wire heart midi ring.

Today we're discussing how not awful Valentine's Day is. Here's how you can make it better:

Appreciate some awful Valentine's animal puns. I'm particularly biased to the ones below. Oh, you like what your eyes are checking out? Treat those peepers to some more  Scatterlings here.



Try not to remember those two years of middle school when student council sold heart shaped lollipops for delivery on Valentine's Day. Try not to remember that the only time you ever got one, it was from a teacher.

Accept that sample of the heart-shaped shitty Target cookie from the bakery man. Appreciate the sprinkles.

Assess the progression of the conversation heart. (ie. Tweet Me? Since when are conversation hearts sparkly? Why do the new Sweethearts taste like soap?)

Reassure your views on the colors pink and red. I, for one, am always reassure that I do not like red. Done.

Use the holiday as an opportunity to learn how to say "I love you" in multiple languages.

Buy cheap boxes of chocolate, play a game that involves guessing what each flavor will be, and spit out half of it. It's fine. Russel Stover won't be sad.

Of course, love with all your being. But you should already be doing that.

And last, but not least, use Valentine's Day as a serious excuse to wear all the heart jewelry.

I got your back AND YOUR FINGER.

DIY Wire Heart Midi Ring

Materials: Round tip pliers, wire cutters, wire (I used 16 gauge), and something to form the ring around.

1. Cut four inches of wire. You might not need all of it, but cut at least four inches to be safe.

2. Make a bend one centimeter in. This will be the first half of the heart.

3. Make a small bend a little less than halfway down the length of the first. This will be the middle of the heart.

4. Make a third bend, equal to the first. This is the other side of the heart.

5. Use your pliers to shape the heart and bend it so it stands vertically.

6. Wrap the wire around a small circular object to shape the ring. I used the very top of a tapered nail polish bottle. You want the shape to be smaller than a chapstick tube (unless you're making a full-sized ring).

7. Trim excess wire and use your pliers to shape the end. Wear your lovely Valentine-y ring above your knuckle. Super sweet.

this is what we need to know.

I'm making this soup! Except there are about 37 other vegetables involved! This soup and this post are brought to you by the fact that tomorrow, I return back to Minneapolis. It's been a holiday for sure.

Dear you and me,

This past year was...a year. In which lessons were learned, teachings were taught, love was loved all over. I'm here to tell you the things that I've recently and always been reminded of. I'm hoping to make them the superstars of my life this year. Yours too?

• First thing's first; only you can truly control your life. No one has the right to tell you what you are and who you are. You are what you feel. So take those inhibitions, those inklings, those dreams and just go.

• Recently I've learned the importance of letting people love you. To love and be loved is one of the biggest favors you can give yourself. If love presents itself to you, you take it and run with it. In all forms. It's precious. Necessary. It doesn't mean you're not strong anymore.

• Eat so many of nature's colors and cook them up yourself. It's so crazy important to realize and put into action the amount of care it takes to prepare the nutrients your body really, truly needs.

• You better take care of that body of yours...it sure does a lot for you.

• Positivity above all else. I've recently seen, first hand, positivity proving itself to be the most powerful form of self-medication. It works, you guys. And it's free.

• Be a good friend to the people you really care about. Really let them know that you want to listen.

• Whenever you go anywhere, make sure to make eye contact with people and smile. I've recently noticed the decreasing amount smiling in myself and others. It's really a bummer to walk around in a world without smiles, so let's fix that.

• Accept compliments. Even though it's hard, even though your first thought is that it's disingenuous. Guess what--it's definitely probably not. 

• That fresh air outside is meant for breathing in, so use it daily.

• Pet animals as often as possible because all they want to (usually) do is love you.

And my new year's resolution: be conscious.


GO FORTH.