Tag: Valentine’s Day

My February Loves

🩷💚💪🏻

Hello everyone! Here we are just 2 days before that “ LOVE” holiday of Valentine’s Day. I have shared my husband’s and I story of getting engaged that day (24 years ago now) but that post was last year. I wish you all a beautiful day so please celebrate however it works in your life. Over here, our local shops were having a “ Ghoulentine’s Day.” They have had “ Galentines”for the gals but ghouls? I’m not sure what it was all about as I associate ghouls with Halloween. 👻🤔 Well, if it got the places business and foot traffic, I’m sure it was a fun yet different theme…. You’ll notice I use that word of love in the title once again so maybe next time, it won’t be around February! 💘

The photo today got used on Instagram last month as part of my 400th post so I kept it for these writings. I should’ve put it on here but wanted to use a UW pic then so now it’s time to bring it to show my love. I of course, like you have many things associated with this day of love but it brings another yearly mention. 33 years ago, I started my “version” with working out down in the basement of my childhood home. That story is in my book : “ Spirit and Belief” as it began very comically indeed. 🤭 It was during the Winter Olympics of ‘92 as I was feeling blah with cabin fever. Much has evolved with my routine naturally as I practice yoga, but sometimes need new to activate different muscles and my core.

My daughter actually brought that up just the other day. She noticed our arm weights near the fireplace where they sit. She knows this but asked if I had weights in my old home. I laughed and said: “ Do you think your grandparents would’ve bought those back then?” 😂It could’ve been my Dad though as he got much into fitness in his mid 40s, but my Mom was not interested. Some of that is generational for sure and she did walk or bike a little but not working out in other ways and that’s fine. We never had equipment at all as my Dad used the machines at work. I just thought it was amusing how she brought up the weights like they were new sitting in that space! Fitness is a love of mine as well, so it can be and is one of my ideas I will bring with this title. Hard to believe it began when I was just 19, going on 20. Most of my adult life too…

Here’s another love of mine. Loyal readers, can you guess? What are some other connectors which become funny like today that I’ve brought up MANY times? OK, I will fill you in. Music and songs, of course! Always a love of mine and always will be. I will share a few songs that I heard most recently but you know with me, it isn’t just that simple sometimes. I’m gonna say a 3️⃣ count although one I had mentioned before…. My husband and I wanted to use this 10% off coupon for “ Texas Roadhouse” that we got at the basketball game a few weeks ago. Typically though, he is either in the middle of doing something or isn’t aware of the time. Restaurants fill up pretty quickly around here near dinner time and especially on a Saturday night.

We got to the parking lot and it’s packed! I knew it. I’m not much of a steak person anyways, but I’d find something. We left though and never went in. So, we decided on “Ruby Tuesdays” nearby as I love the garden bar! 🥗I did get shrimp 🍤as well so it was a yummy time. 😋They were playing such fun 80s songs as perhaps “ Texas Roadhouse” would not have. See, we were meant to be there~~~ at least I was anyway! It took so much for me to A~ not dance in my seat or move while eating and B~ not to laugh. OMG moments here we come as I share my fun and silly Kathy memories. 😜

The first song played was “ Word Up” by Cameo. Does anyone remember this one? It was very popular when I was in high school. In fact, I think maybe I was a junior when the seniors used that song for a skit. I totally remember them dancing to that all those years ago. Why this song on here you might ask? Well…… just add two letters and switch it from “ Word Up” to…. you can probably guess. They spell the song so go from there. I’m still laughing and all these years later can recall the skit with my little play on words., Teen Kathy, I love her. 🙋🏻‍♀️Not just in February either, ha ha. The thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song in public, *** EVER***. Even more special. Me dancing in my seat giggling, can you just picture it?

The second song was when I walked up to the garden bar and all of a sudden I hear: “ Come on girls, do you believe in love? ‘Cause I got something to say about it and it goes something like this...” Know the song? It’s “ Express Yourself” by Madonna. Yep, another goodie with my little memory bank. You can look up the other lyrics but do some fit for this post? Ultimately, yes they do! I even had some actions for a few verses, oh my. How did I keep my food down with my husband sitting across from me? 🤣 It is one of my favorite Madonna songs as it fits for me too.

The last one was “ Emotions” by Mariah Carey. I had mentioned this one at the dentist’s office a few years back. I can’t hit her high notes but try to do my best, just not in a crowded restaurant with on lookers thinking I’m crazy! Those 3️⃣ songs can relate to Valentine’s Day too. OK, “Word Up” has no “psychological romance”, but dancing is great to love! Both “ Express Yourself” and “ Emotions” are also perfect for this holiday. I as usual first say to myself: “ No way am I sharing that experience” but then I decide to anyway. We need to make fun of ourselves sometimes, right? So, if you can’t or don’t want to celebrate Vday, just read this post for a couple of great laughs at my expense. I truly won’t mind. Enjoy all your loves whatever they may be. I know you’re singing now, right? I am as usual. 🎤🎼🥰

P.S. Love to you all for making me part of your day! Happy Valentine’s Day. Love the warrior YOU are! 🫵🏻

