ours.

Happy Valentine's Day! Live your life in love and you'll never be alone, any day of the year.



"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - Author Unknown

varjak.

I got the mean reds bad today.

Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
Paul Varjak: Sure.
Holly Golightly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name!

Although I've seen this movie a hundred times, today was the first time that I really understood what Holly was saying. I was out walking after reviewing an exhibit when my feet just stopped. My brain froze. My feet glued themselves to the concrete.

I was terrified, but yet nothing was happening to me that could scare me. People were shoving past me, grunting angrily, "What the hell are you doing?" and "Move lady!"

Did the future really just slap me in the face and stop me in my tracks?

It felt like eternity while I just stood there. The mean reds took over my body.

Somehow, my feet regained consciousness, and I wiped a tear or two trying not to smudge my makeup. Where was my "Tiffany's"? Hysteria was taking over my mind - but I then got an idea.

Thank goodness for good friends who are only a phone call (and unfortunately a few hundred miles) away.

"How are you today Portiana?" she said after the second ring.
"I'm fine. Do you have a few moments to talk?" said I.
"For you, all day."

bornthisway.

#BornthiswayFriday http://bit.ly/i8wuYI

vday.

Contrary to most, I actually love Valentine's Day, especially when I'm single.

Say what Portia?

Seriously, how much fun is it dressing up in pink and red dresses, eating as many chocolates as you want and just letting yourself enjoy the day. There's no need to get down on single-awareness-day.

At the end of it all, the relationship that's the most important is the one I have with myself - no matter what's going on in the world around me. I've never had a bad Valentine's Day where I felt sad. More and more, I can see how surrounding yourself with people who matter and love me for who I am is really what matters. To be completely honest, I'm still really trying to figure myself out, and after a dating/love spree, things are finally starting to match up and fall into place. There's always time, why be down?

This year might be a little different. I'm dancing around with a new beau, so things are interesting. However, national holiday or not, this will not remove me from the annual spoil-yourself-day.
Get a pedicure. Buy yourself flowers. Read a good book. Think of how beautiful it is to do whatever you want just for you, only you, forever you. Let yourself be selfish. It only comes once a year - indulge in it.

Will I? Absolutely, unless my new prince shows up with distinct pair of glittery Louboutins at my door, then I'll be willing to pencil in a rain check with myself...

playlist8.

There's something really fun about listening to other people's iPods. You never know exactly what they're into until a few songs in, and something totally hits you that you didn't expect at all. So this time, instead of my personal preferences for a playlist, I'm trying to put myself in someone else's shoes (and ears) in what they might play.

If you know me, I'm obsessed with Audrey Hepburn. I can quote Breakfast at Tiffany's by heart, have an affection for too-big sunglasses and could love to have her super-cropped coiffure. She's the picture of clas, and such a beautiful role model for her acting and philanthropy work. She believed in living life simply, surrounded by the ones you love and taking each day as a gift.

So if Audrey had an iPod, what would have been on it?

I read somewhere that she loved jazz music, and always had it playing throughout her home. It totally reminds me of red wine - smooth, velvety and sophsicated without trying too hard. I've put together a collection of songs that she might have on her playlist if she was hosting a wine night in 2011.

The Playlist: Audrey Style.

"All Blues" - Miles Davis
"Lovers in Japan" - Coldplay
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele
"After Midnight" - Danny Elfman
"Waiting on the World to Change" - John Mayer
"Stormy Blues" - Billy Holiday
"Samson"- Regina Spektor
"For Emma" - Bon Iver
"I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" - Ella Fitzgerald
"Restoration (Four Tet Remix) - The Acorn
"New Soul" - Yael Naïm

This was surprisingly fun challenge - totally out of my box in what I normally turn to for music, but I really enjoyed mixing these pieces into my daily soundtrack. Let me know what you think!