Another greeting card holiday is just around the corner!

Ah my 2nd most disliked holiday on the calendar (right after Sweetest Day)...Valentine's Day. No, it is not because I play a jaded, evil female on the Internet. I just think it is silly that we need a holiday to remind us to tell our spouses or significant others that we love them. Honestly, ladies and gentlemen, you should be doing this every day, not just on Valentine's Day. And it just seems so cliche to send candy and flowers to your girlfriend or boyfriend and take him/her out to dinner for Valentine's Day.

Since I don't have a boyfriend or a husband, what did I do?...planned a pub crawl in the city and invited all of my friends, yes including those coupled and married ones. Funny thing is that one of my couple friends cancelled their V Day plans and are coming on the pub crawl with our group. LOVE IT! To heck with spending all of the money on something fancy because it is V Day, have fun with friends. Love stinks, let's drink.

Did you know that the U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. AND that the association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women on this holiday. Yep, that is straight from the wiki.

So here is my suggestion, ladies and gentlemen seriously, save your money, don't spend a bunch of money on a silly dinner at an expensive restaurant (plus in Chicago, you need to have your reservations a month in advance). Or don't spend extra money on RED roses for V Day (do you know that florists increase their prices on a dozen red roses for V day by as much as $35?). Instead...make a nice dinner at home or go out and have fun with friends. Have game night with your family. Spend quality fun time with your significant other, family and friends. That is how you tell them you love them...not throwing a bunch of money at it. And dare I say, that is the classy way to do it.

One of my most memorable Valentine's Day was with my old BF, Joe. I was teaching Jazzercise class on Valentine's Day. He had keys to my apartment and while I was teaching, he came over and baked me a GIANT cookie that he decorated himself. So when I came home, he wasn't there and my apartment smelled like warm chocolate chip cookie. YUMMY...so thoughtful and sweet and cost about $2. Too bad, a year later, he cheated on me and we broke up...but oh well. And some of my best childhood memories are when we stayed home, had a fire in the fireplace, Dad made dinner, and we watched Love Boat (I know, I grew up in the 80s).

Now, you know from reading my blog, I have expensive taste, but that is only when it comes to fashion, shoes, cars, handbags, wine and jewelry. When it comes to having fun with loved ones, I don't need an expensive outing. So, I say ladies and gentlemen seriously, take a stand this V DAY! No cards, roses, or expensive dinners. Spend quality time with those special people. Make it a memorable one.

Happy Valentine's Day to you! And to my friends and family, I LOVE YOU! Cheers and CIAO BELLAS!