My boyfriend and I celebrated our year-and-a-half anniversary last weekend, laughing about our stupid fights and the time I crashed into a lamppost on our first romantic bike date. No matter how long you’ve been with a guy, the fact that you two found each other among the sea of hormonally charged young adults, is something worth celebrating. But what kind of funtivities are appropriate for the amount of time you’ve been together?
The Monthsery:
 Not all couples celebrate their monthly milestone, but it couldn’t hurt to go out for dinner that night, instead of downing the usual dining hall grub. It doesn’t even have to be anything fancy. If you’re like me and love McDonald’s, but can’t find it anywhere in downtown Evanston, a monthsery might be a good day to cab or drive to the nearest Mickey D’s for some alone time….and a quarter pounder.
The Three-Month Mark:
 This is the time when most couples start to realize they’re in for something more serious. To put it in guy terms, this is when his friends say, “dude, you’re only sleeping with her, and you’re okay with it. You guys are in a relationship.” Personally, I think the three-month celebration is the most important in terms of impressing the other party. You two are at a stage where there is still the option of bailing without too much to lose, but also on the verge of having a committed relationship. This would be the time to go to downtown Evanston for a dinner at The Stained Glass or Bravo, and girls, dress to impress and show this guy how lucky he is to have you as his girlfriend.
The Half A Year:
 While the three-month celebration is a toast to the future, the six-month point is a good time to spice things up in what you two have established as a solid relationship. Instead of opting for just a dinner, maybe go watch a musical in Chicago or spend the day in Millennium Park. Show him how grateful you are that he put up with your PMS-ing (that’s six different times, so he’s definitely a keeper). This is a good anniversary to pick out a gift for him, or make him dinner. Six months is not a short time, and you should be proud of how far you’ve come.
The Legit Anniversary:
 Congratulations! You had 365 days to witness the many flaws of each other’s character and you still decided to stay together. Someone once said, “Just as you think you want to end things, you have to try to remember why you started it.” The anniversary is by no means an end, but it can’t hurt to revisit the fresh-faced lovers you two once were. Try recreating your first date, but amp it up with a getaway for the weekend by staying the night in Chicago or taking a three-day road trip. At this stage, most couples stop flirting or dressing up for their partners, because they’ve seen each other at their worst. So do your hair and wear some heels just for him to remind him of the gorgeous babe he saw in you.
Whether you’re a couple that likes to go all out on anniversaries or just have quiet nights in, the most important thing is to set aside time just for each other from your busy college schedules, because love is always something worth celebrating.
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