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Contest: What Will You Give Yourself on Valentines Day?
I’ve had my share of pity parties on Valentines Day (even when romantically involved), but this year is going to be different. FPS is launching a contest in which you win by self-nurturing.
To enter, answer the question, What will you give yourself on Valentines Day? This can be something tangible or metaphysical, grand or everyday. The prize is artisanal chocolate, and for 2/14/14, we’ll be thinking outside the box with a 5-bar gift pack from Wild Ophelia created by Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat.
Submit your entry using the Comments section. Include your first name. If you win, we’ll email for your U.S. shipping address and phone number. By submitting you’ll become an FPS subscriber (if you’re not already). Please submit only one idea per entry, though feel free to enter as often as you like. Deadline is February 1, 2014.
Wild Ophelia Valentines Day bars are available at Walgreens.
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68 comments for “Contest: What Will You Give Yourself on Valentines Day?”
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A book (already purchased, already wrapped), a lunchtime massage (already scheduled), a couple of cards, and a love poem to myself.
A lunchtime massage sounds fabulous! But you must tell us what book is coming for you!
And I want to know about the love poem.
Dunno, Wendy–haven’t written it yet!
Oh, just something silly and frivolous and pink, the sort of thing I’d never actually buy. 52 Ways to Kick Your Life in the Ass or some such title. The “good” stuff I tend to want to read right away!
Petra, you are prepared!!
What?? Valentines Day is almost upon us again? It seems so soon. I vividly recall last year and I even posted here about it. I will most definitely be planning something for myself this year and will post.
7+ inches of snow forecasted for DC tonight…stay warm everyone!
I was just looking at the photos on the Washington Post website. Wow. Stay warm!
I turn 50 on February 13th. On the 14th, I head
off for a Zen silent retreat!
A most auspicious Valentines Day. How long is your retreat?
Liz, that sounds wonderful. You inspired me to look into something similar for myself. Wishing you an insightful retreat.
I’ve tried not to pay too much attention to Valentine’s Day in the past (since I’ve never had a Valentine). This is a good call to use it as a day to practice self care and self love since I’ve been feeling kind of down lately. Thanks for the inspiration.
Yes, Dee. Let us be your Valentine!
I am leaving Feb. 14 for Austin, TX to run a half marathon on Feb. 16. I’ve never been, always wanted to visit, and am looking forward to taking in as much good music and good food as possible, and enjoying a great race that Sunday!
What a great way to see a new city. Let us know about your favorite restaurant.
An expensive, classy vibrator 😉
Always a good choice.
Oops, I see that I need to post 1 idea per entry–here goes!
A fluffy book.
Fluffy?
A lunchtime massage.
A love poem to myself.
My Valentine’s treat will be the Smokehouse BBQ potato chips chocolate bar, as shown in the picture. If I can’t find that (I’m in Canada), then some sparkling wine and oysters are Plan B.
I’ll see if the company distributes in Canada, Kathy. But plan B sounds pretty good too!
They are in Canada. Here’s the link to the store locator: http://www.wildophelia.com/store_locator
Thank you! I also emailed them directly. Smokehouse BBQ on the brain these days!
Sounds yum!
I’m going to give valentine’s day cards (you know, the kinds that the kids pass out at school) to each apartment in my apartment building (about 20) with a small bag of Hershey Kisses. I’ve always felt down, not having a valentine for this “special” day – this year instead of focusing on myself I want to try and give to others… and see if it lifts my spirits more. But I’ll give myself a card and bag of kisses too – I live here too after all! 🙂
That is so thoughtful. You’re inspiring me to put some chocolate in the lobby for my neighbors.
My birthday is next week and I have been thinking of what I need to get myself. I didn’t even think about V-Day coming up (shows how far off my radar it is), but wow, yet another opportunity to treat myself!
