Spring is officially here and for all you kouples who found yourself hibernating in the dead of winter, it comes as a relief to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Congratulations everyone, we’ve reached Spring!

So, let the flower blossoms and allergies begin! We’re only kidding (but carrying along your partner’s allergy medicine when they’ve forgotten it is a great way to rack up those points).  Jokes aside, Spring is a wonderful time of year to slowly make your way out of your house with your darling, and enjoy the longer days and warmer nights ahead.  kouply has created a list of ideas you can do with your sweetstuff, so you can make the most of the wonderful and long waited Spring season this year:

1.    Flowers. Guys, in case you haven’t noticed, there are flowers everywhere and they are in full bloom right now. There is no time like this time to buy her some colorful Spring flowers just because…she will love it!

2.    Take a nice walk in the park. Walks are not only refreshing and meant for physical health; they can also be nice and therapeutic for you and your sweetheart too.  Besides, you haven’t had such opportunities to take a nice stroll with each other in months.  Get out of the house, go grab some Starbucks, and take a nice walk in Central Park, Stanley Park, Greenlake, or your city’s equivalent. 

3.    A Meal outside. Picnics are romantic and a great way to reunite with the outdoors as Spring comes along. You’ve missed nature! Find a nice quiet spot underneath the cherry blossom trees and share some tea sandwiches with a glass of white, on a blanket while taking in your natural surroundings.

4.    Outdoor Activities. Summer is just around the corner so get an early start on it by dusting off your bikes and helmets and take advantage of some outdoor activities.  If you’re hikers, nearby trails will be opening soon so find your local schedule and let the hikes begin! Watch for the animals that will also come out of their own hibernation and join you too!

5.    Host a Spring party such as an Easter brunch, book club, wine night, or a Spring-themed Potluck. If you’re a social kind of kouple, perhaps it’s time to pull out those serving dishes and invite your friends, including your favorite kouples, over (try not to get too competitive about your Kouply scores, though)!  Spring brings quite the variety of amazing seasonal vegetables so make sure to check out some fun spring recipes you two can tackle together.

6.    Plant a garden. We realize this requires time and work and expect a few squabbles here and there on plant placements, but at the end of a hard day’s work – you two will have a garden to show for.  This activity is quite fun and gratifying as you are able to harvest herbs and vegetables on your very own. Here’s one of the best benefits with this sort of activity: this kind of task makes for a great excuse to have a nice hot bath [um, we mean together] at the end of it all, wouldn’t you say?  Check out these spring gardening tips, or if you live in a smaller space you can still create a garden by reading here!

7.    Home projects. They don’t call it “Spring Cleaning” for nothing. The holidays are gone and this is the perfect time to purge your excess crapola together and get ready for a clutter free rest of the year. Perhaps some of those Christmas gifts are still not put away, hung up or returned.  Now is a great time to get started on some of these menial tasks which are simply better achieved when there are two of you. A few drop-offs to your nearest donation center and a happy house (and mind) you will have!

8.    Plan a Getaway. We’re talking beaucoup of kouply points for this one! Like Fall, Spring is a great season to travel since tourism in the hot spots is slowly picking up but not yet in full speed. Not only will places be less crowded than in a few months from now but prices will be significantly less as well. There’s nothing like a nice getaway together to rejuvenate and get a wonderful start on the fun and busy season of summer to come.

9.    Sports Game. That’s right, baseball and soccer season is starting up soon if they haven’t already. Attending a sports game together is always a fun thing to do, and if you’re not much of a sports fan, you can’t go wrong with a few hours out getting your fill of peanuts and beer together!

10.   Tour a Winery or Brewery. These places are usually gorgeous and with the improving weather why not make a trip to your local winery or brewery for that tour you’ve been meaning to do? After that doozy of a winter, you could use a little bit of love intoxication with one another… aren’t we right?

11.   Attend a local festival. From this time till Fall, let the festivals begin and now is the time to take advantage of doing some of these fun events with your honey bunches. Tulip festivals, salmon festivals, lavender festivals, even garlic festivals.  Uh yeah… look it up!

12.   Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn… So we’re not sure Pitbull had the same idea in mind as we did but he’s sure given us a great kouple’s idea! Perhaps there’s a new hotel which recently opened in your city that you’ve wanted to check out for a while.  Why not splurge on a night out with your cutie and create a getaway right in the comfort of your own city. You can plan dinner, theater or a movie, and stay a night in this hotel you’ve been eyeing for weeks now. Be as sappy as you want, we’re absolutely fine with it!

