menus together for you and there’s even a section on ‘16 super-quick dishes for busy weeknights’. Learn more and buy here.

3. The Scene. Skip the TV tonight and pull out some of your favorite tunes from your early days as a couple. A little romantic jazz or R&B (check out the Brand New Heavies) goes a long way in the romance department. Dim the lights, light some candles, sprinkle some rose petals, pop open a bottle of bubbly. Looking for something a little more adventurous in the bedroom? Check out The Liberator for bedroom adventure gear, lingerie and ideas.

4. Get Creative. Remember those ‘coupons’ you used to give your parents for presents when you were a kid (1 coupon to wash moms car, 1 coupon to mow the lawn without whining)? Write up coupons for the one you love on red, pink and white paper (good for 1 back rub, good for one dinner at your favorite restaurant, good for a little… check out the The Liberator to get in the groove) and put it in a jar with a bow.

Sure, Valentine’s Day can be amateur hour, but it doesn’t have to be. Have fun with it this year and you may just find yourself celebrating Valentine’s Day throughout the year.