My husband and I are like most people these days: super busy. With all the competition for our time and energy, romance sometimes has to take a backseat. But we always make time for each other on Valentine’s Day.

You don’t have to spend a lot of time planning an evening or spend a fortune on flowers and chocolates to create a romantic day. Here are three simple ways to show your valentine how much you love them:

• Make a special meal. It doesn’t have to be fancy or time-consuming. Just make at least one of your valentine’s favorite dishes (mine’s chocolate) and serve by candlelight.
• Cut and paste your special moments. Make an electronic “collage of love” from last year’s photos and watch it together. By candlelight, of course.
• Send the kids away. It’s hard to be affectionate while the kids are making retching sounds in the background, so farm them out to friends or grandparents so you can kiss and hug in peace. And don’t forget the candlelight.

Valentine’s Day is the time to reconnect and remember why you fell in love. You can spend thousands or you can spend pennies — the important thing is spending the time you have with the one you love.

Your “Light The Candles” Gift Guru,
Linda