I *heart* Valentines Day!

I love Valentines Day, I really do!  And I know it's not for several weeks, but it just makes me smile to know that it is coming.  I love buying all the red and pink foiled-wrapped chocolates and candies and putting them in treat bags printed with cupids or hearts.  This year I bought my daughters each a little red leather coin purse, stitched with hearts.  Inside I'll tuck either a $20 bill or maybe a gift card to Chipotle.  As for my son, I'm sure an almost 20-year old guy would not appreciate a coin purse, so maybe just money or gift cards.

I'm a preschool director. That means parties...lots and lots of parties.  We celebrate the first day of school to end up the year with a big Spring Picnic, and every holiday and birthday in-between.  Kids love to celebrate, and really, what's not to celebrate?

I don't know when I started loving Valentine's Day...I think it slowly evolved.  To me, it's the day when kids can say "I like you" to their friends without feeling kinda funny.  Watching the children put their cards (Batman, Barbie, Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo, Strawberry Shortcake...) that they so carefully wrote their names on in the vastly decorated boxes, sometimes with a lollipop or a pack of Smarties taped on it...priceless.  And when a little boy shyly walks into my office with a red or pink flower (rose, carnation, even spray-painted daisy) and hands it to me, my heart melts.

So, enjoy your Valentines Day!  Whether you spend it with a honey, a friend, your kids, a bunch of girlfriends, in a preschool, or even by yourself, know that this special day was created for love and friendship.  And the best part?  Chocolate on Valentines Day has NO sugar or calories...so ENJOY!

 

XOXO,

Dinner Companions...

After an afternoon of shopping with my daughters (the Old Navy store by us is closing, and so we HAD to go) we stopped at Parkway Grill for dinner.  Always packed, always noisy, and always delicious food.  As the girls chit chatted, I sat back and relaxed, half-listening and observing my surroundings.  I almost felt like I was on the outside looking in...watching a movie...a very surreal feeling.

In walked two women, arms linked.  These were old women, in their 80's at least.  They were beautiful -- their hair was coiffed, impeccably dressed, wore their bling well,  nails done, the works.  Yet not overly done, almost understated.  They were seated a few tables away from us.  I had the side view of one woman, but I had a complete view of the other.  Her hair was the color of the purest white and cut in a simple pageboy style.  I imagined her name to be something vintage, like Virginia or Margaret or Rose.  They ordered white wine and it was a while before they ordered their meals.  Instead, they talked and laughed as older women tend to do, with one hand against their breastbone, the other hand sometimes waving in agreement or nonsense.

Every once in a while the one lady (oh, and she was!) and I would make eye-contact.  She would give me a slight smile, never breaking the beat with her friend.  And it struck me...I was looking at myself forty or so years from now.  I didn't have to imagine it...I could feel it!  And what a wonderful feeling it was!  To spend time with a bosum buddy (as Anne Shirley would say) and reminisce over good wine about "old times" -- what could be better?

Now, here is the best part about this saga...their meal came.  What do you think?  Dainty salads?  A bowl of soup?  Here we go...they shared the Macho Nacho Plate!!!!!  This plate of nachos is so huge, it's almost obscene!  AND THEY ATE THE WHOLE THING!!!!  No kidding!  It was awesome!  Can you just picture it?

And if you think I was stalking them, no worries there.  My daughters and I had a delightful time together.  They were thrilled to be finished with finals and we talked about what we were going to do this weekend.  As we stood to leave, I glanced over at the two women.  My "friend" looked up and I smiled and nodded, silently thanking her for letting me into her world, albeit briefly.  I received a smile in return, a genuine smile, a smile that reached her eyes.  Could it be that in some way me and my daughters reminded her of a time past?  I'll never know, but I know I'll never forget tonight's dinner companion.

Bonding or Stupidity...You Be The Judge!

I have three wonderful kids.  Seriously, they rock my world.  But do I want to be friends with them and hang out with them and their friends?  Heavens, no!  But something happened yesterday that might make you think I would want to be one of them.

It started when my oldest daughter was 6 (she is now almost 17).  She wanted to get her ears pierced.  I had to wait until I was 13 and was the last of my friends to get it done, so I agreed.  My younger daughter had hers pierced the following year when she turned 6 (right, she's 15 now).  And they were happy.  They went through the "Claire's" stage where they would spend their birthday money on cheap, hideous earrings, the "skull" stage, the "girly" stage, and for a while, the "nothing" stage (or maybe they were just too lazy to put earrings in).

The "other" piercings then became popular.  I am still not exactly sure what a "gauge" is, but it sounds horrible!  Belly piercings were a fad, but neither girl wanted one.  The eyebrow piercings were talked about, and I said "NO WAY!"  In fact, I was vehemently against any other kind of piercing other than in the ears.  "Well," my girls pointed out, "you have three holes in one ear!"  *Sigh*  Yes, yes I do.  But I have to say, I now only put a double in, and have left the third one alone since college.  I remember in high school piercing the holes myself (with an ice-cube to numb the pain). 

So, both girls got their ears double-pierced, and I was "ok" with their decision.  Soon after, Kelly asked about a nose piercing.  Of course I said no.  But then something happened...my son introduced me to his girlfriend, who had her nose pierced.  And it was totally cute!  I still said no to my girls, but it didn't sound as harsh as it once did.  Now I can't even remember when it happened, but one day I came home and Kelly had pierced her own nose...and it was also totally cute!  Not long after that, Emily had her cartilage pierced.  And I have to admit, she really does wear it well.  Just for your imaging purposes...both my girls are very girly and feminine and wear somewhat conservative, or "preppy" clothes (no punk, black, or emo).

Last fall when I asked the kids to start to think about what they wanted for Christmas, Emily's only wish was a nose piercing.  She never changed her mind or backed down.  So I gave her a coupon good for one nose pierce.  We went yesterday...me, Emily, and her best friend (who has her nose pierced).  I have never in my life been in a tattoo parlor (store? place? hole-in-the-wall?), and I admit, I was a little taken aback.  Where I live, you hardly ever run into someone with a tattoo, much less a full-body tattoo!  But the "piercer", Mike, was very nice and explained everything.  And, yes, everything was sterile and he used gloves.

Emily's piercing looked so darn cute, and she, her bff, and our new friend Mike, were all pressuring me...and I caved.  I now have a tiny, tiny, adorable diamond stud in my nose!  If you squint real hard, you can see a teeny "glint" in my picture.  It didn't hurt then, doesn't hurt now.  I really like it, but am wondering just what the heck I was thinking?!  Did I take advantage of the "bonding" between me and my daughter?  Or am I just an idiot?  Doesn't matter, because it's totally cute!