Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day fellow bloggers and readers! I have a just a few tidbits today to share! First of all, I am in love. In love with my children ... my husband ... life! I hope today and everyday, you find love in the simplest of things.

I made a few goodies the past month, in anticipation of Valentines Day! 

I made this cute card for my hubby!  I cut the vintage image out of a book I grabbed at the thrift store and then hunted for the write words, meaning, I practically read the whole book!  LoL! 

Another thrift store find!  This banged up well loved Pottery Barn frame.  I stamped a Valentine image on a sheet of cardstock and added a bit of color with some markers and Stickles! 

I found these precious paper ice cream cups at Walmart and filled them with Hershey Kisses, Kit Kats and Conversation Hearts for the boys teachers! 

I have details about the these cute little cards I made the teachers at the end of this post! 

I have double doors and ALWAYS have matching wreaths on them!!!  These are by far my favorite wreaths!  So full and vibrant... they just scream Valentines Day!

My sweet precious boys last month during the Museum of Science and Industries Festival of Chocolates!  I love sweets but I would rather have my sweeties over chocolates any day!!! 

My adorable little man made me a Lego heart when he was home sick with Daddy a few weeks ago!  My husband told me he constructed it all by himself and surprised me with it when I got home from work later that night!!!  It sits on my work desk, right in front of my keyboard, where I can see it everyday!!!

 Free printable found here ....http://www.amyistheparty.com/2010/01/free-download-print-valentines.html

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rachel

Why didn't I think of this sooner?

 Brownies in cupcake wrappers for easy individual servings for my son's preschool party!  It was so easy to serve and no crumbs all over the place to clean up!

Best of all- EVERY ONE has an END PIECE (our families favorite!!!!!!) !
Have a great day!
Rachel

Valentine's Day 2011

My husband and I went out to a local Greek restaurant that I have been dying to try for a few years.  Since it was my night to choose (he did ask me out for Valentine's Day after all!) I gave him no choice but to finally give in and take me out to to a place he is not fond of their ethnic food.  He is not very experimental! 

I enjoyed the chicken souvlaki platter with Greek salad (the best Greek dressing I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying!), spinach orzo, hummus and fresh pita with tzatziki!  My gorgeous hubby had the Shrimp Mykonos and didn't complain too much ;) 

Happy Valentine's Day!
Rachel and John

French Meringues

Nothing says "I Love You" more than a delicious low fat homemade sweet treat!

Ingredients :

4 egg whites

2 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Begin whipping egg whites in your stand mixer (yes, this is when you really appreciate your beloved Kitchenaid with recipes like this one!),  Midway thru the whipping, slowly add the powdered sugar until they are whipped into stiff peaks.  Finish whipping until stiff peaks form.  Pour mixture into a pastry bag with one of the larger tips on it.  Pipe mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet, in a circular (about 2 inch wide) formation.  Bake in oven for about a 1/2 hour.  Depending on the size you make need more or less cooking time.  To test, touch the meringues to judge their hardness.

Serve with love and ENJOY!

~Rachel

Valentines for the Teachers!

 I bought a set of 6 Valentine treat boxes from Dollar Tree for, yeah, you guessed- a DOLLAR!  And I jazzed them up with a few scalloped circles and my Martha Stewart punched heart. 

 I filled them with a few different varieties of chocolate hearts and adorned them with ribbons, tags a a pretty flocked heart.  Ready for my boys teachers!

I also made these treat holders for the teachers, for some variety!

And my new favorite project, altering vintage books!  I made this one for my sons favorite teacher (shhhh... don't tell the others!)

Linking up with : The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday @ http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Rachel

Card-Attack!

After a craft sabbatical for a few months, I found my grove this past week!  I LOVE Valentine's Day and enjoy making simple and happy cards! 

 My favorite new embellishment is vintage book pages!  You can't beat the cost, $.50 for a 70's edition of the Wind in the Willow!!!

 Heart punch, Martha Stewart, OF COURSE!!!!

And a treat.... just for you!
Have a fabulous day!
Rachel

You're so Hot ...

I have had this adorable popcicle embelishment in my jar of pink embellies for a few years! I think I crooked it off a greeting card and there it sat just waiting for the right occasion ... and I think I found it for my funny Valentine (thanks to Katy Perry!)

Thanks for stopping by and please come back tomorrow for a new card!!!
Rachel

Valentine's Week (of cards!)

Let the countdown begins!
One week until Valentine's Day!!!!
Time to hit the malls and card stores or the craft stores, in case of blog my readers! Time to create something magical and special to let the ones you love know what they mean to you. Time to celebrate the loves of your life. In my case, that would be my three children, my husband and my parents. I really try to make them all feel special everyday but I also want them to enjoy the day designated to showcase my love and affection! I put together this tray to inspire my week of crafts and fun! I cut up various ribbon and made a handful of tags to their teacher gifts and the candies are just yummy!

And I had a blast creating a stack of cards with my scraps!

My favorite part of this card is the vintage book page! I love buying books from the thrift store for fifty cents and creating something fresh and new with them!!!!

I will be back all week with a new card! Stay Tuned!!!!

~Rachel