This week saw an odd juxtaposition: The too-cute images of idealized love and prezzies for your sweet (brought to you care of Valentine's Day) sat side by side with grim speculation about violence visited upon one intimate by another in the Patrick Brazeau and Oscar Pistorius cases. With any allegation of a despicable act, public reproach follows -- but the judgment seems particularly swift when the incident involves suspected domestic abuse. Let's hope our well-founded indignation at violence against women doesn't supersede our equally laudable tradition of considering an individual innocent until proven guilty.
I hope anyone reading this will take the time to remember just how much every mother loves her children. Now nearly five years gone, my mother's love lives in my heart, her voice comes out in my words, her spirit comes out in my actions, her teachings guide my life. My mother's name was Mary. She taught me to never walk away from someone in need.
When Rex Reed referred to the lovely Melissa McCarthy in his review of her latest movie as "tractor-sized, humongous, and female hippo", he clearly crossed the line from film critic, to self-appointed arbiter of female beauty. And he's wrong. During the same week, certain commentators on the internet were also taking potshots at the latest episode of "Girls", saying it was too unrealistic to believe that a hot stud like Patrick Wilson would have sex with such a plain, pudgy woman like Lena Dunham. But guys want to be with women who are comfortable in their own skin. And who want to get naked with us. And be adventurous with us. There is perfection in a woman's imperfections.
Maybe you're in a happy relationship, but you're sick and tired of spending triple the amount for a bouquet of roses? Or dining among a sea of smug couples all secretly comparing their propensity for romance to your own. If you fall into the latter two categories, I've got a few V-Day recommendations that may appeal (read, won't cause you to throw up in your mouth).
It's love month -- and now we're down to the wire. The big heart day will roll around on February 14 as it inevitably does every year, whether you like it -- and celebrate it -- or not. What else do we all deserve on February 14, if not every single day? Chocolate. And today I am going to share with you a recipe of mine that is slick, easy, and super tasty.