This is a sponsored post in paid partnership with Carmex.

Here’s the thing. Valentine’s Day can make us feel like we’re supposed to celebrate it a certain way. If you’re married or have a significant other, you’re supposed to dress up and eat a fancy dinner. If you’re single, you’re supposed to get a hot date or celebrate your singlehood with your other single friends who understand. But is that even real life for anyone, or am I just seeing it on Instagram?

What about celebrating the people in our lives who have helped us learn to LOVE OURSELVES?

The people we can be totally goofy with, pretend we fell asleep in a photo with (^ it’s a real thing that we do^), say the wrong things to, embarrass ourselves in front of, and still be ENOUGH. Imperfectly enough.

With all of us in different life stages now, we don’t see each other nearly enough, so we decided to start a “Gal”entine’s Day tradition with one major goal:

RELIVE the memories we’re always talking about. The (craaazy) things we did in high school that will go down in history as some of the best memories ever made. They consisted of a few more girls (who couldn’t make it for the photoshoot) and the following activities…

. . .

1. Piling up in the family van (or whoever’s car was available that night) and cruising around town with mannequin heads from Lynn and Margo’s cosmetology classes.

We highly recommend sticking the mannequin heads out the window when stopped at a stop light just to see the reaction of the people in the car next to you.

2. Hitting up our favorite Mexican food drive-thru and asking for free churros.

It’s worth a try. If they say no, come back at 2AM during your slumber party all-nighter, open your eyes real big and say, “pleeeeease.”

3. Visit the place where we used to country dance — and DANCE — even if we’re the only ones there.

Can you tell what line dance we’re doing? Hint: Shania Twain.

4. Keeping our lips smooth, soft and ready for action! ? 

Whether it’s returning home to smooch on our husbands (Carmex Daily Care® Strawberry lip balm, anyone?), or those of us who are still single hitting it off with the cute guy at the stoplight—who laughed at our mannequin head prank (another real thing that happened in HS)—when we’re together, we’re ready for anything.

Carmex gifted me with an assortment of lip balms to share with my Galentines and we had so much fun trying all the flavors (original, strawberry, fresh cherry, wintergreen, winter mint and tropical colada) aaaand talking about awkward old flames.

My favorite of the Carmex collection is the Carmex Daily Care® Moisturizing Lip Balm (in strawberry or mint) with SPF 15 and I use it daily. I can’t survive our cold Utah winters without it. At night I use the iconic Carmex® Classic Lip Balm in a Jar because the menthol (cooling effect) and camphor (pain relief) help my dry lips recover while I sleep. (You probably recognize this one the most—its signature tingle has been a Carmex staple for more than 80 years!)

However you decide to spend your Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day this year, be sure to do things that bring you joy. Reconnect with old friends, reconnect with your significant other, just do me a favor and don’t worry too much about your outfit. Instead, MAKE MEMORIES and enjoy the simplicity of this holiday of love.

And, now I have to know…

WHAT CRAZY THINGS DID YOU DO WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL?