Love is a wonderful thing...

Yes, that's right, I just quoted Michael Bolton. I had a major obsession with him in the 4th grade (blame my mom) and to this day I still get super happy inside when I sing along to his tunes. The happiness that this little ditty evokes is not even close to the happiness that I felt all weekend with my husband.

I'm a love nerd, most people know this. It's why I choose the books and movies that I do and why I continue to obsess over each season of The Bachelor despite its unsuccessful history- I love, love. So, with that being said, Valentine's Day automatically ranks in my top 3 holidays (in between Christmas and my birthday of course). Brad and I don't typically make a big deal over elaborate Valentine's Day presents or anything like that, I just love the cheesiness that goes along with the holiday. The hearts, the flowers, the whole bit.

This year Brad and I are trying to stay on a budget, so I wasn't anticipating any big plans for the holiday. We'd decided to buy a desk for Brad to use to study as our gift and I thought we might do a simple dinner or something--but not so fast. Brad had a plan (and we know I love plans). When I got home Friday, after receiving a dozen beautiful tulips at work, he informed me that he had our whole Saturday planned and it would start with breakfast at V. Richard's. I was ecstatic and even woke up early on Saturday to begin my day of fun.

The day started with two roses, one from Brad and one from Oliver of course, and then we were off to have an incredible breakfast at V. Richard's. I pigged out on french toast and cheese grits and then we hit the road for our next stop--ice skating! Brad has always said he'd like for us to go, but it hasn't ever really worked out. Fortunately, this time, we got to lace up our skates and take the ice. Brad was hysterical--I called him Grandpa all day because he was hurting all over (of course I was a natural Kristy Yamaguchi, ha!) but we had fun none the less. Plus, Brad finally admitted that he had "found something he wasn't good at." Ha!

We finished off our day out and about with a late lunch/early dinner at Cafe Lazio, buying chocolate covered strawberries from Crave (the best I've ever had) and picking out a Valentine's Day surprise for Oliver at Pet Smart. As the traffic picked up and people were clearly trying to make it out for their Valentine's Day dinners, we were thankfully heading home. We spent the entire night hanging out, relaxing and watching movies; it was perfect.

This Valentine's Day was undoubtedly the best one I've ever had. For the first time in a really long time, Brad and I took the whole day just for us. We simply enjoyed each other's company and put all of our worries aside. I don't typically gush, but I have to say that I'm incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband.

Change you can believe in...

One of President Obama's continuously reiterated messages was that he was going to bring "change" to Washington. He wasn't interested in the special interest groups, crooked lobbying deals and the like. To me, if it could have been true, would have been major points for him in my book.

However, that promise has already been broken. Don't you find it funny that so many of the people he nominates to lead our country with him have somewhat of a shady past? Sure, everyone has a skeleton in their closet, but when it's illegal (and immoral) that's inexcusable. Political figures are not exempt from the laws that govern the rest of us and mistakes made such as Daschle's should have immediately disqualified him for consideration as Obama's Health and Human Services secretary. I e-mailed my senators urging them to uphold conservative principles and refuse to confirm Tom Daschle and as it turns out...that wasn't even necessary. He withdrew his name today... yay for small victories!

See below for an article about Daschle's withdrawal and some of the other shady folks on Obama's list.

Daschle withdraws nomination
By JENNIFER LOVEN, AP White House Correspondent Jennifer Loven, Ap White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON – Faced with problems over back taxes and potential conflicts of interest, Tom Daschle withdrew his nomination on Tuesday to be President Barack Obama's Health and Human Services secretary.

"Now we must move forward," Obama said in a written statement accepting Daschle's surprise request to be removed from consideration. A day earlier, Obama had said he "absolutely" stood by Daschle.

Daschle, the former Senate Democratic leader and a strong backer of Obama's presidential bid, said he would have been unable to operate "with the full faith of Congress and the American people."

"I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction" to Obama's agenda, he said.
His stunning statement came less than three hours after another Obama nominee also withdrew from consideration, and also over tax problems. Nancy Killefer, nominated by Obama to be the government's first chief performance officer, said she didn't want her bungling of payroll taxes on her household help to be a distraction.

Daschle was the third high-profile Obama nominee to bow out. Obama initially had tapped Bill Richardson to be Commerce secretary, but the New Mexico governor withdrew amid a grand jury investigation into a state contract awarded to his political donors.

"I was a little stunned. I thought he was going to get confirmed," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the panel that would have voted on Daschle's nomination. "It's regrettable. He's a very good man."

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Daschle's former Democratic colleagues had rallied to his defense in the wake of questions about his failure to fully pay his taxes from 2005 through 2007. Last month, Daschle paid $128,203 in back taxes and $11,964 in interest.

"Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged," Obama said. "He has not excused it, nor do I. But that mistake and this decision cannot diminish the many contributions Tom has made to this country."

Daschle also was facing questions about potential conflicts of interests related to the speaking fees he accepted from health care interests. Daschle also provided advice to health insurers and hospitals through his post-Senate work at a law firm.

It all proved too bitter a pill for senators to swallow, even for a former member of their club.

Last week, the Senate confirmed Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary despite his tax problems.

The controversy also has undercut Obama's promise to run a more ethical, responsible and special interest-free administration.

The withdrawal came after Republicans and major newspapers had been questioning Obama's initial decision to stick with Daschle.

Republican Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina said Obama was "losing credibility" with his statements in support of Daschle. "Part of leadership is recognizing when there has been a mistake made and responding quickly," the Republican said.

In an editorial, The New York Times described Daschle's ability to move "cozily between government and industry" as a cloud over any role he might play in changing the nation's health care system.

The Chicago Tribune opined that "Daschle is dispensable" and suggested that "to proclaim high standards and then suspend them exposes Obama to charges that he is either hypocritical or obtuse."

In a letter released Monday, Daschle sought to explain how he overlooked taxes on income for consulting work and the use of a car service. He also deducted more in charitable contributions than he should have. He also met with Senate Finance Committee members behind closed doors.
"It was completely inadvertent, but that's no excuse," he said. "I apologize to President Obama, to my colleagues and to the American people."

Some senators laid the blame for Daschle's tax woes on his employers rather than on Daschle. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said the friend that provided him with a chauffeur service for three years, Leo Hindery Jr., should have given Daschle a tax form that would make clear the service was to be treated as income.

Daschle began the day apologizing for his failure to fully pay his taxes from 2005 through 2007. He capped it off that way as well after meeting with the committee behind closed doors.