13.   Adopt a puppy or kitten. That’s right, you heard us! Become a parent… to a pet who’s just waiting to be adopted by you! It’s been on your mind for months and while you’ve come up with every excuse you can think of, now is as good a time as any.  In fact, Spring is the perfect time to adopt a new family member such as a cute little puppy or kitten.  Why? Well, for starters if you’re adopting a puppy, potty training them is so much easier on the both of you when the weather is nice enough to take them outside as often as they need to. You can also go on nice long walks and get ready for summer fun as your little furry one grows bigger.  What are you waiting for?

Alright folks, we hope this triggers some fun kouple’s activities out there and allows you and your sweetheart to spend some quality time together this Spring.  Sweep away those cold winter blues and get out there and enjoy the nicer temperatures, wonderful surroundings and longer days together.  

-kouply, the game couples play. 

Whatever your thoughts are on Valentine’s Day; being an iconic day of love or believing it to be a commercialized marketing ploy to make couples feel terrible and disappointed due to missed expectations, the fact remains this day is always going to exist. Yes, ladies and gentlemen – Valentine’s Day is not going anywhere anytime soon so you can choose to accept this mission of commercially-claimed love, or forgo acknowledging it and risk a weeping loved one whose friends all received romantic cards and candlelit dinners… IN BED. Sadly, there were no fortune cookies involved in that either.

So, please avoid being a shmo on Valentine’s Day.

We love-endorsers at kouply would like to help you stay out of the dreaded dog house this year and help you with a few easy tasks in making this love day a special one for your significant other. In thinking about Valentine’s Day, kouply came up with a list of ideas which you can do.

The Card… The Card… THE CARD!

This is singlehandedly the most important aspect of the holiday. If you forget everything else, DO NOT FORGET THE CARD. A handmade card is adorable but if you’re like 99% of the population and don’t have time to do cut-outs, glitter and think up sweet little lyrical nothings, buy a bleeping card. Make sure you say a few nice things in it too because “Love, John” just doesn’t cut it. Even if it’s a “Love the socks you wore today, Love John” that’s STILL better.

Now that you have the card, here are some ideas to make Valentine’s Day a little bit more special for your loved one…

The Music Lovers: I know a couple who does this on the regular and will spend an afternoon wandering from record store to record store, diving into boxes of classic records and world tunes. For music lovers, this activity can make for a fun day with your loved one. Throw in lunch at a nearby diner and a little bit of dessert at your favorite bakery and I think you might have ROCKED your loved ones world this Valentine’s day. Um, no pun intended.

Gift ideas for this theme: iTunes gift card, vintage records, record art, DJ spinning lessons.

For the Techy Couple: 4 words of advice on this one… GET OFF YOUR LAPTOPS. We realize techy people just do this kind of thing all the time. I’d be lying if I didn’t say 4 nights a week my husband and I are doing this very thing together, side by side. For this special day, however, close the laptop and get out there and do some OTHER fun techy things together. So how about a trip to the Sony, Apple or Microsoft store to look at some new gadgets on the way to your favorite restaurant? If you’re gamers, what about a love match of Kinect or Wii together followed by a candle-lit bubble bath with accompanying chocolate covered strawberries? Maybe surprise your loved one with a new fun case on their phone and change it out when they’re not looking!

Gift ideas for this theme: A new iPhone case by Argent Designs, Kinect, Apple Store gift card.

For the Sweethearts: And we are not kidding when we say “SWEEThearts.” How about a chocolate tour at your nearby chocolaterie? Seattle’s Theo is a great example of how you can spend a few hours indulging in tasty chocolates with your loved one. For those of you gifted at making your own decadent delicious-ables, heart shaped brownies are something fun you can do for this holiday of love or even a homemade heart shaped meal. Don’t feel cheesy, it’s cute! Some cities offer chocolate tours which makes for a nice gift for both of you in spending your Valentine’s Day full of sweetness.

Gift ideas for this theme: Frans chocolates, Shari’s Berries, Edibles bouquet, box of chocolates – a nice box with an assortment of their favorite chocolates.

