month of l.o.v.e.

i love love. growing up, valentine's day at my house was really special: red and white dinner, candlelight, little heart-shaped chocolate boxes at each place, usually a small but special present, and heart confetti that covered the table. i never cared that i didn't have a boyfriend because i loved that family dinner so much. the focus was on loving your family and sharing an extra-special meal together.

these days, valentine's takes on a new meaning. some don't like this holiday but i think it's the perfect time to stop and have a special dinner with the one you love (especially if it falls on a weeknight!!) and reflect on all the reasons you share that love in the first place. i am so grateful to have had the same valentine for the past three years. our first valentine's we went to georges' and i ordered a massive steak as i was not yet a vegetarian. the second year we went to R2L and experienced amazing views of downtown philadelphia.

(last year at R2L)

this year we went to stella, my very favorite pizza place in philly (and where we also went on our two year anniversary). i am obsessed with their brick-oven pizza and the salads and gelato are amazing as well. i recommend the octopus salad, pistachio or cucumber pizzas, and don't forget the stracciatella gelato! i have seriously never had anything there that wasn't delicious. and its location makes it perfect to catch a movie afterwards at one of the ritz theaters nearby.

i also got a huge surprise this year...mister couldn't wait until our dinner celebration to give me my gift so he gave it to me at midnight the night before: an HERVÉ LÉGER dress! we have never really been big gift givers on holidays besides christmas so i was shocked to say the least. i have wanted one of these dresses for what seems like forever and honestly, i never thought i would have one. thank goodness for a guy who notices what i like and has good taste! i guess this means i'm officially spoiled.

(our 2 yr. anniversary at Stella this year)

(a peek at the dress)

also, i have been listening to the new album "heartthrob" a bunch lately. i saw t&s a couple of years ago in columbus and it was one of the best shows i have ever seen...it probably helped that the friend i was with fought the crowd to get us to the front row! here are a couple of lines from my new favorite track by them: 

love, they say it heals all wounds

love, removes the hurt in you

love, i know that this is true

love, they say that it is blind

love, they say it all the time

love, i know that they are right

...

love, they say there's only one

love, the kind that's not undone

love, i know you are the one

i can't believe i am blessed enough to know those lyrics to be true. i hope i never take it for granted. and although i usually keep these things pretty close to my heart, sometimes it's good to take a moment to remember the special occasions. i'm the luckiest girl in the world.