Showing posts with label Valentine's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentine's. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Valentines Dinner at Home

This year Valentines day was quite enjoyable.  To be honest, they all have been pretty nice.   I don't think we've ever done any big celebrating but we have spent some years going out to dinner and/or exchanging gifts.  We opted not to do gifts this year after recently just purchasing a new desktop computer for me and because we are spending lots of money getting a new bottom job for the boat.


Since Valentines day fell on Sunday we leisurely enjoyed all afternoon together and spent the day getting some things done around the house.  I am very excited about that and hope to share a few small finished projects with you all soon.  My valentine is a good man and knows how to treat me right.  I am a happy wife when he tackles that honey do list.  We wrapped up the evening with a delicious steak dinner cooked at home on the grill.  Of course, you know me, I just had to jazz up our meal with a few sweets and a few decorations for our sweet little table for two.   



Everything I used for our setting I already had on hand.  The only things new this year are the plaque I made a few weeks back and the metal X and O, both were purchased and made for other displays. 

 It all started with my decision to use my off white table cloth because I don't have a solid white. I actually liked the softness of the off white and surprisingly enough it complimented all of my other elements quite well.


I also decided I wanted to keep the lazy susan on the table since its such a large table. Additionally, this would give my display in the middle a bit more depth.  I was pretty thrilled to find the off white round crochet table topper in my linen drawers.  I have a pair I used on round tables by the bed waaaay back in the day. Sometimes it's good to hang on to old linens.


After getting the linens in place it was an easy pull together on the center display just pulling a few pieces here and there from a few of the Valentines displays I did around the house this year.


The flower arrangement from the kitchen was light and a perfect off white match to the tablecloth.

I then placed the Love plaque I made this year (see here) on the table, the mercury candles jars, a little faux lighting and topped it all off with the adorable metal X and O I purchased this year from Michaels.



I just adored my place settings. Sorry, I don't mean to gush but they were just soooo cute!!!


Here's the breakdown, I started with my Lenox Butlers Pantry dishs, then added the linen dish towels I purchased a few years back from Stein Mart when I managed the home dept.  I have a set of six of these because they went on clearance after not selling during for Valentines one year.  I think they were perfect for Napkins, don't you?


 The red heart plates are melamine and have a bit of a sparkle to them.  As you can see below, they were just perfect for dessert.



I brought out the bubble acrylic goblets also from Stein Mart and these beautiful blown glass stems given to me from my son for Christmas a few years back.  

Need I say more!  It was an easy day followed by an easy dinner for two with a festive atmosphere too.  Life at home is good!


Thank you so much for popping in today.  If you enjoyed seeing this tablesetting and you'd like to see more there is a party going on over for;
Go on check it out, it's beautiful!

On a side note;  Did you know Picasa is going away?

I'm not trying to be whiner but let me share how much of a struggle it was to get my post out on time today. It was a big struggle because I just found out last weekend that Picasa is going away.  I know it is not until March that they stop supporting it and I still could have used it but I really felt the need to figure out a new plan immediately.   I have used them for years to do my editing and storage of photos.  I was quite in a panic until I read and have assured that all my photos are backed up on google photos.

I felt relieved that they have an editing program but  I was again disappointed to find out that the editing features were not all I had hoped for.  I don't know if I was doing something wrong but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to watermark my photos on google photos.  I have no text symbols at all, so I had to back track and re-decide what to do. It was all very challenging because I am also on a new computer that uses Windows 10.  I like the system but I was having problems with it trying to figure out the path my photos were taking when I downloaded them.  I could find them on the Windows gallery but not in the computer files and that was a problem when trying to edit them in another program.  Finally, I figured out how to redirect the Windows photos to a folder I could find.  Whew!  

For the moment I have decided to edit my photos using Ribbet.  I like how quick and easy it is and I can save edited photos really fast right back on my computer.  I don't like not being able to easily work on editing batches at a time and uploading batches at a time to blogger.  Since blogger is so supportive of Picasa I've become quite spoiled.  I wonder how this is all going to play out soon and what will be the new replacement.  I know it's all good, but sometimes these changes....

With all that being said, I hope to be back with another post soon (after I recoup some time) my sweet readers to share my latest home project.  I hope you'll join me again.  Hope you all are having a wonderful and productive week as well.  
Hugs and Waves!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Valentines in the Foyer

Well, I just couldn't stop myself!  Even after I said I wasn't going to do it this year, I just had to break out the Valentines decor.  Blame it all on the mirror okay, my NEW mirror that is! 

I just recently added this new larger mirror to my foyer and moved this old cabinet back into the foyer again.  After seeing how dark it all looked I decided I needed a pop of color.  

And what better color to pop then RED right?

So, I pulled out all of my old Valentine tricks and decided what I wanted to use.

I knew I just had to use my sweet lil cherubs!

I love how dreamy they look!

There's also something about a bouquet of roses and carnations that just speaks Valentines to me.

The new mirror even got a Valentine topper of it's own.

And on the other side of the foyer by the front door I added a few welcoming hearts.

Truth be known, I had to move this welcome sign inside because the wind keeps blowing it over on the porch outside.   Oh, look!  Do you see one of my sweeties down there in the corner looking in?  I think she wants a little lov'in too!

