14 Valentine’s Day Tips

Whether you’re trying to plan the perfect date, snacks for your floormates, or a night of pajamas and Netflix, here are our 14 tips for making February 14 lovely!

1. Get yourself in the mood for the day with some classic and current love songs. Check out iTunes’ Valentine’s Day 50 Tracks for some ideas – from Elvis to the Backstreet Boys, from sweet to sappy, this playlist has some winners!
2. Treat yourself to a delicious Valentine’s-themed breakfast. Try making pink and red pancakes by mixing food colouring into the batter, or blend a smoothie with red fruits and juices! Click here for more Red Velvet deliciousness! 
3. Spread the love by making little treat bags for your housemates, floormates, coworkers, or tutorial group. Bonus points if you add cheesy sayings, love quotes, or personalized notes!
4. Share some kindness through a Random Act of Kindness. Buy a stranger a coffee, leave an encouraging note on a library desk, shovel a neighbour’s driveway, bring a donation to the AMS Food Bank, or think up an original kind act. Whatever you do, you’ll brighten someone’s day!
   
5. Bake a batch of tasty treats, or pick one up at CoGro! Nothing says “I love you” like a warm-out-of-the-oven cookie, brownie, or cupcake! Find some recipes here! 
6. Treat yourself with a little self-to-self gift. Head somewhere that makes you happy, and spend an hour doing what you love, whether that be baking, making crafts, going for a walk, napping – whatever it is that makes you happy, do it!
7. Make an “I love you more than…” list for that special someone. Check out some of our favourites (written on cookies!) 
8. Plan a surprise date for a friend or significant other. Kingston has endless date night possibilities, so get out there and have an adventure! Downtown has great restaurant options, plus a bunch of dessert options (Sipps, Spin, Menchies, Coldstone, etc.), and there are a couple of movie theatres just a bus ride away.
9.  Would you prefer a night in? Put on your coziest pajamas, get a bowl of popcorn mixed with Junior Mints (super tasty!), and enjoy a few RomComs. Don’t know where to start? The Princess Bride, Love Actually, Titanic, When Harry Met Sally, and The Notebook all come strongly suggested from your friends at the Communications Office.
10. For the small segment of the population who aren’t Ryan Gosling fans, try watching a selection of Valentine’s-themed TV episodes. Some winners in our eyes are Friend‘ (“The One with the Candy Hearts”), The Simpsons (“I Love Lisa”), Charlie Brown (Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown), and Franklin (Franklin’s Valentines).
11. For the DIY-ers, celebrate some of your favourite shared memories by making a heart-shaped collage with fun photos, and either back everything onto a photo board, or display it on a wall.
12. Get back to your childhood roots and do something crafty! Grab a colouring book, paint, beads, or whatever craft supplies bring back happy memories, and have some fun creating art just for the fun of it. Turn on an episode of Arthur, TMNT, or The Magic School Bus for some added smiles.
13. Write a letter to a friend who lives far away, and send it to them via snail mail. They’ll appreciate the thoughtful gesture, and you’ll both enjoy catching up!
14. Visit the Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC), located in JDUC 223, to make Valentine’s Day both special and safe. They have a large selection of  information booklets, condoms and a big lending library. Check out their website here.