Well 2018’s extremely long January has FINALLY ended but I feel like the stores have been gearing up for V. Day since before Christmas. If you read my Christmas post, you know that I don’t particularly love Christmas, but I think my feelings toward this holiday are more disdainful. In elementary school, V. Day was fun! My + my friends’ mom’s would throw our classroom party, we’d drink cherry 7Up using a Twizzler as a straw, wrap our “mailboxes” + you’d receive a card from + give a card to everyone because we were all in this together. Then junior high happened. We had a V. Day dance that I’m not even sure who chaperoned. In 6th grade my mom didn’t chaperone for whatever reason. The boy I liked asked me to go to the dance with him. I arrived in a pretty red sweater + my favorite pocketless khaki pants (very 2003 chic!) only to find that I was asked as a joke + spent the whole dance locked in a stall crying. Please tell me why no parent was notified + it was just the big kids, who were just as mean as my classmates, the only ones trying to get me to come out + have fun. For many years I was always very sad I never had a “Valentine.” Little did I know they’re not always all they’re cracked up to be. The idea itself can put so much pressure on a person with all these uber romantic expectations + as I said in my Bachelor recap a few weeks ago, I have no idea what romance is.

I’ve only had one boyfriend who acknowledged V. Day (which is interesting because I was with another man for several V. Days…) + we both agreed that we weren’t going to make a huge deal about it. I bought him a funny card because we’d only been dating a week. He sent me a singing telegram to my dorm + they sang Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” to me at 6:30 in the morning. I couldn’t stop giggling. I knew it was coming early because I had five classes on Tuesdays + I was out of my room from 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM every Tuesday. He came over later with a handmade card with Taylor Swift lyrics + a science pun. We watched a movie + that was really all I’ve ever wanted in a V. Day. Just acknowledge in some small way that I exist + I’m important to you. Last year I was in a situationship that didn’t acknowledge the day at all, which was fine I guess. I think if I was looking back now + we had done something, I’d feel even crankier about the whole thing. But my coworkers all seem to get flowers from their SO’s so I just want to have work flowers to brag about. Anyone want to send me sunflowers + peonies? Anyone? Bueller?

Speaking of significant others, no, I don’t know what to get your babe, bae or boo thang for V. Day. All I’ve ever bought as a V. Day gift is a card. But I can send you in the right direction if you’re looking for more than candy, flowers + teddy bears for V. Day. One of my favorite bloggers, Olivia of The Lovely Twist, has put together some fantastic, out of the ordinary, experiential V. Day ideas that are just as much a gift for you as they are for your SO! You can read all about them in her Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts for Couples post. Beyond that, if you’re in a relationship, I don’t know how to help you beyond encouraging you not to put a ton of pressure on each other + to not set your stock in things. But that’s probably because my love languages are words of affirmation + quality time. So if I am to be in a relationship in the future, that’s all I want on V. Day. Any future boyfriends have been warned.

You probably know that Galentine’s Day is February 13th. “It’s only the best day of the year!” –Leslie Knope. I’m not going to spend time talking about Galentine’s Day, though. Last year I celebrated with some women but will not be celebrating with them this year. My life is more low key now + I like it that way. That said, I want to focus on a stress free V. Day Me Day that might help you treat yourself a little bit more special than usual if you’re single. I don’t qualify myself based on whether or not I’m dating anyone + you shouldn’t either. Just because this is a Hallmark holiday doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate our awesome selves + have fun.

The Outfit

 So Me Day is the same as any other day. You can wear whatever you want. I often find myself wearing black + usually unplanned because I wear a lot of black. Last year was no exception. I showed up at work in the outfit on the right only to have a coworker tell me she was surprised I didn’t wear red or pink, but I told her “The day ends in -y. Why would I deviate from my signature color?” My favorite V. Day look of all time was this photo on the left. My boss + mentor had a similar outfit to me that I noticed she’d worn back in January. I’m not going to lie, I totally asked if she’d wear it to work on V. Day. She laughed but obviously obliged. To this day, it’s one of my favorite photos of us, tied only to the photo of us at lunch last spring when I was visiting LA. Who else can get their boss to dress like them?

This year likely will be no different. I’ve been looking at some snarky V. Day shirts on Look Human for some options I might be able to pull off in the office. They’re currently running a BOGO 50% off sale on all of their items so if you find two you like, use the code BOGO50 for half off one of your items! While not all work appropriate, here are some of my favorites:

I’m honestly thinking about ordering the “MEH” shirt + pairing it with my favorite black pants from Hollister Co., a cardigan + my black Uggs. One of my coworkers wore a tshirt from a Killers concert under a blazer on casual Friday so I’m sure this will work! But if you’re still into embracing the reds + pinks this day brings, I’ve picked out a couple of dresses you can take from the office to dinner out with just a few accessory changes! The best part? They’re all under $50! I know I definitely feel better about myself on days I’ve dressed up.

