My feelings about Valentine’s day have evolved somewhat, and its (‘favorite holiday to celebrate’) ranking has moved up a smidge. I was never really a valentimey person. This year was a little different. Asher wanted to give everyone in his class apple juice for Valentine’s Day. So with double-sided tape, we put Starburst fruit rollups to make arms on each side of an apple juice box and two small boxes of raisins as the feet. We turned little four-ounce cups of strawberry applesauce upside down and stuck them to the top of the juice boxes, and then put two little googly eyes (the ones with the moving black circles inside) on the applesauce cup. We taped a plastic spoon on the back of the juice box as the “antenna.” Ash’s teacher had provided parents with a class name list for the occasion. We went through the list–printing names on different colored hearts and circles to tape to the front of the robot. Amid this crafty happiness, Ash melted my heart a little with four words, “Mommy, you’re the best.”
Twenty-five little apple juice robots sat on the dining table Sunday night, ready for distribution. Ash came home with a bag full of Valentines the next day, dumped everything out on the family room floor in excitement, and said, “today was a good day!”
I think my change of heart about Valentine’s Day is also, at least partly, because Hanifa dropped a Valentine’s day inspired version of their signature Miya cardigan dress. I had absolutely no idea what to wear to an anniversary vow renewal dinner this past Sunday until I saw beautiful Miya. Then, Michigan weather being Michigan weather, an impromptu snowstorm made its way to us at the prime time we were supposed to be headed to said wedding anniversary renewal celebration. And as I kept glancing out of the window and saw big flakes heavily accumulating, I knew I had made the right choice in my attire.
My chunky knit Miya wrapped around me delivered as no other dress could have—style, warmth, comfort, ease, but still giving pressure. I added an old Hervé Léger satin clutch and black leather nudist Stuart Weitzman heels. My handy dandy Ugg boots I wore on the snowy trek from my mom’s front porch to the car are not pictured. And a pair of Jennifer Behr earrings add a little bit of sparkle.
And that is what you wear to a wedding anniversary in the throes of winter. Miya, vibrant pink and attention-worthy, was complimented throughout the night. She is my new love.
Happy anniversary to the Watts. Thank you for the invite! Cheers to years of love!
