Valentine’s Day Love + HM #218

Find great ideas for sharing Valentine’s Day love. Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #ValentinesDay #ValentineLove #HomeMattersParty

Valentine’s Day Love + HM #218

It’s easy to share some Valentine’s Day love without spending a lot of money or going anywhere fancy. Show those who are special to you how much you care with some of the fabulous breakfast or dessert ideas that make Valentine’s Day fun. Check out the 8 great date ideas, as well as some cute home decor. Plus, you can find even more wonderful Valentine’s Day ideas from t he other gals of Home Matters. Enjoy with love!

Valentine’s Day Breakfast Ideas from Liz @ Love and Marriage

 

Valentine Home Decor Ideas from Ashley @ Frugal Coupon Living

 

75+ Cute Valentine’s Day Desserts from Ashton @ Something  Swanky

 

8 Great Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day from Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

 

Valentine’s Day Love Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

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A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Hot Tea for Everything!

Next Week’s Theme: Winter Blues – Blues Busters



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Lorelai @ Life With LorelaiFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea LifestyleFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On MonticelloFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ VikalpahFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic DeadlineFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s CottageFacebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

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Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s features below.

 

Valentine’s Day Saltine Toffee from Erin @ Suburban Simplicity

PIN here


DIY Valentine’s Day Crackers from Bird @ Bird’s Party

PIN here


Iced Sugar Cookie Hearts from Wendy @ The Monday Box

PIN here


Farmhouse Inspired Valentine’s Decor from Jenny @ Refresh Living

PIN here


Vintage Keepsakes Fabric Collection from Bev @ Flamingo Toes

PIN here

 

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

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Find great ideas for sharing Valentine's Day love. Plus link up at Home Matters w/ recipes, DIY, decor. #ValentinesDay #ValentineLove #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

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5 Reasons To Love Coffee & Free Printables

Love coffee? Me too! I am a total coffee addict, and apparently, our regular contributor, Michelle James, is pretty hooked as well. She has created a couple super cute and really fun printables just for you.

 

5 Reasons To Love Coffee

& Free Printables!

 

Hello once again. Are any of you coffee drinkers? I don’t think I am alone in my coffee-loving ways, or there wouldn’t be a Starbucks on every corner in the USA (except for mine, of course).

I didn’t like coffee until I was an adult. It was too bitter, and I couldn’t stand it. In fact, I still can’t drink my coffee black. I wish I could because I would avoid all sorts of sugar and calories. But, I don’t drink too many cups each morning, so I am hoping I am ok.

My husband introduced me to the power of the liquid coffee creamers. LOL!  I have to say, it makes coffee addicting for non-black coffee drinkers like myself.

So, here are the 5 Reasons To Love Coffee

  1. It smells so good brewing in the morning.

Don’t you love to wake up to this comforting smell? Even before I drank coffee I always loved the smell of it.

  1. There are many different brands and blends to choose from.

If you walk into a grocery store you will find many different brands and blends of coffee. If you do a little research you can find that some are more acidic than others, some are stronger than others. There is also the choice of whole beans or ground. So many things to think about and try to find just the right one for you.

  1. Coffee Shops Are Everywhere (except in my town. Insert sad face)

If you are a brand name coffee drinker, maybe you purchase only from coffee shops. There are so many, and they have their own specialty coffees that are so popular right now. I love it when I visit a city and can try out a new coffee. Yumm!!

  1. You can choose cold or hot.

I love it when we go on a road trip, and I can run through the drive up and get a great iced coffee. On a hot day, when you don’t want the hot…go for the cold.

  1. Fluffy coffee anyone?

My friend Peggy calls the decadent, full of calories, sort of along the lines of a coffee milkshake, coffees fluffy coffees. And she is right. They are super good. Every year when we go shopping in Minnesota, we stop in the afternoon and get some fluffy coffee. It fills me up until dinner, and I can keep on shopping!  It is the perfect treat.

 

So, there you have it. The 5 reasons to love coffee. At least in my opinion.

My youngest son is a coffee lover as well. I created this Coffee Station for him, when he went to college. It was perfect for the small dorm room.

Here, are two free printables I created for you to print, frame, and enjoy!  The download link is at the bottom of this post.

 

If you would like to see more great furniture makeovers and more free pintables hop over to my blog and check them out!

Download your free coffee printables:

Coffee Is Always A Good Ideaclick here

No Life Before Coffeeclick here

Until next time,

~Michelle

 

 

 

Visit Michelle at her blog, Michelle James Designs!

 


 

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8 Romantic Dinner Ideas For Two

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to spending some special time with your special someone. And one of the things every couple loves to do is eat. So, today I am bringing you 8 Romantic Dinner Ideas For Two, and I’m even including some great tips to help keep the romance in the night.

