Life: The Single Ladies' Guide to Enjoying Valentine's Day.

All my single ladies!  Valentine's Day is one of the single person's most hated holidays, but I think there's one thing these singles need to remember on February 14th. Valentine's Day is about love, not lovers. Whether your love is for yourself or for others (family, for example), you should take this opportunity to express it!  Here are some ways to embrace being single on Valentine's Day:

Love thyself:

1. Read a book, such as a self-help book that provides advice to help single women embrace the single life and also gives helpful dating tips and advice. Help yourself figure out what you want, how to get it, and why you shouldn't settle for anything less. 

2. Have an at-home spa evening. Go to your local cosmetics store, get some mid- to upper-price range products (facial mask, sugar scrub, hair moisture treatment, mani/pedi kit, etc.), and get to pampering!  

3. Send flowers to yourself. Flowers are Mother Nature's love letter, and on her behalf, "you're welcome." 

4. Make a "Happy" playlist. Include songs that make you feel good, make you want to dance, or bring back good memories. Rock out to it all day! 

Love thy neighbor: 

1. To play off of the previous suggestions, have a single ladies spa night. Get all your single friends together, have everyone bring a different pampering product, and have a peaceful ladies night. 

2. Take your friends out for ice cream or stay home and bake heart-shaped cupcakes! Here is a heart-shaped mold you could buy to do so. :) 

3. Consider the people who do services for you.  Give a valentine to your favorite waitress at your favorite restaurant, your hair stylist, your house cleaner, your mailman, etc. These people spend more than enough time to make your life easier, so honoring them is important to your relationship. Take this opportunity to remind them that you don't take them for granted. 

4. Send cards to all the important people in your life. Not only will those people feel cherished and remembered, but it will help you to remember all the wonderful people you have in your life. Since Valentine's Day is about your expression of love, make each person feel special. Send a personalized e-card or even a phone call! 

5. Surprise someone anonymously. Maybe your co-worker, your best friend, or your sibling. This is especially appreciated by people who are upset about not having a Valentine.

Still bitter?

1. Have a singles support night with your other single friends. If this day is truly difficult for you, or for other single girls you know, don't act like it's not. Take the evening to grieve, eat a tub of ice cream, and move on. Start something new and fun! 

2. Buy yourself some Bittersweets(TM); "Valentine's Day candy for the rest of us." 

"We can only learn to love by loving." 

- Iris Murdoch

Katie

P.S. If you have a Valentine to dress up for, check out Kandee Johnson's Valentine's Day date Make-up!

Life: Following your Dream

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin's dream was a society where everyone is treated equally.  He dedicated his life to promoting his dream and, as a result, created positive changes throughout world.  He had the courage and determination to share his dream with the world.

Maybe you have a dream that you've been suppressing because it's unrealistic, embarrassing, or "not the right time."  Boy, do I have news for you: you're wrong. 

Here's 12 LIES People Tell you About Pursuing your Dreams:

1. You’re screwed if it doesn’t work out. Probably not.  Worst case scenario, you find something else to do or go back to what you would have done had you not followed your dream.
2. You weren’t cut out for that. Says who?  Ok, so maybe you don't fit the stereotype, but when did you start caring about stereotypes?  If anything, you'll stand out.  Which brings me to my next point...
3. You’re going to be the next ____.  No, you’re the next YOU. Don’t follow the mold, just be yourself. 

4. You can follow your dream someday. No, thanks.  Make it happen now.  "Someday" may never come.  I never wanted to be that person who spent 15 years doing a job I hate before pursuing my dreams.  Why wait?
5. Only a few people “make it” or it's impossible. You have a one in a million chance. Actually, it's probably less.  Yes, it's impossible...for them.  They lack the drive, determination, and will that you have to make it happen.
6. Your dream is unrealistic. What’s unrealistic is trying to live your life working at a job you don’t love doing something you hate for the rest of your life while regretting trying to live your dream.
7. Just be safe and get a normal job. Actually, this is probably the most UNSAFE route.  Not only will you be miserable and unsuccessful doing what yo do, but what happens if you get fired? When you’re pursuing your dream, you’re the only one that can stop you.
8. You would have to do so much work/be under so much pressure to do that. If you know what you want, you'll be willing to do what it takes to get there. To you it’s not work, it’s what you want to do with your life.
9. You won’t need a backup plan. Well, um, yeah, you probably do.  Doing what you love doesn't necessarily mean you'll make millions right away.  However, you can use your talent or perfect your dream by doing something that's not quite what you wanted, but very similar.  Become good at more than one thing. 
10. You can't make a living doing that. If you can find an avenue that will allow you to be paid for what you do, you can absolutely make a living off of it.  Think of all the people who are being paid to do something uncommon or, at first glance, unprofitable.
11. You'll probably fail. We learn from experience, and experience usually brings about failures. Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that failures are just steps towards success. If you can’t handle failure, then success is going to be very difficult to achieve.
12. You have to do this, this, and this to do that. Wrong. "Follow what you believe and find your own way to achieve your dream. Studying those who have succeeded in the same field helps, but copying won’t get you anywhere." - R. Vora

In summary, don't accept discouragement.  Don't let other people tell you what your dream is, because only you can really know.  The only person that can get in the way of your success is you. Dare to dream and put that dream into action.

Now go own the world.

Katie