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Tips for an Alternative Valentine’s Day

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at IU chapter.

After three Christmases, three birthdays, three anniversaries, and two Valentine’s days I have run out of great gift ideas, and I have been left nearly penniless. I am not one to write a poem or a mushy song detailing my reasons why I love someone. So, I decided that this Valentine’s Day would be different — my boyfriend and I would come up with another way to spend the day together.

Option #1: Bake something for each other
I am no master chef, but I am always up for a challenge. This cake is perfect for V-day because the color is festive, plus strawberries are known for protecting the heart and improving balance and short-term memory.

Option #2: Get active
Pack a lunch and head over to Brown County for some great trails and beautiful sights. While hiking, you two can bond, talk, and experience the outdoors together. Added bonus? The scenery of the trees and snow are the perfect backdrop for some great pictures and maybe even a new cheesy Facebook profile picture of the two of you.

Option #3: Order-in and watch a movie
Here’s the catch: make it a movie (or two) that both of you have never seen before.  If you really want to think out-of-the-box, try an award-winning foreign film — this way you know you won’t have to turn it off after five minutes. I suggest saving all of your  questions at the end of the movie. My boyfriend’s biggest pet peeve is when I constantly hurl questions at him … oops!

Option #4: Make each other something homemade
This is tricky. Not only do you have to be the crafty type, but you also have to be with someone that will appreciate your gift and not stash it in the furthest corner of his closet. Here’s an idea: Make a photo album not only with the pictures of you two, but with the friends that have been with you throughout the journey.

Option #5: Get Some Sleep
 According to cbsnews.com, women ages 18 to 49 would rather sleep than have sex. It’s the best free present your boy can give you! So get some zzz’s while every other girl is worrying about what shoes matches her headband.

Alyssa Goldman is a junior at Indiana University majoring in journalism and gender studies. Alyssa aspires to be an editor at a women’s magazine writing about women’s issues and feminism. Alyssa has served as city & state editor and special publications editor for the Indiana Daily Student, IU’s award-winning student newspaper. She has also interned at Chicago Parent magazine, the IU Office of University Communications and Today’s Chicago Woman magazine. Currently, she is interning at Bloom, a city magazine in Bloomington, Ind., and loves being a Campus Correspondent for HC! In her spare time, Alyssa enjoys watching The Bad Girls Club, The Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives (of any city); listening to Lady Gaga; drinking decaf skinny vanilla soy lattes from Starbucks; reading magazines; and shopping and eating with her girls on IU’s infamous Kirkwood Avenue.