I believe that you should show those in your life of your appreciation and love 365 days a year, but Valentine’s Day, just like Mother’s and Father’s day, allows for a really lovely opportunity to do something extra-special with your special someone. Go on a spontaneous adventure together, do cute n’ cliché couple-y things, shower them with love and tacky homemade gifts, go on that special date that you’ve both been putting off for the longest time… the world is celebrating with you! If your special someone hasn’t tumbled into your life, celebrating with all your single friends will be just as fun! Both Leung and I are eligible to make that statement; I’ve lived just about two decades being that girl trying to make myself some good ol’ popcorn on Valentine’s Day for a night of romantic comedies, but ending up setting off the fire alarm, fanning it with any nearby textbook (lol I only use textbooks to the extent of fanning fire alarms) to prevent unnecessary and embarrassing neighbor encounters, and then proceed to spend an intimate night with my sponge scrubbing a burnt pot.

Speaking of burnt popcorn, my pot is still black and sad, and I’ve tried everything from soaking to salt scrubs. Gonna google some more solutions later because that is what adults do when a problem pops (hahahha much punny) up. Whatta professional am I ay?

I have so many popcorn popping horror stories, but since it’s Valentine’s Day and not Halloween I’ll only tell one. The topic of my science fair project (of my choice) in grade 6 was: “Which brand of popcorn kernels has the least amount of un-popped kernels leftover (aka which brand is a bigger bang for your buck)?” Let’s just say I spent consecutive weekends counting popcorn kernels, and was giving out different brands of ziploc-bagged popcorn to my classmates every day at lunch… (and my $5 air-popper also overheated halfway through the brands).

So if you ever need someone to talk to about the importance of moisture content in popcorn kernels, I’m your gal. P.S. My conclusion was that Orville Redenbacher had the most kernels popped compared with all the other five brands, with Act II being the worst brand of popcorn (worse than no name!!!) since there was the most un-popped kernels left over.

I just remember going to the science fair seeing my classmates with insightful projects about sound waves and magnets, and there I was presenting a project comparing popcorn brands lol I’m so academically blessed. My parents must have been so proud.

I don’t know how I just managed to switch the topic of Valentine’s Day to a story of my grade 6 science fair experiment, but if you want to impress your special someone with a berry delicious and chocolate-y dessert this Valentine’s Day, I think you’re on the right page! Chocolate-dipped strawberries are one of my favourite treats, and this cake is loaded with protein from the tofu and fiber from the berries! Shhh, nobody will be able to tell the difference.

Whether you treat this Valentine’s Day like any ordinary Sunday, or an extraordinary occasion, this cake makes a delightful addition. If you want to melt in bliss, listen to “Die a Happy Man” by Thomas Rhett, and be prepared to abuse the “replay” button.

Meanwhile, maybe someday, someone special will gaze at me with sparkles in his eyes and say, “That’s her. She’s the one”…

and not continue with “who shows up at a bar wearing a pastel pink winter jacket and leaves before midnight” hashtag fashion, hashtag party, hashtag rowdy, hashtag dance the night away, hashtag pub crawl & alcohol

just kidding #imcinderellaok #plstakecareofyourliver #knowyourlimitdrinkwithinit (;