life & style // 10 theotherpress.ca Valentine's Day for singles » Alternative ways to celebrate ; Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer alentine’s Day can be annoying or even depressing for singles. Those who just got out of a relationship, are looking to enter one, or who haven't been in one for a long time may end up frustrated by all the lovey- dovey stuff going on around them. However, there are many alternative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a single, whether you love the holiday or despise the mere thought of it. family member. Many argue V-Day is a day to celebrate love of all kinds—whether that is the love of a significant other, friend, or family member. Take someone, anyone, you love : out to dinner or to a movie. : You might even get a discount : for the holiday (nobody needs : to know he’s actually your : brother). Watch themed movies. : Any romantic film will do— : bonus points for screening : Valentine’s Day. If the mere : mention of romance gets to you, : : try fighting the system. Watch : a bunch of slasher films, or : disaster movies—anything with : chaos and destruction. Really, : you can't go wrong with a movie : marathon. Do something special : for friends. Create or buy : Valentine’s cards and mail : them to people you like. They Celebrate with a friend or don’t even have to be signed. : Getting a Valentine could : make someone's day, and could : very well be the only one they : receive. Making others happy : rules! Store bought cards are : cute, even if it’s just one with : a picture of a train that says “I : choo choo choose you!”—hey, : it almost worked for Ralph : Wiggum. Go out bowling or for : karaoke with friends. The : movies, bars, and restaurants : will all be crowded with the : romantic types, but having a fun night rocking out to : Journey or hitting another lucky : strike will be a fun bonding : experience with pals. In : addition, the bowling alley and : karaoke bar are unlikely to have : many couples. Date yourself. Valentine’s : Day can bea good night for : asingle to have a personal : romantic care night. Have : a bath with fancy oils and : candles. Eat chocolate and ice : cream. Curl up with a good : novel or something a little : steamier. Self-care is important : every time of the year, but can : be especially helpful when : Cupid turns up to remind you : that you really are your number : one. Cook tasty treats. Make : a batch of cookies or a cake : from scratch—or just use pre- : made dough ora mix. Use the : pink icing and heart-shaped : sprinkles. You can share them : with friends, or eat them all : yourself. Have a potluck with : single friends. No couples : allowed. Get everyone to bring : something tasty and have a : wonderful dinner party. Make it : Valentine’s-themed, or another : crazy theme that has nothing : to do with the holiday. Did : somebody say “desserts only”? When all else fails, the best thing to do is treat it like any : other day and try to ignore the : festivities. As a bonus, there’s : lots of discount candy available : the next day. By Cody Klyne The movies, bars, and restaurants will all be crowded with the romantic types, but having a fun night rocking out to Journey or hitting another lucky strike will be a fun bonding experience with pals. &} Facebook Files: In a relationship MEG aphone » Why Valentine's Day is the only appropriate time to go public with your relationship Sophie Isbister Life & Style Editor Mlifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca Nae S. youre in your first college relationship. Or maybe it’s your second. Or maybe your 15th (good for you)! Either way, you're ina relationship and now it’s time to make some decisions. Serious matters flow through your brain, like, “What are some good cheap date ideas?” “When will I have to meet her mother?” and, possibly : : me : the relationship ping-ponger we make this Facebook-official?” : likely just wants your precious : clicks and views in order the most important, “When do “Facebook- official” is slang : for “We're so in love we want : the whole world to know—on : Facebook.” You probably don’t : notice it too much with your : stable or married friends, but : everyone has a few friends : whose relationship status is : in constant flux. These people : probably just enjoy the positive : attention when they put their : new relationship on blast, and : then, conversely, enjoy the : pity when they are suddenly : #ForeverAlone. Similar to the vaguebooker, : to validate a deep-seated : emptiness in their souls, an all- : consuming emotional pain that : is dark like the ocean’s floor and : hungry like the fiery, molten : core at the Earth’s centre. But : what about the rest of us? Say youre not the : meaningless husk of a person : described above; say youre : just a regular person who has : found themselves in a good : relationship with a strong, : loving foundation. Say the : relationship is going well. You've : : met (and been approved by) : each other’s friends and you've : already started using cutesy : nicknames. Things seem to : be going really well! But how : do you know when it’s time : to make it Facebook official : by changing your relationship : status? : You want the world to know : : that you've found someone who : doesn’t make you want to go : down to the petting zoo and : stab goats, and that’s fine— : that’s a perfectly normal human : reaction. (The liking someone : bit, not the goat-stabbing bit.) : And you're pretty sure that this time it’s not going to end two : weeks later in gin-soaked tears. : Well, you should be happy : to know that I’ve designated : February 14, or Valentine’s : Day in layman’s terms, the : international day of expressing : your love on Facebook. So if you're in a relationship, February 14 is officially your window of opportunity to make : that public. You have a little over : a week to discuss this with your : partner, but don’t snooze on : this opportunity: it’s a long way : around the calendar until your : next chance to go public with : your new relationship. Because : on any day that isn’t February 14, : Facebook is all about Grumpy : Cat, advice animals, and Candy : Crush Saga: I don’t want to hear : anything about your love!