Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day rolls around every year like a ginormous pink steam roller, smushing everything in its path with consumer hearts and doilies.
Well, the secret to not being alone on V-Day is planning in advance.
Whether you're together with friends, family or ideally - a great date, here are some ways you can make it happen: 1.
Join an online dating network.
You can save a lot of hesitation and emailing back and forth time when you enter a dating network as opposed to a traditional dating site.
That's because the people you see in dating networks are connected to you through friends you trust, so you can easily find out who they really are and whether they're safe to meet in person.
2.
Volunteer.
Start volunteering from now for an organization you truly care about.
I used to volunteer at an animal shelter and even though I was in a relationship, I met some incredible people who shared my passion for animals (and who almost made me wish I was single again!) 3.
Go to a party.
Check online or your local paper for the parties going on near you.
Take another single friend or two with you and once there, meet someone new by taking advantage of the love in the air! 4.
Throw a party Sometimes you just have to take the initiative.
Invite everyone - singles, couples and of course, the person you're interested in.
It's a great excuse to have him or her close to you on the day of love.
5.
Make a backup plan.
Let's face it - realistically speaking, you may not get to spend Valentine's Day with the prince/ss of your dreams.
So be sure to set something up in advance with friends or family like going to a restaurant, a home movie night, or going to the theater.
Make sure it's OK that if you do find a date by then, you can bring him or her along.