December came rushing into my life so quickly that I never got around to creating an advent calendar. I was so disappointed until I realized I could redeem the idea for Valentine’s Day. There is something special about building up the anticipation for an event.

When Vitaliy and I were dating, we never really liked the idea of Valentine’s Day. We always felt that love should be celebrated in small doses on a consistent basis. That’s not to say that doing something big for your loved one is a bad thing. But if you only do something once a year because you’re obligated to, they’ll likely notice.

This Valentine’s countdown will give you a little bit of both. It will allow for small celebrations as it leads you up to the big day when you can go all out. We created it together and it made me even more excited for February to arrive.

Here are a few pictures to get you inspired and you can even take a peek at some of the ways we’ll be celebrating next month. Remember, you can click on the images to view them larger.

Like this date idea? You might also like this sunrise date.

Vitaliy and I used to walk the streets of Chicago in the dead of winter. I’d get back to my door room and I’d find my skin blistered from the downtown winds. But it was all worth it as long as I could spend a few more minutes by his side.

I recently pondered these memories and wondered would I still do the same thing today. I found that the answer was no. I had traded in my spontaneity for comfort. My creativity was put on the shelf and replaced with practicality. Something needed to change. It was me.

I saw a window of opportunity and decided to make the most of it. I wanted to give Vitaliy a date that required me to invest or sacrifice something. I didn’t just want to simply show up. He’s always wanted to watch the sunrise while I’ve always cringed at the idea of waking up early. So that’s precisely what we did.

My two cents for making this date a success:

→ Ladies, wear multiple layers, bring blankets, and a hot beverage.

→ Pick a day that allows for an afternoon nap.

→ Bring along something yummy for breakfast.

→ Have some books or a game on hand to enjoy once the sun is up.

→ Talk, cuddle, kiss – whatever your relationship is missing. Ours was prayer.