happy candy-coated friday to you my kittens!

are you in the mood for love?

even if you’re a valentine’s day hater {to be honest i kind of am, too} i have rounded up a few things that i hope will make you smile, swoon, gratefully belch, and leave you rubbing your tummies with glee.

but first, if you prefer tear drops over cream in your coffee, read the story behind this heart-shaped meadow; this widower’s ode to his beloved wife had me boo-hooing all over my keyboard this morning.

for reading a little less tragic, but still sweet, i ooohed and sighed over this article on how we all can learn from animal friendships.

…and just like that, i suddenly, now, have a hankering for a pet rhino.

i can personally attest; some of my truest, longest, + dearest love affairs have been with these four-legged angels.

and speaking of celestial beings; who’s gonna make this heart-shaped pizza for me?

head on over to how sweet eats and dinner: a love story for the cutest recipes for your valentine’s day pizza party—i would much prefer pizza over any chocolate-covered strawberry or caviar dish…but i’m trashy that way.

 champagne is off my valentine menu this year, but that doesn’t mean i’m not going to splurge on something sparkly. these aranciata rossa’s from san pelligrino are the perfect non-alcoholic, bubble-parties for your champagne flute.

flavored with REAL blood orange juice, these crisp, effervescent spritzers transport you right to the italian riviera; a nice little mid-february pick-me-up without the hangover.

is anyone else addicted to these in-scent laundry boosters?

if your wardrobe is more lululemon that lanvin and you like your yoga hot, your spin class swampy, and barre dripping with sweat, then you must add these to your wash + dry repertoire.

bounce bursts + downey unstoppables have changed the game in our laundry room.

gone are the days of the double, triple wash….one-capful of these magic beads and your clothes come out smelling farmer’s market-fresh.

~update: i recently found out these are NOT cruelty-free so i do NOT recommend them.

it’s no secret, i think the fifty shades of grey soundtrack is pretty banging! i’ve already overplayed the shit out of ellie goulding’s “love me like you do” in my classes, and the new beyoncé remake of “crazy in love” is hotter than georgia asphalt. but i think my new favorite track is AWOLnation’s remake of the bruce springsteen hit “i’m on fire.”

finally, are you guys watching “the jinx?“—–SO good!! SO creepy!

it’s a serial documentary on HBO that started this week {you have plenty of time to catch the first episode before the next installment airs this sunday night.}

they made a movie about bob durst a while back, “all good things“,–it was more of an “okay” thing, but this new series is worth your time.

so that’s all i got…valentine love to you and yours.

see you on the other side of sunday.