The way we live and how we spend time with one another is constantly changing. With Valentine’s Day 2021 coming up, so we have compiled a list of unique ways to celebrate.
Connect through Culture
This is a great way to get to know who you’re dating a little bit more. South Africa has pretty cool heritage sites you can visit all over the country, so plan a fun day out rediscovering your history and culture. Or you could mask up and take a museum tour or visit a local art gallery.
Game Night
Friendship is an important part of any relationship. So dust off the board games or get HeadsUp on your app store for a few hours of fun. Have a karaoke challenge in the living room. Or if you’re a serious gamer you could also teach your partner how to play one of your favourite games. Perhaps they’ll understand your attachment to your console more, or not.
Cook Together
Arrange a cook-off and test which of you has the greatest potential for culinary school or Masterchef, or you can simply prepare your favourite meals together. Spending quality time together is what matters most of all.
Breakfast in bed
If you’ve already reached level 3 and above in the relationship, preparing breakfast in bed for your partner is one of the sweetest acts of love. To up your game, try the simple pancake recipe below. You’re welcome.
Ingredients
150g plain flour
Pinch of salt
2tsp Caster Sugar
2 eggs
350ml milk
2tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, blended with 3tbsp hot water
Vegetable oil
Golden syrup
Method
Put the flour, salt, caster sugar, eggs and milk into a mixing bowl and whisk together to make a smooth batter. Pour about one-quarter of this batter into a separate bowl and beat in the cocoa mixture to make the chocolate batter.
Put the chocolate batter into a squeezy bottle (you could use a rinsed-out washing up bottle for this). Heat a non-stick frying pan and add a few drops of vegetable oil. Remove from the heat. Using the squeezy bottle, carefully ''draw'' a heart shape over the base of the pan. Heat gently until just set.
Ladle plain batter over and around the surface of the heart shape. Cook lightly until the batter just sets on the surface, then flip the pancake over to reveal the heart shape on the cooked side. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, then turn out onto a warm plate. Make 4 pancakes like this, keeping them in a warm place as you make them.
Serve the pancakes with strawberries and blueberries, drizzled with syrup.
Travel in the Living Room
We’re all spending more time indoors and finding unconventional ways to keep ourselves entertained. Consider spending the day or evening travelling online with WindowSwap, a website that allows you to enjoy the views from other windows in exotic locations around the globe. There are also stargazing apps like SkyView Lite and Night Sky that you can use to identify stars, constellations, satellites and planets by simply pointing your device to the sky.
Shopping
Personally, this is not one of my favourite activities but if you are dating someone who enjoys retail therapy consider taking them shopping for something cute, something sexy or whatever they please (if the budget allows).
Make a Vision Board Together
Dating with intent is actually a thing. Have a conversation with your partner about the things you are excited about in the year to come and start making plans together. Whether you’re planning on moving in together or saving up for a holiday, these are conversations that will strengthen your bond and ultimately help you achieve your goals and vision as a couple.
