Practical solutions for Valentine disasters

Just when you think you’ve perfectly planned your Valentine rendezvous up to the littlest detail, awkward dating disasters spoil the romantic mood. Misfortunes may seem too determined to sabotage your supposedly magical moment. But before you and your date let panic ruin your red-letter day, 7-Eleven, the pioneer convenience store chain, provides these practical back-up plans to counter the unexpected booboos. 

Dilemma 1. Boss comes up and orders you to do overtime for an urgent deadline.

The solution: Think and act cleverly. First, inform your Valentine date of the sudden “bad news.” Next, try to deal with her disappointment by going all out for a post-celebration, making it a lot more meaningful and sweeter for both of you. But if you can’t resist the impulse of buying her a thoughtful gift even in the wee hours, 7-Eleven is the ideal store for this surprise treat: A perfect gift would be the stores’ Sweet Blooms Rose Pastillas, which they offer as their Valentine promo, together with rose-scented candles, a bottle of wine, and a greeting card. Neatly put the pastillas in a basket, tie them up with a red, lacey ribbon, and then attach the card scribbled with a love quote or her favorite poem.

Dilemma 2: Dinner date canceled at the last minute because the restaurant is fully booked. 

The solution: Don’t disappoint your hearty tummy! Hitting the pans for a romantic home-cooked meal for your sweetie is really thoughtful, but it would certainly require time and patience. If your partner has a yen for fast, inexpensive food tripping, coax her into trying a variety of 7-Eleven quick bites: From microwaveable pastas, hotta-hot items of hotta-rice, and siomai, to an assortment of sandwiches together with her favorite soda or juice.  

Dilemma 3: Rain on my parade. After putting together a charming outdoor picnic setup, bad weather comes in to drench your food, the mood, and panoramic views.

The solution: Enjoy the night, indoors! With your dependable DVDs that offer romance, action thriller, or even horror flicks, spread a comfortable blanket on the floor. And to complete the movie viewing vibe, raid the nearest 7-Eleven store for chips, dips, popcorn, and two servings of brain-freezing Slurpees or Big Gulps.    

Dilemma 4: Family and kids on their way.

The solution: The more, the merrier! One fun, inexpensive option would be to host an ice cream parlor for the whole family, especially the kids. You can buy ice cream in assorted sizes and flavors at any 7-Eleven store. Or, you can set up a double date with both sets of parents for an endearing get-together.  

Dilemma 5: You’re broke but wouldn’t want to break her heart.

The solution: Improvise cheap but very romantic gimmicks. Exercise your funny bones and unleash your creative side! Surf the Net for free downloadable jokes, even practical magic card tricks that can really wow your lady love. But if you’re not the comedian-magician type, you can give her an inexpensive snack treat! Bring her to the nearest 7-Eleven store and enjoy an intimate Valentine merienda composed of Siksik Meal items like the Hot Cups, BigSlice pizzas, siopao, and hotdogs.

No matter how frustrating it is when plans turn sour because of unavoidable snags, you should keep in mind that what really matters is how you took time in making sure that your special someone will enjoy a wonderful and memorable date, even if not as originally planned. For more information, log on to www.7-eleven.com.ph.