Feb. 14 has been an international day of love for many decades. The overly romanticized day often ends up either surprising those who expect nothing or devastating the few who just wanted a little too much out of the day. Here are a few tips and realistic expectations for the day.

Spending the day with a significant other

• Check out Flix Brewhouse in Des Moines for a movie and dinner without spending too much
• Don’t spend too much on material gifts; that is not what the day is about
• Enjoy one another’s presence

Spending the day with a new romance

• Order a pizza and stay in for a movie night
• Chinese food and Netflix; you really can’t go wrong
• Spend the evening getting to know each other more

Spending the day in a long distance relationship

• Write a handwritten letter to your significant other
• Send flowers or something sweet to their living space
• FaceTime; technology has allowed the distance to be a little easier

Spending the day with friends

• Pamper yourselves with manicures and homemade facials
• Make it an outing and go to a wine tasting
• Cook dinner together
• Movie/TV marathon; is there anything better than binge watching a series?

Spending the day alone

• Treat yourself to something nice
• Eat and drink whatever you want, especially chocolate
• Spend the day doing whatever you please because it’s the only day you have this excuse