Define love. Point at it and describe it. Tell me what it feels like. Is it warm? Is it bitter and cold? Fleeting? Suffocating?
Whatever it is, I love it. I embrace Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to remind my loved ones that they are indeed, loved, and by me no less! Love isn’t something many of us are always quick to say or share. We’ll tell a dirty joke, cuss someone out in traffic, and gossip faster than we’ll remind our nearest and dearest that we just love them.
Think about how great, how all encompassing it feels when you hear the words. “I love you.” And how harsh it is when you don’t. Why put someone you claim you love through that vein of intentional love scorn and misery?
It’s an absent minded reflex, a non automatic action in our culture, to hate, diss, and spurn, faster than we, love, support, and uplift one another.
Love isn’t an idea that travels well digitally either. It’s best explained via touch. Its precious purity is eroded quickly in the face of technology. I think every reality show on television supports that idea, although I’d much like if there were some version of Strange Love brought back on the air. However, I digress.
The loveliest day of them all February 14th,, comes annually bringing the mourners, who don’t want to be reminded they’re single, the lovers, who once again have a reason to reminisce and lastly, those in purgatory, under the perceived pressure of having to celebrate Valentine’s day and tell someone they love them when they don’t or honestly aren’t sure.
Should you find yourself having V-day anxiety, perhaps it’s time to let that person know. If you really love someone this year, tell them the truth and break it off on the 14th. Valentine’s Day should really be the national “Get Out of Your Relationship Free Day”. What love is really about is letting go. When you are aware your current love interest is not the love of your life, you owe it to them (and yourself) to say so. Each of us deserves love that it whole, that is tangible, that is real. Love based on lovers who totally love themselves. Love rooted in feelings of mutuality, equality. Is your girlfriend or boyfriends non working/cheating ass really just pissing you the hell off and you know you deserve better? You probably do. And Valentine’s Day is your day. Why continue the charade?
Love is rewarding, passionate, intense and mind blowing all at the same moment. Is a relationship lacking those ingredients really worth holding onto? What we seek is what we find. Each of our pinnacles of perfection found in a person is waiting in our present when we seek to see it. Your soul mate is there in other words, just stop being naive about it.
Love only comes if you let it. Most of us spend our time swatting it away. Mostly out of habit, not realizing the key to our extraordinary world is constantly in our presence. Walking softly in the garden like God. For this reason we must be cognizant, open minded. Open to pitfalls. Love isn’t easy. Love has no roadmap. Be prepared for IED’s. Think of poor Wesley in the Princess Bride, crossing the fire swamp.
I hope Princess Buttercup was up on all of the tricks Wesley enjoyed in the bedroom, because he traveled many a white road for her hand. Love in its greatest form is a grand and adventure laden journey.
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Louis Vuitton at Spring 2010 Fashion Week
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For the past last three years, the Woodruff Park Reading Room has offered an open-air urban oasis for Downtown employees and visitors to sit and enjoy
Having already painted many impressive pieces of work, this New York born artist, Amanda Wachob, has moved from cloth to skin as her primary medium.
Robert Rodriguez R910D11 – Ruffle Shoulder Dress at Zappos.com, $400
Devil Ruffle Front Dress by Nanette Lepore, 353 GBP
ＹＵＧＥ ユージュ ドレス/mirabella（ミラベラ）, 37 JPY
Marc By Marc Jacobs Animal Print Frill Bib Blouse, 205 GBP
New Women’s Jackets, Blazers & Outerwear – J.Crew, $595
The 2009 Daily Candy Girls Gift Guide, featuring a fabulous jeweled clutch from the W Hotel shop, got me musing over how essential the clutch bag truly is during the holiday party season
A strong clutch arsenal is crucial to effortless and creative cocktail attire. With a drink in one hand, it is impossible to stay stunningly svelte with your everyday sack slung over your arm. Small and compact, the clutch is the premier accoutrement when it comes to carrying only your bare essentials. Whether a wallet, an actual and handbag, or a long envelope that fits perfectly under arm, here are the Renaissance Report suggestions for a clutch to your wish list this year.
