:( Weekend plans ruined!

luvdncn90

So M had made all these plans for this weekend to celebrate Valentines day. He hadn't told me the deatails just that he had a day planned in the city and a reservation to a really nice restaurant. We have been doing a long distance relationship for almost 3 years now and when I usually go to visit we mostly just hang out at home and go to dinner everyonce in while.

I was super excited for this weekend because it's something different and I was excited to get out and spend the day in the city instead of just hanging out at home, but we just got some bad news. His check engine light came on in his car, and he's worried it's something serious, so he has to go get it checked out which is going to cost quite a bit of money. I told him to take the money he was going to use for this weekend and put it towards his car because that is more important.

He's worried I'm upset but I completely understand. Money is tight for both of us right now and he really needs his car. I'm just a bit sad because I was looking forward to his big surprise and doing something different for a change, but oh well life goes on.

Any ideas of something sweet I could do for him for Valentines day that is free or really cheap. Lingerie already in mind!

niknik15

I suggest a picnic at the park. Thats what I have planned for us. It gets you out of the house, but doesn't cost anything.

calindi

Luv, you're being really selfless!  I'm sure your BF appreciates that you're being so understanding.

May I suggest still going out in the city during the day?  No reason you have to stay at home, just not a hotel.  Go to a museum, or see if there are any local theater shows.  Go out to a nice dinner, and then have a bottle of wine chilled at home with some candles you can light. 

Nik, she lives in Wyoming.  Probably a little chilly for a park right now!

desertsun

Living room floor picnic if it's too cold outside for you. Set up candles all over the living room, spread a blanket on the floor, cook dinner together, and focus on each other. It's amazing how romantic lots of candles can make an ordinary and familiar room.

Beads921

Our plans got ruined last weekend too, for different reasons, but it still sucks. As you say, life goes on.

My suggestion would be to go spend the day in the city. Have coffee at a cute cafe, window shop, and enjoy the atmosphere. Depending on your weather, outdoor skating is usually free (and fun!). Then you could make a fancy dinner at home later on. Doesn't have to be costly - it's amazing what some different spices can do, have some wine, and enjoy each other's company.

niknik15

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:81f7ac09-0a04-4fdf-8c32-3fb84c75b210">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE] Nik, she lives in Wyoming.  Probably a little chilly for a park right now!
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]

I guess your right Cate, I just thought that they would be used to the cold by now and they would enjoying snuggling in a blanket together. Desert also has a good point, an indoor picnic would be fun too.

coastiegrl25

Are you guys around an Advanced Auto Parts?  It's free to check the car when the light comes on... I may be misinterpreting what you are saying, but it sounds to me that he says it's going to cost a lot of money to find out what is wrong with it?  

Maybe take it to Autozone or Advanced and they can tell him if it is something serious...and if it's not then hey! even better!!

My car's check engine light comes on when someone doesn't tighten the gas cap all the way.  It's annoying because here in Jersey, we can't pump our own gas.  So we have to make sure we listen for when they are doing it and hope they did it well enough.  HTH!

[Deleted User]

I did a treasure hunt one year for my guy. He found lingerie, wine, strawberries, a dinner menu and dessert along the way. Each card had a message inside about why I chose the idem he found (ie: his favorite food, his favorite color, etc.). He really enjoyed searching around for everything...and in the end we had the makings for a very romantic evening! Didn't cost any more than a fairly normal dinner.

luvdncn90

Thanks for all the wonderful ideas ladies! I think I might ask him if we can still go and just do like you all suggested, window shop, maybe get some coffee or lunch at a local deli and then suprise him with a romantic evening at home with lots of candles, come wine, and some sexy lingerie!

@nik and calindi- We'll be in colorado for the weekend since it's where he lives but it's been suprisingly warm in the midwest lately sans the giant snowstorm we just got! It's supposed to get up in the 60's this weekend though, so an outdoor picnic isn't completely out of the question!

@Beads- I'm sorry your guys' palns got ruined as well! It's kind of sucky, but I guess the lucky thing is I still get to spend the weekend with him and see him

calindi

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:669d54d9-8af3-47bc-9a77-f8c537d3b8f0">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: :( Weekend plans ruined! : I guess your right Cate, I just thought that they would be used to the cold by now and they would enjoying snuggling in a blanket together. Desert also has a good point, an indoor picnic would be fun too.
Posted by niknik15[/QUOTE]

We're just spoiled with our weather!  BF and I tried to do a picnic in March in DC once... we gave up very quickly.

I love the idea of a living room picnic, though!  If BF wasn't such a klutz and would kick over a candle and light our house on fire, I'd totally do it!

luvdncn90

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:890a5e83-c3e5-4bfa-b32f-d215058908e6">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you guys around an Advanced Auto Parts?  It's free to check the car when the light comes on... I may be misinterpreting what you are saying, but it sounds to me that he says it's going to cost a lot of money to find out what is wrong with it?   Maybe take it to Autozone or Advanced and they can tell him if it is something serious...and if it's not then hey! even better!! My car's check engine light comes on when someone doesn't tighten the gas cap all the way.  It's annoying because here in Jersey, we can't pump our own gas.  So we have to make sure we listen for when they are doing it and hope they did it well enough.  HTH!
Posted by coastiegrl25[/QUOTE]



