Category — {Valentine's Day Goodies}

I realize Valentine’s Day has come and gone already, and that it’s March 2.  Fully aware.  I also understand that, once a holiday has passed, most don’t dwell on it beyond its final hour.  But let me ask you this: do we deny to those of us who were born on a leap year the right to celebrate their birthdays each and every single year, even though it’s a total farce and we’re all laughing at them behind their backs?  No, we do not deny them that right.  Because we love them?  No.  Because it’s fair.

So, in the spirit of fairness, and for leap year babies everywhere, if they exist (I mean, do they?  I’ve heard stories, but they seem as rare as pandas.  Comment if you’re out there – I’d love to do lunch and learn about your people.  How does it go; kind of like dog years?)… here’s an engagement session in the key of love.

Vania and Christine of SimplyBloom Photography seem to churn out swoonworthy sessions each and every time.  It’s a gift.

That’s a headboard.

I want this girl to throw my future children their birthday parties.  I’ve never seen someone so committed to a theme.  I bet money she has a blog – this kind of creativity doesn’t just sit idle.  If you read this, let me know, ok?  You’ve displayed some pretty amazing skills, here, and if you’re not in prop & set styling, you may have missed your calling.

Umm.  Love.

Check out the shot below.  This sneak peak of an upcoming shoot is what started today’s SimplyBloom frenzy.  I cannot wait to see more shots involving those pastel threads (LOVING his plaid shirt) and soft, embroidered drapery.

By the way – and tell me if you’ve noticed this, too – one thing that has always stood out to me about really fashiontastic engagement shoots… like, the really beautiful, colorful ones that always yield the best pics… is the fact that none of those outfits would ever find their way onto the body of my fiancé.  He’d just never wear something that plaid, or with suspenders, or generally anything especially hipster.  Not that I’d necessarily ask him to do so.  But I just know it in my heart that, if he did dawn a fedora, or wear a doorknob boutonniere, it would be because he loves me.  And for no other reason.

Photo credit: SimplyBloom Photography

Gotta start off with this little gem from Paper Pastries…

Aaaand these little gems, too, ‘cuz they’re adorable and I need to get it out of my system…

I like that one ‘cuz that’s where I am.

I realize V-Day’s, like, a second away, and you can’t exactly get them in time for the Day of Cuddles, but I just HAD to show you those – I hope you understand.  They’re too precious for words.  Okay, now we move to desserts… these you can still whip up in time!

Oooohhh yeeeaaahhh.  That’s right.  Bakerella is all over this holiday.

So, remember that paper straw post from not too long ago?  Well, here’s something straw-related that I think I love even more than everything in that post, PUT TOGETHER.

I found this “Sweet straws craft project” from Papermash via Two Brunettes and couldn’t wait to share it with you guys.  So cute!  Love these, too – also from Papermash:

PS I love you card + I love lists notebook (I do, I just love ‘em.)

Vintage Valentine Cookies, from Bakerella:

Looks like you can get the scalloped heart cookie cutter here, in case you want a crack at these you overachiever.

(Oh, and by the way, look what else you can get at Bake It Pretty (sorry, I got carried away over there like I so often do):

Love Birds Toast Stamper

Top Sellers Category

Check out her frosting sheets.  Fed through a Canon printer.  Yeah, I did that yesterday, what’s new.  I mean, WHAAAAAA???

You see, this is why I, this is why so many of us, follow Bakerella.  Innovation is like a drug.

Ingredients:

Puffy Sugar Cookies

• 4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sour cream

~ Get the PDF and the recipe! ~

Valentine’s Day gift suggestions for you from Real Simple:

Clockwise from upper left:

Chocolate Soufflé, Orange Soufflé, Powder Puffs and Cheese Soufflé

Let’s start with something sweet, sparkly and bright ~ Valentine Lollies from Sweet Paul!

I found out about this project, created by Danni Hong of Oh, Hello Friend, from Ellie at Mint and immediately fell in love with its pretty, pretty, prettiness.

If you’d like to try it yourself, just head over to Mint and download Danni’s printable PDF’s.

By the way, here’s what you’ll need for the project, as outlined by Ellie:

- Clear votive holders (michaels: $1)
- Tealight candles
- Modge Podge
- Brush for glue
- Lace doilies
- Small box of matches
- Various sheets of patterned paper
- Ribbon/twine
- Printable PDF tags

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If you’re a fiend for projects and printables today, how about some love note candy wrappers?  These pastel printable delights – made especially for Valentine’s Day – were created by who else but one of my idols, Ez (of Creature Comforts) and her amazing partner, Marichelle, both of the super cute online shop, Nice Package.  I love them!!!

This is what the printable PDF looks like; click here to visit Nice Package for the download!

By the way, I caught a glimpse of these lovely postage stamps on Paper Pastries and fell madly for them.

I’ve seen most of these from afar, on wedding invitations and the like, but I’ve never actually seen them all together like this, and they officially need to be in my life.

