Fifty shades of pink...

Making sugar cookies tonight, I thought, what does Valentine's Day mean to me this year? Because really, this is a holiday that relies on feelings, emotions, mood, none of which are stable.  Does it matter that I make it a big deal in my life and in my family's life?  I think it does.

 So, even while I was exhausted today, catching up on all the creative projects I had wanted to earlier this week when my dryer conveniently broke, I found love for the shades of Valentine's Day. 
I love my mix of vintage cookie cutters~I know you've got your eye on that red beauty I found this year.  And I found a cup-cut-out cutter at World Market (my new favorite store this winter) this month to add to my collection.  So now I have sweet sugar cookies to share with my sweet cookies.

 I come by my love of celebrating holidays honestly.  My family all gathered for a pre-Valentine's lunch out and presents back at my house.  Of course we needed dessert, so I dreamed up these cute cupcakes, made the easy way: white cake box mix, pink lemonade frosting in a container and plenty of fun sprinkles for the boys and I to overuse.  The mustache (and lips)? From Target.

 This idea came to me when I found these ca-ute cups at Target.  I added mustache stickers I had on hand and now I have the "muscht"-have cups of the year!

 To go inside the cups I baked a double batch of our favorite Chocolate Glaciers, just sweet-ed up for Valentines by setting them in cupcake liners.

 I remembered tonight, the night before Valentine's Day, that of course I meant to stamp out tags for the boy's teachers.  So I used some of my most favorite and versatile of papers, the paint chip!

 Here is the after shot of the cup-cut-out cookies,all packaged and ready for delivery to some special people tomorrow.  Have I mentioned how much I love baker's twine?  There's a little roll of Martha's peeking out behind the cup.

 And here is a shot of my first (ill-fated) gift.  It was going to be spectacular.  Instead, it was a spectacular failure.  I made the bacon caramel fudge (I know, makes you want to weep doesn't it), but because I am still learning how to substitute for dairy effectively in candy, I ended up with a very, very soft product best eaten frozen.

 Beautiful isn't it?  Thank goodness my husband and oldest don't mind at all eating it frozen.  Good thing, I made enough to last them awhile.

I've learned that it sometimes takes a few days, or hours, depending on my timeline, to actually catch a vision for a project I want to do.  I wanted to attempt another chalkboard piece on our wall but wasn't sure what or how I wanted to create it.  This lovely vintage postcard gave me the idea for the lettering and swirling...

And the phrase came to me from the end of the famous love passage in 1 Corinthians 13.  And I love being reminded of this now every day.

So, after contemplating, yes, I am sweet on Valentine's Day for many of the reasons I have been since I was young...the cookies...

the sweets...

cute heartbreakers...

crazy fun boys (my three here)...and my sweet sisters (one featured there)...

adorable kids...(this one I'm partial too)...

the sweet and simple...

and grand displays of love...

Valentines in the mail, and hand delivered...



handmade with love gifts received...

and those made with love by my hands.

I promise that no quality books were harmed in this project...I just had to have hearts cut out of the "L" section of my not so pretty dictionary, along with craft and red and music lined paper...

to adorn my Valentine tree by the front door.  My brother in law said it was the only one he'd ever seen.  I took that to mean it is the best one he's ever seen.  

My extra hearts went to freshen up my winter wreath, to greet visitors with some heart.

When  I envisioned my heart tree, I also imagined glitter deer...I know, it's amazing how my mind works.  Two (expensive, and not because of the deer) trips to Hobby Lobby later, I had my supplies.

And glitter deer were born.  Oh dear, one of you needs a little more glitter...

The other three are going to some dear women.

I love you, Valentine's Day, for all the reasons above and a few more.  For all your shades of pink, for the fun and quirky puns you play with, and for the fantastic design, fonts and typography you inspire.

For paper products vintage and modern that make me swoon...

For red hearts...

 and handwritten greetings...

for arrows (because I love signs)...

and for giving us a reason to purposely plan and carry out acts of love at the end of a long winter.

"The greatest of these is love..."  May your day be filled with lovely greetings, sweet treats and moments of pure love~

Hollie Joy

Junk Love.

This Saturday, I had to get out.  Having been sick and nursing a bacon grease burn on my arm had meant two weeks too long at home. I had rescheduled my haircut and added an overdue color to it, saved up some errands and planned to meet my sisters out and about.  Part of the day included some unexpected thrifting and junking, so let's take a peek at my junk booty, shall we?

 Technically, I found this two months ago at the Two Women Vintage Goods store in Spokane.  My plans to get to that amazing shop and purchase my sweet German litho tin pencil sharpener kept getting thwarted.  Much to my surprise, my mom picked it up for me this week and gave it as a hostess gift on Super Bowl Sunday.  Thank you Mom! If this is what I get for hosting, I am so in next year!  I love my little globe. 

 Out last week, my sister spotted a thrift store she wanted to visit, so I happily accompanied her.  I think we have a new favorite!  We asked about a couple of things, and the manager brought us some spectacular pieces from the back!  Heidi picked up some vintage religious pieces she'd been searching for and I picked up a super cute pair of Bandolini kitten heels as well as this curvy piece...

 and it's scalloped friend.  Love vintage silver.

 When my four year old wanted to play this game today, we found that we only have the plain blue square letters and a board for a completely different game.  I still love the box and the letters and the board is actually another retro board, so I still got quite a steal for $1.

 The coolest thing we came across was a new (to us) vintage store in town.  My sister took home an incredible locker basket set and I brought home this vintage German clock.  It has everything beautiful going for it.  I am currently plotting a way to get back to that store asap.

 After my last post with the picture of my silver overgrown hairdo I had to include a pic of my new cut and color.  Thank you Naomi for making me feel pulled together again!!  My eyes have a bit of a crazy look in them, perhaps because I am once again stuck at home, this time with a sick first grader.

Well, since I am home bound again, thankfully when I went to JoAnn Fabrics yesterday, I had the foresight to purchase a few magazines.  This is now my new favorite!  It even came with the cute card set.  I love that British magazines include prizes with your purchase! 

I'm so grateful I was able to have a girly day in between sick and chore filled weeks. I hope you are able to take some time and find some pretty of your own this week!  Until next time...

~Hollie Joy