Screw Valentine’s Day

It’s that time of year again….  Cards, flowers, candy and jewelry are flying off the shelves of every store at an alarming rate. And I, perpetually single, am told once again that I’m bitter. I’m not bitter. Seriously. My distaste for valentine’s day has nothing to do with my marital status.

In my opinion, valentine’s day is just another day. In the past, when in a committed relationship, I always felt pressured to do something bigger and better than the previous year or holiday, regardless of cost or lack of time. Valentine’s Day is stressful. It’s also a HUGE boost to the gift sector of the economy as people in relationships are guilted into buying anything and everything to woo one’s sweetheart. I’m all for boosting the economy and I’m also not against making your loved ones feel loved. But why can’t you celebrate the wonderful people in your life every day?

February 14th is just a day. There are 364 other days I like to use to honour and love the people in my life.

To my friends and family: I love you all. I don’t need a special day to tell you. I’ll probably tell at least one of you once a day that I love you until the end of time and that’s never going to stop.

A Day Out

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of spending quality time with two of my favorite people in the big city. We shopped, we ate, we laughed and generally just had that quality girl time that is necessary in any healthy friendship. Here are the highlights of our lovely day out:

• A great new (or at least new to us) Asian food restaurant. Asian Bowl. If you’re in downtown Toronto any time soon, check it out! it’s across the street from the Eaton’s Center.
• Kaela getting stalked in Chapters. Some guy was following her around suggesting books and just trying to initiate conversation in the most awkward way possible. Then, when we finally made it to the counter to pay, he found another target to harass.
• Constantly losing one another in small and large stores, regardless of the amount of people or size of the store.
• FOREVER XXI is now my new favorite store in Toronto. Period.
• Shining examples of parenting, including a couple with two children and a stroller. One parent is carrying one child and pushing the empty stroller. The other parent is walking with the toddler across the busy road. The toddler isn’t great at walking and ends up getting pulled across the street by the parent. Nice. Next time, put your kid in the stroller or PICK HIM UP! Busy roads are not a great place to encourage your child to walk solo.
• The Eaton’s Center in all it’s glory! (It’s so great, it needed it’s own mention)
• Maggie somehow buying Christmas presents for both Kaela and myself while we were in the same store without us knowing it!!! (and doing an excellent job as well! We were both super surprised and happy with the presents. Thanks Maggie!!)
• The TTC Subway, Smooties, Cinnabuns, Subs and the GoTrain
• A child free day!

Although we were out later than we were planning to be and didn’t end up getting everything we needed to, the experience was what mattered. Thank you again for a wonderful, fun-filled day! I couldn’t ask for better friends to have spent it with

-W