Once a year, we deem it acceptable for girls to tote around stuffed bears, boxes of Godiva, and engage in endless amount of PDA on campus, when all we really want is to make it to class on time. Valentine’s Day is unlike any other holiday celebrated by collegiettes. It’s rare to come across a girl who dislikes Halloween, Christmas, or even New Year’s Eve, but for some reason, when the word “Valentine” enters one’s mind, a thousand thoughts come into play–and not always positive ones. Why is it that girls have such a difficult time with the idea of Valentine’s Day? For most of us single girls, it is a painful reminder of our current boyfriend-less status. We look at friends who are in seemingly perfect relationships and wonder why that can’t be us.
While I can’t hand you the perfect man to shower you with love and gifts, there are plenty of fun ways to make it through this Valentine’s Day without a man (or woman!) on your arm.
1. Girls Night In
Instead of staying in alone, call up all of your single girlfriends for a little low-key fun. Wear cute PJs, make your favorite mocktails, and snuggle up together on the couch and watch the Notebook. It might sound lame, but surrounding yourself with people who have the same shared disdain for Valentine’s Day is sure to make you feel better. You have people to complain to when Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams get over-the-top adorable, and you crave for a boyfriend to treat you that same way. Have each girl bring a Valentine’s Day themed snack, such as red velvet cupcakes or heart shaped sugar cookies. You know every other girl out there is devouring a box of truffles, so calories really don’t count tonight… right?
2. Pamper Yourself
We all know how stressed out us collegiettes can get, especially as second semester rolls around. Spend V-Day relaxing and pampering yourself by getting a mani/pedi, aromatherapy massage, or a calming facial. Light candles, grab your iPod, and zen out in a bubble bath. Not only will you be rested and rejuvenated for the week ahead of you, but you’ll be too relaxed to worry about your lacking in the love department. Maybe you’ll even fall asleep dreaming about the fabulous boyfriend you plan to have by next Valentine’s Day.
3. Hit The Theater
This year, a bunch of blockbusters are hitting the theaters on our favorite holiday. ‘The Vow’, starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams is sure to put us in the spirit of love. Grab some girlfriends and head to your nearest theater for a little popcorn and eye candy. So next year when you have that boyfriend you’ve been dreaming about for so long, you can make sure he treats you with the same charm as Channing would.
4. Volunteer To Show Others Love
This Valentine’s Day, seek out local food banks or soup kitchens in your area to donate time to those who are without much of anything this holiday. Not only are you serving your community and making a difference, but you will be making someone else’s day, even if yours isn’t ideal. The grateful looks upon the faces of happy people will be enough to change your mind about what this holiday is truly about.
5. Get Crafty This Valentine’s Day
I will be the first person to admit that I have a very serious and incurable addiction to Pinterest. Spend all those hours pinning, searching for Valentine’s Day crafts that seem to pop up more and more as the holiday nears. Most crafts are super simple to make and are totally adorable and a no-brainer when it comes to supplies. Surf the site for your favorite crafts, or even recipes, to keep you busy this Valentine’s Day. You can give out your crafted cards to friends, or even send them to family to let them know you’re thinking about them.
6. Embrace Being Single
Most of us are too boy crazy to realize the difference between a crush and a real relationship. Sure, we all want someone to love and cuddle with at the end of the day, but when you step back and evaluate the relationships of others, the majority of them are not even close to perfect. Those of us that have had boyfriends in the past can always remember the countless fights, stupid arguments, and tears that were shed over our guy. Being single is the best because it means you can flirt up a storm, and not have to worry about “is it cheating?” or reporting back to your guy at the end of the night. Guys get jealous easily and have major trust issues when it comes to letting their girlfriends go out with the girls. This Valentine’s Day, celebrate your freedom from being tied down to just one guy.
7. Endorphins Make You Happy
Maybe it’s a sign that Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of our Spring Break diet and exercise regimes. This Valentine’s Day, hit the gym to let your endorphins kick in and make you feel like a new woman. It always takes more energy to get us to the gym, than it does to physically work out. Exercise is addicting because of the all-good feeling we get after knowing we just pushed our bodies to the limit. If you’re feeling down about your single status on V-Day, hop on the treadmill or take a Zumba class with a few friends. Not only will you be burning calories dancing, you’ll also burn calories by giggling with your girls.
Photos: Pinterest, aceshowbiz