I really love Valentine’s Day, always have, always will. Valentine is my middle name (well, strictly speaking that’s not true, it’s Valentina, but potato potahto). But, even though my enjoyment of the day has never been dependent on my relationship status, even I have lived through episodes of February 14th that made me feel like the conversation hearts were made specifically to mock me and the line to punch all happy couples in the kisser started right behind me. So if that’s where you are today, I feel you.

Most people will tell you to buck up, and distract yourself with something fun, and think positive. Not bad advice at all, but I happen to be a big believer in the catharsis of a proper cry. You’ll pick yourself up and put on a bright shiny attitude tomorrow, tonight you have a free pass to have yourself a bit of a wallow.

1. You’ll need ice cream, of course. Anyone who has ever broken up or been broken up with knows the numbing power of a cold treat. Might I suggest you whip up some ice cream sandwiches? These look particularly delicious. Because we all know if you didn’t have to use a utensil to eat it the calories don’t count. Besides, “I’ve eaten a few ice cream sandwiches” somehow just sounds better than “yep, there goes the whole pint”.

2. Move on to a little session with the sad love song playlist. All the better to cry with my dear. Let it out. (by the way I challenge anyone to listen to Sometime Around Midnight and not instantly think of someone and/or start crying, it can’t be done)

3. Now you’re probably ready for a stiff drink, so let’s dispense with fancy cocktails and just go for the straight stuff. Pick your poison and pour it over a few whiskey stones so there is no ice cube meltdown, we need our spirits full strength tonight.

4. For the evening’s entertainment may I suggest a private, many tissues at the ready, screening of Wuthering Heights, or an equally misty session with Love in the Time of Cholera? No matter how tragic your current state of affairs is, I’m still willing to bet it’s not as insane as Heathcliff’s situation, and you probably haven’t waited 50 years to try and win back the love of your life like Florentino. So at least there’s that.

5. Chocolate heart, rolling pin, smash it to bits. You’ll feel better I swear. And you’ll get to eat the carnage. Win win.

6. Now dry your tears, buy yourself something pretty, and get back out there. Even if you don’t actually feel better at least tomorrow Valentine’s Day will be over. Scoop up some of that sale candy and know that it will be better next year.

A few songs for all you love birds…

Dance around to the first half, get your smooch on to the second half. Ah, hell, just get your smooch on to the whole thing!
Happy Valentine’s Day!

February is the month with the most lovey dovey-ness, too bad it’s also the shortest. We’ll try not to take that as a hidden meaning, eh? But as long as it lasts here are this month’s 7 things – can’t miss Valentine’s Day gifts. Not too cute, not too racy, just enough to show your Valentine some love. That gorgeous kissing print pretty much says it all, don’t you think?

Kiss by Andy Warhol art print   |   Finn heart and arrow earrings  |  Narciso Rodriguez ‘For Her’ Eau de Toilette, Frederic Malle Noire Epices  |  Lomography Lubitel 2 twin lens camera  |  Freds at Barneys chocolate covered pretzels and graham crackers  |  Pablo Nerua Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair  |  Givenchy Dahlia Noir candle

 Here’s hoping we can all make it a great week, flaws and all.

I can honestly say I never dreamt of being an actress, but I have always fantasized about attending an awards show. How my monkey mind thinks one would happen without the other I don’t know, the heart wants what it wants.  The red carpet is the big draw, I won’t lie, I just want to play dress up.

Since the Globes red carpet was a bit dodgy (I don’t want to name names but I swear one gorgeous actress seemed to have pulled a Scarlett O’Hara with some poor granny’s bedspread….), I decided to play stylist for a bit for the SAG Awards. I’ll be watching the arrivals as always, cocktail in one hand remote in the other, pretending that I’m wearing one of these beauties. (note to Angelina’s left leg: this is how you show off the stems without having to pose like a fool) Let’s hope for a little less bedspread prints and a few more sightings of gorgeous classics with a twist!

Gowns: Luca Luca Spring 2012 & Giambattista Valli Spring 2013, photos from Style.com
Diane von Furstenberg Tonda clutch  |  Ben Amun Bow earrings  |  Valentino crystal and suede pumps  |  Lulu Frost Drift cuff

As usual my reading wish list is miles long. I really need more hours in the day just to indulge my book habit. And perhaps a bigger bedside table. Although as I read more and more on the iPad it’s becoming easier to both store and hide the extent of my addiction, shhhhh.  Lots of interesting choices for January, it just depends on what you’re in the mood for today!

Identify with the quirky misfit in Penelope by Rebecca Harrington,  get inspired to write your own list of 40 things with The Picador Book of 40 edited by Charlotte Greig, learn the story behind one of the most beautiful songs ever written, Hallelujah, in The Holy Or The Broken by Alan Light, step into “five unforgettable lives” with A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks, learn how to fake it until you become it with The As If Principle: The Radically New Approach to Changing Your Life by Richard Wiseman,  observe the end of a civilization in The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks,  or take a little bit of everything approach with the “unsettling, insightful, and hilarious” stories of Tenth of December by George Saunders.

]]> http://www.hiphipgingin.com/2013/01/15/bookworm-8/feed/ 5 http://www.hiphipgingin.com/2013/01/14/words-to-live-by-33/ http://www.hiphipgingin.com/2013/01/14/words-to-live-by-33/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:53:17 +0000 Em http://www.hiphipgingin.com/?p=4515  Don’t we all?  And speaking of daily life, is anyone else under the impression that time is in fast forward? I feel like I just put down my champagne coupe on New Year’s Eve and now we’re already half way through the month! Give me a break father time, I’m trying to hustle but this is ridiculous. Let’s hope this week we can use every fast moving minute to work toward something beyond the daily life, whatever that is for you.

Last year I started the 7 things I love about… series in an effort to try to love every month of the year. For the most part it worked, even though it was like getting blood from a stone finding seven things for months during the hot and sticky season (August, I’m looking at you).  I realized though that if I continued it this year it would basically be like watching reruns, so we’re going to change it up a bit for 2013! So let’s start by trying seven things to make the ordinary a little more extraordinary, shall we?

Maybe it’s because I just returned from vacation and am having a bit of withdrawal, but I think a little more luxury in our everyday rituals wouldn’t be a bad idea. Our hotel room had a giant rain shower head and I swear to you even though I am completely not a morning person I looked forward to getting out of bed just so I could hop in and stand under the “rain” for a while. Although at this point I feel like I should say “results not typical, you may experience less joy if your shower head is not in a cute hotel in Vienna at Christmastime”, but I stand by your morning ritual still being much improved. What will definitely make you more of a morning person regardless of locale is a white noise machine. I’ve been sleeping with the Dohm for the past week and I’ve never slept better in my life. I’ve even woken up before my alarm on most days, a feat I’ve previously only heard others speak of but never experienced and frankly thought was no more than an urban legend. Yup, it’s that good.

Hayden Rain Shower Head, Pottery Barn $399  |  Villeroy & Boch New Wave Caffe Set, Macy’s $79.99  |  Chanel Eyelash Curler, Nordstrom $34  |  Rodin Olio Lusso Candle, Barneys $125  |  Resurrection Rinse Free Hand Wash, Aesop $10  |  Dohm Sound Conditioner, Bed, Bath & Beyond $59.99  |  Hotel Classic Linens, Frette $350