Remember when the worst thing to happen this year was a global pandemic that prevented you from leaving the house? Well, it’s starting to warm up, so at least we can spend more time outside as Valentine’s Day approaches. Oh wait, there’s an arctic blast heading for much of the US, bringing the coldest stretch of weather felt in decades?! So we can’t take our kids outside for over a week? Mmkay.
Valentine’s Day is a holiday many strive to escape from, and this year the challenge has grown in many ways. But don’t fret! There’s something eternally ’80s about Valentine’s Day (see the image above), and that’s not a bad thing, is it? As we jump into today’s post, let’s look at a few ways to “get away from it all” this weekend while sitting on your couch wrapped in a blanket. We begin with some easy watercolor painting and then move into retro made-for-TV movie bingeing while consuming the beverage of your choice.
’80s Valentines
If you’re wanting to send some valentines to family members, neighbors and friends or you’re just feeling like getting creative, the cards above (and below) couldn’t be easier to craft. Use watercolors to paint a heart on a rectangle of cardstock paper, then cover it in squiggles and flick the paintbrush over the design to create a splatter paint effect. You can go over the squiggles with a metallic paint pen for an extra pop of color!
Now that you’ve done some art therapy, let’s have a little TV time, shall we?! Anyone else enjoy watching ’80s and ’90s made-for-TV movies on YouTube? After a few bad starts (poor image quality, not-so-compelling selections), I decided to really take the plunge and stick with it. I’m working on a post that rounds up my favorites, but here are a couple of picks to get started:
Sin of Innocence (1986)
The Incredible Hulk and the mom from ET get married, creating a blended family with their children, who include Dermot Mulroney and Anne of Green Gables. When the kids fall in love, scandal ensues! This movie (watch it on YouTube!) is worth it for an incredible cast that includes Bill Bixby, Dee Wallace and Megan Follows. Add Mulroney, whose character Tim will make you wish you’d taken a closer look at that jazz band trumpet player who you walked past in the high school hallway, and you have made-for-TV movie magic! The kids’ great dialogue and unusually high level of maturity will even help you overlook the family’s beach house, which is supposed to serve as a romantic backdrop, despite constant reminders of its lack of electricity or plumbing. But what’s a few trips to the outhouse when love is in the air? I’m going to stop typing now…
But before we move on, don’t hesitate to throw in some ’80s commercial viewing either before or after the movie. This compilation is one of my favorites!
The Colony (1995)
Remember when you went to visit your friend at their elite subdivision when they still lived with their parents, and you were asked to do things like check in with the guard at the front gate, not walk on the grass, and not park on the street? The Colony takes gated community terror up a notch by adding restrictions like “don’t jog in ugly clothes, don’t plant ferns in the front yard, and make sure your dog’s vocal cords are removed if he barks too much”. Also, they’ll kill you if you object to any of the rules. Drama, drama, drama, people! Plus, there’s John Ritter, who really can’t save this film, but definitely makes it worth a watch.
Be sure to follow up this viewing with a trip to blog favorite McMansion Hell, and relive the glory days of granite countertops, massive second-floor carpeted game rooms and brick facades.
And of course, feel free to pour yourself some bubbly, or coffee, or whatever makes you happy these days. Because sometimes it’s the little treats that get us through the most unpredictable of times. The recipe for the cocktail above can be found here. Cheers to you on this strangest of Valentine’s Days. You’re not alone. Thanks for reading, and stay safe!!
Cheers Kate!