Category — {Valentine's Day Goodies}

My mom, dad, brother, his girl, the boy and I all gathered for dinner at a yummy Italian joint in Times Square over the weekend.  The whole night was a blast, but the best part was what the boy and I demolished for dessert…

Mmm.  I can still taste it.  It was gone in about 24 seconds.  We were pretty much sparring with our spoons the whole time.

So, because the memory of that scrumptdidilyumptious treat has remained with me since Friday, I thought I’d pass along to you some delightful Valentine’s Day spins on the old favorite!

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First up, Patricia Furtado’s Creamy hearts in strawberry sauce…

Can’t you almost taste the creaminess of those cold, cold hearts?!  Be sure to visit her blog for the how-to; here’s what she says you’ll need to make these bad boys:

The hearts (makes about 64):

• 600 ml Single Cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Two envelopes of unflavoured gelatin

For the sauce:

• 2 cups pureed strawberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp Corn flour
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Oh, and she makes a mean cheesecake, too…

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Next, a strawberry cake.  Not really strawberries and cream, but I like looking at it.  Sue me.

According to Litton, the company that makes this deliciousness, it’s “built on a white cake recipe enhanced with fresh strawberries and cream cheese icing flavored with strawberry shavings.”

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Up last – for now, at least – we have a dessert that I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT WAIT to try one day.  It’s named Strawberries & Cream for the Grownups, and I found it on Cherry Men Love.  It sure looks like a boozy doozy…

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One more thing… these last two below look really, really good to me.  How about you?

Curious how to get them in your tummy?  The first is Berries and Coconut Cream; the second is Flaxseed Waffles with Berries and Honey Cream.

ENJOY!

{ Photo credits: 1, 2-7, 8, 9-12, 13, 14 }

Oh, hello again!  I didn’t see you there.  Back for thirds, I see.  Well, you’re in for some good news, buddy.  I think it’s safe to say I’ve had a 1 – 2 – 3 PUNCH of post prettiness as far as pretty posts go these days.  (If I do say so myself.)  And my excitement level about this third one is off the charts…

Speaking of charts (yeah, I just did that), how perfect are these for getting in the Valentine’s Day spirit?  They’re Love Charts, loosely and lovingly adapted from your typical doctor’s eye chart… AND I LOVE THEM.

I have these free printables, but I haven’t yet created something as darling as this satchel (above) I discovered while flipping through designinglee’s photostream (which I found while perusing some craft photostreams – talk about inspiration overload, by the way).

Look what else she did with it!  This girl is officially one of my soul sistas.

I know you want to know how to get your hands on this, and I’m excited to tell you!  Good relationship, we have here.  It’s from ink-bloom!  Go ahead, check them out.  You get the free printable when you sign up for their emails!!!  I am so plugging them for free right now.  How nice am I?

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So, I hope y’all are having yourselves a fabulous Friday thus far.  However, if that’s not exactly how you’d describe your day, then I’m betting this will cheer you right up…

I found this remarkably beautiful, drool-inducing Valentine’s Day dessert buffet – created by the amazing Amy Atlas – during what turned out to be a very exciting visit to the ultimate foodie mecca, Hostess with the Mostess.

Those My Valentine heart cookies are perfection!

Loving these rock candy sticks and meringue cookies:

Ahh.  A pink and gray heaven.  I just wanna live inside of it.

… But first, I want one of those cuppies with the keys on top!

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Next up is pure photographic beauty.

FORM OF: wedding desserts, drinks and decor.  TAKEN BY: Amelia Lyon.

I’m a big fan of Amelia Lyon’s work.  I’ve featured her before, in one of my favorite wedding photography posts so far.

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And now, a little Bakerella love…

Wanna give someone in your life a big ol’ KISS?  Let me recommend Bakerella’s Hershey-but-actually-Oreo Kisses!  It’s a sort of hybrid delight, that you’re gonna like.  I guarantee it.  But I can’t guarantee you’re gonna like the way you look if you eat too many.  So make sure you give ‘em away, mostly.

Isn’t this super?  They look like Hershey’s Kisses… they act like Hershey’s Kisses… but they taste like… well I don’t know what they taste like because I haven’t yet made them.  But the answer’s probably good.

Take a trip on over to Bakerella, and try your hand at these Kiss-tastic treats.

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Hey, guess what?

HERE’S ONE MORE!

A pretty printable – for freeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

These beautiful DIY favor labels are sooooo perfect if you place them on one of my favorite things in the whole wide world: brown paper bags!  (Yes, you’re right – I’m easily pleased.)

I found these printable labels on Flights of Fancy, a lovely blog brought to you by the Betsywhite Stationery Boutique.  It’s focus is on – you guessed it – wedding stationery.  GOT TO LOVE that.

Here are the tools you’ll need to make your own:

- brown paper lunch bags from the grocery store (if you go to Michael’s you’ll find them, too, but they’re a little bit pricier than those at the grocery store)

- a ruler

- an x-acto knife (there’s probably one in your office’s supply closet; shh, I didn’t say that)

- a bone folder

- Double-sided tape or Duck Easy-Stick® Double Stick Adhesive

Note: Flights of Fancy recommends the Easy-Stick for this project.

