Valentine's Day

Back in the day, I never used to celebrate Valentine's Day.  To me, it was a sappy Hallmark holiday, and what's a girl to do when her love is 800 miles away in another state?  Over time, it became habit, and while we'd always say "Happy Valentine's Day" to each other, and spend the evening together, we never really did anything special.  Until last year, that is.

Last February, about every five minutes on television, we saw that Baskin Robbins commercial advertising Valentine's Day ice cream cakes ("Ice cream and cake!  Ice cream and cake!  Ice cream and cake, do the ice cream and cake!").  Being a person who can generally always find an excuse to eat ice cream, I suddenly thought Valentine's Day would be the perfect time for an ice cream cake (Baskin Robbin's advertising clearly works on me.).  So, I ordered us a delicious heart-shaped cake proclaiming "Happy Valentine's Day" in sugary red icing.

We went on a wine tasting tour of Arnold's wineries that Valentine's Day.  Our tasting glasses had little hearts on them, and we walked around downtown holding hands and laughing.  It was like it was our first Valentine's Day together, and we celebrated love and life with meaningful gazes, delicious food, handmade candies, and a lot of very good wine.  Thus began our new Valentine's Day tradition.

This year, we celebrated a few days early, and went to our favorite restaurant, exchanged gifts, bought a heart-themed cake and bags of candy hearts.  Josh bought us a bunch of Valentine's Day movies, and we spent the evening curled up together watching sappy movies all about falling in love.  And I have to say, it was absolutely perfect.

Here's to love and celebrating it with abandon every chance you get!  Happy Valentine's Day!