For the Brangelina Couple. If gifts, chocolates, flowers and nauseating mushiness are not your thing, why not plan a day together volunteering for an organization of shared interest? Nothing is more meaningful than to give back in a way which is important to both of you. In fact, it’s kind of hot! Whether it’s cooking for the homeless, planting trees in your state, or enrolling in a big sister/big brother program, this can be one of the most satisfying Valentine’s Days you’ve ever spent together. After all, nothing melts your heart more than working with your loved one on bettering the world.

Gift ideas for this theme: gift donation to your loved one’s favorite charity such as www.seeyourimpact.org and www.jolkona.org.

For the Creative Souls. Whether it’s making a homemade meal of fun new recipes for your loved one using Chalkboard China and writing sweet little nothings on your dinnerware, or attending a pottery class together making beautiful art you can showcase at home, there are quite a few options creative souls have to choose from. A cooking or photography class together counts too!

Gift ideas for this theme: chalkboard china entertaining pieces, art supplies, new cookbook, camera.

For the North Face Kissy-Face Couples. Winter may be here 6 weeks longer according to Punxsutawney Phil, which is why spending Valentine’s Day in a cabin somewhere far in the mountains can make this holiday that much more steamy… and dreamy. Lock yourselves up in a chalet somewhere, away from all the city madness and enjoy a weekend cooking, reading, relaxing full of bubble baths and candlelit massages. Oh, and if you get cabin fever, get some fresh air by taking a nice hike outside, underneath the snow clad trees, walking hand in hand. Yes, we think it’s really romantic too.

Gift ideas for this theme: North Face snow boots, new ski goggles, kindle.

For the Spa-Dwellers: A day at the spa has become a trend which is not intended only for women these days but men love their spa days too! For those men still a little bit uncomfortable with manning it alone and getting a needed mani, pedi and massage solo, no woman I know would be upset over spending a day at the spa with her loved one. Yes we know, life is tough but somebody’s gotta do it. If you’re looking for some relaxation time in the comfort of your own home why not recreate your ideal Zen experience right at home? Run a bath with your favorite bath beads, use up that nice exfoliating scrub your Aunt Mildred got you for Christmas this year, topped off with a nice head and foot massage. Try throwing in some champagne and strawberries and this will be an occasion to surely knock your Valentine’s socks off… and maybe a few other things, too!

Gift ideas for this theme: aromatherapy candles, your loved ones favorite skincare, matching spa robes.

For the Parents who want to make this day special together. I have friends that have their date nights but prefer to spend big occasions such as anniversaries and Valentine’s Day with their kids included. There’s something very sweet and thoughtful about these traditions. How about a home-made pizza night on Valentine’s Day where it is a team effort to make heart shaped pizzas from scratch with your favorite toppings? A trip to the zoo or children’s theater is also a fun event for the family. For big points, plan a few days at a nearby spot such as the beach or exploring the charm of a smaller town.

Gift ideas for this theme: A mother’s necklace, framed photo of you and your children they can bring with them to work, voucher for a date night out.

For the Health-Conscious couple. For the couple who likes to keep it healthy, the day of love does not necessarily have to involve chocolates, sweets, and other indulgences.Ever heard of an ionic foot spa? A nice detox together might make for a nice Valentine’s Day affair followed by a meal at the latest organic farm to table restaurant nearby. What about a yoga retreat together or a planned day full of favorite outdoor activities with a picnic lunch?

Gift ideas for this theme: goodie box full of healthy indulgences (chia seeds, gluten free baked goods), Pilates voucher, and new Lululemon yoga pants — because every derriere looks amazing in them, man or woman.

And lastly…. For the Standard. Although we are trying to encourage new and different activities for various types of couples and interests, the fact remains, many still like to keep this holiday of hugs and kisses fairly standard.Surprising your loved one with flowers at work always makes a big statement, along with a box of chocolates. For a special touch, bake your Valentine a heart shape cake, or cook your sweetheart heart shaped pasta!

Gift ideas for this theme: the usual goods – chocolates, flowers, dinner. Also check out Jack Black “Silver Mark” cologne for your men, ladies. Guys, Miss Dior Cherie is a timeless classic full of sophistication. Both Amazon and Nordstrom carry these scent-ual fragrances.

Whatever it is you decide to do for your loved one this Valentine’s day, you can’t go wrong if you stick to one ingredient – thought. Put a little bit of thought into it and let your loved one remember it forever. Oh, and see how nice it feels to sleep in your bed this February 14^th after all!

For more thoughtful ideas, check out the Trending Actions on kouply at http://www.kouply.com/

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