Saturday 14 February 2015

My love letter to Valentine's Day.

I cannot get enough of Valentine's day. I just love it. It is a kind of weird day split between romantic couples and sad, lonely singles. I however don't see it like that - and I don't know that I ever have. I'm gonna talk you through my history of loving love day! I think to start with I always loved getting valentine's cards, even although they were always from my parents when I was a kid (and I wasn't aware, or maybe was but just pretended I wasn't), it was so exciting! Who was my mystery admirer - although surely your scope for suitors has to be pretty small when you're a kid, yukky boys from school or maybe like one of the Power Rangers, the red one probably. So I guess that happens for a few years until it gets weird for your Dad to send you the card.

Then before you know it you are a teenager, in my head I am pretty adamant that (in my group of friends), the guys and girls didn't really fancy each other and just liked hanging out. Plus I was a ginger - so I'm not sure I was that fanciable as a teenager. I think this is when I got into the proper romance of valentines though. I am about to share with you images of one of my prized belongings - and no it's not more photos of my teddy bear Important Ted. I have a massive magazine collection, which has everything in it from australian bridal magazines to old copies of Kerrang! with Muse on the front cover. Yes, that is correct I am about to show you an old battered copy of the Sunday Herald Magazine from 11th February 2002.

So for starters it has the most beautiful imagine of Marilyn Monroe - much replicated and never bettered - I'm looking at you Lohan.

Possibly the most influential part of this magazine on my 15 year old self was the amazing article on Joe Corre and Serena Rees and their lingerie company Agent Provocateur. I'm not kidding - for my 21st birthday when a lot of my friends were getting jewellery and other keepsakes - I got my first full set of Agent Provocateur lingerie. From the Love collection if you're interested. I think this is where I got the idea that Valentine's should be a day of luxury and extravagance, spoiling yourself if there is no one else to do it. For being 15 I was oh so wise I think you'll agree. It was at about this time at Agent Provocateur released a collaboration with Marks and Spencer, which of course I managed to treat myself to, it was the only way at that time I was getting anywhere near to owning AP underwear myself. Cringingly perhaps was that during the sunday herald article they mentioned S&M quite a bit, and I was like Mum - they keep on typing M&S wrong - silly journalists. So I was wise, but still a little innocent.



Then as mentioned on the front cover there is a section on celebrities between the sheets. These images are too cute not to share. 




Oh Sunday Herald how punny are you - The Lie-In King. Yes. Anyways - back to me, I think for the next couple of years I had a boyfriend so got right into the whole valentines thing - and by that I don't mean OTT cards and teddy bears holding silky red love hearts (totally fine if you are into that, I just don't happen to be), I mean that I gave him my last Rolo - remember when that was a thing (?), oh and that year he gave me tickets to see Jimmy Eat World. I do still feel bad about that! 

When I went to uni Valentines became all about friends - I was so very single during my time at uni, I think I was too busy being ill - or having fun - maybe studying, but mostly being ill. During my time at the Candy Store - the most magical student flat that was ever created, we used to have a Valentine's Day which we affectionately called the Valentine's Day Massacre, it usually involved lunch, day drinking, shopping and a trip to Ann Summers. It really was always a riot and I think of it fondly.

So what does Valentine's Day involve this year? Needless to say I have been super excited about Valentine's since about 20th January. I am single this year - in keeping with the theme of my twenties, and as it turns out I am quite enjoying it. I am spending the day with the love of my life*. I've had a kind of small love, big hate relationship with myself over the past 10 or so years (see previous posts to discover the shit show that has been my 20s), and now I feel that I can look at myself and be with myself in a way that is only loving on this Valentines. I think it is easy to be anti-valentine's when you are single, but who needs that kind of hate in their life? I am spending today doing my favourite things, eating yummy food, drinking champagne and at some point I will have a Lush bath with some of their lovely Valentine's day collection. So whatever you do today, have a great time and remember all love comes from within.




Heather xxx

*It's me dumbass.