My Valentine Party

I had so much fun at Stephanie's party last year, I thought I should have one of my own. You will notice that I mostly copied her's. I did give her credit for all the great ideas I "borrowed."
Sprinkles for the cookies.

A variety of drinks...all red of course.
Fruit for me and others who are off sugar.

And lots of cookies. I even used Stephanie's recipes. I baked for hours...
We started out the evening by visiting with each other until everyone arrived. Then we had dinner...white chicken chili and tomato basil soup, bread, and a great salad that Corene made.
Here we are at the end of dinner. I'll post table setting/napkin folding soon.
Then on to the Valentine exchange. Look at all the fun creative gifts.
Shule made flan. She learned how to make it from her mother. (She is our young women's president and I am her first couns.)

Stephanie gave all of us a paperwhite bulb in a glass vase with a charm "bracelet" around the vase.
My amaryllis has bloomed and gone so I am glad I have a replacement. I love seeing the daily growth.
Cari made cookies in a jar.

Cranberry Hootycreeks. I can't wait to try them. I've never heard of Cranberry Hootycreeks have you. Love the name and I bet they taste wonderful.
Lisa gave us a variety of candies in a baby food jar and a pair of heart earrings.


Heidi made everyone a neck warmer. She picked beautiful fabrics and made a beautiful lined cover so you could take it off and wash it. She even crochet a cute little Valentine heart to add to the cover.
Even her presentation was beautiful.
Black and white toile...how did she know? I love it.
Lily made her favorite granola and a bookmark for everyone. Yum!


Dana was going to make sterling silver charms for everyone but couldn't find a source for the sterling silver. She has all the stamps, chain, and acid. Anyone know where she can get some? So, instead she made these cute little stationary boxes complete with coupons.
I can't believe she made 12 of these. That must have taken awhile.
Isn't she cleaver?
Here is a look at the coupons.
Anna Marie made us some stationary to write our love notes on.

Corene, who made that great dinner salad, made sugar cookies and included a cookie cutter and recipe.



Diana gave us a romantic bag with a candle, rose bath soap, potpourri, and peppermints.


And Jill gave us "Love" in a box.

Here is a peek at what was inside. Photocopies of famous love letters for inspiration and enough stationary, stickers, pens, etc. to write a love letter to your spouse every month for a year. My anniversary is on the 18th of June so I am supposed to give mine on the 18th of every month. Isn't that a thoughtful gift?







This is the Valentine I made for my own Valentine. I actually made one of these cards to give to everyone but I couldn't get the paint to dry in time. I finally baked them in the oven on low.
Here I am getting ready to give my letter pressed and embossed cards away. I also made bookmarks.
We decided to call ourselves the "love" club and do it all again next year. We really did have a great time.

Before going home, everyone decorated a plate of sugar cookies to take home to their families. Hopefully, it was a good reward for having mom be away for the evening.

If you have any great ideas for next year's gift, please let me know. I'm on the lookout. I'll add it to my collection.

Birthday Celebrations!

I started out the day early... exercising with my friend Kathee. (We've been working out hard trying to get in better shape and loose weight. Last Saturday we hiked through the snow to the Squaw Peak Overlook. About 4 miles one way.)

After exercising we went back to her house and had whole wheat pancakes with turkey bacon and pure maple syrup. It was delicious.

Dana and Heidi kidnapped me to take me out to lunch at Zuppas. These girls are amazing. They can do just about anything literally. (They gave me a butane stove and 4 canisters of butane for my emergency preparedness stuff. They are emergency preparedness experts. If we have the giant earthquake here, I'm going to go to one of their houses.)
We look the same age don't we? Hah!
This is what I had for lunch; it was delicious. And, good thing I had salad for lunch because my husband took Eli, Brenna, my MIL, and me to Outback Steak House for dinner.

I had phone calls from my children, parents, and friends. I felt loved.

P.S. My MIL gave me a pineapple with a ribbon tied on it for my present. She said if you want a present for your birthday, you have to give her two weeks notice. We are still laughing about that one. I've been married for 32 years and known my husband since I was four, you think she would at least know that my birthday is in February. She is a feisty lady and we all love her!