I am tempted by some Golden Goose ankle boots which are currently on half price but still over $500 …
One of the only downsides to the weather being so warm in L.A. this winter is that I haven’t had too much chance to wear my new ankle boots. But I love when I do.
Light and silly.
If I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll make homemade chocolate truffles and bring them to the department kitchen
If I’m not, I’ll buy myself some tulips. It’s so grey and so cold that I just want bright, bright flowers in the house.
I’ve never made truffles. Are they hard?
Wendy, nope! They’re a little time-consuming, and I’ve never yet figured out how to make them look pretty, but the actual recipe is a breeze: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/whatscookingfall2003/front.html?truffles
They’re addictive, though, which is why I always have to plan to share in advance…
I’m going to try the recipe. Thanks, Lauren!
On Feb. 14th, I’ll be slipping into a hip-hugging skirt and going to a latin dance event here in Austin. Delicious music, dimly lit ballroom, the promise of a lead or two who knows his way around the dance floor… and just enough sweat to make it interesting. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the day of love!
I’m curious, Jessica, how is this event on 2/14 billed? And do you have any hesitation about going to it, being single?
Thanks for the reminder to plan ahead!
I am thinking of inviting a group of single girlfriends over for a fun dinner and a movie. We avoid the need for reservations and get to catch up – maybe we will do “what makes you grateful to be single?”
Gratitude is always a good one on Valentines Day. I made dinner for a friend on New Year’s Eve, and we had the best time.
Valentine’s Day is my birthday. Always despised having to feel some tinge of a reminder of my solitude on the day of my birth — year after year. But this year the focus will definitely be different. For the first time in more than a year of job searching, I’ll finally be interviewing for a position in a part of the country that I’ve always wanted to live. My interview is only a few days before my birthday. After a very long time, it will be my first real opportunity to leave my current deeply unsatisfying life/work situation, transform my life completely, and head towards a real sense of fulfillment and promise. So…. my gift to myself will be:
Best. Job. Interview. Ever.
Wish me luck 🙂
SM – I will send out good thoughts for your interview. Be yourself and I’m sure it will go well. Please keep us posted.
Hi Wendy!
This Valentine’s Day, I’m going to cook your delish Bolognese sauce recipe and have it with pasta and a glass of vino to celebrate all the love I have in my life.
Because I’m done lamenting the love I don’t have every Valentine’s Day.
And I refuse to miss another minute of my love-filled life because of my fixation in only one manifestation of love.
Grateful for you and our little community of First Person Singulars!
Mai
As long as you allot enough time for it, the Bolognese recipe is a slam dunk. You might just need to add some salt. Great impulse to appreciate all the love in your life for Valentines Day. That’s a tradition worth repeating.
I’ve never had a ‘pity party’ for myself on V-day. Instead I kick back and watch the Parade of Bouquets into my office area and remind myself to stay out of restaurants that night. I always treat myself to a few bags of Dove Dark Chocolate hearts- I squirrel them away to enjoy through the rest of the year. And I find myself grateful to live in a day and age which permits me to be independent. It wasn’t too long ago when that was not the case. I do not envy coupled-up folks- they chose their path. I chose mine.
That is wonderful.
I’m giving myself permission to binge-watch the new season of “House of Cards” that starts Feb. 14. Just me, curled happily on the sofa with a blanket, Kevin Spacey — and maybe those chocolates if I win them. All weekend long. Happy Valentine’s to me!
I binge watched it too. It’s the way to go. Enjoy!
I am requesting, sufficiently far in advance, from my S.O., a list of what would constitute the perfect Valentine’s Day for her… since I am one of those card holiday haters who otherwise will never be able to meet her expectations…
Have you received the list yet? I’m curious…
I will be having chocolate cake and getting a pedicure! And I will have sent Valentines to all my friends children and my nephews.
Feb. 14, 2014 will be a pitch perfect day: splashes of poetry, music and meditation, and a bubbly toast in gratitude for self and a beautiful life that is…and is unfolding. An admiring walk in nature. And making the space to remember that love is, after all, in and through and around me…first, and all the time.
