Since Valentine’s Day, February 14, falls on a Sunday, how about a quiet relaxing dinner at home? You’ll have all day to leisurely prepare your night. (Guys, remember that cooking isn’t just for the ladies.)

Instead of starting with a menu - pick your favorite bottle of wine from the Dreadnought list, and then build your menu around it. You’ll be surprised how this switch in the order of thought will inspire you.

Forget the traditional roses and arrange a brightly colored spring bouquet for the table. It will help you forget how cold it is outside and that Punxsutawney Phil just predicted six more weeks of winter.

Match the color of your tapers with the flowers. When you’re picking up your wines, Palate Partners has a great selection of candles. You can also pick up a gift while you’re there: a book, Riedel stemware, a box of decadent Toffee Taboo. One stop shopping - we make it easy.

Set the mood with some mellow and romantic sounds. Pick up a new CD or download some news tunes from Alicia Keys’ The Element of Freedom, Nora Jones’ The Fall or Corinne Bailey Rae’s The Sea.

These ideas are just a start. Be creative and make Valentine’s Day 2010 memorably unexpected.

Photo by richiedean