TYLER HAYWARD / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Chantal Cino 

The Silhouette

In case you haven’t heard, Valentine’s Day is around the corner. For those single, I know what you’re thinking; I wasn’t with anyone last year so I didn’t have to plan anything except the snacks I was going to eat while I stayed home and wallowed.

If you’re in a new relationship, however, Valentine’s Day can seem frightening. Don’t worry, though. Here are some simple ways to make you appear as the thoughtful individual you’re probably pretending to be. Now, there are two crucial elements that you need to keep in mind when planning any Valentine’s related activities.

Number one: the ‘cute factor’. I don’t care if last year you acted like all the mushy things around you were utterly ridiculous. This year, you need to embrace the mush as if it is adorable. (Even if you think it’s still ridiculous, you’re going to have to pretend to like it.)

Number two: the ‘sentimental factor’. Making connections between your plans and other special times you’ve spent with your partner will make their heart explode. (Caution: Excessive hugging may ensue.)

Now that the ground rules are set, you need to apply the Valentine’s Day formula: Date + Present = Feelings of Love.  Simple enough? Let’s consider the first variable: The Date.

Step 1: The restaurant. Yes, it’s a cliché, but going out for dinner will immediately establish a romantic mood. But remember the rules: make it cute and sentimental. You’ve probably gone to dinner together before, so going to the restaurant where you had your first dinner date will bring back all of those lovely feelings. One tip, though: you may think that putting out extra money for a fancy restaurant will make for a better date, but it’s always best to go with a place that actually serves good food because, you know, you’re going to be eating it.

Step 2: Ice cream. What? Ice cream? In the winter? That’s absurd! Exactly; that’s why you should do it. You’ll seem creative, as it’s unexpected and plus, your partner probably hasn’t gone for ice cream since the summer. As a bonus, when the two of you get cold you get to snuggle real close to each other (i.e. be cute).

Step 3: Movie night. No, not at the theatres. All intimacy will disappear when you’re squished between a bickering married couple and a sobbing divorcee, and it’s difficult to personalize. So what to do instead? Have a movie night at home, and go all out. You make sure you have all of your loved one’s favourite movies, including those Disney ones that they loved watching as a kid/every other weekend to this day. You buy all of the treats you can think of, again being mindful of their favourites to increase the happy feelings.

Finally, don’t settle for the couch. Revert back to being a seven year old and lay a ton of blankets and pillows on the floor, making a bed/hideout of fabric and hearts and smiles and rainbows for the two of you to cuddle in. Now, the second variable: The teddy bear.

Simple and adorable. It doesn’t matter how many teddy bears someone has received, it’s a classic, smile-inducing gift. However, you don’t get to be lazy. You’re going to drag yourself over to Build-A-Bear Workshop and majorly embarrass yourself by waiting in line with the small, annoying children, and kissing the heart they put inside that thing. Bonus points if you make a birth certificate for it and name it after your partner’s childhood dog.

Get crafty. Play to your strengths on this one. If you’re artsy, make them an awesome picture for their room. If you’re bookish, pick a book you love and write them little notes inside it that pertain to both you two as well as what’s happening in the story on that page.

If you’re nerdy, make them a whole bunch of little Valentine’s cards, like the ones you were forced to give to the kids you didn’t like in elementary school, with little Valentine’s messages that are math, science, literature or pop culture related. These will make them laugh and swoon all at once.

Finally, love letter. Let’s get real, they’re timeless. You don’t even have to be a skilled writer. Putting down exactly how you feel in a letter that your loved one can look at whenever they’re missing you is simultaneously cute, sentimental, and downright awesome.

Use these suggestions for yourself or come up with your own. In the end, all that matters is that you make an effort to make your partner feel loved. The rest will fall into place.