How I Celebrated Valentine's Day This Year

You know what I love? Valentine’s Day. You know what I don’t love? Crazy over-priced prix fixe menus. Pressure to look amazing and have the most romantic date. The first year my boyfriend, Rich, and I celebrated Valentine’s Day, we went out for a lovely dinner at a local hole-in-the-wall Italian place. I wore this amazing dress I’m still obsessed with to this day and he wore a suit. We had a great time, didn’t even take a photo because we were only focused on each other (though, of course, now I wish we had because, awww, babies), and afterwards, we vowed, never again.

It’s not that we didn’t have a wonderful night out, we did; however, we just don’t see the point in spending a bunch of money on what is literally a holiday created by a greeting card company (Rich would be over the moon to see me agreeing with him on this point, since I usually wave it aside). I’m perfectly happy showering, or being showered, with the cute, cheap, silly, heart-themed trinkets from Walmart. Actually, as he well knows, the only thing I really need on Valentine’s Day is an acknowledgement of the day, like with a card, and a solid amount of Cadbury Creme Eggs, my one true love. Oh, and maybe some decorations, like the little Valentine-themed mailbox I put up and our hanging door décor. But other than that, I don’t need much.

I would actually be mad if I received jewelry for Valentine’s Day. It would seem like such a waste, considering I see Valentine’s as just a day to celebrate with cutesy items. Diamonds? For V-Day?

This year, we made our own pizza and it was fuckin’ delicious. If you haven’t added olives to your pizza before, highly recommend (and bell pepper, but we didn’t have those last night). Also, there are tiny baby mini pepperonis and I now want them on all my pizzas. They were adorable! Pomodoro? Take note. And guess what my Valentine’s Day gift was? I’ve been saying how I want new joggers to hang out in, particularly around the house, because my go-to sweats are from high school and there are legitimately giant holes in the butt. So Rich got me this super awesome pair with a really high waist, multiple pockets and in a nice dark gray (because I already have black). Only thing, they’re a size large…at first, I was like, um, did you mess up the order? Then I was a little offended. But he explained that he got them because he knew I liked being comfy at home and I like wearing things that are too big (case in point: every single one of my sorority shirts is huge and cozy and, yes, a large) at home when we’re lounging. So, he was actually just being super sweet and showing how well he knows me. My bad…

I put my new pants on, we turned on some Brooklyn Nine-Nine and ate our amazing, homemade pizza. Ok, mostly homemade. We ended up having to get pizza crust because our dough was unkneadable…didn’t know that was a thing, but apparently it is. After we ate, we exchanged our cards (he found a seriously funny one that was absolutely perfect) and I settled in with my eggs. All in all, it was a solid celebration and I’m so happy I have someone who sees a night on the couch eating pizza as a celebration, just like me.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! However you chose to celebrate!