I think that’s enough for today.  I hope you’re feeling full in the belly with all that edible inspiration!

Alright, here’s me wishing you only the happiest of Fridays, dear friends.  You’re gonna love what I’ve got for you next time.  Oooohhh you are gonna LOVE IT!!!

Cute, huh?  I’ll get to these in a minute…

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Instead, let’s start with the loveliest free printable V-Day postcard you’ve ever seen.  I’m assuming.  Because this is pretty freakin’ lovely, and I haven’t been this ticked by a postcard picture in YEARS.  Thank you, Wedding Chicks, for this masterpiece theater!  Go get it here!

Love this one too, also from the oh so fabulous Wedding Chicks…

Smashing prop use and graphic design, wouldn’t you say?  Absolutely smashing.

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Handwritten Valentine Cupcakes with Chocolate Glaze, from – you guessed it – momma Martha!

Click here to get the full recipe!

I love the heck out of these magnificent photographs, taken by the incredible Caroline Tran, whose stunning work I’ve featured in the past…

Want some more dessert food?  I was hoping you’d ask… I’ve got you covered.  How ’bout some cream-filled chocolate cupcakes?  Courtesy of – who else?  That’s right… Martha!

These teeny little sweet, shy Valentine buddies, by joojooland on Etsy, are THE CUTEST THING I NEVER NEEDED BUT LOVE…

Yup, also available in penguin. 

Snails, too.

In my nephew’s words: oohhh, sa’kyooot!

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Inspired Goodness will be giving one lucky NYC area reader FREE Event Design services!  Yup, that’s right.  Pretty awesome, huh?

For details and contest rules, go check out the Lucky in Love Challenge!  Seriously, if you live in the NYC area, don’t miss this chance!

What do I need to do, Alison?… It’s actually quite simple: Inspired Goodness is looking for couples with interesting stories.  If that sounds like it applies to you and your poobear/honeypie/sweetheart or whatever you guys call one another… then you’re golden!  So far, at least.  If you’ve got a story you think rivals others, the next step is just to leave a comment on this post during the first TWO WEEKS of February.  Cake walk.

Deadline: Friday, February 12th, 2010, Midnight EST

FYI ~ The Lucky in Love winner will be announced on Monday, February 15th, 2010.

Good luck to all my readers!  It’s a pretty neat prize if you ask me.  :)

So, I’m starting off today with a pretty little printable find I think you’re going to enjoy.

Are you ready?  I get so excited about free printables that I go a little crazy, so I can only assume it’s the same for you.  Breathe in… here we go…

Announcing today’s Valentine’s Day Inspired Goodness:

Printable Valentine Tea bag Wrappers and Tea Tags, courtesy of Creature Comforts!

This absolutely darling freebie is from Ez of the incredible Creature Comforts blog, an AMAZING site overflowing with lovely ideas and fantastic projects, all born of Ez’s remarkably creative mind.  Ez is ridiculously inspiring to so many of us.  For those of you familiar with her work, you know what I mean.  Thank you, Ez, for all the goodness you bring to so many!

Take a look at her step-by-step pictorial guide for making these cuties:

Here are the basic tools/supplies needed for this project, as advised by Ez:

-a color printer
-standard weight paper
-a pair of scissors
tea bags, ideally with strings and tags attached
-a needle
-embroidery or standard thread
-a pen (to address your Valentine as well as note tea flavor)

Want to make your own?  Just visit this link; Ez provides detailed instructions, as well as alternative approaches to certain steps in the project.  When you’re ready to begin, just click where it says “DOWNLOAD FREE-VALENTINE-PRINTABLES.”  Wham bam, you’re set.

Thanks, Ez; another fun, lovely creation, as always!

{ Project + photos, courtesy of Creature Comforts }

Maybe you’ve got a hot date this Valentine’s Day.  Do ya?  Or maybe you and your honey have extra-special plans for this fast approaching day of lovers.  Yeah, you know what I’m driving at.

… I’m referring to a nice, intimate dinner at home, followed by some innocent cuddling.  You dirty girl.

If it’s neither the first nor the second, then maybe you simply live for deliciously dainty design.  Yeah?  Then we’re soul sistas in that respect.  Now, whatever you’re doing for Valentine’s Day, one thing is for sure: you’re going to look fabulous no matter what you wear.

… But adding some fun and flirty flash to rev up your chosen duds certainly couldn’t hurt, am I right?  I’m right.  I know that, for me, an extra-lovely, slightly sparkly touch of jewelry always serves to brighten my outlook when it’s just one of those days when the threads and the blush just aren’t enough.

Enter: Anthropologie…

Gleaming Loops Headband

Double Torsade Necklace, in turquoise

Double Torsade Necklace, in coral

I love EVERYTHING they’ve got right now.  It’s a problem.

From The Treetops Necklace

They even have a special section for V-Day.  (That’s where I found all of this yumminess <– I love that word; wonder who coined it.  I thought I made it up until a few months ago.  That was a disappointing day.)

Gossamer Gemma Necklace

That’s-A-Wrap Necklace

*Sigh.  If I was a rich girl… na na na na na na na na na na na na na na nah.