Butterflies and Bruises

I hope you all had the best Valentine's Day ever yesterday!

With all the expectations and pressure that exist around February 14th, I found myself talking to friends yesterday about their best and their worst V-Day experiences. They were too good to not share (minus all names and identities of course). 

Whenever someone asks me if I want good news or bad news first - I always take the bad first so in keeping with that belief, let's start with the worst Valentine's:

"Sophomore year of college my old boyfriend had just got a new girlfriend, but still sent me a card in the mail. After consuming a whole bag of mini butterfingers and drinking too much and being generally sad - I got home to discover this army boy I had been on one date with had broken into my room and made me a very creepy scavenger hunt that ended in the DVD player with a super cheesy George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones movie and his phone number. The name of the movie was "Intolerable Cruelty". He had left creepy hints everywhere, "Look under where you rest your head while having sweet dreams" was one of them. My roommate tried to get me to call him - but I would rather have spent every Valentine's day until the end of time alone then go on another terrifying scavenger hunt."

"I was in the 11th grade. I was soo excited to receive a teddy bear and chocolates from my crush. However, I found out about 3 hours later that he gave his ex girlfriend the same gift and had stolen all the teddies and Russell Stovers from the grocery store where he worked as a bag boy."

"When an ex sent me a box of cheap drugstore valentine's day chocolates in a box with no card or anything post cheating on me." 

"One year instead of flowers I was told, 'I spent money on flowers for your birthday two weeks ago!'."

This one is a combo of the best and worst Valentine's day ever:

"So the guy I was dating and I got in a fight the night before Valentine's day because I was supposed to sleep over because my bed-mate (yes, bed-mate) had her boyfriend staying over. Then the guy I was seeing changed his mind about having me sleep over - leaving me high and dry on the couch watching the series finale of six feet under (NOT a good thing to watch while in a delicate emotional space.) The next day was V-Day and we worked together but didn't speak at all, and I spent the night getting drunk with my roommate in a bathrobe at the kitchen table making him listen to me sing all the Whitney Houston songs I knew while we watched a happy couple paint a stump. So in the end, it was awesome. Oh, and if you want more details on why I couldn't sleep over - it was because he said 'The bed was too small.'"

 And to leave you on a good note for your weekend - the best Valentine's days ever:

"When we all went to the Squealing Pig and saw The Van Burens and you ordered mars bar toasties for everyone in the bar."

"The year my Mom sent me a chocolate laptop"

"Some of the best Valentine's were definitely elementary school when you had a "mailbox" that was full to the brim with valentines, lollipops and chocolates. I miss those days - everyone had AT LEAST 20 valentines"

"This year - I got some awesome flowers and am going out to a nice dinner." 

"Best Valentine's day was a first date. I was cooked a home-made meal of filet mignon, acorn squash and sauteed spinach paired with a glass of Cabernet. Following dinner we watched trashy TV and shared our first kiss :)"

XO 

A

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Valentine's day - you either love it or you hate it, but one thing we can all agree on is: it's nice to know someone is thinking about you any day of the year, but even more so on V-day. So, get in the spirit and shower the people you love with love! This holiday really snuck up on me this year, so, if you are like me and feel like you just tossed your Christmas tree out your front window (that's seriously how we got rid of our tree this year) calm down, put down the the homemade coupons for "one free back rub" and check out these fun, easy ways you can show the people you love you are thinking about them without them knowing you waited until the last minute. 

As promised here is your Valentine's Day Gift Guide (I told you I would get it done!) 

In my opinion, it's all about the card - all anyone really wants on Valentine's Day is to be reminded about all the schmoopy stuff you feel about them - so tell them! This one above is adorable, and you can order it ASAP and Just Wink will send it out for you, they have a collection of great cards so you are sure to find one that works for your special someone. 

Here is one more card, that you probably can't get on time - but that doesn't mean you can't buy a few and leave them randomly around or in his/her bag over time - after all every day is Valentine's Day when you're in love right? Riiiiight.

Yes, please USB mix tape -  if you order this right now it can totally get to you by Thursday, and if it doesn't who cares give it to him/her on Friday because it's awesome and everyone deserves one. If you don't want to spend 75$ to ship this USB cassette tape over night, that's OK - I get it. Burn a CD put it in an old CD case (or go buy one at Staples) and handwrite the tracks and why you chose them on some liner notes. You could also keep it super simple and send your crush a spotify playlist, to get them through the work day thinking about you! 

If you are already planning a breakfast in bed (did you buy a heart shaped waffle maker?) then you should print this FREE and adorable little breakfast in bed kit and make your already wonderful breakfast extra special (and adorable)

Do I even need to explain to you how awesome this is? "52 things I love about you" Come on - this would melt even the iciest of hearts. All you need is: two binder rings, a deck of cards, paper, a pen and 52 things you love about another human... NOW GO!

Download these printables for free, email them to Kinkos (or any print shop), ask for poster sized, pay 5$ and be a Valentine's day hero. Come on guys, I am making this so easy for you. 

You can cook a nice dinner with a recipe from Smitten Kitchen they are all relatively easy and don't call for crazy ingredients - if you are going to do this though please go grocery shopping tomorrow night, no one should be kept waiting on Valentine's Day. This pasta dish looks delicious!

You should also watch this short film (nominated for an Oscar) it's so sweet and will get you in the spirit. The Paperman

Order some flowers and have some of your money go to a good cause here. 

Get a fancy candle, because - Valentine's Day is only once a year. You can get this one at a Nordstrom's near you. 

Movie tickets for a month, 3 months, or even a year. 

Tickets to a show (you can print these out and put them in your card these days) you have no excuse. Also download the Timbre app and find out what shows are playing in your area.  (Sorry, i-devices only)

Enjoy celebrating all the love in your lives! 

XO 

A

Every day's the 14th!

I am so lucky to have the love that I have in my life, and to me, Valentine's day is just another day to celebrate that love.

Here are some perfect things and places to go and be for the ideal Valentine's day:

• For the person with the ability to splurge... go the most romantic place on earth, Deetjen's Big Sur Inn. I took the picture above when Anthony and I visited last June, I can't even comprehend how magical it would be this time of year... 
• If you are a local Boston resident, and you are anything like me you will stay home and order in! If you are looking to head out though I would suggest the classic french intimate dining of Petit Robert we have one right down the street and it just always feels special whenever we go!
• If you are looking to get a little something for your parents of friends I would suggest these adorable heart shaped handwarmers! They are so cute and inexpensive!
• I always find that a heartfelt card is just the absolute best thing to get anyone.. here are some of my favorite quirky cards for the one you love from Wit & Whistle! I love the mix tape card with a tailored playlist and burned CD (scary that this could be considered retro now) 
• Better than any present I can think of - Make a donation in someone's name! I always think that's just the kindest and most thoughtful gift!

Go spread the love folks!

A