All you need is love...

I love Valentine's Day in all its commercial glory. Despite being one who ADORES history and stories, I tend to ignore the day's more gruesome origins and focus mainly on one concept: LOVE.

Having been sick for the past week, and totally bummed out by the oncoming slaughter of snow expected, my SigO decided to cheer me up with a plethora of posies. (See pic below)

To prove the SigO's tactic worked, and as a demonstration that my usual optimism is restored - despite the persistence of a harsh winter and my gross cooties, I present to you a list of just SOME of the things I LOVE:

• ANIMALS - particularly baby ones or small ones or furry ones doing cute and adorable things...cliche? Yes! And proud of it. Special shoutout of love to MANATEES - those gentle giants of the sea...
• BOOKS - on anything and everything under the sun, moon, and stars...Grateful for the gift of literacy and how many entertaining hours I have spent being transported to far away places as a result of the written word.
• FOOD - whole organic colorful deliciousness filled with nutrients and vitality and the good intentions of the one who makes it for me. (Shoutout to the SigO!)
• LAUGHTER - great big belly laughs until I am gasping for air, rolling on the ground, possibly snorting or doing the weird breathing like Darth Vader, crying big tears with my face scrunched in awkward contortions.
• SUNSHINE - the way it creates sparkles on the ocean, gentle light in the morning and evening, the warmth on my skin...seriously people, I think I must be solar powered!
• MOVEMENT - yoga, dance, walking, head nods to the beat, hula-hooping, skipping, jumping, twirling, rocking out in the car to that cheesy song (yeah, you know you do it too)...anything that shows we are ALIVE, CREATIVE, EXPRESSIVE! 
• YOU - whoever you are for taking the time to read the silly musings of an incurable optimist! (with another special shoutout to the SigO - babe, you know I LOVE you always!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

With smiles...