Cats.

All cats are cute. I love their fuzzy little ears, their pink wet noses, and their smooth little foot pads. I was 25 years old when I got my first and current pet, my sweet cat, Niti. She is a little angel. And she is my favorite kind of cat. There are two types of cats: the independent and proud beauties who occasionally give you the time of day, and then there are the affectionate, social, and often demanding kind. Mine is the latter. And, mostly, I love it!

I can not lay on my bed or couch without her wanting to be on my lap. At night, she sleeps on my hips. She begs for my food. She rarely actually eats it, she just wants to smell it and check it out, as if she is protecting me before I injest it. When I am on the phone, she must be in the room so she can listen in. And, I don't think I have ever peed without her pawing and moo-ing at the door or already at my feet during my private act. She just needs to be by my side all the time. We are only mildly co-dependent.

She is the ever-present sweetness in my life. Right now she is sitting under my leg while I type. I think everyone should have a pet. I am so grateful for mine. She makes each day precious. Every morning while I am drinking my coffee, that she has first sniffed to make sure it's okay, she finds a spot of sunshine in our apartment and settles in for her morning nap. In the afternoon, she snuggles up to me for her petting and adoring while she gts ready for her afternoon nap. At night, she demands that we play fetch and catch with her favorite toy, a crumpled up piece of paper. And before we settle in for our night's sleep, she licks and chews on my hair. And she sings her joyful purring in my ear, the greatest sound in the world. I am so lucky for this little cat.

So, in honor of Niti, here are some cat Valentines:

Here is a tiny Valentine. And this is an Adopt a Kitty bag that my husband bought me last year. It's a really sweet gift for that special someone in your life.

I loved this teacher Valentine. And this mischievous little feline above. Is he lifting weights? Hmmm...

And here she is, my sweet Niti.

Meow,

Jen

Sweet lil' cards.

As I have mentioned, I am a BIG fan of products disguised as food. Know what else I love? Food with faces!!! I will forever remember my utter joy as a child of nine when my parents took me to EPCOT and we walked into "Food Rocks" (a rock concert with giant food puppets singing parodied rock songs in an effort to promote healthy eating. Awe-some.) I love when my food sings to me. Know what else I love... food puns! Below are some of the most perfect Valentine cards in town. They meet all of my requirements for awesomeness: retro-looking food, with faces, and a punny message. Enjoy.

Turnip. Hilarious.

A good egg. A good CARD!

Okay, this next one doesn't have food... but it is just so darn cyyuuuuute!

Say this next one out loud. It'll make ya giggle.

How much do you love her little bow?

Am I right, people? A-dor-able.

This popcorn one is my favorite. It's a double pun with a politeness. It's not demanding that you be the Valentine... it's unassumingly asking.

And this one is just so sweet.

Happy Valentines Day gang!

Valen-times.

Mid-January. Ugh. Everyone is finally winding down from all of the holiday fun and getting back to the daily hum-drum and grind. The winter slumps are settling in as we fight the sniffles, survive snowy nights, and dream of a time when sleet wasn't considered tolerable. It's all so drab.

So what did they go and do? Why they kindly placed a holiday celebrating the warmth of love right smack in the middle of this miserable time of year! Valentine's Day.

I hear your groans, single ladies. If you are a single, fear not. This is not only a holiday about romance... it's a day to feel the joy of all kinds of love (and to express that love with a heart-shaped box of chocolates and a few mini-luxuries). No one need dread or complain about February 14th. How can you moan about a day that recognizes love?!!!

A lot of folks grumble about it every year. My hope is that there are two less grumblers this year. I have two friendsies in my life that just so happen to be single. So, I have taken it upon myself to send them a Valentine treat. Every year since I can remember my dad would buy me a tiny box of chocolates (usually adorned with the likeness if Snoopy or Ziggy). Cause February 14th is just an excuse to say "I love you" to anyone who deserves it. I love these two pals. So, I am saying it.

Wanna see how I decided to say it this year? Prepare for simple cuteness...

Nothing like a box of yummy chocolates with a kitten on the box!

These are bath bombs. They smell like Smarties! I am a sucker for anything that pretends to be food.

A few dollars was all it took to let these important ladies know that they are very special to me. So, open your mind (and your heart) to what you can celebrate on February 14th... L-O-V-E.

2011. Resolutions.

It's a New Year! A time for reflection, self-improvements, and goal-setting. I have made my list. It's a familiar one: lose 20 pounds, create more and follow-through on projects, make more money, and take my career more seriously. I think my list has been more or less the same for the last 10 years.

But this year, I added another item to the list. I am going to enjoy. Enjoy. Simple, right? So, how does one do that? Well, in my research of books, websites, and observations of people I admire, I discovered a few tools to help me with this resolution:

1. Breathe. Obviously I have been doing this is previous years. But, I want to do this in a way that has an affect on my physical and emotional well-being. I tend to worry. So when that panic and anxiety rears its ugly head, I will simply breathe in good, and release the yucky.

2. Pay attention. I am making a commitment to myself to look around me. There is so much to take in. I often keep my eyes forward on my path. I'd like to exercise my peripheral vision more frequently this year.

3. Appreciate. Let's admit it, the world ain't as easy as it was when we were kids (yes, I just said that which means I'm getting older. Oops... breathing, breathing). But, rather than focus on what I don't have or miss... I can take a moment to look at what I do have. My life is full. I have an abundance of supportive friends, loving family members, a delightful and handsome husband, and so many talents, gifts, and blessings. I will approach my days with gratitude.

4. Avoid gossip and other peoples' noise. This is a tough one for me. First, I am a fan of gossip. It's fun to dish, let's face it. But, it's incredibly unproductive and often turns negative. So, I am going to avoid all negative gossip. I am in no position to judge. And if hearing about some celebrity's drug problem makes me feel better about myself, then I have some serious issues. Remember the old addage, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Secondly, I have some terrific friends. And I have some friends that complain... a lot. I am the listener. I am the person you call when you need to talk, and vent, and moan. And I offer some advice or try to spin the situation to positive, but until they work it out, I somehow feel like a failure. I realize this is my issue. I find myself too involved. I become a sponge for the misery of others. I am not a therapist, so it's hard for me to just listen with a detachment. So, I am going to find a way to be a good friend. But not an enabler. I am going to be a person to talk to, but empower my people by letting them make their own decisions.

Thirdly, I am going to avoid toxic tv. This one will be the toughest. I watch shows about murder and rape, addiction, reality show with hideously selfish characters. This is noise that is uninspiring and depressing. I am going to fill my DVR with shows about self-improvement, hope, and laughter.

5. I will treat myself once a week to more cute. I will notice cute. I will try on cute. I will eat cute. I will smell cute. I will photograph cute. I will capture cute. I will write about cute. And I will deliver cute. Wicked Cute.

Happy New Year!