Long-stems on roses and batting eyelashes
Heart-shaped velvet boxes with chocolate stashes
Kisses from loved ones and jewelry that blings
These are a few of my favorite things…
On Valentine’s Day!
Sorry, had to get that out. I just can’t help it. I am still in the spirit of Valentine’s day even though it has passed. And, we all know the holiday is over when heart-themed candy gets marked down 75%.
Today, I got bombarded with all of my girlfriends’ news feeds that included photos of either flowers they received yesterday at their office or where they went with their “beaus,” and it really got me thinking about Valentine’s Day in general.
I think about the days that led up to V-Day with all the negative comments I heard that included “Ugh, I hate Valentine’s Day.” I realized that February 14th is the Average Joe’s Gym of the holiday world. It is so unappreciated by some women (all the ones that didn’t post pictures) and doesn’t deserve the scoffs and middle fingers that it so often gets from them.
This statement, of course, doesn’t apply to those in happy relationships who look forward to the day, because it gives them a chance to spoil their significant other. The day encourages lots of kissing, romantic texting, and reminding each other every second how much they “love” and “can’t wait to have dinner together.”
No, this statement is for all of those girls who are s-i-n-g-l-e! “All of the single ladies… now put your hands up,” because I am talking about you. Instead of focusing so much energy on posting messages about how much you loathe Valentine’s Day, why don’t you just embrace it? Grab the day by the face, kiss it on the cheek, and say let’s find me a Valentine.
Why does a Valentine have to be a guy? Every time I have been single during this time, I have thoroughly enjoyed my independent woman adventures. These usually include buying Princess-themed cards reading “Be My Prince,” or “Wishing you a royal Valentine’s Day,” and giving them out to all of my closest friends. When I was younger, $4 for a box of these cards seemed like a whole week’s worth of cafeteria lunch milk; but now it’s totally do-able. Spend that $4 and give your friends some good laughs and bright smiles.
Or, going out to dinner with girlfriends is always so “Sex and the City” of you. Grab some Cosmos and get to boy bashing. Your Valentine can be another best friend who shares your current situation, and in that you can take comfort with one another.
I have to admit, I do have a Valentine every year, and I call him “Daddy.” Yes, my dad has been my Valentine since 1988 (the year I was born.) I wake up in the morning to a kiss on the forehead and a Russell Stover heart-shaped box; you know, the shiny red box that houses the BEST chocolate. Of course, I disgustingly poke my finger in each of them to see what’s inside. This also keeps people from eating them. (But this is only because they have stopped giving out those helpful little maps to which chocolate contains which filling – if you are reading this Mr. Stover, please bring that back.)
Besides my dad, last Valentine’s Day I spent it on the couch with my mom, a box of chocolate-covered strawberries, and the Vicky Cristina Barcelona DVD. This is when Charlie Sheen would say… WINNING! Did I kill the joke yet?
Family or friends also make great Valentine partners. Basically girls, you are NEVER alone on Valentine’s Day so start enjoying those reds and pinks that flood the stores at the end of January.
