Valentine’s Day

Beat Disappointment on Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2013 By Cortney Leave a Comment

This time of year, the internet is filled with gift guides and ideas on how to make this Valentine’s Day the most special one yet. If you find yourself less than ecstatic this time of year, no worries- you are not alone.

I’ve found that this holiday brings on an exceptional amount of pressure for everyone, single or not. People are either worried about what to purchase someone or worried they have no one to purchase for.

I’m here to tell you, Valentine’s Day is NOT the be it all, end all. Not to mention, you don’t have to celebrate the holiday with a significant other. I personally enjoy exchanging gifts with close friends and family.

If you are single, or that special someone has completely dropped the ball this year, don’t worry. You can have your own special celebration. Everyone will choose differently based on personality, budget, etc. but here are some ideas on how to achieve a kick ass Valentine’s Day.

Go to the movies: I know some people will say this is a bad idea because a chick-flick can be a painful reminder that you are single or not getting a Hollywood fantasy- but I don’t. Sometimes it’s really nice to see romance played out on screen. I can be happy other people are happy… even if it’s a fictional story.

Celebrate Yourself: Buy that new item you’ve been looking at for weeks or go somewhere new. A restaurant, a Bookstore, a Cafe. A change of view can do wonders and you will be happy you treated yourself the way you should

Chill with some Friends: And I don’t just mean an Anti-Valentine’s Day party. But really go out and have fun. Hit the club, Hang out Downtown, whatever just get the hell out. I mean what’s worse than sitting around alone contemplating something that bothers you. Turn the day around and go have fun. If you’re a lady, gather your best girlfriends, put on something fun & sexy and go paint the town red. Who knows, by the end of the night you may not be single anymore ;P

Did I mention flowers make everyone happy? Go buy yourself some freaking awesome flowers.

Filed Under: Opinion, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Anti Valentine's Day, Boyfriend's Suck, Celebrate Valentine's Day, couple, Gift Guide, Girlfriend's Suck, List of things to do on valentines day, Single on Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day, what to do, what to do for valentine's day

Low Budget to No Budget Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

February 11, 2012 By Cortney Leave a Comment

After my last article Should You Celebrate Valentine’s Day, I realized that many people who will be celebrating are stumped about what to get that special someone without going over budget. Below is a list of wallet friendly gifts and inexpensive destinations.

Free Ideas:

Skip the flower shop. Try picking her some flowers or taking her to a park or arboretum; those can be very romantic and free to low cost.
Forget buying expensive Valentine’s Day Cards. Just pull out the old colored pencils and paper and write your date a special message. It’s always a nice touch to include a drawing with your sentiment, even if it’s just a doodle.
Cook your date dinner. This is an excellent opportunity to be personal by cooking a favorite dish of theirs or surprise them with a new recipe. Many cooking websites have a filter option that allows you to browse using only the ingredients you select.
Get creative. A poem is a wonderful chance to express your feelings. Even if you’re no Emily Dickinson, you’d be surprised how touching and memorable it can be to receive a poem. This is a sure-fire way to earn brownie points.
Go to the beach. This serves the dual function of romantic and memorable. Take a bucket so you and your date can hunt for seashells. You can make jewelry with the pieces later on or keep them for display. Either way, they make a great souvenir from your celebration. Be sure to have the perfect ending and stay for the sunset.

Low Budget Ideas:

Take your date to the local dollar theatre. If you aren’t sure where the nearest one to you is, google is an amazing tool
If you really like the idea of candy and chocolates for your date, stores like Walgreens, The Dollar Tree, and Walmart have some great options at unbeatable prices.
Pictures are like memories on display. You can purchase a nice frame from your local Target or any department store and place a favorite picture in it as a gift.
Go out for a game of Miniature Golf. This one is pretty self explanatory but what many people don’t know is how reasonably priced of a date this can be. Many places offer package deals that include snacks and drinks.
Try purchasing a personalized item from Etsy.com.

Remember for any holiday, it’s the thought that counts- not the price tag.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Candy, Card, CBC, Celebration, Cosmetics By Cortney, Cost Effective, Craft, Creative Ideas, Etsian, Etsy, For Her, Free, Gift Guide, Low Budget, Single, Valentine's Day

Should You Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

February 11, 2012 By Cortney 1 Comment

Is Valentine’s Day just an opportunity for Hallmark to cash out and to make the single people feel insecure? It seems like every year there are a number of pressures and emotions floating about: “What should I buy her?”, “Why am I still single?”, “Will he think i’m being too sappy?”. Sometimes it gets a little out of hand. I know many people boycott the whole affair and just treat it like any other day of the year. I see where they are coming from. It’s easy to feel like you’re the odd one out because for some reason there is an entire holiday dedicated to all of the people in love…. or in some cases “in like”. You watch the boys deliver chocolates and flowers to their special someones and you see the girl blush with happiness and pride over her new lovely treasures. It’s hard not to wonder when the hell Prince Charming is gonna come knocking at your door….

