Love Your Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day. All the kitschy fluffy things and heart shaped business all over the shops? Fantastic. Watching men racing into the local petrol station and racing out with wilted tulips and a box of Cadbury Favourites? Classic.

What I love most is that it's a licence to show love. In the event that you will not be receiving wilted tulips and Cadbury Favourites from your beloved, here is how you can spend the day giving yourself a reminder of who you really need to show some love for: you!

Sleep in. I swear by my Audrey Hepburn inspired Goodnight Co eye mask. Blocks out all light and distractions. Looks glam (100% pure mulberry silk, tres chic.)
Wake up. Whip up a banana matcha smoothie (recipe and video guide in the link!)
Ingredients ● Zest, rind, juice of 1 lemon ● 1 tbs honey ● 1 /2 tsp ginger juice (grate fresh ginger) ● 3 frozen bananas, halved ● 1tbs Blackmores Matcha Green Tea 

Put all the ingredients in a food processor and process until just smooth (don’t over process or bananas will melt).
Don't rush. Pad around in your pyjamas for a while.

Go to yoga. Or Ballet Sculpt. I'll be teaching at Ivanhoe Aquatic and Leisure Centre. We'll be at the barre, pulsing and plie-ing until we're all shaky and sweaty and strong.

Shower. It's a day of hearts and roses, of course. So you must use White Lily and Damask Rose Body Scrub (mmm...roses) from Sanctuary Spa. Follow with a spritz of Elie Saab Rose Couture (exclusive to Myer) if you're all about roses today. If you're looking for something a little less floral but equally feminine, go for philosophy Amazing Grace (David Jones).

It's all about red or pink. I'm more inclined to pink and purple, but if you're going red, be bold. Loving Rimmel Exaggerate lipliner in Eastend Snob for a pink that flirts with mauve and purple. Flattering on every skin shade.
EITHER go get a manicure, or do it yourself as I prefer. Guess where OPI has just gone? New Orleans. Land of absinthe, graveyards, good food and gothic tales. So the nail colours are surprisingly upbeat for a place I've always associated with vagrants and vampires! Too much Poppy Z Brite and Anne Rice for me I guess. My picks are Let Me Bayou A Drink and Spare Me A French Quarter (OPI)

Go for lunch. Meet up with friends - single, married, not sure, not fussed - and discuss love. Or don't. I prefer to discuss yoga pants and Kanye West's latest releases, personally.

Then go browse some secondhand bookstores. Check out the plays. Nothing is more enjoyable than spending an afternoon drinking good strong coffee and completely losing yourself in the lives and voices of other people in another place and time.

However.
If you do find that you get through the book, or you can't resist pulling out the ipad or iphone, I totally recommend whiling away your time rewarding your diligent efforts in yoga this morning by shopping for activewear. I find it enormously motivating, and satisfying. New ranges out from my favourites: LA-based yogis Onzie, Aussie brand Red Tiger and a new brand I just discovered, Arthletic (art + athletics!) who do awesome ballet wraps for feet as well as activewear.

All your hard work is done. Feeling lovely?
Buy yourself flowers.
Do a face mask.
Sing along to Beyonce and Madonna as loud as you like.
Do a headstand in your undies.
Binge watch House of Cards, The Americans, Deutschland 83, whatever takes your fancy.
Drink green tea.

Remember that beyond everything you own and the relationships you have, the job you do every day, the city you live in, the books you read...beyond all of that, is the real you and you are everything you need. I know it sounds ridiculous if you haven't ever really considered it, but do.

And embracing that essence of who you are means you will recognise it in others. That's love.
Have some Total Giovanni. Happy Valentine's Day.