12 Ideas for Valentine's Day If You're Not Part of a Couple

When we think of Valentine?s Day, we tend to think of two lovers celebrating together. If you aren�t paired at this time, don�t let yourself get left out! Here are 14 greatways to celebrate Valentine�s Day YOUR way.

1. Celebrate with a child!

If you don�t have one, borrow one! Invite your niece over for an afternoon of tea with tiaras and tutus, making Valentines, and reading Valentine�s books. Got a boy inyour life? How about some slap-jack or Pente, video games and a candle-lit dinner with fondue � to keep those hands busy! Nice red catsup is good enough for the sauce!

2. Give a party at a children�s shelter.

The Volunteer Director is trained to help you! Simple refreshments, favors, plan a game, tie-dye t-shirts, crafts, play the piano and sing. It�s the thought and the companionship that count. Games? Play musical chairs, tying big red bows to the front of the chairs. Pin the Lips on Ms. Valentine � draw �her� on posterboard � use moving eyes, false eyelashes and pipe cleaners for hair. Put eachkid�s name on a pair of red lips cut out of construction paper with tape on back. Blindfold them with a Valentine scarf and proceed! Valentine Bingo � make bingo cards with February-theme items: groundhogs, Presidents Lincoln and Washington, candy, hearts, doves, lovers, Valentines, etc. Serve �Love Potion� for the beverage.

3. Make it a special day for someone in a retirement or nursing home.

Put on that bright red sweater and your Valentine tie, scarf, or suspender(http://store.yahoo.com/tiebar2/valentineday.html ) and head on over! You will be SO WELCOME. One friend of mine takes something he bakes called Terribly Naughty. I believe it has pecans, peanut butter, chocolate morsels, marshmallows, butterscotch pieces, pure butter, at least a pound of sugar, and brandy in it. You could also make the Ultimate Killer Cookie of All Time(http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/dessert/cookies/ultcookie.html). He's very popular! �All My Lovin�� and other Valentine�s braces available here: http://www.rainbowconnection.com/index.php/cPath/22_71 .

4. Have friends of all ages over for a Valentine's Party.

Sing love songs, watch a video, make an outrageously beautiful buffet spread. Have everyone bring a grab bag gift. Have a poetry contest. Here�s a list of Romantic songs: http://www.inspirationpoint.com/ipmusic.htm .

5. Call up your son and daughter-in-law and tell them you're coming for the weekend to take care of the kids so they can go celebrate.

Pack the parents off, and then bake Valentine�s cookies with the kids and have a red dinner � red jello hearts, heart-shaped pasta with tomato sauce or heart-shaped pizza, Hawaiian punch and cinnamon hearts in hot cocoa. �Willie Wonka� video, everyone gets in the big bed with Nana, snuggle-time, dogs included. Woo hoo!

6. Celebrate with your animal companion.

There's no more reliable source of love in our lives. Bake some homemade dog biscuits ( http://www.gurney.co.uk/pads/bone.htm ) . Take your dog for a special outing, and on the way, drop off your treats at the local animal shelter. Or take your animal companion with you to a nursing home or convalescent center. Many facilities are making this opportunity available for their guests. You can deck your dog, cat, ferret or rabbit in a festive Valentine scarf -http://www.pet-bandanas.com/valentines-bandanas.htm - for the occasion. Valentine�s sweaters, vests, ties, bows, boas! And anything else you need for your little furry friend - http://www.cosettescloset.com/valwear.html .

7. Enjoy the day helping others. A local place of worship might be building a house for Habitat or going Valentine caroling at a housing project. If not, why not? If not you, who? Organize something with your civic group, singles group or Sunday School class. If the New York Giants can do it, so can you. They visited patients in Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian on Valentine's Day.

8. Book a Valentine cruise on the Costa cruise line and dance the nights away.

Be a gentleman host, or dance with one! Gentlemen dance hosts "work" from 8 pm to 1 am every night, visiting with and dancing with women cruise guests. Great vacation for singles! Gentleman, don�t forget your red cummerbund and bowtie (http://store.yahoo.com/tiebar2/solcolcumbow.html ). Wait til the last minute when the rates go down really low.

9. Have the girls over for a Valentine Day Brunch.

Make pancakes and fried eggs shaped like hearts (http://www.romanticgifts.com/RomanticGifts/njscat.nsf/adminCatalog/E329061D73D3165188256A31001EE646!OpenDocument&15.+Kitchen+$+Dining ), serve with strawberry syrup, fresh strawberries, some nice crisp bacon, strawberry daiquiris and nice hot tea. Yum! Set a terminally romantic buffet table and fill the DR ceiling with pink and/or red helium balloons.

10. Check for special events in your town.

A special Valentine pops concert perhaps? Or get away for the weekend and see some great art. Bath House Center in Dallas, Texas, has an annual February exhibit called "El Corazon," "the heart." The Utah Symphony will be presenting a Valentine Symphony concert February 11 and 12.

11. Try something zany.

The Embassy Suites, Richmond, Va. offers the King�s Dominion Package � 2-room suite, breakfast, reception, indoor pool and Jacuzzi and 2 adult tickets to go ride that roller coaster! There�s more than one way to �lose your heart� on Valentine�s Day.

Or check out the Winter-storm adventure Ancient Cedars Spa, Vancouver Island at the Wickannish Inn, situated on a rocky promontory at the western most point of Chesterman Beach, at the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (http://www.wickinn.com/Frames/HPfrm.htm ). Enjoy the spectacle of 20� waves pounding the coast from your room with ocean view, deep soaker tub, and fireplace for optimum viewing. All spa amenities, epicurean dining and �the storm-watching experience�. Slickers provided. Bring along some friends, your pet, and/or a good book!

12. Feed your heart!

Curl up with a good book. Read a super sappy and sentimental romance, or read about love itself -- �A General Theory of Love� is written by three doctors, one of whom writes like a poet (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375709223/susandunnmome-20).



�Susan Dunn, MA, Life Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Susan is the author of �Midlife Dating Survival Manual for Women,� and offers coaching, Internet courses and ebooks