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Valentine's Day. That stirs up feelings of romance, unforgettable food, and most important of all, amazing company. It's the time of year when you might be thinking about Valentine's Day dinner. Where should you go? Italian? Sushi? Considering this is DFW Texas, Tex-Mex and BBQ often tops the list. You quickly rule out BBQ because it's too messy. Valentine's Dinner at Home Vs. Dining Out Then reality sets in. Some places won't take reservations. Most places will be filled wall-to-wall. The waiter may pressure you to hurry because he needs the table for the next customers. It may be too loud that you can't hear your Valentine's thoughts. Or the music may not be your cup of tea. Guess what? It turns out that 90 percent of respondents in an Omaha Steaks survey say they wish their date would surprise them with a romantic dinner at home. They prefer to stay home to save money, duck the crowds, enjoy a quieter meal, and skip reservations. Bet you have a song that's special to the two of you. Why not celebrate at home? Play the music you want. Create a meal consisting of your loved one's favorites and yours. We've heard some amazing stories of couples who created a special Valentine's Day dinner in the comfort of their Sandlin Homes. Dinner Options for DFW Texas Homeowners Should you not feel up to cooking, you have delectable options. Eatzi's, Whole Foods, Central Markets, and other DFW markets offer many dishes that make it a snap to serve. Just turn on the oven and pop it in. Is there a dish, appetizer, or dessert from someplace that you or your dinner date adores? Plan ahead and call the place to order it for pick up. If you're up to the challenge to cook, the Internet overflows with romantic Valentine's Day dinner ideas for two. Here are a few that stood out:

• Sparking Sour Cherry Apertivo: Start the meal with a splash of red
• Conversation Heart Bark: Colorful treat that will use up the leftover Valentine's candy
• Slow-cooker Red Wine Beef Stew: You can't beat a power couple of wine and a slow-cooker
• Make-It-Together Valentine's Menu: An easy menu you can cook with your Valentine
• Heart-Shaped Foods: What's Valentine's Day without lots of hearts?

Creating a Romantic Setting People who live in Sandlin Homes get many options in our customizable floor plans. So you can design an adaptable dining room to set the right mood for romantic dinners and support plenty of company. Or perhaps you'd like to dine by the fireplace. You can request the fireplace space to be designed for both sitting in chairs or on the floor. Be sure to think about the lighting. You can explore ways to dim the lights or to make it brighter depending on the occasion and time of day. Then top it all off with flowers and candles in the room or on the table. Create a playlist that includes yours and your Valentine's favorite songs. Here are a diversity of ideas to extend the playlist:

• "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
• "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"
• "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"
• "Crazy in Love"
• "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
• "Endless Love"
• "Greatest Love of All"
• "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
• "I Will Always Love You"
• "It Had to Be You"
• "Just the Way You Are"
• "Love Is Here to Say"
• "The Rose"
• "Stand By Me"
• "Truly, Madly, Deeply"
• "Unchained Melody"
• "Unforgettable"
• "Up Where We Belong"
• "Wonderful Tonight"
• "You're the First, the Last, My Everything:
• "Your Song"

No matter which Sandlin Homes DFW Texas neighborhood you consider, you can count on finding everything you need from nearby stores and top-notch markets and restaurants to put together a romantic night at home.