VALENTINE'S: Love it? Hate it? Celebrate it!

[SuddenlyWestFemme]

Originally Posted by Katniss

I began a tradition with my 10 year old years ago that starting the evening of Jan. 31st I tape a handmade paper heart to her bedroom door. In the middle of it is written a reason why I love/admire her. By Feb. 14th her door is covered with hearts reminding her of all her special gifts and what she has to offer the world.
Katniss~~(roses are sweet but the gift of a carniverous plant would really rock my world)

Wow! Thank you for giving me a new tradition. I am going to start today with my 10 year old and 15 year old! (how did they get so old so fast?!?) I'm trying to reclaim Valentines Day and this is such a great start.

[PinkieLee]

Like lots of other folks here, the consumer spending hype has kinda ruined it for me over the years. Dinners out are too expensive & the wait time is horrible... I would rather cook up a meal together & share a bottle of wine. I'm not a fan of the heart shaped chocolate box... I would rather share a couple chocolate dipped strawberries. As for flowers, roses are nice but WAY OVERPRICED during that time... I would rather receive some flowers to plant in my garden or a colorful hanging basket.

This year, honestly we haven't made any plans. It falls on a Thursday night this year, which means I'll be working the 2nd job. How is that for romance

As for my best time... it would have to be when Just_G, Mel & I spent Single's Awareness Day together about 5 years ago. We met up in Kansas City, where we ate dinner at Hooters (which offered a free buffet for single folks), then we made our way to a strip club where we were pretty much the only patrons (SCORE) and we topped off the night at home laughing until the tears poured down our faces. Honestly, it's one of my life's top 10 memories!

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Katniss

^5 on the sloppy BBQ (pork, vinegar based sauce) and stars.


Sadly I am the type that will spend $60.00 on ingredients to make a cake that could have been bought for a third the cost at a bakery and looked a lot more attractive to boot. I imagine this is a bit off putting to any potential paramour.

I began a tradition with my 10 year old years ago that starting the evening of Jan. 31st I tape a handmade paper heart to her bedroom door. In the middle of it is written a reason why I love/admire her. By Feb. 14th her door is covered with hearts reminding her of all her special gifts and what she has to offer the world.


Katniss~~(roses are sweet but the gift of a carniverous plant would really rock my world)

This is beyond wonderful, and you are a fabulous mom to think of such a great idea!

(*runs to therapist to whine about how i wasn't given such love!)

[Chancie]

Pete and I are driving to the beach and

We are eating lunch at a diner near the beach.

It was one of our first dates, and

We took a cheesy cell phone picture at the diner.

:wemightfreeze:

[Teddybear]

Originally Posted by justanolecowboy

Ahhh- Valentine's Day.

Such mixed emotions people have about the day.

I love the "spirit" of the day - what it represents - what I don't like is that the commercialism of the day - makes people who don't have a "significant" other - feel less than what they should - which is not the case at all - that being said..I'm an old school romantic - but if you only show your love to the one you love on "valentine's day" - something is very wrong...

If you (really) love someone - even if times are rough between you...everyone has rough times - but - if you (really) love someone - then everyday - should be a celebration of that love - in (some) way...if we all practiced that "everyday" celebration of that love - we wouldn't "need" a special day for it...

All that being said - I love to spoil the one I love - in every way I can - and in some small way every day - even if it is simply to tell her she is amazing - and she knows I mean it by the way I look at her - that I'm not just (speaking words)...

Women love flowers and chocolates (most anyway) - and cards and special dinners and candlelight and romance and dancing...so why would you save all those things she loves to just "give" her on one day of the year...to give those to her ALL year - is love ... and more than that...
it's your time - attention - remembering to take out the garbage - cooking dinner (even) if you can't cook - drawing her bath - making a cup of her favorite tea (actually knowing what her favorite cup of tea is) - going on a long drive - and making out in the car - the unexpected stop at the roadside diner for sloppy bbq and a night under the stars...its the everyday - effort of at least "trying to rope the moon for her" ... its simply loving her - (and) showing her every day - that she is the single most cherished woman in the world (by you). It is honoring her in your every word and action - not about how much you spend for flowers.

Just my two cents worth...

I agree. I want the beautiful and lovely Ms Cinn to know that I cherish every day we have together and that I love her more now then I did when I went to bed last nite.

I love showing her and doing things for her and me together. Every moment with her is a 1000 times better then any moment prior to her.

I listen when she talks even if she thinks I'm not or that I think its crazy. When she say something in passing or what she thinks is passing I remember and when the time comes whatever she has mentioned if I'm able it will fund its way to her.

I have things tucked away for the perfect moment to give her. I'm just hoping she never finds them till I want her to have them.