Personally, i’ve always enjoyed celebrating the holiday. Even when I was a kid and i’d walk from desk to desk delivering my valentine’s to the other students, I thought it was a fun thing to take part in. I also have a blast when i’m in a relationship. It’s kind of a fun challenge to figure out what to get the other person because let’s face it- boys aren’t quite as breathless over flowers as I tend to be. I also like to celebrate with people i’m not romantically involved with. It’s always fun to go buy valentine’s and little treats for my best friends and family. When i’m single, that’s great too. I love any old excuse to buy myself chocolates and/ or balloons. Not to mention, I really have a good time poking fun at the holiday; pretending to be bitter that you will be spending your dateless evening watching One Tree Hill re-runs is a great way to get a laugh…. because I really love One Tree Hill ;P

In any case- weather you’re single or married or just have a really intense relationship with your iPod, my advice is to make the best of the day. Don’t be bitter that you’re single. Celebrate with a co-worker or friends. Maybe your cat deserves some extra attention? I mean, after all- Is it that painful to accept an excuse to celebrate something… anything for that matter?

Filed Under: Opinion, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Candy, Card, Celebration, Chocolates, Cosmetics By Cortney, Dating, Flowers, Holiday, Love, Married, Saint Valentine, Should You Celebrate?, Single, Valentine's Day

Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her (via Etsy.com)

February 2, 2012 By Cortney 2 Comments

Why consider Etsy.com for your Valentine?

There are plenty of Valentine’s Day gift options out there for that special girl, but I find that handmade gifts send a special message for any holiday. Etsy.com is one of my favorite handmade websites and it’s had an incredible increase in popularity over the years. If you’ve ever shopped on Etsy then you probably already know what i’m talking about.

The selection of items to choose from is endless. If you’re stumped for ideas as to what you should purchase for that special someone, Etsy.com is loaded with fun, quirky, romantic and even geeky options. You can easily navigate through their categories on the left sidebar of the home page or explore treasuries that other Etsians have taken a liking to.

One other great advantage to shopping at Etsy.com is that you support handmade artists who spend countless hours making these amazing creations.

For the perfect homemade Valentines Day gift I recommend any of these options:

Jewelry: An oldie but a goodie. I’ve yet to see a piece of jewelry fail to make a woman smile (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkavengerA)

Super Soft Blanket: The over looked personal gift. This will keep her warm and cozy for any time you aren’t around to do the job. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BundleMeBaby)
Candles: You can get these in all colors, shapes, and sizes. A really fun example is the one pictured above. This 2 in 1 combo delivers candle light and dessert. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/kokocandles)
Pottery: Functional and Fashionable. Another great hand made gift featured here is a jewelry bowl in Robins Egg Blue. Perfect for displaying earrings and bangle bracelets. She’ll love how thoughtful and organizational you are. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/redhotpottery)
Handmade Soap: There is a fantastic world of soap out there. If your girl hasn’t entered this universe yet, then she’s definitely in for a treat. This is a great opportunity to be original. The soap I chose to feature is super cute for Valentine’s Day, but don’t feel like you have to stick to traditional this year. You can get soaps in the shapes of Space Ships, Video Game Controllers, and even Gummy Worms. Go Natural, Scented, or Sparkled. Whatever your girl is into, handmade soaps should definitely be considered this year. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BubblesUpByBethieB)
Bubble Bath/ Bath Bombs: Another fantastic chance to be creative. So many colors and shapes out there! This is perfect for a romantic occasion or a nice relaxing mini-spa day. If your girl is overworked or stressed, she will definitely thank you for this present. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/PetalsBB)
Purses & Bags: What more can I say? Second only to a woman’s shoe obsession, Purses are always a great way to go. I’m showing a very out there option for a purse above. I would love to receive this, but pay attention to what your girl likes. Does she always carry a large nearly beach-tote bag on a regular basis? Don’t make the mistake of giving her a miniature clutch. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/nineOHseven)
Art: In some ways, this is the gift of beauty and conversation. Give her something that will always remind her of you, while brightening her day at the same time. Whenever she has a guest over, she can tell the story of how sweet you were to get her that fantastic art print. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/maybesparrowsplace)
Teddy Bear: Total classic that never goes out of style. Weather you get a life-size bear or a tiny pocket teddy- it’s always sweet to get a Teddy on Valentine’s Day (http://www.etsy.com/shop/cosplaybabies)
Decals/ Geek Gifts: If you’ve got a tech girl, or just a girl who loves her laptop or iPod, then a decal can be a pretty cool option for Valentine’s Day. This can also be a very personal gift depending on what decal you choose. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vinylwalldesign)