P.P.S. Guess we’ll use that 10% off another time… 🤷🏻‍♀️

LOVE and other Stuff… 🩷

Oh, another Valentine’s Day Wednesday that falls on my blog day. That happened back in 2018 so yes, I checked. I haven’t written on this holiday though as the dates were all messed up. I believe at that time it was book news so my post wasn’t February 14. Guess it’s a first once again. My husband and I got engaged on Valentine’s Day and knowing him like I do, very unlikely day to propose 23 years ago. He likes regular days without the fuss. I remember writing on our 20th wedding anniversary a few numbers back so now we get the engagement which BTW, was a Wednesday back in 2001. How about that? The reason I know this is because “The Drew Carey Show” was on and we loved it. I do have a pretty good memory, but he actually remembers that too. There was a fire in our fireplace 🔥which was nice and cozy and I was on the floor warming up on a blanket. He put the ring box on my belly and asked me to marry him. 💍 Nothing too romantic as I’ve had to “train” him over the years but it was cute and simple. Of course I said “YES!” and our love story continued. Oh, he did have the ring over Christmas but chickened out. I was glad because both my sisters had gotten engaged on a Christmas Eve overtime. I need to be different and totally am…

Speaking of that word in our story, yet ANOTHER first. This I also checked on. I have never ever used that word of love in ANY title, over 350+ of them. I couldn’t believe it when I did look at all my writings recently. Wow. Even topics such as the Golden Era WWF days. Nope, no love in those titles although I did LOVE it back then. Not to mention all the numerous other topics over the past almost 7.5 years. Warrior is a big part of that word in several ways so perhaps I just avoided it because of criticism, judgment, and all those naysayers. It is a super broad word that covers everything and everyone for sure. With people though, it’s very different then let’s say your love of nachos which is one of mine. 😉 I know we can all agree on that but it’s *** HOW*** we use the word which truly matters. As shocked in a way how it hadn’t been in a title, guess I am really not that surprised. Now though- I felt the need to finally bring it out on this holiday after all.

Even if without a romantic possibility to any of you readers, you can date yourself as the expression goes. We’ve even had GALentine’s yoga classes or anything similar. Do something for YOU that you truly love. It doesn’t even have to be that costly at all. Believe me on this, as I had many dateless Vdays but tried my hardest to make it count, even if those around me got attention from their significant other. When my kids were little, I gave them Valentines like a small box of chocolate or those candy hearts. I never liked those hearts, but boy have the messages changed. Now, instead of “call me,” it’s “text me,” or something in this age. We probably all can remember making those decorated boxes to use for school. My mom was not very creative and we had to buy much from the store. Years later when I became a mom, I had a go to craft box that was always stocked full of many fun things. Some of that started because of my years teaching but not all. I can honestly say~ I don’t miss those days. Many times with my littles I DO miss but this memory, not so much. Who even keeps shoeboxes around anymore? Sometimes it would be lunch bags which were easier to decorate but harder for kids to carry.

I volunteered in my daughter’s preschool for this exciting party day many years ago now. I was room mom for my son so now it was her turn. It was SO different being the parent and not the teacher. I didn’t want to be critical, but it was chaotic and stressful to say the least. 😳 I had flashbacks to working with preschoolers and how at one center, I decided to organize this day which they incorporated into the activities. It flowed so much better and every kid got that individual chance to place Valentines, and in turn receive. No more upset parents with their child bringing home a teacher card ungiven, or their little not receiving one from their BFF. Oh those emotional days… To me, the handing out seemed to be common sense like much planning is but for some, I guess it’s difficult to grasp.

If any of you don’t have the best memories or experiences with this word of LOVE, go make some. It’s up to you to celebrate it anyway you’d like that fills you with joy. People might say that there’s nothing sadder than buying yourself 💐 or having a spa day alone, but I totally disagree. If we can’t love ourselves, who else really can? It is a challenge practicing that self-love but oh, so worth it. Why is it such hard work to look at ourselves in the mirror and say those 3 words, but easier saying it to another? That’s because we find all our faults and failings but we’d never do that with a friend. It’s not vain to complement ourselves as I’ve said before, but just don’t let that ego creep in thinking you are better than others or superior. The self-love comes in when we lift ourselves up for trying our best in whatever it is and not bringing ourselves down. Kids need that self-esteem boost, but so do we as adults! List your accomplishments- little or big and celebrate them. List your LOVES… Actually write them down and read it. I hope it makes your day special. ☺️

So, love and other stuff will always be around however you find it and make it yours. Whatever this day brings, I hope you don’t dread it but embrace it since you ARE love. We ALL are. This post was needed after a few intense wrestling ones as I hope you all felt some lightness and those good vibe feelings. Let’s just not bring “Brother Love” along. 🙄The word of love means so much more than a character on TV… That it does… 😌

P.S. “Love is not something we give or get, it is something that we nurture and grow.”

~ Brene Brown from “The Gifts of Imperfection.” ~~~ A WONDERFUL book! 🤗🥰❣️😍💖💘💝💗💕