Valentine’s Day is one of the highlights of winter for me. A bright spot in a string of long, cold, dark days that we have here in the Midwest during this time of the year. It gives us a chance to have a bit of color around. I fantasize about redecorating my house with fresh pinks like the ones in this Southern Living kitchen, or bright reds like in the bedroom from BHG below.
My husband and I started dating right before Valentine’s Day–our first date was on February 7–so this time of year also reminds me of that “new-in-love” feeling. Do you know what he gave me on our first Valentine’s Day together? A black rose. That’s right. (He’ll love that I’m telling you this!) It was left outside on a windowsill overnight so it would stay “fresh.”
It froze. By the time Dave gave it to me, the rose was purplish-black and falling apart. You know you like a boy a lot when he gives you a dead flower and you keep dating him anyway! We joke that he was just setting the bar low so that all of his gifts in years to come would look good in comparison.
Each year I make him take me to a chick-flick or romantic comedy for Valentine’s Day, and he’s a good sport about it. Today I’m dragging him to see the movie version of one of my favorite books:
I love the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella. If you haven’t read them, I’m telling you, they are laugh-out-loud funny. Critics are saying the film version isn’t as good, but I’m a big enough fan that I’ll go and pay good money to see it anyway. I even went to a book signing when Sophie Kinsella came to town and took about 50 photos of her, like a stalker. (She’s just as sweet and fun as you’d imagine when reading her books, by the way!)
What are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Whatever it is, I hope it’s a good one!
Now it’s your turn to tell us what you’re hooked on today! If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link below. Just please be sure to:
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Hooked on Fridays Participants
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*Melissa at The Inspired Room is having a “Beautiful Life” blog party today. She also has a great recap from BlissDom posted that you should check out! I also just discovered Finer Things Friday, another fun carnival going on!*
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Wow, I barely got my link in before Friday was over! Phew.
I’ve read every single Shopaholic book too. I’m jealous you got to see Sophie Kinsella!
Ira Glass was in D.C. on Wednesday and I did. not. go. Am so mad at myself, as I am such a fan. I would definitely have been stalking him with my camera too!
Off to see what everyone else is hooked on this week…
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Gigi’s last blog post..Saturday Shopping Trip
I finally got my link here…it wouldn’t work all day!
Went to see the Shopaholic with my daughter today, we loved it! My sweet husband and I went to our favorite Tapa’s place for an early Valentine dinner tonight and then took advantage of our warmer weather and took a little after dinner stroll through downtown. Happy Valentine’s Day!
coco’s last blog post..outdoor living…
Love the black rose! I am just thankful my husband got his flat tire fixed to get home to me for Valentine’s day. He works out of town now, so we are very happy to have him home for a short weekend stay.
Have a very Happy Valentine’s Day.
~Misti
Misti @ Studio M Designs’s last blog post..Design Inspiration: Just for Kids
I love the black rose story and I love that first picture! I want that table
We’re going to stay in and cook a feast, drink wine and lay low. A nice end to a very crazy and way too busy week.
Happy Valentines Day – I love your blog!
xo Isa
Isa’s last blog post..Southern Charm
Oh my…I tried to walk away from the computer for the last day and a half, and I can’t believe I missed this great post and link up. How fun. Too funny about the black rose. I love that. Isn’t it so fun to read each other’s posts now and actually “see” the person behind it. Love it!!
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s last blog post..Shopping the house with a little spray paint
Happy Valentine’s Day Julia…loved the black rose story….my hubby took the day off yesterday and we went to the ocean (cold but we love it) and had lunch at our fave place….tonight we are grilling steaks and just hanging out…low key.
All the best,
Kathy
Wow, Julia, I am in AWE of your website and blog. I have been Hooked On Houses since I was a little girl, and just this year bought a 176 year old house; it’s my dream come true.
I will be back to your blog over, and over, and over again! Many thanks for such an amazing resource. You are a role model for sure!
Love the black rose story. How sweet. As I like to say to my husband, it’s a good thing we think the men in our lives are cute! My husband brought me a single yellow rose on our first date — all he could afford — but he brought it to the neighbors by mistake!
For Valentine’s Day, it’s filet mignon, asparagus, and some good aged Scotch in front of the parlor fireplace. One of the benefits of the empty nest!
Best wishes, Cass
Cass’s last blog post..If It Weren’t For The Hand-Washing. . .
I smiled while reading about the black rose! What immediately stands out is that he wanted you to have the perfect red rose so he put it outside to keep it fresh! How many young men do that? It’s sweet and oh so romantic! My husband proposed to me on Valentine’s Day and 16 years later he always makes that day beyond special for me. Our daughter was born on the 06th of February so we have lots to celebrate around this time of year.
Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for sharing your romantic real-life story!
Charlie’s last blog post..Happy Holidays…
Oh Julia, I am drooling over this kitchen. Hope you had a very sweet and lovely Valentines Day:)
Oh I adore that kitchen!! I had to pass this week on ‘Hooked on’ as I had to help my parents with their summerhouse. But I’ll be checking out those links later
Liz@VioletPosy’s last blog post..Facebook Change of Terms and Conditions
I love the black rose story…sounds like something that would happen to me…via the man in my life.
That kitchen picture is making me want to paint my cabinets white. One of these days…now that the kitchen is as “done” as it’s going to be at the shore house for a while…I need to take pictures and solicit some bloggerific feedback.
laura @ the shore house’s last blog post..Real friends, real estate, real good times.
How about a post-Valentine’s Day breakfast…. xoxox <3 Üdo
We never used to bother with Valentines day, thought of it as commercialism gone mad. This year we did celebrate it, I think 11 years of marriage means you need to find excuses to get romantic LOL!
Anyway it was a heap of fun so I definately plan to go all out next year – thanks for the ideas.
Madeleine’s last blog post..Top MandM 10 NZ Christian Blogs January 08
well i say i dont bother with it but i am a lyer. my valentines days in the past were pretty jacked up. had an operation on one. my father was buried on another. had an ex that only showed love on the ones from 87 to 90. and 91 was sitting in the desert. sooooooooo…. normally its a jacked up day. but, a few years ago my very best friends mom had a stroke. and he was stressed. it happened in march. well my mom died from heart problems. and i told him he needed to give her some flowers and tell her how much he loved her. he was confused and i told him that valentines day should be 365 days a year. not just that one day. so at lunch he went and sent his mom some roses. that night she sat there and hugged his hand and was thrilled to death. and of course that made that over 50 year old man thrilled too. so we celebrate 365. but, i personally throw in home baked goods for him and he acts like a teenager around me. lol… made my 16 year old kid sick of us. hope you had a good day.
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