If you're single like myself, you've probably been dreading Valentine's Day since the start of the New Year, too. It's the day couples get to smoother each other with love, cause waiting lines at your favorite restaurant, and flood the sappiest movie release of the year. The thought of all the sappiness becomes nauseating at first, but then you realize that you can have just as good of a time by yourself at the spa or enjoying your favorite tea－or wine－in your apartment. That is, until your friends convince you to join them in their Galentine's festivities. One thing to remember on this year's Day of Love is that you can find love in all places, and the ones you'd never think to look in are often the best.

I decided to change my approach to Valentine's Day this year. I hope you will, too! You don't have to get sucked into the traditional beat-your-face and slay-your-outfit motions. Grab your dearest go-to pieces (mine happens to be this faux, pink leather jacket), and I promise you'll love the day just the same. To be honest, I will more than likely be spending the better part of the day in this "Love" long sleeve tee I picked up a few weeks ago on KrochetKids.org. 

If you don't already know, Krochet Kids is a company that works with women living in poverty-stricken areas, so they can better support their families. Their partnership with Krochet Kids is all about empowerment. They get to fine-tune their skills, become more independent, earn enough money to send their children to school, and lower their families' chances of falling victim to generational poverty.

I'm so happy to have their Love Tee in my life. I swear, it is the comfiest thing I've picked up thus far! It's the main reason why my whole outlook on Valentine's Day changed, because I would be able to learn about the person who made my shirt. You can find out who made your garment simply by searching their name, which is usually signed on the credit tag sewn onto your piece, on the Krochet Kids website. I ran to my computer to find that Rosemary Cruz was the talented woman behind making the softest thing on the planet, in my opinion! I couldn't ignore the overwhelming feeling I had to write her a thank you note, which read:

Hi Rosemary, 
I received the white and blush "LOVE" tee that you made. I want to thank you for making it with so much love and care. Every single time I wear it, I think of how safe and happy it makes me feel. I have no doubt that you will own your business one day! You can truly tell that you make your pieces with so much passion and care, because I grab for this tee every day. Thank you for being the wonderful woman and artisan that you are! 

The feeling of love can be quite infectious, so remember that this year when you're moping around because you aren't one half of a cooing couple. If your friends are guilt-trip masters and yo really can't escape the night scene, apply the same comfort motto to your night-out look. You won't have any regrets that way! 

For my night look, I included some classic Valentine's Day colors. You could say that it's just a slight bit edgier and not exactly an in-your-face slay, but it's definitely striking enough to cause pause. This luxe poncho was the second Krochet Kids piece I picked up for the Day of Love, despite it being pretty hard to nail down! It was out of stock for weeks, which I found somewhat frustrating but completely understandable. This poncho is the definition of comfort! It's oversized, cozy, and has a touch of rock 'n' roll－a.k.a. perfection with some faux leather!

Besides being the best thing in my closet as we speak, I've grown to love it even more simply because of who made it. You honestly never realize how much a name means to you, until you get to see the face behind it. Katerine Hilario was the incredible woman who made my lovable poncho. I sent her a heartfelt thanks, too. It read:

Hi Katerine, 
I am so in love with my black, Phoenix poncho you made! It's one of the warmest and comfiest things I own. Thank you for making it with so much care. I can't help but to think of you every time I wear it. Wishing you and your family all the best! 

Hopefully, this post has changed your mind about being a cynical singleton this Valentine's Day. Remember that you'll be surrounded by your best friends at that Galentine's Day party and how lucky you are to have a crazy, reliable group of friends－or in my case, a crazy family. Trust me, you'll enjoy the day so much more, if you choose to focus on the love that is around you and the love you that you could be sending out.