Hey, single ladies, guess what? I’m in a relationship and I hate Valentine’s Day, too!

There seems to be an unspoken February rule that if you have a boyfriend you are not allowed to complain about Valentine’s Day. I, for one, think this is bulls**t. I have a boyfriend, yes, but you know what? I hate Valentine’s Day. Haaaaaaate it.I hate it even more when I have a boyfriend than when I don’t!

Here are the top three reasons, in my book, why the big V Day can suck it.

1. Holidays that come with expectations are always stressful (see: New Year’s Eve, anniversaries, etc.), and Valentine’s Day is one of the worst. It’s one of those days full of things you are ‘supposed’ to do, and the pressure to be creative and thoughtful and loving and perrrrrfect is totally overwhelming. That can often lead to a seriously sucky night, especially if you and boyfriend are not on the exact same page about the whole event. Ladies, admit it, we can be tricky about this day. We “don’t really care about it” and, “it’s not a big deal,” but sometimes that just means “I want YOU to think of something and surprise me.” Nothing ruins a holiday like silent disappointment, when you can’t really be mad about a lack of, well, anything, because that’s exactly what you said you wanted! And it’s doubly bad if you planned something for your honey, only to have your sweet surprise be one-sided. Okay, maybe that’s just me, but I hope I’m not alone. Read More »

I remember watching Say Anything with my sister when I was a kid and wondering if all men were as sweet as Lloyd Dobbler, standing outside a girl’s house with a boom box over his head. Obviously I had a rude awakening when I got to dating age and realized that high school guys were actually kinda jerks. I never got a big romantic gesture, Valentines, or even a cute note in class.

After meeting Matt in college and falling in love, I realized that those high school boys were still pretty eh, but I also learned that it doesn’t take some grand romantic gesture to be a sweet guy. It’s all the little things Matt does for me that really mean the most.

Last week I was in Wisconsin for my grandpa’s funeral. Since it was such short notice, my mom couldn’t afford to fly Matt up with me so he stayed at home while I was gone for a week. When I finally returned to Texas, I was coming down the elevator at the airport to meet him and he walked up the escalator just so he could give me a kiss and a hug a little bit earlier. He totally swept me off my feet, and with him just being his usual impatient self.

I’ve learned that guys don’t really like the big romantic gestures because most of the time they’re afraid they’ll either: A. screw it up somehow, B. embarrass themselves, C. get rejected, or D. all of the above. So honestly, the big romantic things are pretty rare, and while that means they should still be valued when they DO come along, you have to pay attention and enjoy the smaller things.

I for one love to get the random text at 2 in the afternoon that just says “i love you” when I’ve been having a bad day. It turns my entire day around from crappy to awesome. Or when Matt lets me have the last Dr. Pepper in the fridge. Such a gentlemen! I’ve learned not to expect amazing over-the-top romantic nights from Matt and I’m perfectly happy with that. As women we need to stop putting so much pressure on men to be romantic when just letting them be them can make us so much happier. Read More »

So, it’s the beginning of a new school year, and you’ve got a hot prospect. How can you woo him (or her, as the case may be) and get those googly eyes to focus only on you?

Easy.

It’s like your mom always said: the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Even if you aren’t exactly Julia Child, you can still follow instructions, and that’s all you need to do to bust out a romantic dinner that’ll have him drooling for your food and bolting with you to the bedroom.

Trust me, it’s way better to make food for your dude than take him out. Anyone can whip out a credit card, but it makes you look extra-special if you can whip out a spatula and use it like you’re supposed to. Plus, it’s obviously sweeter to make dinner than to buy it, and it gives you the opportunity to tailor what you make to what your guy really likes. (And it might even inspire him to cook for you . . . swoon!)

Before you get carried away, don’t go all Bridget Jones and try to make super-fancy recipes for multiple courses. Keep it simple, especially if you don’t have a ton of cooking experience. Odds are, your guy loves the classics: what meat-eating man would deny a nicely grilled steak or a plate of spaghetti just like his mom used to make?

So set out that tablecloth, light those candles, put on some tunes, and give these two tried-and-true recipes a whirl. Read More »

Despite what many people say, Valentine’s Day is a lovely little holiday. Sure, we should tell our significant others what we think of them every day, but there is something nice about a day devoted solely to one another, love and romance. A day that is different from every other day on the calendar. A day that is all about doing special little things for one another.But I’m a girl and a lover of all things romantic.

What do guys think of V-Day? Do they love all the mushy romantic stuff, or is it just another unneeded pressure in their lives? Do they like trying to find the perfect gift for their ladies, or are they only doing it to get laid?

And what about the single dudes? How do they feel about this lovey-dovey day?

I turned to my dude-with-all-the-answers to get a guy’s perspective on Valentine’s Day. Read More »

Whether you’re in a relationship or not, Valentine’s Day can be a pretty annoying holiday. If you’re single, you can either end up pouting in your room with a King Sized Reese’s or getting set up with some rando to take you out on a potentially awkward date. (My advice? Forget the whole thing and go have fun with your friends.)

When you’re in a relationship, however, a whole new set of problems can arise. For instance, is there really a romantic gift out there that you can give to your guy without freaking him out or insulting is masculinity? Just like in any other case, the best gifts in life are free and usually involve sex. For those of us who like to go the extra mile, I’ve compiled a list of spicy activities that you and your guy can enjoy together. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Bust out the edible massage oil – What guy doesn’t like a massage? And what girl doesn’t love sweets (especially when licking it off their boyfriend’s hot bod)? I like to think that this activity combines the two best activities out there. You can even make your own massage oil from random things laying around the house. Plus, there is a high chance that your boyfriend will reciprocate your affection (in more than one way) by the time the night’s through.

Cook a romantic dinner in aprons. Nope, no clothes. Just aprons. – The more romantic, delicious, and lickable the food you make together, the better. I like the idea of dipping fresh strawberries in a home-made chocolate fondue. Add some champagne, mood lighting, and chocolate body painting and you’re in business. Read More »