The Music

Music for you Me Day is very important. Of course you can always listen to your favorite songs but I’m including one of my favorite Spotify playlist for you. I made this playlist over the summer when my friend did a photoshoot for me for this blog. I hadn’t had a photoshoot since my senior portraits back in 2008 + those were a disaster. I needed to put something together that would help me feel my most comfortable, myself + alive. Thus this playlist was born. There are some of my favorite songs to sing while driving to nowhere or blasting when I’m getting ready or to dance around to in the kitchen as I cook. So as you get ready for your day or night, give this a listen!

The Activity

I’m not the type of person to go to a bar by herself so I’m not going to recommend something I won’t consider trying. Shoot, the last time I sat at an actual bar, I was hit on by a 21 year old. I wasn’t even alone, I was with one of my best friends. If going to a bar alone sounds like you’re type of evening, more power to you! But here are some of my favorite ideas to do by myself, or you can grab a friend or your mom. I know I’ll be spending some quality time with mine. I’ve tried to keep them on the less expensive side because I know I’m on a budget.

See a movie.

I used to think I’d never see a movie by myself. But then one day I did! It was the end of first semester my junior year of college + I’d just finished my last exam. I needed to get off campus in my suburban college town so I went for a walk. Initially it was to look at the gorgeous holiday lights adorning the homes surrounding the university + soon I found myself in the local downtown area across the street from our movie theater. I figured I should definitely treat myself to a movie. So I walked up to the window + asked for a ticket to the next movie playing which happened to be “New Years Eve.” The theater the movie was in had three middle-aged couples + myself. The building is old so you can’t get any cellphone service. It was honestly one of the most relaxing two hours of my life. I try to take myself to a movie every few months as part of my regular self care routine.

Take a class.

A year ago I got really into Zumba. I’d taken one class prior but didn’t love it. The class was in a gymnasium without a mirror + the instructor taught facing away from us. I had no idea what was going on + my friend Angie + I laughed in the back the whole time. So when my friend Nina invited me to a class she was teaching, you can imagine my reservations.The first class wasn’t great, but I loved getting to see my friend Nina. Aside from grabbing drinks a month prior, I hadn’t seen her in years. Soon I was Zumba-ing at least once a week with my favorite class being a Zumba toning class. After eight Zumba love-filled months, my-bff-slash-zumba-instructor left for grad school. Since then, I’ve been dying to try a barre class. But if spending a day focused on you in a workout class isn’t your thing, you can always try a cooking or painting class. Groupon is a great resource for researching new things to try.

Cozy up with a old favorite or a new book.

This weekend mom + I stopped after a long day of errands for drinks at Starbucks. I randomly remembered that if you’re staying at Starbucks, you can order your coffee in a mug. We grabbed the cozy chairs + sipped slowly enjoying one another’s company. I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one of Starbucks’ cozy chairs but it used to be one of my favorite things. I can drink caramel macchiatos for days + give me a good book + I’ll forget I even have a phone. Getting lost in a book that truly takes me to another place is one of my favorite things.

Explore a new city.

Okay, I’m not telling you to book a ticket + jet off to Amsterdam. Well, maybe I am if that’s a reality for you. Self care comes in all forms people. But all I mean is to find yourself somewhere new. Saturday of St. Patrick’s Day weekend last year took place in two cities. I spent the morning at a bar crawl in Chicago + the evening in Indianapolis for a concert. My friends + I had dinner at a local restaurant + grabbed drinks after the show. I’d only been to Indy once before which wasn’t a great time so it was really fun to make new memories there. Last week I found myself in a suburb of Chicago about 75 minutes from my home. I was meeting my friends to see Bob Saget + the theatre was on such a cute small town main street. My friend + I both expressed interest in coming back to this little town to explore one day where it wasn’t dark + cold. How fun would it be to be by yourself window shopping at new stores, trying a new restaurant? Definitely something I’m considering.

The most important thing to remember is to not qualify yourself by who’s in your life. I’m still working on that, but I’m intent on celebrating my love for myself on Wednesday. I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on me lately + I know what I bring to the table. Know that what you bring is enough. Happy Me Day!

xo.

PS. Thank you to Olivia of The Lovely Twist for helping me edit the featured photo + the Instagram post!