He lives in a very small town and they don't have one :( He thinks that he blew a fuse so he has to do a full engine check which apparently costs a bit more the a regular check! I know nothing about cars at all, my dad is a mechanic but sadly BF lives 4 hours away so my dad can't drive down to check it out for him for free. Sucky...</div>

luvdncn90

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:3be11313-cb48-420f-bb73-5102f68f1538">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]I did a treasure hunt one year for my guy. He found lingerie, wine, strawberries, a dinner menu and dessert along the way. Each card had a message inside about why I chose the idem he found (ie: his favorite food, his favorite color, etc.). He really enjoyed searching around for everything...and in the end we had the makings for a very romantic evening! Didn't cost any more than a fairly normal dinner.
Posted by allusive007[/QUOTE]

That is an awesome idea and so cute! A treasure hunt would be really fun! I think I might do this!
</div>

coastiegrl25

That sucks...sorry to hear that! I'll keep my fingers crossed that they run the cheap check first and it's something super simple!!  How does he think he blew a fuse though? What are the indications that it's that?  Is the car running well enough that he can just drive it down to where you are so your Dad can look at it?  

I don't know a ton about cars, but I've grown up around them being worked on and when I was in the Military I was an engineer and worked on the engines and such.  Anyway long story short, it could be something super simple!  

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:3c64853c-c544-4f53-b5b4-c8040bb5400f">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: :( Weekend plans ruined! : That is an awesome idea and so cute! A treasure hunt would be really fun! I think I might do this!
Posted by luvdncn90[/QUOTE]

It really was so much fun! And if you're traveling to him, it would be super easy to do the cards ahead of time and bring them with you. (Just buy food/etc. when you get to Denver!!)

luvdncn90

<div align="left">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:cf84de3e-a124-4fe6-a2b9-d5a5ab9013cd">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]That sucks...sorry to hear that! I'll keep my fingers crossed that they run the cheap check first and it's something super simple!!  How does he think he blew a fuse though? What are the indications that it's that?  Is the car running well enough that he can just drive it down to where you are so your Dad can look at it?   I don't know a ton about cars, but I've grown up around them being worked on and when I was in the Military I was an engineer and worked on the engines and such.  Anyway long story short, it could be something super simple!  
Posted by coastiegrl25[/QUOTE]

Well, they just got like a foot and a half of snow and he got stuck and ended up high centereing his car. So he was trying to get out and was really giving it gas and the check engine light came on and the cruise light started blinking. So he looked it up in his little manual and it said that if that happens it's either one of two things 1) he blew a fuse or 2) somethings wrong with his exhaust.

I told him that it's probably nothing but it's still important to get it checked out because those two things are serious. His car is a subaru and my parents both have one and their check engine lights come on all the time and it's nothing serious, so hopefully it's just that!

@Allusive- I have a ton of scrapbooking stuff so making the cards will be super easy and I have some money to buy some groceries and stuff! I think he'll love it, plus I have some special occasion lingerie that he hasn't seen in a while!</div>

heyimbren

Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favourite movies.

And I've noticed that they do tons of stuff in there on a low-budget. Seriously, Holly Golightly lives for window shopping, and I think the date she has with Paul/Fred at the end is so adorable- they just go around town taking turns doing things they've never done before. I've always wanted to do that; just have a full day of trying new things (I think they only spent like $10).

alanna91

I'm sure your boyfriend is also your best friend, so you can do almost anything with him and still have a good time! We went on a vacation to Niagara Falls, Canada a few weeks ago and we had way too much fun in the supermarket. I didn't just go to Niagara Falls for the supermarket though, really :P.

The libraries around here offer discounted or free passes to the aquariums and museums. The Museum of Science in Boston is always a good time, I'm sure there's something similar where you live!! Oh gosh, do I sound totally nerdy right now? I swear, my idea of fun consists of more than just museums and supermarkets!!

Your plans for this weekend may be ruined, but you can always do whatever he had in mind some other time...and maybe when the weather is nicer! It's always exciting to plan and look forward to fun  things like that

luvdncn90

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_weekend-plans-ruined?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:9bab064a-522e-4e88-affb-234da0b31ba6Post:a2b1e50f-efaf-4410-bd98-78fcb7a004cb">Re: :( Weekend plans ruined!</a>:
[QUOTE]Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favourite movies. And I've noticed that they do tons of stuff in there on a low-budget. Seriously, Holly Golightly lives for window shopping, and I think the date she has with Paul/Fred at the end is so adorable- they just go around town taking turns doing things they've never done before. I've always wanted to do that; just have a full day of trying new things (I think they only spent like $10).
Posted by heyimbren[/QUOTE]

<div align="left">Bren, he just told me he was planning a surprise shopping trip because he knows how much I love to shop...so now I feel like window shopping may be a bad idea because I think it will make him feel bad.

I love Breakfast at Tiffany's also, it's such a wonderful movie!
</div>

bsidebella

Okay, hear me out on this: go to IKEA.

I swear, if you have an IKEA near you, you can kill a day there for free. Well, not 100% for free - I dare anyone to go to IKEA and not eat the meatballs. But I was having a really bad day once and FI took me to IKEA and we spent hours window shopping and lounging on the floor models and in the fake apartment setups. We planned what we would do if we had a house. It was like one big pretend game and it was really, really fun. But I live for that sort of lame stuff.

If you don't have an IKEA, then go food shopping together and cook something you've never cooked before. Then watch an old romantic comedy or musical (personally, I suggest "Arthur" starring Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli). Turn off your cellphones, your laptops, dim the lights and be with each other.