Pink punch and the Lego Flower Bouquet set The Xavierite
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, but that does not mean you have to spend a lot of money in order to celebrate. There are many ways to get into the holiday spirit on a budget. Here are some inexpensive things you can do this February to make it just as memorable.
Make Some Pink Punch
It is incredibly easy to find a new drink recipe online or in a book that is sure to be a favorite. I recently discovered a quick 3-ingredient recipe for punch you can recreate in whatever way you would like.
As a student living on campus, I limited my ingredients to what can be found in Rhubarb’s, Saint Xavier’s convenience store that dorm dwellers can use their meal plan on. Never fear if you are a commuter, these ingredients are simple and do not have to exceed $10.
From Rhubarb’s, I bought a bottle of Starry soda, a bottle of Simply Lemonade that had strawberry flavor, and a Tropi-Kool strawberry fruit bar. To make a single serving, fill a cup about three quarters full with lemonade and then the remaining quarter with the Starry. Make sure to leave some room at the top. I cut the fruit bar into squares and filled my cup to my liking.
It takes less than ten minutes and is instantly ready to enjoy. I went with a strawberry theme to maintain a pink color for the Valentine’s Day theme, but this simple recipe can be adjusted with any flavors to satisfy what you are going for.
If you are looking for more inspiration, Rose Clearfield has compiled a list of 25 recipes that are sure to please. So take a girl’s or date night in and enjoy!
Heart nail design example The Xavierite
Paint Heart Nail Designs
Next up, you can get into the holiday spirit without having to step foot into a nail salon and pay a fortune. I have seen a lot of pictures shared recently of Valentine’s Day nail art that got me inspired. You do not have to be a great artist to paint cute nails, especially this little heart design.
I have been experimenting with nail art a lot recently and have found that acrylic paint can be used for designs and smudges less when you apply a top coat to finish it off. For my heart design, as pictured, I used a pink nail polish I already had combined with silver acrylic paint.
You can use anything from a toothpick to a pencil to paint the designs. I find using a toothpick works quite well, especially if you want to create little dots one at a time. Hearts are also an easy shape to create and they do not have to look perfect or identical to work well.
When in doubt, open Pinterest and type in the design you are looking for to use as a reference. This combined with some acrylic paint is sure to make for a memorable night with friends or on your own.
Watch a Rom-Com
What would the holiday of love be without a classic Romantic Comedy? Several streaming platforms have a variety of options that will allow you to spend little money while still feeling festive.
If you are looking for sappy movies that get the job done, Netflix has you covered. After all, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” and “Set It Up” are on Netflix right now. As basic as they are, they somehow never get old, no matter how cringey certain scenes may be.
Prime Video has some alternative options, but there are rental costs on certain movies. Currently, one of my favorites that you can stream here is “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Not only will this movie have you laughing with secondhand embarrassment, but you will enjoy the progression of a relationship that starts on a bet and a potential news article.
Let’s not forget that Disney Plus offers a variety as well, including “10 Things I Hate About You.” This classic is hard to hate, being one of the most iconic enemies-to-lovers movies.
Write Yourself a Love Letter
A common misconception of Valentine’s Day is that you have to be in a relationship to be able to celebrate. It can be common to feel down if this is not the case, but this should not make anyone feel less than anyone else or question their worth.
I am concluding this list with the idea of writing yourself a love letter. This might sound weird at first, but take the time to think about everything that makes you yourself.
The letter can be about anything, whether it is recognizing current accomplishments that have made you proud or showcasing the unique things you like about yourself but may take for granted. This can turn into a practice of self love to remind yourself of your worth even through tough times.
After writing a letter, you can shred it or stick it into an envelope and put it in a safe place. Regardless, let this February set the tone for the rest of this year and get you on track to maintain a healthy mindset and remind you to romanticize the little things. Be your own valentine first.