Restless Entertaining Expert Brian William Armstrong helps you plan an intimate, heartfelt evening.

In February while the weather outside is usually frightful, our thoughts indoors turn to The Feast of St. Valentine and romance. While it's easy to get caught up in the frenzy of tacky cards, over-priced flowers, tasteless boxes of flavorless candy, and off-hour dinner reservations in the run up to the holiday itself, the last thing romance should ever be about is fulfilling clichéd expectations. The point is to spend quality time with your loved one doing something that's actually meaningful to the two of you.

Disconnecting from the commercialism and hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day is the easy part. Once we've taken that leap, it's another jump to reach that point where the day becomes about the two of you and no one else. Meaning that champagne is always great, but when your partner announces that they've decided to train for a marathon, an economy-sized pack of tube socks may be far more meaningful than a magnum of Moet. Equally, a dozen roses is great, but if some gift-wrapped gizmo off a late-night infomercial you've been obsessed with makes you laugh and feel appreciated, well, there's no contest, is there? Outsiders may be baffled by your choices, but they should be; intimacy between two people is as much about understanding and appreciating each other's quirks as it is about anything.

As it is on V-Day, so should it be in real life, no? It takes real style (and careful thought) to break out of the mold and open your heart in a new, fresh way. Valentine's Day is a great place to start, but read on for some ideas that not only make Valentine's Day special, but will work any date you're in the mood to celebrate a fine romance.

Have A Romantic Indoor Picnic
Not a chef? Not to worry. Anyone can put together a simple romantic indoor picnic. Fill your picnic basket with a fabulous bottle of wine, a selection of three cheeses (something soft, something aged and something sharp), a beautifully crusted baguette, thinly sliced prosciutto (for something salty) a selection of fruit (seedless grapes and strawberries are always a safe bet) and a decadent chocolate (skip the seasonal candy aisle and go for the Gourmet section). Most of these items can be easily found at your neighborhood grocery store. Spread a cozy blanket and a few pillows on the floor, turn off all electronic devices and devour a delicious meal and each other's company.

Make Your Own Valentine: Any Day of the Year
True sentiments don't come from greeting-card writers; they come from you. Even if it's not the perfect sonnet, a personal handwritten note immediately makes your card a memorable keepsake, far more important than any store bought card could ever be. Need inspiration? Pull a passage from your diary where you gush about your budding love, attach a photo from your favorite vacation together, or make a Top Ten list of reasons why you love them so. Even old-school crayon drawings are fine, but I draw the line at macaroni art.

Remember that Cost is No Substitute for Care
When it comes to gifts, it's the thought that counts. When it comes to Valentine's Day, that's especially true. Don't get me wrong, everyone loves a little blue box, but it's much more romantic to get (or give) that surprise on a random Wednesday, than on Valentine's Day when it's practically expected. Valentine's Day presents a great opportunity to agree to stick to a $25 spending limit. It's easy on the pocketbook, but more importantly, it also has the added advantage of forcing the two of you to be creative if you're to find the perfect gift for each. The gift should be as unique as they are, and when possible, an activity that you can do together. A flat of flowers and two pair of gardening gloves, a tandem kayak rental, whatever the present, the true gift is the time that you invested in the search.

So whatever you do this Valentine's Day, make sure it honors the true meaning of the holiday - the celebration of love - your love, not the commercially-manufactured version. And don't be afraid to break out that spirit anytime the mood strikes you; true romance never goes out of style.

Enjoy!

REE (Brian William Armstrong)