Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Yes, it's corny... yes, it's a Halmark-y thing... yes, blah-blah-blah.

But just celebrate it, anyway. You can make it as classy/non-corny as you want.

And everybody needs a little lovin' by mid-February, especially this snowy, icy, winter.

Here's to warming the cockles of your heart.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Jamie Kennedy's Valentine's

If you acknowledge and/or celebrate Valentine's Day, the Gardiner Museum is offering a Jamie Kennedy Valentine's.
$75 per person will get you a swanky meal that includes an amuse bouche in a swanky setting, the ceramic museum's Terrace Room.
Reservations required, of course.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Valentine's Day Suggestions

I guess I'm a little tired of lame-ass Valentine's Day articles, so here's my two cents worth on the subject and I'm giving it to you a day in advance so that you can get your act together for tomorrow.

You don't need to spend a fortune, bend over backwards or do back flips to impress a significant other on the Holiest of Hallmark days.

But an acknowledgement is necessary. Why? Because not acknowledging it smacks of indifference and nothing kills romance faster than indifference. Sad, but true.

So don't try to justify ignoring Valentine's Day with prolonged, boring speeches about how you don't buy into commercialism. That's just lazy.

But dropping a ton of dough is not necessary, either.
Here are my suggestion for celebrating the day:
1. Buy a card. For bonus points, make one. Funny is okay, but it must be picked out/created with care.
2. Include a gift certificate in the card for a foot massage.

3. Make dinner. It doesn't have to be fancy. This pasta dish is a good example of an easy dinner that you can serve with greens, a crusty loaf and fresh parmesan. Oh, and don't forget a nice bottle of red wine! Bonus points: light some candles and put on some soft music. (Yes, I know that you might have kids. So what?)
4. After dining, chat for awhile, continue drinking wine. If you have kids, this is when they go to bed.
5. Relax with a movie. And not Thomas the Tank Engine or Saw II. Bonus points: break out some chocolate.

6. Once you're about 30 minutes into the movie, pull out the skin lotion and massage your loved one's feet. A good, long, thoughtful massage -- not a short, jabby, perfunctory experience. And, if you have a fireplace, get a fire going.

Do I have to spell out number seven? If so, it's been too long for you...
Enjoy!
Vanessa

P.S. since you may be wondering, I've been married 19 lovely, romantic years. And we still hold hands.

Valentine's Day Meet Up at BMV

Although I view it as little more than a Hallmark occasion, I realize that Valentine's Day can be challenging for people who are looking for love.

So when I stumbled across a Valentine's Day meetup/Missed Connections event planned for our area, I thought it was a great idea!
It's going to take place at BMV Books in our area from 7 to 10 pm on Monday.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Happy Valentine's Day

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

Happy Valentine's Day to all the lovers out there. This is part of a bittersweet poem, so I've excerpted the sweet part, given the day.
Enjoy!
Vanessa