Flowers, Candy and Chaos
Show you care on Valentine's Day
By Christina Ipavec, Staff Writer
February 14, 2008 | 11 a.m.
Valentine’s Day may be on its way, but you don’t have to break the bank to show that you care.
Feb. 14 is generally a day that people either love or absolutely despise. For those who hate it, the sentiment may be due not only to their relationship status (I’m guessing “single”) but also to the commerciality of Valentine’s Day that has grown through the years.
Valentine’s Day is not about ridiculous, red teddy bears or candy that will only add to your caloric intake. What has happened over time is that the public has forgotten that Valentine’s Day is supposed to be meaningful and not just another way to max out your credit card.
Here are some Valentine’s Day tips that not only will save you money but also will make your significant other feel more special than if you gave them a hundred teddy bears. You don’t have to hold a stereo over your head outside your valentine’s window and blast “In Your Eyes” in order to be sweet on Valentine’s Day. In fact, that is pretty creepy. Nor do you have to shower the person with 50-plus balloons or Hershey’s chocolate kisses. Fortunately, many more creative ways exist to make someone feel special that don’t involve obnoxious displays of affection.
Instead, you can give your valentine a “mix tape” CD with some cute, meaningful songs on it. (This is great for a couple, but it can also work for a “crush” situation). But for the love and appreciation of everything that is original, DO NOT include “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt. Seriously -- don’t do it. Here are some songs I recommend: “The Way I Am” (Ingrid Michaelson), “Above Me” (Rufio), “Anyone Else But You” (The Moldy Peaches), “Such Great Heights” (Iron and Wine), “Everything” (Michael Bublé), “Butterflies” (Sia), “Somewhere Out There” (Our Lady Peace) and “Colorblind” (Counting Crows).
If that’s not your style, you can do many other things to show affection. You can buy the person a single rose (red or pink) and maybe write a sweet, handwritten note (which is pretty much unheard of because we type everything now). If you are a musician, you could write a song for someone. (Then again, many people are musically challenged, so don’t do it if you can’t sing or play an instrument.)
For those of you who are heavy procrastinators (like myself), here are a few last-minute ideas for what you can do for your special someone. You can drop cute little hints his or her way throughout the day, so you can buy more time to actually plan something concrete for the evening — text, write a thoughtful e-mail, write a Post-it and leave it somewhere visible, write on his or her Facebook wall…whatever. If you have absolutely no good ideas, stick with the traditional “romantic dinner.” Here are the general ingredients for that: white candles (tapered or tea light), flowers, nice clothes and dinner.
In terms of the food, I recommend salad, accompanied by pasta or chicken. Definitely steer clear of the Easy-Mac and the Ramen noodles. After all, we are college students — when it comes to processed macaroni and cheese or three-minute noodles, the cat has been out of the bag since the first week of freshman year.
Basically the point about displays of affection on Valentine’s Day is this: Be creative. If you are inspired, then GO FOR IT! For all you singletons out there, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to survive Valentine’s Day without a significant other with which to share it. Instead, think about it this way: This is an opportunity to show that you care about YOURSELF. After all, it is mid-quarter, and you have probably worked hard. You deserve to feel amazing, so plan something nice for yourself -- you’ve earned it!
Personally, I have a few tentative ideas for Valentine's Day (or as I like to refer to it, Valentine’s Week). Lately, I find myself feeling pretty homely. I work three days a week cleaning kitchenware aside from my full-time course load, so I don’t have loads of time to paint my nails, style my hair or put on the usual makeup. And maybe I don’t have a real date on Valentine’s Day, but I have scheduled a low-light and a haircut at the local salon, and that’s just fine for me.
I’m also going to plan my own “date” with the one man who never fails to make me feel great about myself: Charles J. Ping. Our relationship has been on and off lately because of the winter season, but I really do miss our times together. If you have some time and want to do something constructive, go work out — it can only help, and it is a great way to feel awesome about yourself.
On the evening of Valentine’s Day, try to get some of your other single friends together for a movie night. Rent a good flick, microwave some popcorn, and order some pizza. You won’t be lonely, and you will all have a great time.
The bottom line is that Valentine’s Day is about doing special things for special people. If you’re part of a couple or even if you’re on your own, it can still be a great day for anyone if you just put thought into it. This year, make it a memorable Valentine’s Day.
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