Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, bringing with it a plethora of chocolate goodies, flower arrangements and sweet sentiments. While this time of year can leave some feeling bitter and others hopelessly infatuated with their significant other, I personally love celebrating love. The thing is, you don’t just have to celebrate your love for a romantic partner – you can celebrate your love for your family, your friends or even yourself. With that being said, here are my top picks for ways to treat yourself if you don’t happen to be in love on Valentine’s Day.
Get A Heart-Shaped Treat
When the 14th finally arrives and you’re inevitably looking for something to eat while wallowing in self-pity, consider going out and getting a heart-shaped breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert! Many restaurants offer Valentine’s-themed menu items on the day of love, including Dunkin Donuts, Chick-Fil-A, Papa John’s and Starbucks. Whether it’s a heart-shaped donut, nugget platter, pizza or a Venti Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Crème Frappuccino, each option is sure to satisfy your taste buds and put a smile on your face.
Have A Rom-Com Movie Night
What’s not to love about romantic movies? Each one is a guaranteed happy ending. Or not, if you’re Romeo and Juliet. Whatever. Regardless, there are many romantic movies to choose from. If you want to be in your feels, try out “The Notebook” or “Me Before You.” If you want to laugh, I highly suggest “Valentine’s Day” (featuring Taylor Swift!) or “Set It Up.” Lastly, if you just want a classically sweet romance movie that will pull at your heartstrings, look no further than “Notting Hill” or “The Princess Bride.” Each of these films is amusing, comforting – and most of all – distracts you from the fact that you are pathetically single. (Just kidding!) From my point of view, if you’re going to waste your Valentine’s Day crying, it might as well be spent crying to the plot of a phenomenal romance film. So grab your tissues and your comfort Ben & Jerry’s pint and get to watching!
Go To Upaint Pottery
UPaint Pottery, located right off of West Smith Valley Road, is the perfect place to spend your time on Valentine’s Day. With over 50 types of pottery and endless glaze options, your creativity can run wild. Whether you decide to paint little hearts all over your piece or write the names of your exes and smash your pottery to bits later on, it’s a great creative outlet. Additionally, UPaint offers seasonal pottery, so with any luck you can paint a heart-shaped plate or flower vase to decorate your home for the holiday.
Visit A Local Bookstore
I cannot think of a better way to spend Valentine’s Day than being curled up on the couch with a dreamy romance book. Luckily for CG students, there are many local bookstores that carry phenomenal reads. Wild Geese Bookshop, located in Franklin, has a huge selection of hand-picked novels, including one of my personal favorites, Funny Story by Emily Henry. Another option is Half-Priced Books, located across from the Greenwood Park Mall, which has a wide collection of new and used books for a fraction of the cost of large chain stores. With a little digging, it’s possible that you’ll find a copy of The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, which is one of my all time favorite novels. If your schedule is cleared for the 14th, I highly recommend you visit one or both of these amazing bookstores!
Bake & Listen To Short ‘n Sweet (Deluxe Edition)
The last item on this list is another at home option. While it’s nice to be gifted Valentine’s treats, it can be just as fun to make them yourself. Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies, brownies, and funfetti cupcakes are all easy recipes to bake in your kitchen. To make the experience even more fun, I’d suggest listening to Short ‘n Sweet (Deluxe Edition) by Sabrina Carpenter. Carpenter recently won two Grammys for the original version of the album and announced that Short ‘n Sweet (Deluxe Edition) would be released on Valentine’s Day. “Good Graces” “Taste” and “Slim Pickins” are the perfect songs to blast and sing along to while whisking, rolling or decorating your desserts!
