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No Boyfriend, No Problem! The Key to a Fun, Dateless Valentine’s Day

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Victoria Messina Student Contributor, University of Florida
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Cara Chiaramonte Student Contributor, University of Florida
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

 

It approached us too quickly. Hanging over us like a dark cloud, it’s been looming in the distance and taunting us. Falling asleep every night meant it was one day closer. It’s the day some have been dreading since the beginning of this month. This particular day hits some like a slap in the face, and it’s the day many wish would just not exist at all. Commonly known as “Singles Awareness Day,” it has arrived: the lovey-dovey, mushy-gushy Valentine’s Day.

Although that intro may seem a bit dramatic, it’s completely fitting for those of us who see this day as a sour reminder of our single status. Whether it’s by the tacky decorations in the stores or by the happy couples that seem to surround us on campus. The fact that there is a whole day dedicated to love is rather sickening, especially to a boyfriend-less girl like myself. But this year, I decided to take a step back from the hype of it all and reanalyze Valentine’s Day.

Just because we don’t have boyfriends doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy and celebrate this day of love. There are so many other people in our lives to appreciate and love: parents, siblings, friends, sorority sisters, pets, etc. There are tons of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day other than just going out to dinner with a significant other. Besides, that always sounded boring anyway… Here are some activities you can do with friends to forget about the sappiness and corniness of this holiday:

1.     Girls Night Out!

Nothing quite restores your confidence like getting all dolled up and going out. Get some of your closest single girlfriends together, and pick a fancy sushi restaurant downtown (like Dragonfly if you live in Gainesville). Going out with friends is always more laidback, and you don’t have to worry about impressing anyone.

2.     Movie Time!

Have your friends over, get in your jammies, and pick out some of your favorite movies. If you feel like moping in self-pity about not having a boyfriend, then try romantic comedies, chock-full of hot actors to fantasize about (Zac Efron in “The Lucky One”… can’t beat it). But if you’re like me and you’d rather laugh your worries away, go for a real comedy like “Pitch Perfect.”

3.     Get Pinterest-y!

Pinterest is perfect for holidays because it’s loaded with crafting and baking ideas. Spread the love by handing out homemade Valentine’s cards to random cuties around campus or sending them to your parents. It’ll make their day! If you’re the type of girl that would rather eat your feelings (been there, done that), then get in touch with your inner Betty Crocker and bake some adorable cake pops like these!

These are just a few ideas for how we boyfriend-less gals can spend our Valentine’s Day instead of sulking around. Keep in mind we won’t all remain single cat ladies for life, sobbing while watching “The Notebook” every Valentine’s Day. There truly is someone out there for everyone, and it’s only a matter of time before they come around. Be patient, and enjoy your singleness while it lasts! Happy Valentine’s Day, fellow collegiettes!

Photo Credits: 
1.     Girls at restaurant photo- www.zentified.com 
2.     Movies photo- www.collegehumor.com 
3.     Cake pop photo- www.bettycrocker.com

Victoria is a junior journalism major at the University of Florida. As a writer for Her Campus, she enjoyed writing about fashion and giving advice to readers. She is currently a senior editor of Her Campus UFL and is in training to become the chapter's next Campus Correspondent. Outside of class and Her Campus, you can find Victoria scoping out cute boys with friends, longboarding around campus, or hanging out with her Alpha Omicron Pi sisters. She enjoys traveling to new cities, spending time outside, drinking toffee nut iced coffees, shopping, trying new types of food and working for Her Campus!
Cara oversees Her Campus Media's community department and serves as strategic lead for the expansion, development and management of all HCM communities, including the Her Campus Chapter Network, InfluenceHer Collective, College Fashionista, Spoon University, Campus Trendsetters, alumni and high school. She works closely with company leadership to develop new community-related sales offerings and the Integrated Marketing team to support all community-focused client marketing programs from end to end.

Cara has experience working with high-profile talent, such as Jessica Alba, Andrew Yang, Amber Tamblyn, Aja Naomi King, Troian Bellisario, Jessica Marie Garcia, Nico Tortorella, Nastia Liukin, Rebecca Minkoff, Cecile Richards and Samantha Power, as well as brands like Coca-Cola, L'Oréal Paris, The New York Times, HBO, Uber, H&M and more.

Having been a part of the HC family since 2011, Cara served as Campus Correspondent of the HC chapter at the University of Florida where she studied journalism, women’s studies and leadership. A New Yorker turned Floridian, Cara has a Friends quote for any situation. You can usually find her with her friends and family at the beach, a concert or live sports event or binge-watching Grey's Anatomy or Sons of Anarchy.

Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @thecararose.