Favorite line of the day: "Mom, I am IN LOVE with this gum!" ~Jenna~ OK, one more: "Mommy, you're my best buddy. Best buddy means togetor."

Re-run V-Day card

Late last night when the children were all in bed...Isn't that a song? I went looking for wrapping paper for Noah's Valentine's Box and came across a long lost box of old papers etc. It was a gold mine! I told you that I had been rummaging the other day in a different box and how much fun that was. Well this was good. I was thumbing through old cards and letters Kelly and I have written over the years and came across a birthday card-Kelly's 26th. A sinking feeling came over me when I realized that I had just picked up the SAME CARD for this V-day!!!! The only difference is that one says happy birthday and the other says happy Valentine's day! I almost wrote the same thing inside both about how perfect the card was for us and everything! LAME! Am I getting old and forgetful? Luckily, Kelly would NOT have remembered, obviously I wouldn't have either unless I went through that box! BUT, I had to tell him for laughs!

P.S. I have some treats for you Erika! Another work of art, an old photo of us in Santa Cruz?? It might make it to Facebook! You should be scared!

Homemade, with love

I know store bought is easier but there is something very sweet about a homemade Valentine! When I was in grade school, I got one very special homemade Valentine from a boy in my class and thought that it was the neatest thing ever! So, this year I asked Bailey if she'd like to make her own and she enthusiastically said YES! She chose to fill muffin wrappers with conversation hearts and decorate the outside with hearts. We had fun picking out the most absurd messages on the hears. "Top Chief" What is that all about? "Email Me" that should be "Text Me" now! So outdated! Ha Ha! Sam also wanted to make a few so here he is with his scissors cutting out paper hearts to stick a Dum Dum through! They did a beautiful job! We also made chocolate shortbread cookies with white chocolate drizzle on top for their teachers. We wrote on a few to make it fun! We had to test them out, of course! Mmmmm!

My Surprise

Kelly informed me that I needed to be home last Tuesday between 9-11:00 A.M. for a delivery to arrive. OK, I knew it was going to be good because Kelly mentioned at Christmas time that I'd get something in 4-6 weeks (the magical time frame for furniture!) So, Tuesday morning I kept an eye out for a big truck and sure enough, I wasn't disappointed! I got a new dining table! FINALLY! I had been using some folding tables put together with table clothes over them for the past year and a half! Now I have the real deal! Kelly and I went shopping ages ago and saw this table so he knew I likes it! What a great surprise! It seats 12! Now we can have our holiday dinner parties with less worry! Thanks Kel! P.S. Here are the chairs I want. Maybe next year?

Do you ever have days where you can't eat enough bread? Today is that day. Great Harvest Cherry White Chocolate Bread! Try it!

Brown or White?

It's funny how people assume that brown is always better. I am one of those people. Brown bread, better. Brown paper bags, better. Brown hair, of course BETTER! Brown eggs? They HAVE to be better! Right? Wrong! I was cooking with brown eggs the other day and I had to ask the question. Are brown eggs more nutritious? Why are all the eggs in most supermarkets white? Why does Martha tend to use brown eggs when she cooks? Are they BETTER? Well, it turns out that they aren't better, they are the same! The pigment comes from the genetic makeup or type of chicken who lays it. There is a patch of feathers on it's ears or earlobes and that will determine white or brown. Typically people in the Northeast of US will prefer brown eggs because they have a lot of Rhode Island Reds (Martha must have these) there making brown eggs! Organic eggs are not necessarily more nutritious. Those chickens are fed better (making them more expensive). So next time you wonder white or brown, just go for white, although I do like the way the brown look, don't you?

amore!

...winged cherubs, St.Valentine, true love, poetry, decadent chocolates, kisses & hugs, red & pink, doilies and lace, cheeks that blush, hearts that flutter, knees that knock, heart shaped anything, roses by the dozen, romantic candlelight, fingers intertwined, be mine, words of deepest affection, love songs, shooting stars, fireworks, Paris...


"Love is a many splendid thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!"~Moulin Rouge


"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infine."~Romeo & Juliet

"Blood of my blood," he whispered, "and bone of my bone. You carry me within ye, Claire, and ye canna leave me now, no matter what happens. You are mine, always, if ye will it or no, if ye want me or nay. Mine, and I wilna let you go." ~Jamie (Dragonfly in Amber)