8 Romantic Dinner Ideas For Two

And Tips to help keep the Romance in the night…

Sharing a meal not only nourishes our bodies, but it provides quality time to interact. Do not underestimate how important or how sensual talking across the table can be–looking into each others faces, gazing into their eyes, enjoying your meal together. Don’t waste time driving around town and waiting on dinner reservations, or loose the mood in traffic on the way home. Have a romantic dinner at home. Whether you make it for your honey, or you get in the kitchen together and cook up some fun, enjoy the evening.

I have a collection of eight romantic dinner ideas that would perfectly set the mood for an amorous night. So, turn on some soft music, light some candles, and let your taste buds (among other things) run wild…

 

Châteaubriand for Two with Sauce Béarnaise


Châteaubriand for Two with Sauce Béarnaise from Lynne at My Gourmet Connection

Pin HERE

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta


Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta from Marion at Life Tastes Good

Pin HERE

Baked Thai Salmon


Baked Thai Salmon from Olena at iFoodReal

Pin HERE

Chicken Thighs Marsala


Chicken Thighs Marsala from Sue at The View from Great Island

Pin HERE

Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells For Two


Three-Cheese Stuffed Shells For Two from Carla at Chocolate Moosey

Pin HERE

Chicken Piccata


Chicken Piccata from Deb at Cooking on the Front Burner

Pin HERE

15 Minute Shrimp Linguine with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce


15 Minute Shrimp Linguine with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce from Julia at A Cedar Spoon

Pin HERE

Spiced Sirloin Roast for Two


Spiced Sirloin Roast for Two from Faith at An Edible Mosaic

Pin HERE

Here’s a few TIPS to help keep the Romance in the Night:

  • Keep your meal light. Even if you are serving something on the rich or heavy side, you can keep the portions smaller. Don’t let a food coma ruin your night.
  • Make the food playful. Serve sides or dessert you can eat with your hands, and feed each other.
  • Pre-prep as much of the dinner as you can.
  • Relax and let your feelings lead the night.

Want some ideas for Foods? Try some of these Aphrodisiacs:

  • Arugula, Asparagus, Avocado
  • Chili Pepper, Cinnamon, Honey, Vanilla
  • Walnuts, Pine Nuts (pignolia)
  • Banana, Cherry, Fig, Pomegranate, Strawberry, Watermelon
  • Salmon, Oyster, Truffle
  • Chocolate, Whipped Cream
  • Chai Tea, Coffee, Red Wine

 

I hope these amazing dishes and fantastic tips help you put a little romance into your Valentine’s Day. Make it a memory to cherish…

If you are looking for other Valentine’s Day date ideas, check out 8 Great Date Ideas For Valentine’s Day.

 

Do you have a Romantic Dinner Idea?

 

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Hello, My Friends… Life Goes On

~ Life Goes On ~

It’s been a long time since my last post—nearly six months. As we all know, life has a tendency to go crazy from time-to-time. And that is what happened around here.

So, here’s a brief update on what’s happening.

Writing

I had decided to slow down a little on the blog to concentrate on my writing. Done and doing.

Book One:

I have a middle-grade fantasy book out with an agent now. The publishing world moves at such a S—L—O—W pace. I am biting my nails waiting for a response as to whether or not she will take on the project.

Book Two:

I am currently working on changing the point of view (POV) on a cozy mystery that I began writing years ago and never finished. The change in POV from third person omniscient to first person past has made all the difference in the world. It is an enormous task to rewrite and create new, but I am thoroughly enjoying it, and my story seems much happier.

ps.—This book is the first in a series, which has a second book already written, but not edited. It will need a POV change as well.

Life

The beginning of May brought Kirk back home from the college campus, broken ankle and all. He broke it playing soccer in April. His ankle was broken so badly that he barely escaped having surgery, but the ankle did not want to heal. He was just allowed off the crutches three weeks ago and has been out of the boot now for one week. Talk about a pain in my multi-level house. The poor guy couldn’t even get to the bathroom without managing a step. Crutches take up a lot of space when you are 6 ft. 7 in. (the crutches were almost as tall as me), and my walls and baseboards suffered for it. Yet more work to be done around here. Kirk’s move home has been a mixed bag for Rory and I, as we were comfortable and happy with our new life routine. Change and adjustment are never easy.

Luke is still as wonderful as ever! We were in the middle of painting the exterior of his house, when I came down with Shingles. YUCK! So, he had to finish the base color himself, and we are waiting a bit to do the trim color. The house looks much better, even if it is monochromatic.

My house—the de-clutter and organize project came to a screeching halt, when I took a fall and severely injured my right arm (dislocated elbow and all). You don’t have to tell me, I know…it HURT!

But my loving Luke has been a busy bee in my courtyard the past week. Ripping out plants in order to get the overgrown jungle under control. He is repairing the sprinkler system, and investigating the electrical wires we found coming up out of the ground. They are hot! And they seem to run along the edge of the bricks across the courtyard without being in any protective conduit. Somehow, I don’t think that’s exactly legal…let alone safe.

