I love Valentine’s Day. Even when I didn’t have a Valentine, I loved the freedom of being giddy with love for my friends, my family, a Swiffer Wet Jet… It didn’t matter. February 14th rolled around and I’d go on a chocolate-fuelled rampage down La Rue De L’Amour… Love Street, USA, Baby!
And one day I thought… Everyday should be Valentine’s Day.
Because we have to choose to love. Everyday.
That’s why I like being in the kitchen. Because cooking is a conscious decision to love. Every time you prepare a meal, you are saying “I’m thinking about what you need.” When you bake a treat to share, you’re saying “I remembered you like lemon, because you are special to me.” Even when you decide to just rip open a bag of chips for dinner, you’re saying “Shhh. I don’t care what your name it. Tonight is just about this!” Because not all love is romantic and poetic. Sometimes love is just about getting down in dirty town.
And all this applies when you cook only for yourself. It’s taking the time to give yourself care and compassion. And that is the most important kind of love.
But choosing to love isn’t always easy. Especially now.
That’s why Valentine’s day gets me jazzed, because it is a 24 hour reminder, punctuated with cookies and chocolate and little chalky hearts that say “TEXT ME.
This year, I’m going to make my favourite gum drop recipe from @momontimeout; hopefully, sharing them (safely from a distance) with some of the people I love.
I’m also going to give these little cuties a shot. Wanna see if they pan out?
Also… I know, I might get some flack for my out and out infatuation with a purely commercial Hallmark holiday that glorifies the socially sanctioned bias against single people (especially woman) who choose for whatever reason to remain uncoupled and receive vitriol/pity/scorn from their friends/families/society at large… but I’m okay with that.
Because even though I spent many many many… many holidays by myself, I always had the best Valentine. Me! And we deserve to celebrate that too.
Sooooooooo…. to commemorate VDay, I’ve created a special CROSSWORD PUZZLE! Download it, print it, or just do it online, by clicking HERE!
Or send it to someone you love/could use a little love/might be a bit bored.
What’s your favourite Valentine treat? Comment Below!
The strawberry marshmallows the corner store brings out from last year. Fresh ones have an uninteresting chew. If there is a recipe for that...IN! ❤️
Cinnamon hearts are my absolute fav!! Love this newsletter! You brighten my day Jan!!