To all the single ladies and gentlemen, Valentine’s Day has been a day to treat yourself, because self-love is the best love. The pandemic may have put a dent in the dating scene and on this year’s Galentine’s Day plan, but Leslie Knope wouldn’t want us to give up on our plans. These quarantine-friendly plans prove that a night spent with your closest gal pals is still possible.
Call up some of your close friends and grab your favorite bites for a girls’ night in. Painting with a Twist offers take home kits that include a canvas, paint and brushes for each person starting at $27 a person.
“For the last five years, me and my girlfriends have been celebrating Galentine’s Day at Painting with a Twist, and we plan to carry on the tradition just at home over Zoom,” says student Sejaida Floyd.
For a budget-friendly alternative, Floyd suggests visiting a local arts and crafts store to pick up all your necessities for this fun night.
“Going to buy the stuff from the store is more affordable, and you have leftover supplies for later too.”
Pull out your pots, pans and cookbooks to cook your own dinner compared to going out. Try a new recipe to treat yourself to an exquisite evening with candles or choose your favorite romantic-comedy. TikTok recipes are trending, and it’s a perfect time to experiment with a new meal.
Once you and your girl squad has eaten, treat your sweet tooth to a sweet dessert. You can try dessert recipes on TikTok or visit a local eatery like PJ’s Sub Shop for a chocolate heart. The shop owner Ponce Jones, a FAMU alumnus, says the special is running exclusively for Valentine’s Day and has been in-demand the closer the day comes.
“Orders are more recently picking up volume as we approach the day, which has gotten me rather excited,” Jones says.
A movie night featuring some of Netflix’s new releases is the go-to way to celebrate your night-in.
“I am waiting to watch Malcolm & Marie until Valentine’s day,” Dynasty Davis says. “During the month of February, I watch romance movies and Black history movies that come out on Netflix.”
What better way to celebrate the holiday than to incorporate celebrating Black History Month? Blueprint Black is owned by FAMU student Alisa Horne. Horne creates fashionable crochet designs, and their mission is to accentuate the beauty that is being overlooked by society. The business is currently offering a Valentine’s Day special and giveaway.
Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, it seems that it was destined to be a day full of spa treatment. Treat yourself to a bubble bath, a face maskor maybe a yoga session.
Do not forget that Valentine’s Day is about love, so loving yourself is extremely important and vital to keeping the spirit alive this year.