Valentine’s Day Touches at Home

Valentine’s Day is such a brief little holiday, it’s not really necessary to decorate for it, but it’s such a sweet occasion that I do enjoy putting out a few pretty things around the house. Not every year, but when I can. You won’t usually see me decorating in pink. I’m not really a pinky person, but I love the pinks and reds of Valentine’s Day!

We have had a LOT of work done in our backyard (more on that later) plus some repairs done inside our house which made the house a muddy, smelly, cluttered mess for the last month. The dogs had to stay inside a lot which just made it worse. Finally, by last Friday most of the work was done so my girl and I scrubbed the house and got things back in order and back to smelling less like stinky dogs and more like citrus! I cannot tell you how good that felt. And then, with a fresh clean slate, it was time to put out some Valentine decorations.

I’m still loving my bicycle basket from Hobby Lobby and how easy it is to change from season to season. I added some pink ruffly roses with some pine needles since it is still winter, and I didn’t want it to look too springy just yet.

I’ve mentioned before that since our driveway goes all the way up to the front of the house, I have to work to detract from all the concrete and make my entrance more inviting. A wreath, doormat, plant, and lanterns have become my go-to for all seasons.

Inside now: I found the sweater runner at Hobby Lobby after Christmas marked way down which just tickled me because it’s fitting for all of winter, not just Christmas.

I get emails from Williams Sanoma and received one advertising their dried floral heart wreaths. I opened it immediately only to find that they started at $110! Umm, no thank you. A few days later I was in Home Goods with a gift card from Christmas and saw this one for less than $20 (I can’t remember exactly, $12 or $16?). I took off the bow that came with it because it was hot pink and instead added a velvet ribbon. My sister-in-law got me hooked on these velvet ribbons from Hobby Lobby so call them “Aunt Shannon” ribbons after her.

I also picked up this sweet little “love birds” pillow at Home Goods. It’s so fun to have a gift card!

A while back, my mom gave me this wooden thingy below (what do we call these?!) and I love it year-round! I added a little bird and some more velvet ribbon.

My husband gave me the pretty little devotional book years ago and I love to display it this time of year. Do you see the straw “XOXO”? I got them from Aldi. There was another “O” but Barney Boy ate it, so the heart is slipped in its place.

Since my daughter and I got the house clean Friday, we were able to have our tea friends over Sunday, the first time we’ve had company in a while. Instead of our usual and beloved tea and scones, we served coffee and store-bought goodies.

If you haven’t had a Nothing Bundt Cake, you’re missing out! I held off for so long because they are expensive, but I finally bought one last year from a friend’s daughter for a fundraiser (who can resist a little girl raising money for her gymnastic team?) and it was sooo good. I’ve bought one a couple of times since then for a special occasion or to give as a gift and I had half of a raspberry white chocolate one in the freezer, so I got that out. They are incredibly moist, and the icing is decadent! I also picked up some heart chocolates from Aldi that were pretty and yummy.

However, the other two items were a bit of a disappointment. We often go in Fresh Market after church and their baked goods always look so good, but we never buy them. I decided to splurge and pick up some Linzer cookies and chocolate tea cakes. They weren’t bad but they weren’t the freshest. I think they had been sitting for a couple of days before I bought them. No big deal though, I just won’t get them again.

But here’s what we are loving from Fresh Market: Raspberry Chocolate Truffle Coffee! It is delicious and so fitting for Valentine’s. I usually prefer half-and-half in my coffee these days but will purchase flavored creamers for holidays or for company. But I have to say that a splash of amaretto creamer in the raspberry chocolate coffee is just the best! Try it!

And lastly, not a decoration or a food, but these earrings. They are not really “Alinda” especially because I can’t wear hot pink with my coloring, but I thought they were really cute and bought them to support a little startup shop in our area and they do add some fun Valentine festiveness to a blouse, sweater, or even a sweatshirt!

Happy Valentine’s week!!