[cinnamongrrl]

Originally Posted by Teddybear

I agree. I want the beautiful and lovely Ms Cinn to know that I cherish every day we have together and that I love her more now then I did when I went to bed last nite.

I love showing her and doing things for her and me together. Every moment with her is a 1000 times better then any moment prior to her.

I listen when she talks even if she thinks I'm not or that I think its crazy. When she say something in passing or what she thinks is passing I remember and when the time comes whatever she has mentioned if I'm able it will fund its way to her.

I have things tucked away for the perfect moment to give her. I'm just hoping she never finds them till I want her to have them.

You need to remember I'm going to be packing the house up! Now I know I should look...even if I don't know where...persay

[Teddybear]

Originally Posted by cinnamongrrl563

You need to remember I'm going to be packing the house up! Now I know I should look...even if I don't know where...persay

Oh u THINK I left it in the house. Good luck

[G Snap!]

If my "sweetheart" wants to do something special, like go to dinner, sure, I'm in. But I have never held my partner to any expectations or been disappointed if there are no roses, chocolates, teddybears, or anything red given on or around the 14th. Nor have I gone out of my way to do the same. I would, however, appreciate a red Coach handbag or red boots if they showed up for valentine's day. Just saying. I have received red birkenstocks once in the past...

I have seen a friend get all worked up over the whole thing, only to get extremely p'd off if their partner delivered anything less than extreme valentine romance to the nth degree (dinner to a 75$ a plate restaurant, concert tickets, and a gift, and the gift had better be nothing less than 14 carat gold, wrapped with hearts and include a card.)

[alexri]

I embrace the concept of the day and reject the mass-marketed, commercialized aspects of it.

I reject the hell of having to make dinner reservations a month in advance and still wait an hour anyway for an overpriced meal, while presenting a dozen roses that cost four times what they should.

If I am going to do anything, I'd rather create my own tradition, and do something awesome as a couple, like volunteer, or make our own cards, or attempt to cook our own food (maybe I'd make you sign a waiver first), or call in sick together and stay in bed all day.

Hate: overpriced, overcrowded restaurants. Way too expensive flowers, decorative chocolates, etc.

Hate: over-commercialized holidays. Zealous marketing and advertising has made many lose sight of what certain holidays are really for.

Hate: when people forget there are 364 other days (give or take the leap year) to show someone how much you love him/her.

Like: Valentine's Day candy when it's 50% off the next day. I'll like you more if you wanted to get me chocolate and got it on an awesome sale.

Like: efforts to show love and affection that come from the heart, not because a date on the calendar told you that you should.

[blush]

Love it.
There's a lovely picture book that almost no one has heard of called "The Mightest Heart." I usually yank it out this time of year to remind myself about unconditional love.

[chai~]

It has all been said before....the commercialism of the event is crazy.

I am the type of person who gives flowers just because...treats dinner, just because, send a card.....just because...little love notes tucked in pockets, wallets, etc.

I don't need an official day to show love and appreciation.

It would be just another lovely day in my world~

[choochoo-enginerd]

What Chai says truly resonates with me. I do not need a holiday to express what I feel for the remainder of the year. Everymonday that I am home, she gets hand delivered flowers to her office, so for the remainder of the week, she sees them every day. Never bypass an opportunity to express what you feel, especially love.

[little_ms_sunshyne]

I am not sure how I feel about el dia de San Valentin....


I have never really had a Valentine...or I take that back, when I did they were never really into it or I did the planning (so I felt valentine-less), so I am not sure what it feels like to go along with all the hype.

I am a huge fan of showing people you love them on any day and a cheeseball x 2 million!!!! So I am pretty sure that I would be tickled by any gesture on Valentine's.

For now, I will go on pretending that it doesn't exist and that I can't stand it. But you know the truth...SHHHHHHHHHHHHH lol

[Gemme]

Someone just gave me a V Day poem. It was something about roses and shamrocks and my ass.

Best pressie EVER.

[laruss]

I love it, but not the commercialized hype.

I hate going out for dinner as the restaurants are full and irritating.

I love the sharing of love with everyone and the pink and purple hearts.

I like to do different things.

I almost always send out valentines, this year almost 100 got mailed. I didn't make them this year but often have in the past.

This year we are doing fondue at home.

My girl likes getting things in the mail so for the next 2 weeks I am mailing something every day or two. Just little things, cards, candy and small gifts.

[thedivahrrrself]

OK for those of you who like celebrating love, but hate the commercial hype, what do you do to celebrate? What is your perfect anti-Valentine Valentine's date?

I think one of the most romantic things in the world is sitting together and watching the stars. In the city, that's not always easy to do, though. So, I think the planetarium would be awesome, and probably empty, which is a plus, because talking while you're watching the stars is always the best part