Let’s just get this straight. I like Valentine’s Day. But I’m not talking about receiving gigantic bouquets and being taken to extravagant meals, I just enjoy the excuse to tell my other half exactly why I love him. But it doesn’t just have to be about your partner. Dads buying their daughters flowers, friends celebrating #GalentinesDay… its all about the love. And if there’s a day to celebrate it already in the calendar then why be a bah humbug?

Recently I asked you all what you’d like to read about this Valentine’s Day and a whopping 80% of you voted for ‘all about the little things’. Over 150 million cards will be signed, sealed (with a loving kiss #SWALK) and delivered across the world today. Before I find a pen and write in mine, I’m putting the spotlight on these little things, sharing some of the small but most appreciated gestures you and your partners do for each other.

So here you are you soppy buggers…

The other weekend I headed out for a walk around my East London neighbourhood and found myself wandering down Columbia Road. The Sunday flower market was coming to an end. Intimidating cockney sellers shouted last minute reduced prices to sorry looking passers-by between the dozens of Jurassic Park trees that were being carried by faceless bodies hidden among the foliage.

Surrounded by happiness and the intoxicating scent of lavender, I couldn’t help reflecting on the humorous walk (or should I say shuffle) Allyn and I shared in the market last year, picking out deadly penis shaped cacti together before I guarded said spiky plants from impaling strangers on our way home.

As I sneaked among the fragrant stalls of orange trees and extravagant bouquets, I couldn’t help watching the strangers around me. Couples holding hands stopping for a quick kiss among the crowd. A man toying between yellow or white roses. A young pair excitedly buying their first plant that they’d hopefully keep alive longer than mine and Allyn’s collection of suffering ones.

One thing I’ve learnt since being in love is the importance of these small memorable moments. Appreciated and recognised, they turn a good relationship into a great one, instilling the care, thought and romance that keep the love alive.

Allyn and I are quite the romantics, always challenging ourselves to come up with another creative personal gift for each occasion from an individually designed pack of cards to a beautiful drawing of where we shared our first kiss. It might cause a little self-stress at times but it’s how we best express our love.

Living as these romantic beings, we’re very good at the grand gestures that take a lot of planning, but equally put effort into the small notions that occur every day. The morning cuddles, taking care of the cook’s washing up, the trip to Tesco when it’s cold out and I’m snuggly… we’ve got it covered.

But this post isn’t about me.

I wanted to hear about your little things…. And here’s what you (and a few others) said. (You might want a tissue).

“My husband always warms my side of the bed, so I don’t have to sleep on the cold side when I get in!” – Really Missing Sleep

“He knows I love coffee, so he will make me a cup of coffee each morning.” – @ancaslifestyle

“My wife can instantly tell when I’ve had a bad day without me saying anything – her way to fix it? Wrapping me in blankets and ordering my favourite pizza, and it never fails to cheer me up!” – Rachael

“Occasionally, I would arrive home to find a small bunch of wild flowers or a brown paper bag of Liquorice Allsorts left on my pillow. And he never let me lose an argument with the children, relentlessly supporting me with a firm: ‘Listen to your mother.’ “- Jeannette Kupfermann

“Whenever my car ices up he’ll write a little message or a heart so I see it when I go to work” – Tam Loves Tea

“I love to give and receive a foot or back massage. I love the intimacy and care that goes into it and it makes you reconnect with your partner. It’s very romantic and costs nothing but your time.” – @kallenwriter

“My boyfriend and I have been doing long-distance for 3 years now and every so often we have a movie date night. We watch the same film and enjoy our favourite snacks together at the same time, while chatting on WhatsApp, even though we’re in different countries.” – @amy_b3ar

“Alan stopped putting his socks in the wash in balls because it drives me crazy” – My Mother

“My fiancé knows how much I absolutely hate cooking, so every single day he cooks our tea without question and if I offer to help he just tells me to sit down. He says it’s his way of looking after me and showing me he loves me. He isn’t someone who talks about his feelings but he has his own way of showing me how much he cares” – Super Mummy Secrets

“My boyfriend sends me pictures of cats on his jobs. He knows I love cats a lot!” – Zoe-Lee

“How he gets up in the middle of the night to let the dog out so I can sleep.” – Sparkles at Midnight

“My boyfriend has his own business so always works on Sundays. He’ll always come home with a littler treat for me – flowers, a bottle of wine, or some chocolates to make up for him not being there” – Coco Butter Blog

“He’s always brought me a cup of tea in bed in the morning because he knows I can’t function without one” – Sandra Howard, married for 39 years

“Date nights! A trip to the theatre or a curry, it doesn’t really matter what you do, but the quality time is so important.” – Fashion Mummy

“My fiancé is probably the most unromantic person I’ve ever met! But he’s the most thoughtful when it comes to the small everyday things and what really matters. Whenever he has to pop to the local shop he will always bring me back a little sweet treat and hide it in the fridge as a surprise” – Danielle Hannah

“When he tucks my hair behind my ear or tickles my back” – Lunar Lunar Blog

“My OH researches my health conditions to try and make life easier for me and those little things add up to a lot of love for me” – @codiekinz

“He always leaves out the cereal bowl he knows I like best for my morning muesli. And when we have friends round for a meal, and I offer up a familiar dish he’s had many times before, he’ll ask for seconds and lavish praise.” – TV presenter Janet Ellis, married for 25 years

“My husband gets up really early for work so I never see him in the morning. Every now and then he will leave a fiver or tenner on the kitchen counter for me – we joke that it’s my ‘coffee money’!” – What Kirsty Did Next

“I’m currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend so we always have little FaceTime calls throughout the day to keep up with each other’s lives. Even though we live over 3000 miles apart” – @beautyandbird

“If you love someone, you want to treat them, surprise them, remind them how you feel, whether that means a weekend away somewhere, or a bowl of fruit in the morning laid out in the shape of a heart. I know Victoria thinks I’m romantic like that.” – Mr Beckham

“He makes me a cup of tea every morning, ready for when I get out of the shower!”

“My boyfriend has a weird habit of not always getting a drink when we go and grab lunch. He insists he’s okay and doesn’t want one but every single time he either asks, or slyly nicks a swig of mine. I take the mickey out of him and call him a little shit, but in reality I pick things I deliberately know he’ll like so that, when he inevitably nicks some, it’s something I know he’ll enjoy” – HOLY CRAP BLOG

WELL.

Now I’m all gooey inside and not because I’ve just eaten a crème egg. *Casually wipes a snotty tear away*.

What little things do you and your partner do for each other? I’d love to read your stories in the comments below!

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