Valentine's Day

I sit here writing this post when I really should be writing up my paper for tonight, good to know that I have my priorities in order. Anyways, with Valentine's Day less than 24 hours away I cannot help but to think of all of the pressure associated with this holiday.  I have spent just as many Valentine's Days single as I have in a relationship and I do not know which is more stressful. I feel that as a single girl I was stressed out about always being a single girl, but in a relationship I always worried about doing something special and having my significant other live up to whatever unrealistic expectation that I had conjured.... diamonds, ponies.... diamond encrusted ponies! Discussing this with Ryan, we decided to forego all of the hoopla associated with the day and instead of going for an over-priced (and over-rated) dinner on the plaza, we will be going to Oklahoma Joe's. Oh, Oklahoma Joe's, everyone's favorite gas station barbecue restaurant, so delicious and so un-romantic. And you know what? That is fine by me!  

Oklahoma Joe's

As far as gifts go, Ryan got me a potted tulip plant (which I absolutely love) and hopefully I can replant it when we move into the house in May!  And for him, well, I pulled out my inner model and did a photo shoot with Kelly at Elements Photo Studio here in Kansas City. My plants and gifts aside, I wanted to offer up a few ideas for the single and taken alike for how to spend the loveliest day of the year!


Singles
-The key to spending Valentine's Day as a single gal is to spend it with friends!  In undergrad, my sisters and I would make a big dinner, drink lots of wine and watch as many sappy (and babe-laden) movies as possible! Recommendations include: When Harry Met Sally, Valentine's Day (duh), Twilight, The Holiday, 500 Days of Summer and The Notebook


Not-So-Single
-You do not have to spend a ton of money to make your Valentine's day one to remember for you and your partner.  Things like cooking dinner together, planning an in-home spa night (massage, bubble bath, etc...), coupon book (clean bathroom, back rub, cook dinner), memory book, "love" book (notebook full of love letters, inside jokes, etc...), make chocolate-covered strawberries, learn a little striptease and attempt to do it without tripping .... or laughing.  Anything that shows your loved one that you love them is a great idea in my opinion, that is what this day is all about, right!

Hope everyone has a very lovely Valentine's Day!

Look Alike!

While watching The Voice it came to my attention that Christina Aguileria shares an uncanny resemblance to everyone's favorite pint-sized guidette, Snooki (a.k.a. Snookasauraus).  Don't get me wrong, any girl who can sing about getting "Dirrty" is fine by me, but this realization caught me off guard.  I didn't know if it was the excessive booze talking or what, but I decided to check out the epiphany by the light of day and without my beer goggles on..... So, what do you think?  

Polished

I have a dirty little secret, something that is almost too embarrassing to admit out loud..... I'm addicted to nail polish. Before every big paper or test, I go out and treat myself to a new bottle of polish.  Years of doing this has led to me having a rather sizable stash of colors, so much so that they have taken over a drawer in my bathroom and are threatening to take over another one by the end of this semester. Last I counted I have 40+ bottles, and I hate to say it, but as long as they're making polish I'm going to be hoard- I mean buying them.  OPI, Essie, Orly, Sally Hansen.... I do not discriminate as long as they are willing to be worn.  My favorite polish, OPI's "Mad As A Hatter" recently went clumpy and in an attempt to save it I added a little bit of polish remover (as suggested by numerous people online) only for it to turn the clear polish murky and unwearable.  So, I have been looking online (amazon and ebay) trying to find a new bottle only to find that it is currently retailing for over $37! $37 for nail polish, yeeeeesh!  Steep price aside, I am currently in a bidding war trying to make sure this beloved color stays one of my staples!  Another recent purchase I made is "Rainbow Connection", another OPI lovely. I can only hope that I love it 1/2 as much as MAAH!

Mad as a Hatter by OPI

Rainbow Connection by OPI