Spice Up Your Single’s Awareness Day

Valentine’s Day is truly the most hyped-up holiday by Hallmark. Whether you’re in a relationship, single or dating, Valentine’s Day is just another day of the year. As backward as it may be, single individuals are the ones who seem to put the most emphasis on this holiday.

 

Singles should remember on Valentine’s Day that love is not just for couples; it is for all of us and we should embrace it! Here are some ways to make this February 14 fabulous:

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1.) Spoil yourself or save some money

Since you aren’t spending a dollar on some dude, treat yourself to something really special. This goes for guys as well; being single on this Hallmark holiday means that you don’t have to max out your credit card on a ridiculously expensive gift for your girlfriend, so spend it on an item that you’ve been wanting.

Last year’s Consumer Reports said that the average American spent $130.97 on Valentine’s Day. This amount is said to increase this year. For college kids, that’s a chunk of cash many would much rather save or spend on themselves.

2.)     Share the love

Let your close friends and relatives know how much you care about them. This is a day to appreciate the ones around you and really let them know you care. Go to the dollar store and make your closest friends goodie bags of candy, teddy bears and other cheesy crap to let them know they are loved and appreciated! Send your grandparents Valentine’s cards and let them know that they are on your mind. Caring for others on this day will make you feel good about yourself.

3.)     Spend time with friends

Get a group of friends together and turn the night into a fun guys’ or girls’ night out. Start out with dinner at a local restaurant and splurge a little. Then, when the check comes, realize you’re only responsible for your portion, a benefit of being single. Plus, you don’t have to share your entree!

4.)     Don’t sulk, go scope out the single scene!

After dinner you can hangout with your close single friends who you really care about. But, don’t get too comfortable or plan on vegging out on the couch. No sulking around the house, romantic comedies or pity parties allowed today. Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, so why not go downtown with your friends and scope out the single scene? All the couples are bound to be cuddled up on a couch somewhere watching “The Notebook,” so there won’t be any PDA or obstacles for you to avoid.

You can turn this holiday of Single’s Awareness Day into Single’s Appreciation Day all by your perspective and how you choose to spend your time.

Making the Most of Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and while most of us use this opportunity to catch up on sleep and eat to our heart’s desire, why not add a few other items to your to-do list? Here are a few suggestions to help you have the best Thanksgiving break yet.

1. See old friends from high school

Most colleges have the same Thanksgiving break so it’s a perfect time to catch up with old friends from high school. Whenever I go home, I love to reminisce with my friends about football games, school dances or other funny stories from our high school days. It’s also fun to hear how their lives are now and the exciting things they are up to at their own college.

2. Catch up with your family

It can be hard to stay in touch with family while you’re away at school.  Utilize Thanksgiving break to catch up with your immediate family and all of the relatives you don’t get to see as often.  Game nights are a great way to have fun with your family.  For only 99 cents, you can download the app “Heads Up!” to play with your relatives.  One person holds the phone to their head and a word appears on the screen.  Everyone tries to help them guess the word in 60 seconds.  It is similar to the game Catch Phrase except for one big advantage: the phone actually records everyone during the game so when you go back to school you have a silly and permanent recording of your family if you ever get homesick.

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Photo credit: St0rmz

3. Prepare your own Thanksgiving dish

In previous Thanksgivings, my only contribution to the dinner table was a fork and knife to my plate!  This year I have decided to prepare and offer my own dish for my family’s Thanksgiving feast.  Check out Realsimple.com or Allrecipes.com for quick and easy Thanksgiving recipes that are sure to be a hit.

4. Find the best Black Friday deals

Last year was my first Black Friday experience.  Needless to say, I was a little overwhelmed by the massive crowds marauding through the mall.  This year I plan on being way more efficient.  Download the free app “TGI Black Friday” to find the best deals at your favorite stores so you can enter the shopping madness a little more prepared.

With these tips, you’ll be sure to have an awesome break; you may not even want to go back to school at the end of it!