Valentine’s Day is far from being my favorite holiday, as I’ve only been in a relationship for it once in my whole life and the day wasn’t exactly what I imagined (although, I’m sure my boyfriend at the time thought it was perfect!), but it’s hard to be a girl and not get caught up in the red and pink plastered everywhere we walk. We want to hope that the guy we’ve been pining after is going to surprise us with the day of our dreams; that mysterious roses from a secret admirer will arrive at our desk while our co-workers nosily look on; that we won’t be eating dinner out with our other single girlfriends and get mistaken for lesbians (à la Carrie and Miranda in Sex & the City); but that’s rarely the case. Guys, frankly, don’t really understand the significance of the holiday at all, and well…neither do I….even though I want flowers and chocolate and a mooshy card, followed by an elaborately planned dinner (even if it’s the best pizza and beer in the neighborhood) that ends with us slow-dancing on a rooftop.

I can’t believe I just admitted that.

Anyway, since my pickings for February 14th are looking slim once again this year (although, there is one guy I have in mind who j’aimerais spend it with…sh!t–now every guy I know reading this that thinks I might maybe sort of-kind of like them a bit is thinking this is about them now and the Carly Simon song “You’re So Vain” has popped into my head…and if the person I have in mind is reading this, he probably doesn’t think it’s about him…isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think? Ugh. Now Alanis Morisette!) I’ve decided that I’m going to celebrate this commercialized day that I formerly used to call “Valendoom’s Day” with the friends and family I love, and stop worrying about my perfect date that’s never going to happen unless the guy I have in mind is, in fact, reading this and decides to act upon it, in which case: I’ll take that last sentence back…but I highly doubt it.

You’re wondering when I’m going to get on with it, eh? Okay, here is some of my favorite inspiration for Valentine’s Day, mostly via Pinterest:

Heart-shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Ladurée pink, grapefruit-flavored Coffret Saint Valentin macarons $25/box available at Ladurée, 864 Madison Avenue (and most likely in the Paris outposts of Ladurée as well) via Refinery 29

Cute "Valentines" to give out...or as party favors!

A simple Valentine's Day centerpiece with a big impact

Table setting inspiration via Pier 1

The world's cutest V-day-themed cookies

A vintage-styled label to re-label wines or other party drinks, with a reference to an oldies song!

Pink, Black & White Decor---j'adore!

Last year's Valentine's Day Chocolate-Covered Oreos

Doing my Vanna White-thing: I'm already all ready for Valentine's Day...I match the candy aisle!