| Valentine's Day: Back to Basics By: Gesina A. Phillips Whether you love its pink confectionary air or tend to avoid the saccharine sweetness of it all, Valentine’s Day is a garishly colored reality. On the days leading up to and including the 14th of February, it is almost impossible to avoid bombardment by images of chocolates, roses, and candlelit dinners. However, all of this commercial attention fails to mention that a traditional Valentine’s Day can be expensive. Nowhere is it written that this day must include expensive dinners and chocolates with questionable fillings. So instead of going the dinner- and-a-movie route this year, why not try something different? Don’t go nuts trying to find a date if you don’t already have one—grab some friends and celebrate with them instead. If your favorite part of the Valentine’s Day festivities is the candy, there are plenty of ways to appease your sweet tooth without resorting to holiday clichés. Head over to your local candy store and browse around. No one will end up with mystery truffles, and if you love unsentimental, neon-colored gummy candy, you can go that route instead. While you’re at it, you can stop at your local florist. Buy flowers for your friends or date, get one for yourself, get one for your mom, or get one for grandma. Remember to keep in mind that Valentine’s Day is about love of all kinds, not just romance. February can be bitterly cold in some areas and temperate in others, but whatever the weather, nature can provide a getaway from the extravagance of February the 14th. Have a tea party or a picnic outside, or move inside if it is too chilly. If you’re interested in a less sedentary activity, take a winter walk in a park, through the woods, on a beach, or even in your backyard. A snowy day creates numerous opportunities for fun: bundle up and have a snowball fight or go sledding, and then share hot chocolate in the comfort of a warm house. If you don’t live in a place where the winter months bring ice and snow, you can go to an ice skating rink to experience the positive side of a frozen winter. If you’d rather just stay in, there are plenty of other options for an affordable and fun Valentine’s Day. At a restaurant, it seems that somehow the more you pay, the less food you end up with; why not skip the formality and have dinner at home? You can still have candles, but the difference is that you can talk as loud as you like, for as long as you like. Sit down and plan a dinner, from extravagant to simple depending on the skill level of everyone involved, then take a shopping trip to get your ingredients. There’s no need to get fancy: from pasta to sandwiches, there are plenty of easy meals out there. Get everyone to participate and cook dinner together. Then sit down and enjoy your delicious collaborative meal, no reservations required. After dinner, make sure that everyone pitches in for clean up, and try not to get too much water on the floor if a splash-fight breaks out in the course of washing dishes. For dessert, or for a simpler kitchen project, try baking and decorating your own Valentine’s treats. Cookies, cupcakes, and brownies are all easy to make and share. Above all, remember to have fun this Valentine’s Day. After a day of nontraditional celebrations, settle down with some popcorn and have a movie night—no sappy flicks required. |
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