On the dreaded day of February 14th, I used to be the cliché girl dressed in all black because I proclaimed Valentine’s Day to be a dumb holiday created by card companies to ruin the institution of love. But really, I was just bitter about that fact that I wouldn’t be receiving a single Valentine’s card, nor did I have anybody to give one to.

My first Valentine’s without a boyfriend, I found myself alone with only Ben & Jerry (and maybe Jose Cuervo) to comfort me. I watched Kate & Leopold. I watched A Walk to Remember. I watched The Notebook. To top it all off, I ate half of my body weight in chocolates that my mother sent me. DE-PRESS-ING.

So after three consecutive Valentine’s Days cursing happy couples and dressing like Marilyn Manson, I figured there had to be a better way to “celebrate” and vowed to never be the bitter, depressing, single girl again. And for the past three years, I have had the happiest and most fun Valentine’s Days ever. And I’ve been single for every single one.

I can truthfully state that, as a single girl, Valentine’s Day is now my third favorite holiday (after Christmas and Super Bowl Sunday, of course). Read More »

I’m just going to throw this out there:

I haven’t had a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day since I was fifteen. It was chock-full of adolescent cliches– roses, pearl earrings, homemade cards…all those things that happen on TV and in movies happened to my tiny, naive, unappreciative sophomore self. I’ve had other boyfriends, but they always seem to ironically end or begin almost perfectly in order to stay out of sync with Valentine’s Day. Super.

You mean being showered with love and affection doesn’t happen every year?!

And though one could assume my February 14ths have been downhill from there since I’ve been flying solo, I’m happy to announce that I’ve mastered the art of the sensational Single Girl’s Valentine’s Day. Watch and learn.

1. Stay the heck away from The Notebook. Why do some people insist on adding insult to injury by drowning their lack-of-man-sorrows in a painfully beautiful display of what you might be pining for? Don’t watch something you know will make you sad, and even though it may be tempting, don’t invite two pints of Ben and Jerry to watch with you. Sugar comas will not make you any less lonely.

2. Get your glitter glue out and show some love. Everyone loves nice gestures and Valentine’s Day is just about consumerism anyway. There are no rules about what it’s all about, so I take the opportunity to buy my best (PLATONIC) friends chocolates and cards and show them the love they deserve every day of the year. Remember those little Batman and Barbie Valentines we loved circa 3rd grade? Simple, friendly Valentines are equally appreciated at age 19 as they are at age 8. Read More »

Ah, February 14th. The day Russia was liberated in 1943. The day Teller of Penn and Teller was born back in 1948. Two months after my birthday. Oh, right, and Valentine’s Day.

This whole concept of celebrating Valentine’s Day with my significant other is new to me, you see, so forgive me for not really remembering that it exists. In the past, I’ve always spent Valentine’s Day with the people I loved, not the people I was in love with. So I figure that this Valentine’s Day really won’t be all that different from all the rest, save I’ll spend a little more time with one person and a little less time with the whole gang.

Still, that whole sappy romance thing just doesn’t cut it for me. Don’t get me wrong; roses and chocolate are all well and good, but I need a little more variety than that. I need to have fun. Ridiculous, outrageous, hilarious, entertaining fun. So, for those who are spending their Valentine’s Day with their beau, their best buds, or both, I present a companion piece of sorts.

1. Drive-thru dining: Get some cardboard boxes. Big boxes. Try a furniture store, or you could even get a nice set of moving boxes. They need to be big enough for you to actually walk around in, though. You’ll see why. Get together one or several friends, sit down with some crayons and markers, and draw yourself a car. Read More »