Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.

By Shereen Travels Cheap
Contributor profile | More stories

Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Destination Date Night: Parisian Valentine's Day

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 18:20

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.

Valentine’s Day is already next week. If you haven’t planned anything yet, it’s okay, there’s still time to get the most coveted reservation, the one at home with your sweetie. If that doesn’t sound all that exciting to you, what if I told you that you’d be taking them to Paris (or really any city they’ve been dreaming of)?

In 2022, we took a vacation to Paris, and it was awesome, but not every year can be a Paris year. In fact, I know I’m privileged to have been to Paris once, much more than that. So, if Valentine’s Day snuck up on you, I’m going to show you how you can pull together a romantic staycation over this week, if you get on it right now.

This is one of those times I decided to make all my own food, which is unusual, because I like to get a meal delivered, and you might want to, too, but if you don’t, following is the list of foods I made. I wanted as much to be heart-shaped as possible and I wanted to do a tea time spread, as that is one of our favorite things to do:

Mini Hasselback potatoes: loaded version
Radish tea sandwiches - I cut the bread into hearts and froze and I also added a little radish heart on toothpicks
Cucumber flowers with dill butter - I did these as open-face and cut both the bread and the cucumbers into flower shapes
Sweet pea and leek tartlets – instead of using big tart pans, I used heart-shaped baking tins from Michael’s
Salmon petits toasts – I made the filling for this and instead of toasts, I spread it on tortillas, cut them into strips, and then rolled and used toothpicks to shape them into a sort of heart shape
Curry chicken tarts – I actually purchased a container of curried chicken from Trader Joe’s and put them in phyllo cups I had in the pantry
Savory peach tarts - I couldn’t find fresh peaches, so I used canned peaches that I dried off between paper towels, and used hot honey instead of cooking the peaches with chili flakes. I also cut my puff pastry into heart shapes

I set my coffee table with a pink sequin tablecloth that was actually a curtain panel, added a heart runner for an interesting look. I also got a 3D travel-themed Valentine’s Day card, in place of my usual flower centerpiece. All my tablewear (runner, tiered tray, heart dessert server, heart plates) came from Target. I used red napkins I already had, mismatched teacups from my cabinet, and my bird teapot. We drank a chocolate raspberry tea that I received for my birthday, and I also had a mini bottle of rosé prosecco.

If you can’t find these items at your local Target, don’t have a local Target, or don’t want to use what you already have, here are some items you can sub in and get before V-day:

Heart shaped plates: melamine | paper | ceramic
Tiered serving tray
Cake/dessert display
Heart baking tins | heart tart pans | heart ramekins
Conversation heart napkins
Heart table runner
See-through, stovetop tea kettle with infuser (on sale right now!) | I love this affordable red polka-dot kettle | or if you’re looking for a traditional teapot
Tea bags – if you’re using loose-leaf tea, I find that these (I actually use the Coffee Sock, but they won’t deliver before the 14th) are actually better than every other infuser I’ve used.
Mini cookie cutters | if you just want hearts, here’s a set
Barbie champagne flutes | or maybe these cutie floral wine glasses
3D Valentine’s Day card | Paris themed card

As a background, I picked a Parisian river view with the Eiffel Tower behind it. If you’ve followed my destination date series, then you know I usually do two backdrops, and this time I did, too, but used the second one in a different way. I wrapped our TV stand with a rose garden backdrop, because we watched a few videos of a Seine cruise.

You can pick up fun things like these ring pops or Valentine head boppers or glasses at your local dollar store. These glasses Eric has on are actually blue, which you can see in other pics, but somehow came out green in the pics where he’s wearing them. Mine are pink, but almost disappeared in pictures.

I probably spent the equivalent of a fancy dinner out on this destination date, but I didn’t have to hear a bunch of people’s conversations, I didn’t have to dress up (you can), and I didn’t have to drive anywhere and wait for my table to be ready. We had a fun time and it was a nice, relaxing, and romantic evening in. I hope this gives you some good ideas for your own romantic evening in. If you want more tips for things to do outside of your home, here’s my post on how to do a romantic staycation on a budget.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, if you celebrate. All of these ideas can also be used for a Galentine’s or Palentine’s celebration. Cheers!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may be monetarily compensated. It’s free to you to do so, and it helps me keep this blog running, to bring you more useful travel tips.

Want to read more tips for traveling worldwide on a budget? Check out my blog at Shereen Travels Cheap or find me on Facebook or Twitter. You’ll also find product and website suggestions, packing tips, current deals and a whole lot more to help you travel better for less!

Source: http://www.shereentravelscheap.com/2024/02/destination-date-night-parisian-valentines-day.html.html

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

LION'S MANE PRODUCT

Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules

Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.

Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.

Comments

Online:
Visits:	1,655,879,587
Stories:	8,291,647