Valentine

♥Happy ♥ Heart ♥  Day♥

via the macs

…… a few of my Favorite ♥ Quotes:

♥Where there is love there is life. ~ Mohandas Gandhi

♥You are what happened when I wished upon a star.          

♥If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.  ~ A. A. Milne

                                

♥To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever. ~ Henry Drummond

                          

♥Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold. ~Zelda Fitzgerald

                 

♥Once in awhile in the middle of a normal life, Love gives us a fairytale.

♥Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name. ~ The Avett Brothers

                                   

♥Love is the magician that pulls man out of his own hat. ~ Ben Hecht

                                   

♥Life is better with your best friend.  That’s why I married mine.

♥Love is what you've been through with somebody. ~ James Thurber

              

♥ In Family Relationships LOVE is really spelled TIME. ~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                                  

♥I thought I knew happy but you taught me Happiness.

♥Where there is great love, there are always wishes. ~Willa Cather

                               

♥Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will♥

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

A Repeat Offender

{a perfect Valentine Cake too!}

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake

so Delicious & Easy 

Last Year's Yummy Cake

Kayley wanted a "Chocolately" cake last year for her birthday. Heather is my GO TO GIRL when I need a fabulous recipe. Once again,she came through again with shining colors! 

Tripe Chocolate Fudge Cake

Ingredients:

1 chocolate cake mix (with pudding in the mix!)

1 large box chocolate pudding

1/2 c vegetable oil

1/2 c warm water

4 eggs

1 c sour cream

1 12oz package chocolate chips

Directions:

Grease and flour a 12 cup bunt pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cake mix and pudding mix. Blend in oil, water, eggs, sour cream. 

Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into pan.

Bake 45 min-1 hour.

Cool 10 min, then slide knife around edges of pan and invert.

Cool completely and glaze.

Glaze:

Melt 1/3 c margarine and stir in 2 cups powdered sugar. Blend in 1/2 t. vanilla.

*my mom's friend sometimes just heats up a tub of frosting from the store and pours over the top instead.

Kayley didn't hesitate when asked what kind of cake or dessert she would like for her birthday.

Since it was the second year in a row I decided to add a festive banner with her birthday number on it. She's turned the big Two Five this year (which makes me age four when I had her, my story is getting harder and harder to believe)!

I found the cute printable number banner 

HERE

Hope all those wishes come true LeeLee!

 {all photos by Marci}

Valentine Twinkies

Valentine Twinkies

Here is a last minute idea for Valentine's Day dessert! 

Quick and easy strawberry shortcake ala heart shaped twinkies.

via Crazy Domestic

Simply cut your twinkies diagonally, and place them together in a heart shape! They topped theirs with strawberry jam (diluted with water-about 3 parts jam, 1 part water) and then garnished it with fresh strawberries!

You could even drizzle hot fudge or chocolate sauce over the top! 

Valentine Chex Mix

Valentine Chex Mix

via Betty Crocker

·        9    cups Rice Chex® cereal (gluten free)

·        1    cup white vanilla baking chips

·        ½   cup peanut butter

·        ¼   cup butter or margarine

·        ¾   cup powdered sugar

·        ½   cup red, white and pink candy-coated chocolate candies

·        ¼   cup red or pink jimmies sprinkles

♥Step 1

     In large bowl, place cereal. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Pour peanut butter mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.

♥Step 2

     Place 1/2 of the cereal mixture in 1-gallon food-storage plastic bag. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.

♥Step 3

     Meanwhile, stir candies and sprinkles into remaining cereal mixture. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes.

♥Step 4

 In serving bowl, mix both cereal mixtures. Store in airtight container.

Super Easy, Delicious & Gluten Free!

Valentine Treat

Feeling the need to make these!

Brown Sugar Blondies for Valentine’s Day

image & recipe via Baked Perfection

Brown Sugar Blondies
adapted from Allrecipes.com

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. Cool slightly. Add egg (beaten) and vanilla and blend well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing well. Mix in 2/3 cup M&M's. Spread in 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan. Sprinkle 1/3 to 2/3 cup M&M's on top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Valentine’s Marshmallow Pops

Easy peasy quick treat for Valentine’s Day:

Valentine’s Marshmallow Pops

via Glorious Treats

All you need...

One bag of Strawberry Marshmallows

Chocolate

Sprinkles

Lollipop sticks

Small cellophane bags (if you want to wrap them up)

1.      ~ Directions ~  Push a lollipop stick into each marshmallow.

2.    Melt some chocolate (chocolate chips are not recommended)  I usually use Ghirardelli chocolate (found in the baking aisle).  You will probably need 4-8 oz. of chocolate, depending on how many marshmallows you dip.

3.    Dip one marshmallow at a time into the chocolate.

4.    Allow excess chocolate to drip off, then sprinkle your choice of sprinkles onto the chocolate.

5.     Set the marshmallow pop (stick down) in a mug to allow the chocolate to set (you can put the mug of pops in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes)

6.    Once the chocolate is set, if desired, wrap each pop in a small cellophane bag.

7.     Share with friends =)

 

Note to Self

"Don't throw the candy canes away."

You'll need them in February to 

Make These:

 Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

TODAY

celebrate the ones you LOVE

Tootsie Roll Teddy Bear

Thank You Thursday

Always remember, YOU are loved.

Valentine Coupons

Better Homes and Gardens has these sweet printable Valentine's Day Coupons!

What You'll Need

• 
  
  8-1/2-x-11-inch white or light-colored paper
  
  
  
• 
  
  Color printer
  
  
  
• 
  
  Scissors, paper cutter, or crafts knife and straight-edge
  
  
  
• 
  
  Hole punch
  
  
  
• 
  
  Ribbon
  
  
  

How to Make It:

1. 
   
   Download and print desired pattern(s).
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Cut out coupons and trim white edges.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   Punch a hole through desired coupons.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Thread ribbon through the hole and tie.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   Customize by starting with the blank valentine coupons listed below and writing in your personal message.
   
   
   

Download Kids' Valentine Coupons
Download Adult Valentine Coupons
Download Blank Valentine Coupons

Itty Bitty Valentines

,I totally fell for these cute & tiny little Valentine Boxes.

I found them at Inchmark.

Aren't they adorable!

If you want to make some head on over to her BLOG.

There you'll find detailed instructions.

Sweet Dreams

I've been shopping around a little looking for cute Jungle Fabric for Preston's crib so I went to one of my favorite's, Michael Miller. While checking out the BLOG, look what I found!

You can get more detailed insturctions at Creature Comforts, HERE. Check Out Today's Healthy Tip

Love is in the air

a "Little" Love is in the air
I just realized I don't really have very many Valentine decorations.
I did put a few hearts around here and there.

the cherub door bucket on the front door

I love the Valentine Picks

Love in the KitchenWire Tree

here it is at Halloween

& at Christmas

(oops didn't have the picture- sugared fruit ornaments)

our newlywedslittle valentine gifts the extra tulle from Addie's skirt

heart in the hallwayedible hugs and kisses

i heart pillows