Rory is doing great. She’s been healthy (knock on wood) and happy, and a big help to me.

Well, that catches you up on the major happenings. If I could get rid of these blasted Shingles things would be wonderful.

[youtube=https://youtu.be/jU5h2izGG-Y]

I look forward to blogging again and catching up with all of you.

What have you been up to?

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I would love to hear from youleave me a Comment.

~Lorelai

 

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Eight Great Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Here is a collection of some fun and easy date ideas to keep things fun and flirty for Valentine’s Day. You do not have to be extravagant to enjoy a little romance.

8 Great Date Ideas For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s, A Day For Lovers

Valentine’s Day–it’s just a few weeks away, and I know it has already crossed your mind. What are you going to do for your special loved one for Valentine’s Day?

I tend to like sweet and simple date ideas (ones from the heart that actually mean something) better than the over-the-top too expensive things that leave you (as a couple) feeling like you just wasted a lot of money. Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is just one day, and usually it falls on a weekday, which makes it hard to celebrate elaborately anyway.

This year, it does fall on a Friday, so it would be a perfect time to take advantage of a little weekend getaway, but remember, prices will be over-inflated. I would rather wait on that getaway until the prices were back to normal and be able to spend more on sight-seeing, food, or entertainment. The most important thing about Valentine’s Day is spending alone time with your loved one, and no boat-load of money is required to make that time special, romantic, and memorable.

So, I’ve put together eight easy and inexpensive ways to share your love.

Date Ideas

14 Days of Love Notes

Sometimes, anticipation can play a big part in the over-all experience of a date. Why not try leaving your Valentine a special note each day of February leading up to the big day. Need some fun and flirty inspiration or free printables? Click here.

Bursting with Love

Get a bag of balloons. Write little love notes (things you love about your loved one, things you’d miss about them, things you forgot to thank them for), roll the strips of paper and stuff each note inside the balloons. Inflate the balloons; and then, as your Valentine pops each balloon, it will burst with love.

Love is Blind Restaurant Hop

Let fate decide where you dine for Valentine’s Day. Every time you come to a stop sign or get stopped at a light, flip a coin. If it’s heads–turn right, tails–turn left. Stop at the first restaurant you come to for appetizers. Continue on doing the same thing until you come to the next restaurant for your meal. Flip the coin again until you arrive somewhere for dessert. If you don’t have that much time, you could always stay at the first restaurant for the entire meal. And who knows, maybe you will want to have dessert at home…

Come Away With Me

Clip pictures from a magazine or print some off the internet of someplace your Valentine has always dreamed of going. Maybe even purchase a few things to reflect the customs or ethnicity to give your evening the feeling of being at that special place. Make a playlist of music from that country or place, and prepare a meal with at least one dish that your sweetheart would love to try from your dream region. Talk about the things you would like to do if you were there, or maybe even plan your dream trip.

Picnic at Home in Front of the Fire

You just want to stay put and be home-bodies? No problem, make yourself a cozy indoor picnic. Throw some blankets and pillows on the floor, and settle in front of the fire for a romantic evening. Move the furniture around a little to give you more space if needed, and light candles all around the room. Listen to the crackle of the fire and feed each other tasty tidbits from your picnic. Put on a romantic playlist and do a little slow dancing.

Special Dates Road Trip

Every couple has dates that are special to them–your anniversary, first date, birthdays, Valentine’s Day. Find out where your significant dates will take you. Leave your house and get out to the main road, roll the dice: 1 or 4 = left, 2 or 5 = right, and 3 or 6 = straight ahead (only use stop signs and lights for changing directions). Use your date (month-day-year) to tell you how many stops or lights you will travel before changing direction. (You may want to use just the last digit in the day or year if it is too large a number). When you get to your location, look around and see what there is to do–eat dinner, play pub trivia, listen to a band, get a cup of coffee, go for a walk, maybe even go bowling or play miniature golf. Then you can move on to another special date if you want.

Change this date up a bit by going for a bike ride or walking. Instead of stop signs and street lights, ride for minutes before changing directions at the next intersection. This adventure may lead you to new discoveries within your own neighborhood.

Romantic Candlelight Movie

Light some candles, lay out some snacks, and cuddle-up with your love-bunny to watch a romantic movie. Who knows, a little playful kissing or flirting may set a nice tone for after the movie.

Chocolate-covered Strawberries and Champagne

Whether you have these pre-made or make them together, chocolate-covered strawberries are a decadent treat. Couple them with a bottle of champagne, and let the romance begin. Movie, dancing, bubble bath…

Take these 8 Great Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day and add your own creative twist, or mix and mingle them together. Add your own emotions and love, and let them carry you where they will. Whatever you do, have fun, relax and enjoy each other!

Looking for some romantic dinner ideas? Check out 8 Romantic Dinner Ideas For Two.

Do you have any creative ideas to share?

What will you be doing this Valentine’s Day?

 

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