Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Actually, now that we’ve tucked away the Super Bowl, V Day’s virtually here, there and everywhere as witnessed by the invasion of red hearts, pink cards and white stuffed bears in supermarkets, pharmacies and department stores. There’s no escaping it. Love is in the air, whether we like it or not.
Will You Be Mine? Wireless NANA Bra and Seamless IRIS Hipster in Radiant Red
Apologies to former boyfriends but try as I might, I can’t remember a single Valentine’s that blew my socks off. Too much expectation, too much hype, too much pressure. (Too much wine?) Heck, it’s probably too much for any healthy relationship. In fact, my most vivid Valentine memories hail far back to my childhood: the heart-shaped caked with pink frosting my mom made, the boxes of assorted chocolates, the cutout Valentine’s Day cards we’d give to our grand-parents and best friends. For me, Valentine’s has always been, and will always be, about friends, family… and my sweet tooth.
Whether you’re happily single, merrily coupled up or cozily nestled in a family, why not take this once-in-a-year chance to do something special and loving. Here are 7 sweet ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day:
1. Send a Valentine’s card to your best friend. Lovers may come and go in our lives, but good friends are around for the long run. Let your best buddy know just how special she (or he) really is.
2. Treat yourself to a spa day. Lord knows how tough February can be on our skin, hair and nails, and we need all the pampering we can get. A good facial, deep tissue massage or soak in a whirlpool is just what the Love Doctor ordered.
If you have a favourite spa in mind, remember to reserve early, as Valentine’s falls on a Saturday this year.
However, if like me, you have an aversion to overcrowded tubs and are in the mood to stay home, indulge in a nice long bath (to avoid drying out your skin, add essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus), a homemade face mask and a cozy robe. I’m loving these easy home recipes.
3. Enjoy some quality alone time. Splurge on great takeout, a fun movie or the latest bestseller (and no, it doesn’t have to be 50 Shades of Grey). Plus, nothing says indulgence quite like a glass of bubbly… Champagne, sparkling wine, spritzer… It’s your day, choose what you love best!
4. Throw a dinner party. I’m no Nigella Lawson, so I need a nice leisurely afternoon to prepare, cook and taste. Maybe even nap. Before guests arrive (or loved ones start whining for food), set the table and change into something fancy. My grandmother always used to get dressed up for dinner, guests or no guests. Some customs are worth revisiting, especially for a special evening.
5. Plan a game night with family members or a group of friends. Scrabble, Risk, Monopoly, go for the classics or try newer board games like Settlers of Catan. Load up on nibbles and hand out candies and chocolates as prizes. This is a great opportunity to turn off all electronic gizmos and tune in to each other.
6. Reconnect with Mother Nature by going for a long walk. According to one Harvard biologist, “we have an innate need to connect with the environment. Nature makes us feel whole.” (For more info on the topic, see the December edition of Vogue.)
7. Slip into something a little more comfortable
Why bother with stiff bras and scratchy panties that feel tight and uncomfortable? Remember girls: sexy is a state of mind and the ultimate luxury is feeling good in your own skin. To slip into something comfortable without sacrificing sexiness, now that’s the essence of femininity. I’ll take comfort and freshness over starched laced any day. Trust me, nothing says sexy like a happy woman. And when I’m wearing my IRIS hipster, I’m one happy woman.
How will you spend Valentine’s Day? Are you a hopeless romantic or a jaded cynic?
Share your comments with us, we’d love to hear from you!
Will You Be Mine? Wireless NANA Bra and Seamless IRIS Hipster in Radiant RedApologies to former boyfriends but try as I might, I can’t remember a single Valentine’s that blew my socks off. Too much expectation, too much hype, too much pressure. (Too much wine?) Heck, it’s probably too much for any healthy relationship. In fact, my most vivid Valentine memories hail far back to my childhood: the heart-shaped caked with pink frosting my mom made, the boxes of assorted chocolates, the cutout Valentine’s Day cards we’d give to our grand-parents and best friends. For me, Valentine’s has always been, and will always be, about friends, family… and my sweet tooth.
Whether you’re happily single, merrily coupled up or cozily nestled in a family, why not take this once-in-a-year chance to do something special and loving. Here are 7 sweet ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day:
1. Send a Valentine’s card to your best friend. Lovers may come and go in our lives, but good friends are around for the long run. Let your best buddy know just how special she (or he) really is.
2. Treat yourself to a spa day. Lord knows how tough February can be on our skin, hair and nails, and we need all the pampering we can get. A good facial, deep tissue massage or soak in a whirlpool is just what the Love Doctor ordered.
If you have a favourite spa in mind, remember to reserve early, as Valentine’s falls on a Saturday this year.
However, if like me, you have an aversion to overcrowded tubs and are in the mood to stay home, indulge in a nice long bath (to avoid drying out your skin, add essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus), a homemade face mask and a cozy robe. I’m loving these easy home recipes.
3. Enjoy some quality alone time. Splurge on great takeout, a fun movie or the latest bestseller (and no, it doesn’t have to be 50 Shades of Grey). Plus, nothing says indulgence quite like a glass of bubbly… Champagne, sparkling wine, spritzer… It’s your day, choose what you love best!
4. Throw a dinner party. I’m no Nigella Lawson, so I need a nice leisurely afternoon to prepare, cook and taste. Maybe even nap. Before guests arrive (or loved ones start whining for food), set the table and change into something fancy. My grandmother always used to get dressed up for dinner, guests or no guests. Some customs are worth revisiting, especially for a special evening.
5. Plan a game night with family members or a group of friends. Scrabble, Risk, Monopoly, go for the classics or try newer board games like Settlers of Catan. Load up on nibbles and hand out candies and chocolates as prizes. This is a great opportunity to turn off all electronic gizmos and tune in to each other.
6. Reconnect with Mother Nature by going for a long walk. According to one Harvard biologist, “we have an innate need to connect with the environment. Nature makes us feel whole.” (For more info on the topic, see the December edition of Vogue.)
7. Slip into something a little more comfortable
Why bother with stiff bras and scratchy panties that feel tight and uncomfortable? Remember girls: sexy is a state of mind and the ultimate luxury is feeling good in your own skin. To slip into something comfortable without sacrificing sexiness, now that’s the essence of femininity. I’ll take comfort and freshness over starched laced any day. Trust me, nothing says sexy like a happy woman. And when I’m wearing my IRIS hipster, I’m one happy woman.
How will you spend Valentine’s Day? Are you a hopeless romantic or a jaded cynic?
Share your comments with us, we’d love to hear from you!
