Happy Halloween!

Valentine Kisses

Hello darlings,  As you can see, I’m busy getting ready for Valentine’s Day but I’m taking a quick break from my beauty regime to send you a big kiss!  Happy V day! xoxo

Femme on Ice

Yes, girls, even after a few Manhattans I can still twirl and whirl like nobody’s business. And isn’t my outfit cute?  Wishing you all a bright and beautiful holiday season. Kisses, SF

Wanted: Beauty and Brains!

We’re having a zombie pin-up moment here at SF Unbound. Maybe that’s because this year I’ve managed to talk Van into accompanying me to an “extreme” haunt–it’s half haunted house, half zombie apocalypse.  Will we survive our encounter with these undead, flesh-eating creatures?  Stay tuned…and happy haunting to all!

Sublimefemme Tells All, No. 36

A femme can be happy without many things, but lipstick is not one of them.

Sublimely Scandalous

Tallulah was right:  “It’s the good girls who keep diaries; the bad girls never have the time.”   Many people don’t realize this, but the life of a bad girl is quite arduous and time-consuming, which is why you haven’t heard from me lately.   Forgive me, my darlings.  It isn’t easy being  sublimely scandalous!

 

Love Story (Vday repost because I’m feeling romantic)

Happy Valentine’s Day, my darlings!  Want to know the most romantic thing I’ve ever done?  Read on…

As many of you already know, my Van is a private person so I try not to put her and our life center stage in my blog.  But since Valentine’s Day is coming up–which I love as only a femme can; V-Day haters step away now!–I don’t think Van will mind me telling you a little of our own love story.   The truth is, she’s the best thing about my life hands down.  Even after 14 years, I’m a smitten kitten.

Van and I have often surprised each other in little or big ways on Valentine’s Day.  This tradition dates back to our very first V-Day together, when I told her that I couldn’t drive to her city as planned because of the epic snowstorm that was coming.  I was just too nervous to attempt that drive, I said.  Van was super disappointed, I could tell, but she was understanding and of course said she wanted me to be safe.

Then as soon as we got off the phone I hit the road.  You knew that was coming, right?!  Yes, I was crazy enough to drive through a raging BLIZZARD in my little Ford Escort with no anti-lock brakes. (I was a poor grad student then).  Seriously, I’ve never driven in worse conditions–snow, ice, terrible visibility, and wind so severe it blew my car all over the road.  It was positively harrowing.  But somehow I made it to Van’s apt in one piece.

I let myself in and immediately got to work cooking dinner, baking a heart-shaped chocolate cake, decorating the apt, and of course making myself gorgeous. There was a lot to do, but I knew I had enough time because Van would be working late. For a finishing touch, I took a bag of those Necco candy conversation hearts and made a trail from the elevator to the front door of her apt.  (Yes I know it’s cheesy and tacky–that’s the point!)

My little plan worked perfectly.  Van got off the elevator, sad about spending Valentine’s Day without me.  She was grumbling about the V-Day revelers who left all those candy hearts on the floor until she realized that the trail led to her door!  I still remember the look on her face when she opened the door to find me there.  Happy is an understatement.  What did my ensemble look like, you ask?  Mamie Van Doren with a dash of Susie Bright. (It was the 90s, after all.)

Now it’s your turn.  What’s the most romantic thing you’ve done for Valentine’s Day or the most romantic thing someone has done for you?  (For the record, I’m defining “romantic” broadly; I certainly don’t think it has to follow traditional ideas of what constitutes romance or romantic love.)

Can’t Buy Me Love (Valentine for Van)

Van and I just had a fight.  I’ve been repeatedly asking her what she wants for her birthday, which is right after Valentine’s Day.  I thought I was being nice; after all, doesn’t everyone want to open a present on their birthday?  But Van is angry at me for pressuring her for a “wish list” when she’s told me over and over again that material things don’t matter to her.

The truth is I don’t feel comfortable not buying her a gift.  Van loves it when I give her experience gifts instead of objects, so that’s something I’ve been doing more.  But this year I felt like I didn’t have the time or energy to put together a more creative, experiential birthday present for her.  I’m ashamed to admit this but I just wanted to buy something and be done.  How could I have forgotten that the best way of saying “I love you” is not with a credit card?  This shows just how successful the ideology of consumerism is in our culture.  I know that expressing love through “stuff” only serves the interests of global capitalism–and yet, here I am, desperately trying to commodify my love.

I adore Van and truly cannot imagine my life without her in it.  This post is my Valentine for her.  I’m so sorry, honey.  I love you more than objects can convey and words can say.  Thank you for 19 wonderful years.  xoxo

I’ve missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress

The iconic Amy Winehouse performing “Valerie.”  Swoon.

 

Happy holidays, my darlings!

My Saint Bernard always carries an ample supply of Maker’s Mark.  This morning Van and I used a little to make eggnog french toast topped with bourbon cranberry compote.  This proves my theory that everything is better with bourbon. Cheers!

This image is re-blogged from Mothic Flights and Flutterings