Hey everybody ! As you may have seen in shops and tv ads, valentine’s day is coming up. To be honest, I’ve never really celebrated it, even when I have a boyfriend. All this cuty-lovey-dovey aspect is a bit too much for much. And anyway, no-one has ever given me a valentine’s day gift or card (and I survived !). But this year, I thought it could be a nice occasion to be creative, give to others and have fun. Whether you are in a relationship, wished you were in one or don’t even want to hear about it, Valentine’s Day 2010 IS going to be fun, with this über-cool list of things to do/buy/offer
Is it weird that, though I am perpetually boyfriendless, I love Valentine’s Day? On Valentine’s Day I feel no sadness in my singularity, and view it as an excuse to do my favorite childish things: eat chocolate, wear pink, and make crafty cards. I think of it as a day to celebrate the concept of love in general. Loving your friends, your family, your Winnie-the-Pooh. I hope you feel the same way, but if not, maybe some of these sweet things will help get you in the mood (listed clockwise):
1. For the Key to your Heart: I found these lovely little Kamibashi dolls ($10) and key chains, which were featured in New York Time’s ten Valentine’s Day accessory picks.
2. Old Fashioned: Found these old fashioned Valentine’s on the site of a favorite S&D sponsor. Way better than a tear-off Hannah Montana card. (Perpetual Kid, $5)
3. New Fashioned: ReadyMade recommends using your lunch hour to make Valentine’s out of office supplies. We say, what better way to spend your lunch hour and not spend any money. If you like the miniature Valentine look, let me remind you of Tricia’s fabulous tiny things post (Twenty-two Pocket Sized Treasures), where she featured a The World’s Smallest Post Office, where you can send The World’s Smallest Letter for a mere $8.
4. Some Like it Hot: MarieBelle’s Aztec hot chocolate (mmm, eccentric!) was apparently on one of Oprah’s favorite things lists, and if it’s Oprah’s favorite, then it’s mine.
5. Heart of Gold: I Heart Guts could come in handy for several occasions. Maybe give a uterus to say congrats to a pregnancy, a brain for graduation, or, of course, a heart for Valentine’s Day. This lovable organ comes as either a Heart of Gold ($27) or the regular-old red thumper ($17).
6. Frog or Prince?: Put this plastic little froggy in water, and he turns into a handsome prince. Instant gratification, and no sticky kisses required. (Urban Outfitters, $6)
7. For Your Sugar (Fix): Yum, cupcakes! The more freshly baked, the better. Add a conversation heart for true holiday spirit. (From Baked, the hip bakery in Brooklyn and Charelston)
8. Neruda’s Love Poems: Whether you have a literary (or Latino, for that matter) lover, or you just going to spend Vday eating ice cream and reading love poems (not actually recommended), Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair is one the best collections of love poetry (a largely intolerable genre) available. Best in its original Spanish, it can be enjoyed in either language with this edition. (Penguin, $13).
9. lo-li-ta: Wouldn’t you love to pull this little Hello Kitty Pouch with Pom Pom ($13) out of your purse on Valentine’s Day? Filled with chocolate & conversation hearts, of course.
10. To Get You in the Mood: Finally, download tons of free Valentine’s Day fonts and dingbats at dafont.com, completely free, and completely cute. Just stick with Times New Roman for papers. (Featured here, Love Letters.)
I love to go ridiculously, overboard all-out for valentine’s day, wearing way too many heart shaped accessories, way too much pink and red, and usually some kind of heart-shaped, plastic Hello Kitty accessory just to ensure that I don’t look like, you know, an actual adult.
This year, just for you-you-you, I put together the kind of outfit I’d like to wear on the 14th (or perhaps Friday the 13th, to scare away the demons & be sure all can enjoy my cartoonish appearance). The central piece, a dress from Forever 21, is so inexpensive that if you get a little chocolate on it, you won’t be too upset <3 <3 <3.
1. These Sweatheart Sunglasses (Urban Outfitters, $16) come in four colors, so you can choose what level of “overboard” you want to go this Feb 14.
2. I featured Candy Thief and her beautiful, bright, detailed felt accessories after visiting her booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last year. This time, she’s really done it with her beautiful (and one of a kind, I might add!) Valentine Headband (Candy Theif on Etsy, $35)
3. This Heart of Gold Brooch (Calexandra on Etsy, $14), while keeping with the V-day theme, is refreshingly glittery and gold which will stand out on the required red or pink top.
4. I <3 this Ruffled Satin Dress (Forever 21, $23) — full pink and ruffly, just like an old-fashioned valentine’s day card!
5. Another subtle accessory, this Pure & Simple Necklace (nanopod on Etsy, $32) is in a slightly ironic “heart-shape.”
6. This Reversible Messenger Bag with Ruffle Flap (31 Corn Lane, on sale for $14) can be navy or green, and either will contrast boldly with your pink dress while the pink ruffle will tie it altogether to the V-day theme.
7. These Shiny Stirrup Tights (American Apparel, $14) add an extra over-the-top pink to your outfit. It’s the final touch that says HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.
The happy, heart-y, pixely font featured in this post is Pixelpoiiz, and is a free download at dafont.com.
