How Valentine's Day Should Be...

I have never been so huge on Valentine's Day. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true...it was the bee's knees when I was in elementary school. There was nothing better--everyone would make Valentine's for everyone in the class. Free candy, a break from school work and cheesy lines of friendship? Yes please! It really doesn't get much better.

But after that phase of my life was over *sniffle*, Valentine's Day just didn't do so much for me anymore. Sure it's cute and all, but I have never been one of those girls that anticipated the day, that hoped for red roses, a big huge heart full of fancy chocolates, an expensive night out, a life-sized teddy bear or even a gift at all to mark the 14th of February. And above all, I never judged how much someone loved me by their efforts on that day! Love isn't about one day in the year, or a series of holidays. To me it's the little everyday things that happen all year long that really count. And I think Lars and I are good at those, and to me, that's what really matters...

...like scratching each others' backs when you have an itch--anytime of the year, not just Feb. 14th. Like working hard and supporting your partner when they don't have an income--all year long, not just on Feb. 14th. It's preparing food with care, cleaning your home, going out of your way for each other--everyday, not just Feb. 14th. It's kisses on the forehead and hugs when you need 'em (or want 'em!), it's reaching the flour from the top shelf when you can't or opening a stubborn jar that you can't muscle off--any day of the year, not just the 14th! It's being honest with each other, it's putting someone else's needs first, it's making each other laugh--well, it's just so many things! There are so many ways to show your love everyday. No need to save up for holidays, right? :)

So I guess it's good I found a European who doesn't think so much of Valentine's Day either, right? We spent our Valentine's Day in a similar fashion to our last couple Sundays--we went for a long ski on Mjøsa and a enjoyed a relaxing evening afterwards in our sweatpants watching the Olympics. BLT sandwiches for dinner is romantic, right? Right?!?! I guess the point is our Sunday was romantic to us. Romance means something different to everyone I suppose. And to each his own!

At the same time, I cannot say I have kicked VDay out of my life; it was such a part of my life growing up in the US that I don't want to ignore it completely! So I acknowledged the commercialized day of love by baking some sugar cookies (recipe and inspiration courtesy of Home Cooking with Sonya) and decorating them in the Valentine's Day spirit.

I even got a bit carried away. I frosted on a sexy thong and bra onto two heart shaped cookies especially for Lars. :) I will only display the PG-13 cookie here (plus Lars are the thong one!):

Lars recognized the day as well. Or at least he did something a little more special than normal. ;) He made a big breakfast spread for me Saturday morning before I even woke up! I am not a huge fan of being woken up (ever) but waking up to the excitement on his face and the obvious effort on the living room table was a wonderful gesture of love.

Last year Lars and I didn't do anything too crazy for VDay either. I did however buy him a very romantic, prickly cactus that remains with us to this day. I think I unknowingly started a tradition as we now have a plant for each year that we have been together! On Saturday we picked up another green friend to stand for our third year. Lars picked out the plant, I picked out the planter! Our team effort resulted in a colorful Anthurium for our living room.

We don't know a ton about plants and so we tend to pick ones that are fairly low maintenance (i.e., Val the cactus and Ajeet who we only have to water once a week!). So basically any happening involving plants teaches me new things. Like, did you know Anthuriums are commonly called Flamingo Flowers? You probably did, but I didn't and it cracked me up, especially since I saw it in Norwegian, and anything I get in Norwegian that's humorous is twice as funny! Meet Flamingo (Ingo for short):

Looking at this picture of Ingo now I see that her leaves are almost heart shaped! I wondering if Lars had that in mind when he picked this plant out? Maybe we were more in the spirit than I even realized!

So ♥Happy Valentine's Day♥ whether you like it, celebrate it, have a Valentine or NOT!