I have to be honest with you guys, it wasn’t looking good at first. When Ryan and I took Sadie on a long walk around 10 a.m., I told him I just wasn’t feelin’ it. Then I got home and read this comment from Melissa:
I did the same thing this morning . . . planning to workout a little later & hoping it happens! I’m going to think of you as a virtual workout buddy today–I have to show up later because Julie will!
How could I not workout after reading that!?
So I trekked over to the gym with Ryan and took a BodyPump class after I completed 15 minutes on the elliptical.
It felt great. Like I always tell myself, I’ve never regretted a workout!
Valentine’s Day Mission
After the gym, Ryan and I split up to complete our Valentine’s Day Mission.
Each year we split up at the same time for two hours and head out to pick out Valentine’s Day gifts for each other for under $15. You may see what we got each other last year here.
This year we upped the budget to $20 (inflation + marriage 
) and I drove straight to one of my all-time favorite stores for bargains.
Marshalls!
I was initially going to go to Sports Authority to look for a new workout shirt for Ryan, but knew I’d have a much better chance of staying within our budget if I went to Marshalls. I ended up with an awesome $10 forest green Nike dri-fit shirt for him which he really seemed to like!
I also got a little side tracked…
How cute are these tennis dresses? I seriously debated taking up tennis so I could justify adding these dresses to my workout wardrobe.
After Marshalls, I hit up a few more stores to pick up random food-related goodies to round out a gift basket for Ryan.
A pit stop to Menchie’s for some frozen yogurt also occurred.
I think I may be addicted to fro yo.
I then headed home to exchange gifts with Ryan before heading out to dinner.
Gift Exchange
Our gifts to each other seemed to have a similar theme… food and exercise. Go figure.
For $20 I gave Ryan:
- Forest green Nike dri fit workout shirt
- Oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from Whole Foods (Our fav!)
- Gourmet spiced olives from the Whole Foods
- Cheddar + caramel corn snack pack mix from Kernel Encore
My gifts from Ryan included:
- Thorlo padded running socks (I love these!)
- Lots of fun-flavored gum (I’m addicted)
- Cheddar + caramel corn XL mix from Kernel Encore
Notice that we got each other the same popcorn? I guess we have a knack for buying each other the same presents.
I loved my gifts from Ryan and he seemed to like the gifts I gave him. Valentine’s Day success!
Valentine’s Dinner
After our gift exchange I headed off to get a hair cut at Great Clips (nothin’ fancy for this girl) before I came home to change and get ready for our dinner date this evening.
Ryan surprised me with reservations to Kres, a steakhouse in downtown Orlando that we’ve heard a lot about.
I think a lot of couples were celebrating Valentine’s Day this evening because Kres was filled with duos.
After perusing the menu, we placed our orders and enjoyed a warm loaf of sourdough bread.
Ryan and I shared a bowl of French onion soup with duck.
The soup was amazing! It had a lot of cheese and delicious onion slices throughout.
For our entrees, we shared blackened sea scallops, roasted Brussels sprouts and the Kres trio of lamb, filet mignon and garlic shrimp with au gratin potatoes and asparagus.
I was really excited about the scallops but they really disappointed me. Ryan wasn’t a huge fan either and neither of us liked the Brussels sprouts. (We brought them home for Sadie who loved ‘em.) Bust!
Luckily the Kres trio was fantastic. All the of meat was great and the au gratin potatoes were creamy and unbelievably cheesy.
Our waitress then brought us dessert menus and we immediately selected the crispy banana sundae.
Holy whipped cream! The sundae was really delicious.
We both said our date itself was fantastic though the food at Kres was only so-so. Fortunately it’s hard to have a bad date experience with Ryan. He’s a good time!
After dinner we walked around downtown Orlando before heading home to eat more popcorn. We’re in love with that stuff!
I’m off to hang with Ryan before my sister arrives in town for the evening! I can’t wait to see her! Sadie’s gonna flip when Aunt Leslie walks through the door.
I used to play and teach tennis – I LOVED the skirts! I still sometimes wear them to run in…
Kristina @ spabettie
Aw, that comment is so sweet! I’d definitely feel guilty about not going to the gym after that.
I love yours and Ryans gift exchange. So cute!
Happy (early) Valentines Day!
Erika @ FoodFitnessFun
I’m definitely setting a limit for my V-day spendage too
I LOVE Marshalls, no worries, all ladies get sidetracked in there!
Enjoy your evening with Leslie!
p.s. you two belong in a magazine!
Meg
So glad to hear you and Ryan had such a lovely celebration
Jess (Daly Authenticity)
That sundae looks incredible! And I love how you split up to look for gifts at the same time! So cute
Marshalls is awesome for their workout clothes! I always find a great deal there.
Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl
I love your gift exchange tradition! That sounds like such a fun idea!
Holley
Your hair looks great and you both looks so cute! And I love Thorlo socks for running! What a great gift, Ryan!
Jamie @ Food in Real Life
What a fun Valentine’s Day! And that banana sundae looks amazing. I was just telling my husband how much I’m craving an ice cream sundae right now!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles
Well, I’ve had sushi for dinner…and now, thanks to you, I’m putting on my mittens and trekking out into the cold for some froyo. Look what you’ve done!
Kim
That looks like such a fun Valentine’s Day! My fiance and I don’t really do the whole Valentine’s Day thing – but i love yours and Ryan’s Valentine’s Day mission! How cool!