I don’t even necessarily need a letter, I just want these stamps; somebody, please, get me these stamps.

I really got a kick out of seeing this super cute light bulb Valentine idea Arwen O’Reilly Griffith from Craft found over at Design*Sponge!  How absolutely perfect is this, especially for maybe the handyman in your life?  (Assuming that your significant other is the handyman.  It might be awkward to gift this to your hired handyman, though I’m certain he’d appreciate it.)

If you’re serious about this project, it’s a pretty comprehensive tutorial; down to instructions on hollowing out a lightbulb… so, since I know nothing about that, visit Arwen’s post or get thee to Design*Sponge to begin turning old crap into new sap!  (You know, ’sap,’ as in sappiness… as in the essence of V-Day… maybe I’m just cracking myself up here.)

Another cute thing, followed by another craft thing, then I’m done, I PROMISE (for now, at least… and I crossed my fingers anyway so whatev); how cute are these Kraft Address Labels from Paper Pastries?

LOVE.

I think this is great, so I thought I’d share it with all of you in case anyone’s looking to deliver a tiny little gift in a super cute way:

It’s called a “jar of hearts” and it’s by Jessica Wilson.  Click here for the how-to!  I found it over at CRAFT, a great place for, well, crafting.

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Okay my dear, dear friends… I think that’s quite enough for now.  It’s just that I found SO MUCH amazing stuff and, well, my world is one of all or nothing/go big or go home… which translates into bringing back everything I love, with nary an exception.  Time-consuming for me, pretty good deal for you, eh? 

With that said, I’m going to return to enjoying the heck out of my new haircut.  I feel like a brand new woman!  Haircuts: highly recommended.  Lots of love to everyone!  I hope your weekends are warm and fuzzy.

Alison

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday (!!!) and if it’s chilly in your neck of the woods, you might find yourself challenged in the cute outfit department.  But it doesn’t have to be that way!  Just throw on a simple red scarf like Katie did in her engagement session with Marianne Taylor of Marianne Taylor Photography, and watch your entire look go from ho-hum to va va voom!

But then again, maybe the chill factor isn’t as much of an issue for you.  If that’s the case, then I envy you, but more importantly I have the most beautiful engagement session to share with you, which I discovered – where else – on the always inspiring Style Me Pretty.  The stunning photography is by lunaphoto, and while it may be a little too nippy out there, even in Cali, how could I NOT bring this loveliness to your eyes…

Photo credits:

• First set – Marianne Taylor Photography
• Second set – lunaphoto

When I saw these on my google reader, I flipped…

I found out about these darling bits of sweetness from Two Brunettes, and I’m telling you, the find absolutely made my day!  They’re quite the perfect touch for a wedding ’round this time of year, wouldn’t you say?  You can get them for yourself over at Cox & Cox, and the only thing stopping me from placing an order on the double is a crippling lack of knowledge about the shelf life of sugar cubes.  (Will they still look like that in 5 months?  I’m not well versed in sugar cubes, I’m a sugar packet girl.  This is the same kind of feeling that’s kept my hand paralyzed, with the mouse hovering over the checkout button on the sparklers order…)

By the way, love and want this stuff too:

Feather angel wings for the flower girl(s)!

Name place baubles:

Floral heart pegs!!! The possibilities are endless with these!

Heart sparklers!

Cardboard favor boxes:

White voile bunting (LOVE this):

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Lovely wedding inspiration + a super fun (and delicious) DIY idea, coming up later!

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{ All products from Cox & Cox }

A simple breakfast meeting between three very giving photographers has resulted in what could be a dream come true for you and your sweetie.  In their words:

“[We] realized that most couples do not have updated professional photographs of themselves.  This is especially true for couples who have been married for several years.”

Sound like you?  If it does, you’re in for a treat!

In celebration of this approaching Valentine’s Day, photographers Christopher Duggan, Parris Whittingham and Robert Wagner want to give back to the couples of New York City.  So, what does that mean, exactly?

It means that on Saturday, February 13th – aka Valentine’s Eve – they are holding COMPLIMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS as part of a COUPLES PORTRAIT CONTEST!!!

More details:

• Where: Madison Square Park at the 5th avenue clock (5th Avenue & Broadway) located between 23rd & 24th Streets
• When: from 3:00pm-5:00pm
• All couples are welcome (engaged, married or even just dating!)
• Participating couples will receive high-resolution files from their photo session
• Consent is required – you will need to sign a model release
• Portraits are first come, first service, so the photographers advise arriving slightly before 3:00pm
• Learn more here!

By the way… here’s what you could win:

• A complimentary engagement session with the photographer of their choosing (over $400-$1000 value)
• $200 print credit
• $100 gift certificate to Mario Batali’s OTTO Restaurant

Pretty sweet, right?

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So, sound like a nice way to spend your Saturday?  Go, check out the contest!