Joanna Stich

Valentines Day may be a day of love but who says you can’t love yourself? If you happen to be single this Valentines Day, there are still plenty of things for you to feel special.

I know for a fact having worked in hospitality industry for about 10 years that hotels put up prices just because its Valentines Day, therefore I will not be diving into suggesting solo weekend trips, sorry! Simultaneously, if I were single I would not want to hang out on Valentines Night at a bar or a restaurant, because you are guaranteed to get front row seats to the love fest on every corner. In fact, I am going to share some of my best things to do during the day and at home!

1. Go see a movie

Ok, I know I said I’d mention doing things during the day, however this one is a no brainer. Cinema is a great way to still feel like you’re ‘out’ but you definitely don’t feel alone. There will be lots of people at the cinema and the best thing is, you can’t talk anyway so you don’t feel like you’re missing out on much of a company.

2. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day

There are multiple day spas in Vancouver, some of which offer Singleton Specials. Depending what you’re in the mood for massage or a facial, bring a book and relax in their recovery room afterwards. If you go to a bigger spa i.e. in a hotel you might be in a position to utilize their swimming pool or a sauna too.

3. Champagne Afternoon Tea

Now, if this doesn’t scream fancy and treat yourself then I don’t know what does. Afternoon Tea has always been one of my favorite things to do, weirdly enough there is something fancy about eating tiny (overpriced for sure) sandwiches.

My two favorite spots for an epic Afternoon Tea in downtown Vancouver would be at The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Reservations are required for each of these locations.

4. Brunch

Recently I have been trying to check some of the brunch places off of my list. My husband isn’t a huge fan of brunch and my friends aren’t always around so I started going on my own. It’s definitely an experience. The very first time I ate alone I felt a little out of place, but the more you do it, the more natural it feels and guess what? Nobody cares. I always make sure I have my book or E-Reader with me and I am good.

Two places I’d highly recommend checking out for Brunch are Cafe Medina on Richards Street Downtown, and Red Umbrella Cafe on Davie Street in the West End. Both to die for, reasonably priced – neither take reservations, walk in only. Get there early, as they get busy!

5. Kick Back with some Puzzles & Vino

Ok, this sounds a bit lame however hear me out. Lately, especially due to Covid I started to do puzzles. They are fun! They are also time consuming, sometimes without realizing a whole evening has gone past. This is an incredible activity for many reasons: You decrease your screen time, be that TV or cell phone; its a mindful activity which nurtures your mental health; you improve your concentration and attention to detail skills.

I often do my puzzle, have some soothing background music on and a glass of Vino. Puzzles go well paired together with a glass of Sumac Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 😉

6. Old School Pamper Night

This is definitely my favorite form of self care, therefore I couldn’t not mention it. Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Home with a nice bath, popcorn and a movie! You can of course do it, anyway you like, but I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you.

To make your bath a little more bougy I use Dr Teals Melatonin Sleep Soak Epsom Salts. They soothe your skin and any muscle or joint pains, smell incredible and have a soothing effect on your mental health helping you relax and sleep better. You can find them here or here.

Next up is hair & face. They are the staples of at home pamper night. Once a month I use the Olaxplex Hair Perfector Treatment in my hair – it helps to restore, smooth and rebuild my hair as well as strengthen my roots. You use it as you would a conditioner, however it works best if you leave it in your hair for more than 10 minutes. You can find it here.

For my face mask, there are no contenders and there haven’t been for awhile – its Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. It smells divine, and despite the fact that the consistency is totally smooth it exfoliates and removes any imperfections. You can find it here.

Reading & Watching

Now that you have pampered yourself its time to make a decision – will you sit down and relax with a good book or watch a movie? Since I like to think I am a connoisseur of both, I am happy to recommend a couple:

The Week Of: Very funny movie produced by Adam Sandler and his usual crew. Its a feel good story, some romance within but very limited and family oriented.

Why did I get married? It’s a black comedy starring Janet Jackson, about 4 married couples and their lives – things they deal with on a daily basis, their values and friendship. Aside from the love aspect of the movie, its also a good laugh.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: This is one of the funniest and quirkiest books I have read in a long long time. It will have you laughing out loud to yourself. Story portrays a life of alone female in her 30s, her day to day life and her quirks and dealings with ‘society’. You can find it here.

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman: It’s a hilarious comedy about a robbery that may or may not have happened and a funny relationship between a father and a son cops. This book will also have you in stitches. You can find it here. If you like the book, I also just found out they made Limited Series on Netflix based on this book, you could watch.

Whatever way you decide to do, I hope you feel happy, fulfilled and more importantly loved! You don’t always need company to feel all of those things.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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