If all things go my way, I will be blonde and pretty for Valentine’s Day and it’s all thanks to Love Day 2020, where I decided to gussy up, for no particular reason.
After that lovelyy day, I decided to declare it as my favorite holiday.
2020
From my 2020 Scrapbook/Junk Journal: “Valentine’s Day was awesome. I looked and felt good. That sustained my desire to be in a relationship, then that was over and I decided a boyfriend was a must have.”
Summarizing from my actual diary, my mom did my hair nice the night before and I decided, “I couldn’t just be a normie with hair like that,” so I decided to do my makeup.
I do not have the original photos from that day, but I saved the ones from the day after in my google drive, also a great day.
I had asked a friend to be my Valentine and brought stuff to give to other people and received things, like the card in the brown envelope from another friend.
My Valentine painted a jar pink (I still have it) and filled it with paper stars and this note that’s attached to a tag.
I remember how the boy I was deliberating on having a crush/was crushing on (long story) did a double take when he saw me.
According to another entry, a girl I crushed on in 8th grade (it was my Freshman year) commented on the V-day post I made ’cause I apparently I loved the way I looked enough to post it on my Instagram and it made my heart “jump out of my chest” ’cause I thought she was getting cuter.
2021
I didn’t write how my Valentine’s went but apparently a tarot reader said I would have a good day and suggested I post a photo. Maybe I wanted that boy to like it…
The only reason I have this photo is because I posted it on Facebook way back when, otherwise it would’ve been lost media because I love deleting my Instagram accounts.
I did write a line about in my creative journal. “February 14th: a peaceful V-day. It started hailing.”
“Febaruary 15th: Snow!! Yay!!”
“February 16th: No power :(.”
Forgot about the Texas Freeze.
2022
I did not dress out, but I remember having my sister cut my white braids (I pretended they were platinum blonde) and they were layered.
I got compliments on it even though I must’ve looked crazy and like a raggedy Ann doll. The pictures (if I took any) are lost in time.
But I liked the style enough to consider it a Valentine’s Day Slay. At least it was out of the ordinary, I thought.
2023
The peak. Glad some pictures got saved on WhatsApp.
From my 2023 recap:
“My Valentine’s Day Slay™ was also notable. In elementary school, we’d decorate shoe boxes and bring candy to put in each other’s boxes. Well, someone in my AP Lit class had the a bright idea to bring back the tradition, much to my elation! I was determined to show up and show out because not only is V-day my favorite holiday, but since 2020, I’ve had this tradition of going blonde and all out for it. So, I bought cards, knick-knacks, candy, and cute goodie bags to put them in. Then for my outfit, I wore a wig, a beautiful hot pink dress that had been just sitting in my closet, and heels that didn’t exactly match, but who was looking? The pictures I took of my dress didn’t do it justice. I like to think that I’m partly the reason why my old high school did away with uniforms for the 23-24 school year. The 14th of February was such a beautiful day, and it honestly doesn’t get more Venusian than that.“
2024
I was bald then and serving little boy, butch realness.
I long accepted that it was unrealistic to serve every year, but I put on pink eyeshadow to honor that tradition of mine.
I did end up serving for my birthday and earlier that year so.
2025
I dressed out, was blonde, spread the love, and somehow looked better without makeup and after my shift at the pizza shop I worked at; it was a definite slay. You can read about it in my 2025 reflection.
2026
I dressed out and made myself up to attend an event, but I didn’t take any pictures of myself because I was too in my head.
My singleness was getting to me badly and I was miserable.
Despite getting a small gift for my friend the day before and happily walking 40 minutes in the rain to get my mother flowers, I still felt like shit because no amount of platonic love replaces ones desire for romantic one.
On February 16th I decided that I slayed retroactively and proactively because showing up to school in my light pink dress that Thursday was a slay.
I was pink from head to toe and the pink axolotl I got from the event was just overkill. I got SO many compliments. That’s the spirit of the holiday anyway. Dressing up, just because. Not for anything or anyone in particular.
I also tabled for my new organization in the dress I wore V-day 2023 on that day and the friend I got the gift for brought me flowers and a card!
What does it mean to me
V-day slays are ultimately about taking power back and letting the beauty in your heart show on the outside.
It’s not about going blonde, though I’m determined to honor this desire of mine to only sport that color in February, or about doing your makeup. It’s about looking good to yourself.
2023 taught me that it could be about honoring your childhood. But most importantly, it’s about doing things “just because”. Being extra ’cause you feell like. Dressing out because, why not?
Shekinah's Digital Junk Drawer 