On February 14, 2014 I put myself on a 1st Class Flight for 14 days in Hawaii!!!!
Wow, lola. That’s fabulous.
My work will be closed on Feb. 14–I don’t have the entire day planned out yet, but at the very least I will NOT be getting up at 5 a.m. Extended Kitty Snuggle!
Hard to beat kitty love.
My gift: A nighttime sledding party!! (I’m in northern VT, so plenty of snow and mountains) A group of single friends and one or two child-free couples are planning to hike a nearby mountain and sled down the access road. Nothing says Valentines like over-turning in a snowbank 🙂 Spiked hot chocolate and snacks to follow.
What a great winter event And speaking as a warm weather Californian, the hot chocolate afterwards sounds especially good.
I’m going to give myself a break on Valentine’s Day.
After embracing the 2013 holiday season by making the most out of time spent with family or on my own (no matter which day of the week we celebrated on) I feel I can do this with any holiday going forward. I have learned through your forum, Wendy, that I don’t have to get involved in all the hyped-up commercialism. For years I worked for Godiva Chocolatier surrounded by chocolate-dipped strawberries and giant heart-shaped boxes, I put pressure on myself to live in this imaginary fairy tale. I think finally, now into my 30s, I’m happiest when I decide to live in the moment.
Cheers!
That’s beautiful, Laur. Godiva? What was that like?
Oh, it was all fun and games until you gain 15lbs or more!
I’m not surprised. One of my first jobs ever was in a natural foods bakery. It’s a good thing I wasn’t so drawn to the food. On the other hand, chocolate would be impossible to resist.
I think what I’ll give myself is obliviousness, and it shouldn’t be hard, since it appears France doesn’t go in for celebrating Valentine’s Day like we do, its romantic reputation notwithstanding. In fact, I hadn’t given the day a single thought (no pun intended) until I got the FPS email about the contest. I haven’t noticed one ad, banner, or window treatment featuring hearts or cupids anywhere here, and I haven’t missed it at all. I have seen (and eaten) plenty of French chocolate, though nothing resembling any of the fabulous Wild Ophelia flavors! I don’t think they would last until I got back to the US, but I would love to surprise a friend with a little treat to brighten her Valentine’s Day!
How wonderful to be in France. Hope the FPS email wasn’t a buzz kill. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
Even though I missed the deadline I thought I would pipe up on the matter. I’m taking a few days off work and going snowboarding with my easy-going, understanding, ripper boyfriend. I’m officially burned out on being the sole female administrative assistant in a mechanical systems contracting environment. Down with booby-calendars and piggy comments!!!! I finally cracked down on these jerks last week and created a company sexual harassment training manual, complete with policy and grievance procedures.
Has anyone else here had sexual harassment problems at work? How did you deal with them?
It’s great that you’re being so proactive. I’m curious to hear about other readers experiences.
Good for you, Navarre. I can only imagine that’s a difficult environment to work in.
The only experience I had was with a male team lead making inappropriate remarks to me. I gave him two warnings that he and I didn’t have a friendly relationship that warranted that kind of “humour”, and next time I would speak to my manager.
When that third time came, my (male) project manager tried to dismiss my complaint, saying that
it was likely a cultural misunderstanding. I rebutted that this man has lived in Canada for 30+ years, and been at the company for ~15 years, so a “misunderstanding” wasn’t likely especially because I had already warned him twice.
My project manager didn’t do anything so I went to HR. To my knowledge, the team lead received a stern warning and note on his file. He never spoke to me again, which was fine with me. He was not nice to women in the office; I heard other complaints of boorish and rude behaviour.
Navarre, the work you’re doing is important for both men and women – I hope your company recognizes that.
I’m so glad you stood up for yourself, Kathy and for the other women who will benefit by your actions.