Cheap Valentine's Day ideas

1. Picnic in your living room - spread some blankets and pillows, perhaps build a fort, make some sandwiches and drink cheap wine with cheese. Remember to light some candles!
   
2. Update your vows - whether you are married or not, this would be a romantic thing to do. You can make them as sweet or funny as you want.
   
3. Head to toe body massage - use some luxurious body oils.
   
4. Play a song together - if you are both musically talented, have a jam session. You can even change the lyrics to make it more personal!
   
5. Love notes - write a series of notes beginning with "I love you because..." on tiny pieces of paper and stick them around the apartment/house. These would be a cute surprise.
   
6. Repeat your first date - it's really sweet when guys remember the details of the first date such as the restaurant, city (if you went that far) and would make anyone feel appreciated. It would also be a good way to realise how much closer you've become since then.
   
7. Slow dance - burn some of your favourite acoustic songs onto a CD (or perhaps make a Spotify playlist) and dance the night away. This could be indoors or even outside under the stars.
   
8. Photoshoot - let your partner photograph you in any way they want, with outfits of their own choosing.
   
9. Cooking class at home - perhaps you could ditch the expensive dinner and spend the night in, with one of you teaching the other how to make your favourite meal. This is quite an intimate idea and will be fun ^_^
   
10. A coupon book - fill this with favours, and put an expiry date on each item too. You could include things such as breakfast in bed, homemade dinner, literally anything you want! (or think your partner would want ;) )

Relationship myths

I'm no Dr Phil when it comes to relationships, but a few weeks ago, I read a blog post about bad relationships by Emma Chow from 96.1 on Popsugar that deeply resonated with me. As I read each point, I thought "wow that's sooooo true, feeling her sooo hard right now." I thought I would do something similar, but more on myths rather than lessons I've learnt. Can't roast anyone too badly on here haha.



The friendzone.

I've lost count of how many times I've written about this or told people it's not real. But it really isn't. I've had people ask me "weren't you worried that he would never see you as more than a friend? I would never date someone who's a friend" and it shocked me. If you only consider people you just meet, how do you know that the interest (from either side) isn't purely based on looks? Some people don't want others to know their flaws, but you know what's even better than people not knowing your flaws? People knowing your flaws and still accepting you. That's when you know it's real. You can't hide forever LOL. People date friends, and the truth is, if a friend wouldn't date you, it's because they're not attracted to you. It's not "because you're a friend."


Opposites attract.

Initially, this could be true. However, if/once the infatuation dies down (which it probably will,) what are you going to do? If you want to go out to parties and he wants to stay at home playing videogames, would you still go? If you hate mainstream music but she loves Taylor Swift then what songs are you gonna sing along to on your long drives? Would you feel awkward about spending all his money on designer bags he doesn't see the point of? Over time, you'll realise that the list of things you can both enjoy becomes shorter and shorter, and you'll end up relying on your friends and family to stay happy. That's when you know it's time for quits - when you feel happier without them.


They'll change.

If you want someone to change, or if you're having thoughts like "if they ______, then I would be happy" then chances are, they won't change, or even if they do, it won't be as expected. You can't make someone quit smoking. They'll just find ways to do it without you finding out. People only change for themselves. There is nothing wrong with change; personal growth is essential, but it's little things that can end up mattering the most.




by Farzana