Happy Valentines Day! It's Great To Give

 I grew up with my dad always bringing home a dozen red roses for my mother and some candy or toy for my sister and I.

Having that kind of up bringing brought with it high expectations once I was old enough to date.  My boyfriends were never a disappointment, flowers, bears and even the odd piece of treasured jewellery too.... ahh things were grand.

Once I married the anticipation of getting those flowers delivered to me at work while all my fellow colleagues would oh and ah over them was the highlight of my day.  But the odd thing was these beautiful perfumed blossoms arrived not on this day of love but in the middle of August!

Long story to this one which I will tell another time but....

It was the best feeling in the world.  He didn't buy me those flowers because the calendar told him to.  For some reason those flowers held so much more power.

The first year after I was married, my boss and I shared an office.  From the early morning of February 14th and on wards all I heard from him was how much he hated this day and how he HAD to buy his wife some stupid over priced flowers so she wouldn't be pissed off at him.

I remember thinking, if his wife knew his attitude towards buying into this "day of love" she would never have wanted those flowers.  That moment changed my outlook on that day from then on.

Don't get me wrong.  I still love this holiday.  We celebrate it with our six kids and take them out for a special dinner (early of course to beat the rush).  I do buy them valentine cards for their friends and a box of chocolates for each child along with a traditional pair of socks.

But we discovered a new way of giving on this day.  My husband and I were at a pub on Saturday and had a nice chat with our waitress and she was asking about our Valentine Day plans.  We intern asked about hers and she mentioned that her boyfriend wasn't much into the whole thing (been there, done that).

I said that I would love to go to Crave and pick up some of there yummy cupcakes for the kids.  She mentioned how much she loves their stuff, but that we had to hurry since it closes at 5.  Thanking her, we rushed to get to the heavenly cupcake store before closing.

We arrived with 5 minutes to spare and only a handful of mini cupcakes left with various shades of pink icing swirls and candied toppings.  The decision was made.  We bought out the remaining luscious cakes and beelined it back to the pub and presented out waitress with the pink ribbon tied cupcake box.

Her surprised smile and gratefulness made our Valentines one of the best.

I think we might have started a new tradition.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Reality TV and Money? Say What?!

I always say that I am not a big fan of "Reality T.V.".  When a new show comes on, I boo and hiss at the previews sure in my faith that everyone else sees the stupidity of this new concept.

Not surprising, I am wrong.

My subtle love for certain shows began the premier summer of Survivor about three episodes in.  At first I couldn't get into it.  I didn't know the cast members, therefore had no investment in who won or loss.  But once I got to know and love/hate some of the castaways I was hooked.  Since then I count down the days till the next session begins and set my PVR to be sure I don't miss a single episode (admittedly, there are always some parts I enjoy rewinding some in slow motion....).

So when the Bachelor came along I was determined not to watch.  How desperate are these women to want to via for one mans attention and put all the power in his hands?  Never...ever...ok, ok, once they came along with Bachelorette and I saw her not only have the control herself but to actually get married to the man she chose AND have kids... I was impressed.

Maybe this is not so bad.  I wasn't hooked right away.  I found my interest would peek when it came down to the final four.  Nothing beats a good proposal at the end right?

I don't know if it is because I now have two teenager girls to scream and yell at the t.v with and a husband who enjoys it just as much as we do - Mondays have changed from Monday blues to "yell"-ow.  The thrill we get from picking and choosing the ones we love to cheer on, picking our favourite dresses and gag at the sappy bachelor moments has become the highlight of our evenings.

There always has to be some psycho every season (aka "Michelle" if you are a fellow watcher) and sweetheart (Emily) and we have all decided that the Bachelor HAS to keep the crazy women on as long as he can so that the ratings stay up.

But we secretly love to hate Michelle since we discovered her wearing none other than Lulu Lemon jackets and pants.  Maybe she watches Oprah too.

Which brings me to the money...its all about what you love - If you have been paying attention since last week LLL went from $66.82 to $72.79 as of Feb. 1.  So now you have an investment in what you love - be it the Bachelor or a great pair of yoga pants that make yours and Michelle's butts look great.

Enjoy.  Hope your making some money.