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- Prada Fairy Clutch Handbag Limited Evening Bag
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- J. Reneé 5872 Handbag from 6pm.com
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- Carlos falchi Baby Clutch
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- Abas ‘Sassy’ Croc Embossed Clutch Wallet
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- Eve Ostrich Clutch by Lauren Merkin
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- Ruffle Wallte Clutch by Felix Rey
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- 3.1 Phillip Lim Night Fever Clutch
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- Union Jack Skull Clutch
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- Wgaca Vintage Chanel
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- Chloe Soft Leather Buckle Bag
The 20’s come roaring in at Prohibition a sexy, smoky, speakeasy reminiscent of a time when bathtub gin and moonshine were precious commodities, if not national treasures. Filled with over sized leather couches, warm yet, dim lighting and expertly compounded concoctions. Prohibition is not only setting a new standard for its own fraternity and beer crowd, but has truly created a hideaway unlike anywhere else in Atlanta, including W Hotels Drink Shop which doesn’t feel half as swank and sultry as Prohibition.
Or exclusive. You enter the joint through a red phone booth where only after you enter your secret code are you then let inside. A humidor awaits you as does a bar filed with drinks crafted in the old way. Hand chipped ice, fresh fruit juice, homemade bitters. Libations this good should be illegal.
I had two exceptional drinks, a Rhum Swizzle, as a rum and ginger drinker this cocktail was perfection. Dark rum, fresh lime, a little soda for some bubble. It tasted as phenomenal as it looked.
Rum Swizzle at Prohibition
For my second drink I wanted something strong and traditional. I went with the Singapore Sling, which as the name suggests had my ass in a sling the very next morning. Gin, Cherry Heering and Benedictine mixed with pineapple was so frothy and hearty I couldn’t stop drinking it.
Singapore Sling at Prohibition
Now open in Buckhead, Prohibition at 56 East Andrews 30305
http://prohibitionatl.com/
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- Around the fireplace at Prohibition
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- Sugar water drip for a taste of absynthe
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- One page from the Prohibition listing of hand crafted cocktails
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- The fireplace makes it feel more like a grand living room than a bar
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- Inside the Main Bar at Prohibition
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- Foreground: My Rum Swizzle Background: The Hemingway
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- Rum Swizzle at Prohibition
It’s a tough job being the closer. But its what makes December one of my favorite months of the year. In addition to all the festivity of the holidays, December is the most thoughtful of the twelve. It has always been a strong period of reflection for me, a reminder January and the New Year are closer than ever and I need to be ready so I don’t have to get ready.
You’re either late or your on time. Deciding January is a good time to strategize about the direction of your year is a foolish fallacy. When January arrives I want to feel comfortable in grind mode. Many will choose to spend all of January recovering from the post holiday haze. Only to emerge to see that opportunity and time have both passed them on by. January traditionally is a great month for business. Companies and employees are all eager to take on a new ideas, personnel and projects. If you are an entrepreneur it’s a great time to get in with people and companies who in the past may have seemed totally inaccessible.
2010 will be particularly unique in the U.S. as every facet of our society and economy remain in a state of perpetual flux. Even more reason December is owed a long enjoyable stretch. A spirit of optimism is inherent in December. It is an unspoken promise that a New Year will bring new solutions to old problems. As a result, January will bring go, go, go, do, do, do. December begs slow chilly walks down the block or to your car, wrapping paper and bows, dreidels , Menorah, Christmas trees, big family meals and in my case the inevitable joke Kwanzaa card.
In the song by Counting Crows, lead singer Adam Durant says, “It’s a long December and there is reason to believe, maybe this year will be better than the last.” For those of us lucky enough to be alive to see this December, we’re definitely one day closer to realizing our best year yet.
Don’t squander your December.
