By Tonya Grieb, ’10, Contributor

Valentine’s Day is on Sunday! If you’re at a loss for plans, here are some ideas to fit into a variety of situations, whether you’re in a relationship, enjoying the single life, or out there searching for love.

Dating

For those in relationships, there are tons of things you can do for a special Valentine’s Day that don’t involve chocolates, flowers, or “romantic” dinners out. If you can brave the constantly changing and rarely beautiful weather in Cincinnati, go downtown for ice skating and hot chocolate, and maybe a carriage ride. If you’re looking for more of an indoor activity, you can always check out the Aquarium to see adorable penguins and fierce sharks. Staying in is always a good option, too. You can prepare a meal together. Try a new recipe, you’ll probably share some laughs in the process. Cooking or cuddling up on the couch is always great too if it’s a new relationship as you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other better and create meaningful memories for the future.

Happily Single

If you’re going stag for this Valentine’s Day, don’t fret just yet. There are many other single ladies and lads out there to spend the day with. Remember, not everyone can be in an awe-inspiring, Hollywood-style relationship. If you’re interested in doing something with a co-ed group of friends, you could always host a Valentine’s Party. Bring out your inner child and make cards for each other. You could also do some baking. Heart shaped cookies are always a fan favorite. If you’d prefer something that has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, throw a poker night for your friends or go see a non-romantic movie.

If you’re a single gal and have some friends in the same boat (or even if they aren’t) you can all celebrate this holiday of love with each other. Take advice from CCDS alums and throw a Valentine’s Day themed dinner! It’s a great excuse to spend extra time with the girls and an even better excuse to splurge on a new pink dress.

If you’re the romance movie buff type you might prefer to spend the day with a large TV and comfy clothes while watching classic love stories. A couple of great romance-esque films for our generation could be The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, or The Wedding Planner. If you want to tone down the serious romance type, just pick up some good romantic comedies (anything featuring Amanda Bynes, Julia Stiles, or Rachel McAdams always works!).

Looking for Love

Looking for love can sometimes be difficult if you are in a limiting social environment like high school. That said, if you’ve got friends at other schools, take advantage of time you spend with them to make new friends. Also, don’t be an introvert when you’re out in public; you never know when love might strike: it could happen while you’re shopping, out with friends, or even in a bookstore or library. If you’ve got someone in mind, surprising them with a Valentine’s Day surprise will never go outdated. Everyone loves to have an admirer.

Image courtesy of redbubble.com.