The winter months usually bring a general shortage of donors according to The American Red Cross. A friend of mine suggested this one years ago when we were both single and broke. I still think it is a great way to celebrate the day.
Valentine Ideas for the Single Crowd
Photo: Sean
Tired of seeing hearts and flowers everywhere? Wanting something to do on the big day that won’t get you down? Get together with a few friends and try out some of the following ideas.
1. Chocolate and Champagne by the Pool.
Obviously, this isn’t one you can do in northern climates without an indoor facility. But if you live somewhere balmy, give it a whirl. One year on Guam a bunch of the girls got together and did this very thing. We picked out a champagne, bought a boatload of it, and each brought something for a chocolate extravaganza. Chocolate covered cherries, brownies, chocolate chip cheesecake, double chocolate mouse . . . you name it. Looking for a particularly great yet affordable sparkling beverage? Check out Zardetto Prosecco.
2. Cheesy Movie Marathon with a Wine and Cheese Tasting Selection.
Need a few cheesy love story movie recommendations? How about A Walk in the Clouds (loved that one), Love Actually, Untamed Heart or You’ve Got Mail? Serve up a slicing wedge of aged gourmet Asiago cheese, and some decent value wines.
3. Hit the Road for a Night on the Town.
Get a bunch of single friends together and go out for dinner and drinks. One year in Kuwait, several of us went out and did Chili’s restaurant . . . for the entire night. Appetizers and rowdy conversation can go a long way towards adjusting your mood. Whether it’s a favorite ethnic restaurant, coffee house, quiet café or rowdy chain restaurant, going out with single friends puts a fresh focus on the day.
Got any other fun ideas for Valentine singles? Pop us a line.
Best of Wise Bread
A few years back some single girlfriends and I decided to hold an anti-Valentines night by going to circus school! That was a hoot. We got to do some interesting things we wouldn't normally do, had fun together, and were "out" on Valentine's. :-)
ALL of my best Valentine's days were when I was single and just hanging with friends...the local Tolkien-themed pizza joint serves heart-shaped pizzas and we'd go and flirt with the waiters and sit and talk and laugh for a long time. Every Valentine's Day I've tried to have while in a relationship has ended in: a) breaking up a week before, b) total disaster to plans (i.e. meaning to make breakfast for someone before work, waking up late so that boyfriend has to rush to work, his car breaks down on the way, leave without a shower to drive him to the next town over where he works...etc), c) absolutely no plans at all. Lame!
I say hot cocoa and a snowball fight make for a perfect day's plans.
These are all awesome! I definitely think that just being "out and about" on the day with other single friends is a large part of the doldrum solution. Now that I'm married, we've celebrated in a variety of ways over the years. But once I started embracing the anti-Valentine approach as a single person, the day was loads more fun.
I think of it as a day of love for everyone, not just a romantic partner. So I use the day to tell family and friends and people I come into contact with how much I appreciate them...I will make cookies or cupcakes or buy a bale of those awful conversation heart candies to give out. I just make it fun and keep it light and try to redeem the holiday from the pressure of such serious "specialness."
