the secret to a good valentine's day.

This past saturday was a day that can either be highly anticipated or seriously dreaded - and your opinion on such a day can literally change in a matter of seconds. It all depends on what your relationship status is preceeding and on the day of Valentine's Day. You see, I love Valentine's Day. Like, from a very young age, my mother embedded in her children a great love for the heart shaped items, the chocolates, the silly cards, red and pink EVERYTHING, and especially having yet another reason to give and receive gifts. We are only human - we can't help but have the selfish desire to get more gifts only a short time after Christmas.

So, for the past twenty or so years, I have always anticipated Valentine's Day. Please let it be known that I anticipate this debated holiday despite the fact that I have never had a male valentine. Let me explain... I think that this day of hearts and love and cheeziness galor is nothing but a GREAT excuse to dress up, buy candy, and have a night out. I can't tell you how many times I have heard a girl moping about not having a "valentine" and having to celebrate the newly termed "Single Awareness Day" rather than the desired "Valentine's Day." GIRL, you gotta embrace the excuse to dress up, eat a more expensive meal than you normally would, have a cocktail (or three...), and be with numerous valentines - your girlfriends! Chances are, you are NOT the only single lady that you know who is looking for something to do on such a dreaded day. This year I took my own advice and had one of the best days I have had in a while. My friends, Katie and Erin, and I treated ourselves to pedicures where they serve wine spritzers and have the fancy massage chairs. That alone was a glorious event! Those chairs gave me a better massage than any guy has...what a great valentine gift to myself! Then, we dressed up in heels and makeup, something we three NEVER do together, and met some other friends at a japanese hibachi steakhouse. Plus, those other girls were friends we really never hang out with - they were just three more girls looking for something to do. We had a fabulous time chatting with our personal chef (the only white chef in the resturant), visiting, and eating a VERY yummy meal - not even a meal...more like a dining experience. Afterwards, we went home and had some yummy post-dinner snacks and just hung out. Such a good time. Such good company. Not awkward or frivolous or nervewrecking. Just fun. The only down side? No fresh flowers for the kitchen. But that's okay - my roommate got some :)

All this to say, next year, whether you have a special hunny or not, EMBRACE the heart shaped candies (valentine's candy is always better - it's fresher than normal candy), buy childish valentines for your friends, and GO OUT. Don't you be sitting on your couch alone. It's just another way to help out the economy and another excuse to have a girls' night. Start planning now!