Sweet Chocolate Treats For Valentine's Day

It’s not as if you need an excuse to whip up one of these chocolate delights, but tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Roses are overrated and cards aren’t necessary, but to not have chocolate on Valentine’s Day? That is a crime.

Just in case you still need some ideas on sweet treats to make or bake, here are a few of my favorites. Personally, the Oreo kisses are tops on my list this year.

clockwise from top left:
Oreo kisses from Bakerella
double chocolate doughnut from Country Living
chocolate cherry stack cake from Better Homes and Gardens
hot chocolate cake from Country Living
chocolate souffles from Food Network
flourless chocolate cake from Food Network
delicious chocolate pie from The Pioneer Woman Cooks

What chocolate dessert can you not live without?

Red Hot Looks For February

Even though Valentine's Day only happens once, you can still infuse the color of love into your wardrobe throughout the month (or anytime!).

Here are two options: one for when you are feeling fancy, and another for when only your favorite jeans will do, which is most days for me.

clockwise from top:
navy blue silk dress from Shabby Apple
felt earrings from 3FUN
twill trench coat from Ann Taylor LOFT
Vanda red patent pump from Target
red glambition bag from ModCloth

clockwise from top left:
Mallory Keaton sweater from ModCloth
dotted dip-dye scarf from GAP
wood and gold hoops from Claire's
Simone stretch ballet flats from Target
"The Flirt" jeans from Old Navy

Do you wear a lot of red? What is your favorite red piece in your wardrobe?

Red And White Valentine's Table For Two: Right This Way!

photo by John Billings Photography

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I have mixed feelings about it. It seems every year I am a little less enamored with the idea of buying (and receiving) presents or celebrating with a dinner out all in the name of love.

My husband and I love each other every day, he treats me with little gifts all year long and we go out to dinner more than we probably should. We have promised each other no gifts this year, and we have yet to decide if we will celebrate at all.

As much as I am disheartened by the pressures and commercialization brought on by Cupid’s holiday, I am infatuated with anything red. With red being the color of love and all, there is plenty for me to drool over this time of year. The table settings below had me at first click, and I could not resist pulling together a few things to recreate the looks.

It just might be enough to inspire a romantic dinner at home, which is just our style anyway.


TABLE SETTINGS (top)
LOVE table setting from delish.com
table setting with paper lanterns from Rebecca Thuss

OPTIONS FOR YOUR OWN RED-HOT TABLE
polka-dot napkins from Paper Source
red ring dinnerware from Target
candy-filled floral arrangement from Martha Stewart
red garden pindot fabric from jcaroline creative
blooming place card from Martha Stewart
party lantern string lights from Luna Bazaar
red enamel letter from Urban Outfitters

How do you feel about Valentine's Day? How are you going to celebrate?

Give a Vintage Valentine

Remember how fun it was to exchange Valentine’s when you were younger? For me, I was just as excited to see what the cards looked like as I was to know whom they came from. That is why I love vintage-style Valentine’s. The designs are simple and the verses are silly, but they are just right for saying, “I like you,” whether you are five or 50.

Send them, frame them, recreate them, but just enjoy them. In a stack of cards covered with Hannah Montana and cartoon characters, a Valentine inspired by those from years gone by will be a welcome read.



clockwise from top left:
Vintage Valentine's (Press Out Book) by Golden Books
Valentine's: Vintage Holiday Graphics by Jim Heimann
Custom Message Vintage Valentine from VintageScraps
Sweepingly Cute Valentine from BeMyVintageValentine
Leopard Valentine at 7deadlysinners
Boxer Valentine at 7deadlysinners

Note: While the last two Valentine's are not for sale, you can use them as inspiration for finding (or making) your own vintage-inspired cards. If you want to buy in packs, Plum Party has a set of 10 classic valentine cards.

What is your best Valentine's card memory? Do you still send them out today?