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries
what cute tennis dresses! and it looks like you guys had a great time
that crispy banana split… MMM! i wonder if that would be good with peanut butter…. 
Holly
Girl, you are gorgeous! Love the V-day outfit
Gina
Your hair looks so gorgeous…and the two of you look like such a classy/happy couple. Sounds like you had a lovely night despite the food being sub-par.
StephyEats
Your gift idea is so cute! This year, my husband and I are apart. So we kind of splurged on gifts this year. I can hardly wait to see him next weekend to see what it is!
Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish)
Awww how cute!
Looks like a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Sorry to hear that the food was a bit of a disappointment. 
Katy (The Singing Runner)
You two are so cute! I love the idea of setting a budget and suprising each other with fun gifts. My bf and I usually don’t do V-Day gifts, but we do get cute cards and write our own personal messsages.
Glad you guys had fun!
Parita@myinnershakti
Your hair looks so pretty. I love the gift idea. I would like to try the olives. Do they come in a jar or are they in the deli section?
Kerry Ann
They’re actually in a separate section of just olives! It’s like a deli olive bar!
peanutbutterfingers
Love this Valentine’s Day idea! The gift exchange is too cute. You hair looks great! Nothing fancy for this girl either!
Stephanie
your hair is so healthy and amazing!!! wow!
ok $20…
well, i bought a card for my hubs and it was $5.99 plus tax. just a BASIC card from the groc store. Cards eat up a third of your $20 budget…such a ripoff! But that’s all i got him, and a little chocolate
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
French onion soup with DUCK? wha-wha-what?
I’m a nothin-fancy girl too — I have my boyfriend trim my hair (and he has no skills, just sayin), and we are keeping it low this valentines day. I feel like christmas was a week ago, no need to splurge on gifts again already!
I love your 2 hour thing. that is so brilliant and non-stressful. I think I’m going to whip that out next christmas for the boyfriend and I
RoseRunner
I love Marshall’s or TJ Maxx for workout clothes! They have the cutest clothes for the best prices!
You two look adorable!
Stefanie @TheNewHealthy
YAY! I did my workout, too!
Go us!!!
Glad you guys had a great time together . . . bummer on the scallops! They are one of my favorite foods & I’m always extra disappointed when they don’t deliver.
Melissa
You look so beautiful, I love your outfit (especially the coat!)!
Jessy
Aww you look so beautiful together!! And your hair is AMAZING!!
Lovely presents too! Looks like you had an awesome V Day celebration!!
Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner)
how fun!! i love how you guys split off and get gifts for each other- could you guys get any cuter?!?!
Carrie
Before you said you got distracted by tennis dresses I thought you had posted a picture of what you got Ryan in that first shot. I thought “that looks kinda girly with the collar and the V-neck but I guess Ryan could pull it off”. LOL
Sounds like a great date!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
I love the idea you guys do for gifts to eachother for Valentines Day, Mike and I just did cards, and I got him some of his favorite treats, and we are doing a dinner this friday ; )
U guys look so cute! Glad you had a wonderful night celebrating!
katie
I love how you guys split to go shopping! What a great idea! Looks like you guys had fun!
christina cadden
That’s such a cute idea to limit the spending for creative gifts.
It’s much more heart-felt that way.
And I feel you on the tennis skirts, I took tennis last summer and hope to do it again..definitelt reason enough to stock up on some!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss
How sweet! Great gifts for $20! Very cool.
OMG, your dinner + dessert looks fabulousssssss! Yum!
J3nn (Jenn’s Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
Great V-Day gifts! I love how you both got each other the popcorn!
That sundae looks out of this world good!!
Heather
Dinner looks fabulous! You and Ryan make a gorgeous couple!
Haleigh
I took up tennis 2yrs ago just for the fashion. Turns out tennis is a great workout and so much fun to play. The only bad thing is got a stress fracture in my shin from playing tennis and training for a half marathon at the same time. I guess it was just too much pounding on the pavement. Almost a year late I’m finally recovered and once I finish another 1/2 at the end of March I will start tennis again and only run a very little. Then in fall hang up my tennis raquet and train for another half. I love to plan things out.
Jess
I love those boots you wore on your date – v hot!
Sometimes when I’m thinking about not working out, I think about your 6am workouts and your motivational mottos, and it inspires me to just get up and go do it!
Geraldine
I absolutely love this idea! What a cute tradition.
Erin @ The Grass Skirt
That is too funny that you gave each other the similar presents.
I’m actually REALLY impressed that your hair is sooo cute after you get it cut at supercuts. I’ve tried cutting corners with my hair like that, and they always just kill it. I’ve had the worst luck. I’m faithful to my stylist now.
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter
That second pic of you two is fabulous! Hot!
Shanna
What a cute idea for a gift exchange (running off for 2 hours at the same time)-we might have to do this next year
loved your cute black/red outfit! have fun with the sista
Annette
aw, I love reading about other couple’s traditions! too cute
rebecca lustig
Awww, what a fun celebration y’all had! I love your idea of randomly spending $20 in a certain amount of time… calls for complete and total creativity! I think I may suggest this idea to my boy…. thanks for the idea
Allison@ Happy Tales
i love how you guys split up and go buy your presents, and those tennis dresses are adorable!
Jess@atasteofconfidence
What a fun Valentine’s idea! And I agree- tennis outfits are so cute!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy