Valentine's Day 2012

This year for Valentine's Day we spent the evening at home! Being home, having a nice meal and staying away from the crazy busy restaurants is my fav! The day started off great when I woke up and found a card, some chocolate and a movie from my sweet hubby. He had bought me a plane ticket the week before to go to Dallas to see my parents (which I'm doing this weekend) so I told him that was my V-day present and not to do much. But I was still excited to wake up on Valentine's Day and find a sweet card and sweet treats! He got me the movie 'Friends with Benefits' - which I love. Such a cute movie!

For our Valentine's meal I had: turkey meatballs for an appetizer, mini manicotti, and our annual I.heart.U. pizza, which I usually make every year, and red wine of course.

Then for dessert we had chocolate covered strawberries (my fav) and a slice of our favorite strawberry cake from a local bakery here called Sugaree's Bakery!! Their cakes are to die for!!

After we ate we snuggled up on the couch and watched a movie! Perfect, low key Valentine's - just the way I like it!

Got to hit the sack because I've got lots to do tomorrow to pack and get ready to go to Dallas for the weekend to see my parents! Can't wait!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Weekend & Valentines Double Date

Just got done watching the Grammy's! What a show! Great tribute to Whitney Houston, yay for Adele winning big tonight, and WHAT was that performance by Niki Minaj? I'm not gonna lie - I like some of her songs, but I'm NOT at all into sacrilegious performances like she did tonight!

That said, I had a good weekend! I went to Urban Outfitters Friday after work and made an exchange and tried very hard not to look around and get tempted, but I ended up in the dressing room! I'm so weak! However I did snag an adorable heart pillow from the sale bin. I put it on my black bench under my wedding dress portrait (by the talented Kristin Wolfson Artist out of New Orleans.) I also got a cute little heart dish this week from Target. Gotta have a few Valentine's Day touches around the house!

Saturday night we had double date plans with my good good friend Jamie and her bf. We went to eat dinner at The Butcher Shop then went and had a few drinks! It was a great time! Jamie makes me laugh SO much!! We could be stuck on a deserted island and still have a ball!!! I love her to death!!

Oh and when I went to Urban Outfitters Friday I had to exchange a dress I had purchased a couple weeks before - which is this red one I am wearing. I have it in black too! I just love shoulder cut outs!!

{me and my valentine}

{me & Jamie}

{made a valentine card for Jamie - she loved it! LOL}

Pucker up buttercup!

In case I'm not back before the 14th. . . .

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo

L.O.V.E. is in the Air

Valentine's Day is in just a few days!! While some people hate this holiday - I happen to "love" it! It doesn't have to be a big "to do" - but it's just a fun day to celebrate with someone you love.

Growing up my Mom always made sure we had treats and some fun little gifts on Valentine's day! She always did so good and made us feel so special. There were also times as I got older that I wouldn't be dating anyone around Valentine's Day - and while many of my single friends would feel sad and depressed on this day - I never did! I never did because my Mom always made me feel loved. To me - Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a romantic significant other to make you feel special - it can be anyone in your life that loves you and that you love! Not only did my Mom always spread the love on Valentine's Day - but I can remember several years when this day rolled around that my parents would take me and my little brother out to a nice dinner. They could have gotten a sitter and done something together without us kids - but most of the time they always made it a family affair and we would go out for a nice dinner!

While I do love having my husband as my Valentine and enjoying this day with him - I remember the special days growing up and how I never really felt sad on Valentine's day if I didn't have a guy to share it with!

So as Valentine's Day quickly approaches - remember one thing - your Valentine can be anyone in your life that you love and that loves you in return! There are no rules!

Oh and I was looking back at some photos this week and ran across one from Valentine's Day last year and one of my little festive "love" nooks I had decorated in pink and red!

Happy Valentine's Weekend!

Happy Birthday Lil Bro!

Happy 23rd Birthday to my little brother, Casey!!

I'm so proud of him and his amazing talent as a drummer AND that he is traveling around the country with his band Darling Parade, doing what he loves! Today he is in San Diego and I'm hoping he and his band mates get to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery before their big show tonight!

Happy Birthday - make it a great one.

These are the years you will look back on, so make them count and enjoy!!

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

{Elizabeth Barrett Browning}

A Cup of Joe

I just returned from the Gulfport area for a conference I attended and am looking through photos from our work, fun, and food from the past few days.

We found a charming coffee shop on the second day called the Mockingbird Cafe. It was so adorable, cozy atmosphere, and the walls were covered in local art - which I always love. Each table had a small vase of fresh flowers. I love it when restaurants and cafes do that - it's a simple touch that just adds a little cheer! I snapped a photo of my cup of goodness and the flowers - makes me want a cup now!

R.I.P Etta James!

Today we have lost a legend, Etta James! I have loved her song "At Last" ever since I was a little girl! It was and is a classic and will live on forever! Her music and voice are timeless!

"At Last" is probably her most well known song - but she has some others classics too!

One I have always liked (and actually sang at at a karaoke bar on our honeymoon) is "I Just Wanna Make Love To You"

Another - "Somethings Got a Hold on Me" - or may be better known as "I Get a Good Feelin" - has recently been mixed in with Flo Rida's latest song "Good Feeling" - which I love (it's a great workout song too!!)

Etta has passed on, but her music is living on! If you haven't heard Flo Rida's song "Good Feeling" here it is - that's Etta singing in the beginning and through out! You know you are a legend when your music is being mixed with the sounds of today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZAGMAz9Kl0