…And a liter of red sangria?!

I don’t know if I really fall within the two stark categories of Valentine’s Day haters & lovers.

Some people say that we shouldn’t need a day to celebrate love because we should be doing that every day.  *Pokes hole into argument* So then why do we celebrate any holiday, if we should technically value the person or belief honored on that day every single day of the year?  I love my mom.  Doesn’t mean that when Mother’s Day rolls around I’m going to say, “sorry Mom, but I really don’t need a day to tell you that I love you.  You should just know. Say hi to Dad,” hang up the phone and go about eating 3 bags of chips like usual.

Then there is a second group of Valentine fanatics who expect life-size teddy bears, 2 dozen roses, enough chocolate to feed Texas, and 8 maids-a-milkin’.  Happy mediums, people, find the middle ground.

I do believe that society has a hand in bringing up its youth with the idea of what to do and what not to do on Valentine’s Day.  And if you don’t follow x, y, & z  you are a BAD Valentine.  It’s not that big of a deal.  I use the day as a way to express my love to all sorts of people in my life.  Unfortunately, since I’m a bit transient at the moment, and V-Day landed just a few days after I uprooted my root-lacking life to Australia I didn’t do for others what I would have liked.

In the past, I’ve had a lunch with my best friends, celebrating how much we love each other.  I’ve given chocolates or written cards to different friends.  I’ve gone over the top trying to be romantic with significant others before realizing how unnecessary it is.

A trend I’ve been noticing with the transparency of social media is how many people practice self-love on V-Day.  I love that.  Every day we should give ourselves a little love.  Every day we should give our families and friends love.  Every day we should give our significant others love.  The truth is that sometimes we forget, sometimes we “don’t have time” and sometimes life just gets in the way.  That’s why we have Valentine’s Day.  It’s society’s little reminder to take the extra step to remind people in your life, who you assume already know that you love them, that you truly do.

Nothing big, nothing wild.  Give your time, a note, a hug.

Since we just moved to Australia, our lives are bit of a mess at the moment.  Nothing screams romance like separate single beds in a 10 bed mixed dormitory. Am I right or am I right?!

Ben actually gave me a card this year (I cried) as well as a big bag of sour cream & onion chips (which I proceeded to nail and then nearly got sick when we followed it with a work out) and my favorite chocolate.  I was expecting nothing and didn’t write him a card (oops).  But considering last year I actually wore make-up on Valentine’ Day and we ended up watching TV with our friend on the couch, I didn’t think much would be happenin’ this year!! Also, I made him a photo book 2 weeks prior, so let the romance from that just keep on giving.

Glenelg’s Beach Burrito Company had a Valentine’s Day deal on the 14th, which we noticed two days prior whilst eating burritos. $50 for 1 liter of sangria, chips & guac, 2 burritos, and churros & chocolate.  Considering a normal meal out in Aus can cost $30 before drinks, apps, or dessert… we made a reservation right away.  And the sangria was just so good.

Our evening was perfect, just talking away, drinking sangria and discussing everything and what’s ahead.  Because even when you end the night in separate beds in that 10 bed mixed dorm, you can still hold the image of a big ol’ sexy burrito in your mind as you close your eyes.