Being in love on Valentine’s Day is great, but it can also add a lot of unnecessary pressure. Here are some tips for making the best of this lovers’ holiday without driving yourselves insane!
1. Be yourselves. Just because it’s Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you have to turn into swanky, uncomfortable, robotic versions of yourselves. For our first Valentine’s Day together, my boyfriend took me downtown to an extremely expensive restaurant and a Tchaikovsky concert. I bought a new dress from American Apparel that I spent too much money on, and he dusted off his fancy suit and tie. It was beautiful and very romantic, but it wasn’t us. The restaurant was stuffy and we were the youngest people there by about thirty years. Midway through the concert, we both fell asleep, but neither of us wanted to give in and say, “This is ridiculous. Are you actually having fun?” Eventually, we did break down and admit we were insanely bored. Then we came back to Oakland, laughed at a crude road sign that said “Caution: Explosive Loads,” got drunk on a $13 box of wine, and went to Sorrento’s Pizzeria. It was much more fun. Even better, it was us.
2. Make sure you and your significant other are on the same page. I know you want him to surprise you with a wonderfully orchestrated night of fun and romance, but he might not know that. On the other hand, he might think you want something ridiculously mushy and fancy when you actually don’t. Like I said before, my boyfriend planned this beautiful night because he thought that was what I wanted, but he just ended up spending way too much money and I felt horrible. Tell him what you want in a subtle way so he knows what you’re expecting. I know it might ruin the surprise, but it’ll be much better than being disappointed at the end of the night.
3. Keep it simple. Go out to eat (even better: make a fun, gourmet meal together), go somewhere you have wanted to go for a while (haven’t seen Phipps Conservatory & Botanical gardens yet? Try it out!), get some chocolates from your favorite little shop, watch a movie, and just be together. That’s what really matters. Since my boyfriend and I learned our lesson from our first Valentine’s Day, our second was simple and perfect: he sent me flowers in the morning with a beautiful note attached (a perfect interruption to my hectic day of classes, work, etc.), made me an amazing dinner, and remembered that I had told him I could never find my favorite ice cream in Pittsburgh, so he found some and brought it over. There were chocolates too, of course. The keys to having a great Valentine’s Day: flowers, good food, chocolate, and quality time.
4. Get creative. I know this seems to repeat what I just said, but you can do something different and creative while still keeping it simple (my grandpa’s advice to my male cousins has always been “KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid”). As college students, we don’t have much money to spend on things that aren’t absolutely necessary, so a little ingenuity will be needed. First, decide what is most important to you. Are expensive dinners or those gourmet chocolates that melt in your mouth, but cost $20 per ounce really important? Spend money on what you really want; and as for the rest of your evening, save some money by getting crafty. Go to any of the museums where you get a free admission with your Pitt identification card, make your significant other sexy “coupons” for things you know they will love (i.e., one sensual body massage at any time you want), or make dinner instead of going out. Neither of you should have to break the bank to have a great night on Valentine’s Day.
5. Be present. Even if you don’t have the money or neither of you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you can still make the day special just by being together. Rekindle your flame by reminiscing on your time together or replaying your first date. My first date with my boyfriend was in Schenley Park; we went for a walk through Panther Hollow and sat in the plaza for hours just talking. Now, after being together for so long, it’s still fun and exciting to go back to Schenley and remember our first date. Do anything to make you remember why this person is so special to you in the first place. Reflect on the time you’ve spent together and tell him or her how much you appreciate what he or she has done for you.
Photo Credit:
http://www.self.com/health/2011/02/valentines-for-couples-slideshow#slide=1