Valentine's Day - soulstyle

Ahhh, Valentine’s Day. The day we celebrate the One we Love. I think that’s what we’re doing, is that even right? In any case, we’re celebrating Love.

In elementary school, I loved the cute/cheesy valentines cards that were exchanged…well, until it became a competition about who-got-more-Valentines-and-from-whom-and-what-did that-mean-because-little-girls-are-cruel-beasts really.

So right, except for that part I totally loved them.

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day – is it a Big.Deal. (ie: a showering of gifts & affection) or a Small.Deal. (“Love ya Honey, here’s a card”)? I took a poll (okay, it was one person) and we decided that V.Day is pretty much for kids and those in New. Relationships. The early days of swooning and smitten-ness…..that heart bursting time when every look is smoldering and every nuance significant.

But if you are not in the New. Relationship. camp, your days with your Luvah have probably evolved into A. Big. Life. And A. Big. Life. means it’s everything – the good, the bad, the messy, the annoying….A. Big. Life. Sure, there’s still romance – it just looks a bit different now, and has more bad hair days. And now my heart bursting moments come from more meaningful but less noteworthy things.

And call me a curmudgeon – but I don’t seasonally decorate for anything but Christmas. Truth be told, I don’t actually know anyone who decorates the house for Valentine’s Day. Well, except for my friend Kimberly at Serendipity Refined.

Now, SHE rocks da house for Valentine’s decorating. Read her post here, because sadly, I’m a crappy friend in offering you any guidance on this.

In case you’re getting the idea I’m not romantic – nothing could be further from the truth…..I just know that the Misters heart cockles are not going to be warmed by a heart shaped box o’chocolates, and I have my thighs to consider here. A few years ago, I collected stones from a beach that was kind of “our place”. On each stone, I wrote something I loved about him.

Stashed them all in a very manly wood box – this gift, he was touched by. Yep, stones. Cost? Almost zero. But everything about it actually meant something.

Another year, I wrote bits of song lyrics we loved on Jenga pieces. I don’t know why the Jenga pieces (in case you’re asking).

So feel free to make either of those your own. Want some even better ideas that do not involve a Sharpie?

Chocolate Covered Vodka Infused Strawberries – stereotypically romantic but better. Find them here.
cargilefamilyrecipes.com

A fondue – Do you know that you don’t even need a fondue pot; many recipes can be made either crock pot or stove top, and transferred to a serving dish. Chocolate, fruit, gooey cheese, bread – who needs romance really? Actually, that could BE a romance.

Seriously though, the best DYI project for your Luvah (IMHO) is personalized Subway Art, like this from The House of Smiths:

Why, you ask? Because you can personalize it to be very significant & meaningful - addresses you’ve lived, song lyrics, a wedding vow line, significant dates, etc. Touching and awesome.