My mom is a big believer in celebrating holidays. She loves to make small events into a really big deals, especially as kids she loved to infuse the day-to-day mundanities of life with a little bit of extra joy when a holiday rolled around.
I was not the kind of person who had boyfriends in middle or high school (I had crushes) (unrequited) and so my perception of this holiday is completely shaped by my mother and my friends. It’s nice to have Dylan to celebrate with, and I do love that element of it, but that’s not the whole holiday to me. I think Valentine’s Day is such a happy holiday because in the middle of the worst months of the year, somehow colder and windier and rainier than January, we’ve found a way to make this dark month a little bit brighter, a little bit more colorful, with a holiday that is entirely dedicated to joy and love.
If you’re a hater, that’s fine I guess, but there are so many things about the world that are actually harsh and negative and terrible, so I don’t really understand why you wouldn’t want to try something that brings a teeny bit of happiness into your February.
I think the other part of the reason I love the holiday so much is because it is one of my favorite days as a secondary school teacher. Teenagers have so many feelings! It is unbelievably adorable to see the way they handle this holiday - the cooties that are exploding all over the school will make you giggle just from seeing their nerves and excitement. I love it!
As a result of loving this holiday so much, I’ve ended up with a shocking number of plans this week. Meems came over last night for vichysoisse. Tomorrow I’m having some girlfriends over for caviar, champagne and a little Valentine’s Day dessert (this blood orange tart that sadly lost the pink color of the juice when I made the custard oh well I’ll get over it). On Thursday, I’m going with a friend to be a late screening of Pretty Woman at a very cool hipster cinema. Sunday holds a viewing of the new Bridget Jones with some fabulous ladies! Galentine’s is a dorky word, but so I love a week spent celebrating the fabulous ladies in my life.
On actual Valentine’s, I’m having a happy happy day celebrating with Dylan and the Bug. We were talking about Valentine’s Day, Dylan and I, and about what traditions we want to start with the Bug this year (when I say we were talking about it, I mean I was talking about it and Dylan asked if we actually need Valentine traditions).
When I was growing up, we always had Dunkin’ Donuts on Valentine’s Day. They made the cream filled in heart shapes, and my two favorite kind of donuts are pink sprinkles and cream filled, so I really felt like Duncan was targeting me on this holiday. Maybe that’s why I actually like those two flavors so much…
How to have a fantastic Valentine’s week:
Play romcom soundtrack music constantly - we are starting with this one in the morning, this one as instrumental background noise, this one for higher energy dance parties with the Bug.
Have a glass of wine every night - or a special drinky of your choosing.
Wear pink and/or red every day, duh!!
Put your baby in themed outfits and accessories every single day (sad that I don’t have pictures of her actual outfits yet this week don’t worry I’ll keep you updated).
Last year’s love bug Little Blue Truck’s Valentines - no question, the best in the LBT series.
Flowers!
Watch Hugh Grant do something charming in some film.
Make all of your food themed - strawberry pancakes, marry me chicken, blood orange cookies below that are supposed to have pink glaze but something weird happens so they look odd but taste amazing, go to Dunkin and pick up some of those donuts.
Read a love poem! A classic, a poem on marriage and partnership, a flirty one, about loving friends.
Tell all of the people you love that you love them a lot.
Take a luxurious bath at a surprising moment in the day!
Wear some red lipstick just to spice it up!
Let your dog kiss you all over your face.
Tell everyone you love Valentine’s Day and watch them laugh at you but keep the smile on their face a bit longer.
Marry me chicken! The best. I’m the Valentine’s grinch but you’re convincing me to buy in ever so slightly
What a lot of great ideas and motivation. Thank you!