Well I am off today and getting out and about to look for some other bright colors to brighten up this spot after the Valentine's decor comes down.  I'm thinking a new lamp, maybe more greenery in larger deco jars, and a statement piece of some sort.  Oh, what fun!

Thanks for joining me today for

It's always so nice to hear from you!
I hope you also have a great day! 


Sunday, January 20, 2013

My Favorite Valentines Projects Past

I am in LOVE with all the cute Valentines decor I am seeing out here in blog land.  You ladies have my heart with all of your sweet touches of red, hearts and roses everywhere all over your homes.  I don't think I'll be putting out too much this year as I have done in the past. 

I'd like to share a few of my own favorite creations from 2011.

This by far was my most all time favorite!

 It was so easy.  I simply put cling on hearts from the dollar tree to my glass block that is filled with lights....

...added some decorative ribbon and I was done!  I really LOVED this one so much!

You can see the original post by clicking HERE.


Here's when I first bought the little clock I showed you in my recent post.  The cherubs were older collected pieces. Aren't they sweet?


I jazzed up some pink Mercury glass Christmas trees to become Valentine trees.


and made a garland for my mantle using graphics from The graphic fairy with paper pink heart doilies.  You can also see the original post for this decor HERE.

And finally in 2012 I painted hearts on a table runner from the dollar tree for a tablescape.  Not to bad, huh?  Speaking of Tablescapes, I will try and share my previous Valentines tablescapes with you later.  They are some of my favorites too.

As I said, I really don't think I'll be doing much this year but you just never know.  I say that and then I start looking at what you all are doing and I'm get so inspired.
I hope I have shared a little inspiration with you today as well. 

  That is why I have decided to join;

and

Pop on by both the above links for more inspirational ideas and blessings.

Have a great week and thank you all so much for coming by!



Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Goodbye Valentines, Hello Easter!

Hey Everybody!  I hope each of you had a wonderful Valentines day.  I certainly did!  Even though I had to work and had quite a busy day it certainly ended up very sweetly.  

My employer made an announcement during our morning meeting the other day that he heard on the radio that the average male spends around $180.00 something on Valentines and the average female spends about $130.00 something.  Can you believe that?  Not in my household!  I can honestly say, my first thoughts were, that must be before they get married.  LOL!  Then my greedy self said out loud, Can somebody please tell my husband that?  Haha! 

Seriously though, I am so blessed by my husband and he just get's better and better every year too!  There used to be a time when we first got married that he didn't take Valentines very seriously at all.  He was of the male mindset that thought it's waaayy to commercialized, so why bother.  His thinking was, I don't need a special day to tell you I love you, yatta,yatta,yatta.  But then, he quickly matured and learned the error of his ways (yes, I just said that) and got on board.  As far as Valentines spending goes though, we really don't do big.  Some years are more thoughtful little gifts but most years it's chocolate and flowers and I am just thrilled with that!

Here's what I came home to last night!  One of my most favorite gifts was the fire.  I am not kidding!  I love a nice warm cozy fire and he knows it.  That was definitely intentional! (blush)  

It was so cool to go on Facebook last night and see so many of my friends posting all their lovely flowers, cards and candy.  How neat is that?  I loved it!  It was kinda like when you were a kid in elementary school and shared all your Valentines with your other friends.  Remember that excitement?  I sure do, and it was so sweet to see some of my friends sharing that too.

Okay, now back to the title of my post....
 Hello Easter!

I know some of you are probably thinking....Seriously???

Well, the answer is yes, seriously!  That's what I spent the majority of yesterday doing at work, moving Valentines out and Easter in.  We actually started receiving Easter merchandise a few weeks ago. Yesterday it all came out in full force!  I set up six tables in the front of the store including a wall display at the front of the store too.  I love doing Seasonal decor, but it's kinda challenging because it's so temporary.  You really want to make the most impact you can for such a short amount of time.  Sometimes you have very little time between the holidays too and need to move and set things up quickly.    I am off today, and am already thinking of ways I want to tweak my displays when I get back in on Thursday.  Mercy!   I won't have much time to do this though, because we've got more sales to set up for and another truck to receive on Friday, which means more new merchandise that needs creative "vignettes".  Okay, yeah, I admit it, I am loving it!

This is what I really wanted to show you, though.  I just had to share this sweet bunny that I simply could not resist.  He really looks so much nicer here in my dining room then on that display don't cha think?

I was smitten from the minute I opened the box!  I knew he would be leaving the store too quickly with someone, so I decided it might as well be me!

Here's a few more close ups.  He has an off white ceramic glaze with a crackle look under the glaze.  His finish is very smooth though.  You can even put a little something in the basket on his back, like flowers or small eggs or something cute like that.

I love how neutral he is and think he will be a perfect centerpiece on my Easter table this year.  Don't worry ladies, I am no where near ready to decorate my home for Easter yet.  Well...maybe. Hmm???

Aww! So sweet!  
If you adore this fella like I do, I suggest you hop on over to your nearest Stein Mart, because I have a feeling these guys are gonna be quickly hopping right on out the door.

Happy Day after Valentine's Day Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by!