Valentine’s Day may mean going out for a romantic dinner for some couples or sending two dozen red roses for others. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the day in a romantic way. But at our house, we take Valentine’s Day a little less serious. (I have to admit I give a heart-shaped box of chocolates to my dad every Valentine’s Day because it’s also his birthday. Happy birthday, Dad!) And we’re all about giving fun red trinkets and cards to our kids. But my husband and I have been married for 16 years. We started dating in high school. We both work from home. We are literally one day apart. (Yes, I’m older by one day.) So to us, Valentine’s Day is not about being all serious and gag-me-with-a-spoon romantic. Early in our relationship, we exchanged serious gifts. But as time went on, we decided to mix it up a little by using the day as an excuse to exchange gag gifts. My favorite Valentine’s Day was the year my husband gave me a blue Snuggie. It came with three, yes three, free reading lamps.  Score! He ordered it from an As Seen on TV Infomercial! Another year, he gave me a really bad 1980’s movie from the $5 bin along with wilted off-orange roses that probably came from 7 Eleven. Sometimes, we wait until the night before the 14^th to see what might surprise us in the sale bin. You never know what you’re going to get! We exchange thoughtful gifts other times of the year. We buy Starbucks for each other at least 4 days a week. He’s always buying me gossip magazines and jelly beans. He has a huge heart. But we just don’t need a pseudo holiday to remind us how much we care. For what it’s worth – Happy Valentine’s Day!

My favorite Snuggie.  My latest addition: