I feel it necessary for the context of this article to point out that tomorrow is my birthday. I thought that my inspiration for more original plans might be interesting for you, and look forward to your thoughts on the matter. Enjoy!
{Bear in mind that my birthday is during a holiday period, which means that I will not have to put up with the ordeals of work. If yours does not have as much luck, try doing this for yourself or a friend on the weekend closest to the event and most convenient for those involved.}
Rather than going out (or staying in) with only one person (which can at times be stifling), or, even worse, many people (in which case you risk getting lost in the throng), get together your most intimate friends. No more than four or five, and it should be perfect.
You may, of course, elect to stay in for a more home-like atmosphere, but I thought it would be infinitely more fun to go out on the town.
Start by pampering yourself from the minute you wake up in the morning. Take a bubble bath, have whipped cream with your breakfast... All of those little things that you never really get a chance to do.
While we're on what you can do for yourself, it's always nice to buy yourself a present to honor the event. There's a certain satisfaction in gazing at an object with the knowledge that you and you alone are responsible for granting yourself the happiness that comes from it, wouldn't you agree?
Dedicating the morning or early afternoon to family members is usually a good idea, lest they take offense at being left out. (Personally, I am indulging my mother's desire for quality time, which I will in fact enjoy as much as she will.)
In the time between your various rendez-vous, do whatever you enjoy doing on your own. Take yourself shopping or out to lunch, get a manicure, pedicure, facial or massage...
If you feel like doing this with your lover or closest friend, that can be just as nice - it all depends on what kind of person you are.
If you decide to meet your assembly early on in the day, allow yourself some relaxing drifting time - a chance to talk between activities, for instance over coffee at a place that you've never tried before.
As far as the evening is concerned, try to choose a restaurant that you know you like. Splurge a little - after all, it's only once a year and it's the most important of the 365 days.
Now dessert: the best part of the meal. In my eyes, you have two options. Either you go light on dinner then have the waiters bring over a gigantic chocolate concoction, whipped cream, strawberries, second helpings and all; or you eat regularly at dinner and go a little more chic for dessert. Individualism, as promoted by Chanel, is on the rise, and from this I have drawn my inspiration: individual portions. Why not have the chocolate richness in the form of little cakes, one or two for each person? In my case, this revolution is taking place in the form of macaroons. Yes, macaroons, that Parisian delight of almond crunchiness and smooth cream on your tongue. Tomorrow, I will select enough macaroons of all different flavors to fill a rather large box. Then, in the evening, after my dinner has taken place and we have moved on to a bar or cafe, I will extract the box from my bag and allow them to put a candle in the largest macaroon, light it, and sing Happy Birthday to me over the drinks. Chic if it ever was, non? (I have always found there to be something divinely and uniquely charming about a single candle in a small pastry.)
Drinks can be taken outside or at your own apartment, depending on your personal tastes. (I have elected to do both to provide opportunity for both general socializing and intimate bonding.) Going dancing can be supremely fun as well, whether you're good at it or not. (In any case, one always dances better when one is tipsy - just a thought, and a foreshadow for tomorrow.)
Note: it is possible to arrange something of this nature for a friend as a surprise. You can have someone take her (or him) out while the rest set up little candles, a bottle of champagne and a couple of bouquets of flowers in their her apartment, then cook at home or take her out upon her return. Women in particular appreciate this kind of gesture. (One of my friends felt compelled by her emotions to cry when I arranged this. I was profoundly touched that my gesture meant so much to her.)
Don't forget: people say that presents don't matter, but they do. The point is not to be extravagant or expensive, but to demonstrate how well you know the person. Something characteristic of an inside joke is perfect.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Just a note...
My dears, I apologize yet again for allowing such a large amount of time to go by between my posts. That is why I intend to provide you with two today. This one is no more than a quick note about a subject that really does not need a great deal of discussion...
