Tina Firquain, Managing Editor

Okay guys and gals, the dreaded Valentine’s Day is approaching. Don’t worry though, I have you covered to make him or her swoon and keep your relationship going.

First of all let’s talk facts. The fact is that most women are romantics and whether anyone likes it or not, there is a certain “expectation” for couples or anyone in some type of relationship.

What is it about Valentine’s Day that adds so much pressure to a relationship? Well couples can go through Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years being  A-Ok and then February hits and some relationships seem to come to a halt.

The fact of the matter is, although all of these days are holidays, Valentine’s Day is meant for romance. Extra pressure is put on couples and if it’s not that serious then the day just creates problems.

There are three types of relationships that can celebrate this very happy day differently and make it memorable. There are the Long-term Romantics, Fast & Fun timers and the I before We people. To have a good Valentine’s Day you must first identify what category you belong in.

Long-term Romantics

For some, they have found the one whom their soul longs for; lucky for them. Maybe you are already married, but maybe you’re not. What ever your case you and your significant other both agree that you are in this relationship for the long haul and to you Valentine’s Day is just another day for you to show your affection and appreciation.

The “expectation” for the lovely day is an evening or day filled with romance for just the two of you. This can become very expensive for young adults, such as college students. Creating a special day for that special someone does not have to break your bank. Here is a plan that can make that someone very happy and you can alter it to your specifications.

Step 1: Make dinner. I cook dinner for my boyfriend about five times a week just because I like to cook and it is nice to have a home cooked meal, even if it is mac & cheese. So when he cooks me food I am thrilled.

It does not have to be extremely fancy, but do try and find out what their favorites are and try to make it for him or her. Home cooked food is much cheaper than a meal at a fancy restaurant and can be romantic.

You may not be a great chef, but I am sure you can find something good to cook that won’t be too out of your league.

This a romantic gesture that says “I’m willing to put effort in this relationship” and a plus side is you can be very cheesy with this. By that I mean you can honestly say “I made this with love.”

Step 2: Make a playlist. While eating dinner play them a mix you worked on with all their favorite songs. This will help relax them and just be another gesture to show how well you know them.

Step 3: Do-It-yourself. While flowers and chocolate are the traditional, they can also be very costly. Make your significant other a card or small gift that could only be for them. This will help you save on money and it would be an original. No other person would be getting that exact same gift on Valentine’s Day and that can make a person very happy.

Fast & Fun times

This may seem like a bad category to be in but it is actually a very large group of people.

This groups consists of couples who, for whatever reason are not in a  serious relationship. Maybe you recently started seeing each other or maybe you are taking things slow, whatever your reason you can still celebrate V Day. Also this group contains those that want to be with friends or in a group on Valentine’s Day.

The number 1 rule for y’all is to keep it light. Basically don’t make anything too serious or too romantic. Instead have a fun, adventurous date during the day. We are fortunate enough this year to have Valentine’s Day on a Saturday so, plan something for early to midafternoon.

Go bowling, skating, hiking or anything else that would create some fun excitement. You can eat together but keep it to Mexican or burgers maybe, nothing too fancy.

I before We

Okay, so this group may seem full of Debbie Downers, but I say more power to you. This group is for those of you that maybe just got out of a serious relationship or maybe you are single and want to be alone and not mix with the “lovey dovey” couples.

The most important relationship you can ever have is the one with yourself. So spend this Valentine’s Day with the awesome person that is you.

You can try something new that you have been wanting to try for a while or take a little weekend vacation for yourself. If you don’t want to go out then stay in, just don’t self-wallow.

First of all cook yourself a good meal. Make it special. Then you can go one of two routes. You can either treat yourself, or you can celebrate yourself. Play some relaxing music and take a bath.  Maybe you could use some quiet you time. On the other hand you can throw a party for one. Crank up the jams, play games and be merry.

You can chose how to spend Valentine’s Day and make it a positive one, maybe the best one yet.  We will all be in some kind of relationship on the 14th so have some well-deserved fun.