Valentine's Day
You may think me a little late for this - almost a week, in fact. But that it precisely the point. For you single girls in particular (though this can just as easily apply to those in relationships) the holiday seems like a waste of time. Not to mention (in the case of some) a reminder of what you do not have. Perhaps even an opportunity for lovers to show off. That is why you may neglect to celebrate it. But that doesn't mean that you still can't take advantage.
In the week or even two weeks that follow February 14th, shops need to dispose of the numerous articles that they have purchased in 'honor' of the occasion (more plainly put, in order to make money off of what has become an almost entirely commercial holiday). These are not just thrown in the trash without a second's thought. No. These go on sale. And it is with those sales that we can have a little fun.
Buy the huge boxes of heart-shaped cookies and Mon Cherry chocolates. (All of the chocolates, for that matter.) Even buy the pink and red paper decorations if they're selling for what's in your change purse. Then get together some girlfriends with vodka and cranberry juice (to make pink cocktails, you see), throw in some Maraschino cherries and voilà! An evening deliberately making a mockery of commercial madness.
If you feel like hot chocolate with whipped cream, it goes very nicely with the occasion. You might even try making a chocolate fondue out of differently filled truffles (trust me, this is truly delicious).
Otherwise, mix sweets with alcohol with cocktails involving whipped cream and caramel syrup. I believe chocolate liqueur even exists... (I can't be sure, so don't resent me if you find its existence to be an urban myth.)
{You can easily replace all of the aforementioned beverages with red wine if you want to be a touch more classy. It's perfectly appropriate as well, obviously.}
If you would rather not share your criticism, simply take advantage of the chocolate while enjoying your favorite guilty-pleasure movie. (The alcohol or hot chocolate can work here, too).
For those happily-coupled women, don't take this the wrong way. We don't ridicule you, we simply envy you occasionally, while nonetheless wishing you all the very best. (Though I have heard a couple of married friends say that they would love to be single again just to spend Valentine's Day at one of my famous chocolate and Rafaello with Bridget Jones movies evenings.)
Valentine's Day
You may think me a little late for this - almost a week, in fact. But that it precisely the point. For you single girls in particular (though this can just as easily apply to those in relationships) the holiday seems like a waste of time. Not to mention (in the case of some) a reminder of what you do not have. Perhaps even an opportunity for lovers to show off. That is why you may neglect to celebrate it. But that doesn't mean that you still can't take advantage.
In the week or even two weeks that follow February 14th, shops need to dispose of the numerous articles that they have purchased in 'honor' of the occasion (more plainly put, in order to make money off of what has become an almost entirely commercial holiday). These are not just thrown in the trash without a second's thought. No. These go on sale. And it is with those sales that we can have a little fun.
Buy the huge boxes of heart-shaped cookies and Mon Cherry chocolates. (All of the chocolates, for that matter.) Even buy the pink and red paper decorations if they're selling for what's in your change purse. Then get together some girlfriends with vodka and cranberry juice (to make pink cocktails, you see), throw in some Maraschino cherries and voilà! An evening deliberately making a mockery of commercial madness.
If you feel like hot chocolate with whipped cream, it goes very nicely with the occasion. You might even try making a chocolate fondue out of differently filled truffles (trust me, this is truly delicious).
Otherwise, mix sweets with alcohol with cocktails involving whipped cream and caramel syrup. I believe chocolate liqueur even exists... (I can't be sure, so don't resent me if you find its existence to be an urban myth.)
{You can easily replace all of the aforementioned beverages with red wine if you want to be a touch more classy. It's perfectly appropriate as well, obviously.}
If you would rather not share your criticism, simply take advantage of the chocolate while enjoying your favorite guilty-pleasure movie. (The alcohol or hot chocolate can work here, too).
For those happily-coupled women, don't take this the wrong way. We don't ridicule you, we simply envy you occasionally, while nonetheless wishing you all the very best. (Though I have heard a couple of married friends say that they would love to be single again just to spend Valentine's Day at one of my famous chocolate and Rafaello with Bridget Jones movies evenings.)
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