Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Here is what I am planning on doing this year for our Valentine's date. I love romantic date nights and am so excited it's my year to plan. I'm just going to cook a romantic, candle-lit dinner at home and then build a fort and cuddle and watch a good chick flick after dinner. I don't watch many chick flicks with the hubster, in fact I'd say I watch about 30 NBA games for every 1 chick flick we watch together, so I love to watch them every chance I get. So of course it's definitely gonna be all my choice, no matter how cheesy and romantic! :) I'm trying to decide which hunk I wanna see in my movie...

They are of course Cary Grant and Channing Tatum. Both great choices, but I have a feeling I'm gonna go with good ol' Channing in Dear John. Then we continue on to the next portion of our evening. I'm not gonna lie, I LOVE to kiss my husband. A lot. Who doesn't?! So I came across this book on Amazon and plan to try a couple of these new kisses out together that night. Why not?? :) It's probably too late to order for yourself, but you could always check your library or Barnes and Noble or something.

And finally, if I have time to find a couple of chinese lanterns, I would love to write love notes to each other and send them up into the sky. How romantic. I love it!

Well, these are just a couple ideas I have and I think it sounds like a splendid evening! I hope you all have a fantastic Valentine's Day whether you are celebrating it with a spouse, boyfriend, your kids, or your girlfriends, HAVE FUN!!! :)

 Mary

Scavenger Hunt Date

Day 13:

  A couple of years ago, I had this really fun idea to do for my husband.  I honestly can't remember if it was a Valentines Day surprise or just a fun date idea, but I figured it would be a great Valentines Day idea.  I basically sent him on a scavenger hunt doing nice things that eventually led him back to me where we had a nice, romantic dinner.  My mother-in-law was sweet enough to watch the kids for us so it could just be us in the end. 

  What I did was prearrange things in our area for him to go and do 2-3 hours before our official date started.  I started out with a note on the door in an envelope labeled, "Clue #1".  Inside it, I had just the address or street directions to the first place I arranged, a haircut.  I had already gone in and paid for his haircut and the tip.  I had arranged with the hairstylist to hand him the 2nd clue at the end of the haircut that again only gave him the directions to the next place.  This was a 30 minute massage.  We had Aveda schools in our area and the students had to get their practice massages in and it was very inexpensive.  They did a great job too!  Again, I had prepaid the massage and tip and had it arranged for the masseuse to give him the next clue.  I don't remember now what my 3rd clue was, sorry, but I believe I sent him to a favorite store where I had picked something out for him and had it wrapped up front.  The 4th and final clue was on the box of the gift.  That was leading him back to our house where I had a candlelight dinner and romantic night planned for us.  You can spend as much or as little as you want on this too.  If you have more money and it's not a problem, give him an hour long massage or add in a facial or pedicure/manicure, add a shave with the haircut.  Just be creative and you'll both have fun.

   I of course made sure I wasn't home when he got the first clue, but then made sure to be back pretty quickly so I could get dinner and the house ready for him to come home.  I would only have 3 hours, tops to get that part done.  If you do not want to supply the dinner part of it, for the last clue, you could put your favorite restaurant as the last clue and be there waiting at a table when he (she) arrives.  This one was really fun and my husband really liked it.  He had no idea what was going on but figured it out once he arrived at the first place and told the receptionist about the clue he had.  All of the places I arranged these at were very easy to work with and all thought it was a really neat idea.  They were all happy to help with it.

Valentines According to Pinterest

Day: 10

There are so many great and fun ideas floating around Pinterest lately so I thought I would share some of my favorites that I have seen, here they are in no particular order...

1. These would be adorable..and pretty easy to make

You can find them here at Plum Adorable

2. I LOVE chocolate covered pretzels, you can do all sorts of decorations on them. So cute..and yummy!

3.Another thing I love that is easy and endless decoration options, Rice Krispie Treats

You can find them at Cooking on the Side

4. These delicious looking Red Velvet Cookie

You can find them at Buns in my Oven

5. If your planning on cooking a home cooked soup for the big day, how cute is this?!

You can find it at Recipe by Photo

Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest! 

--Michelle--

Doorway to the Heart...

Day 9:

I have thought and thought of a cute, cheap idea for my kiddos for Valentine's Day and I came across the idea of decorating their bedrooms doors.  For pre-school my son needs to work more on his cutting skills and so we went to work drawing and cutting out hearts.  After 20 minutes of work we had about 25 hearts ready for the 4 doorways.  We made them all sizes and different colors.  I then took some curling ribbon and cut it into different lengths, ranging from 12"-18".  (I started with 18"-24" but that was too long)

I am going to decorate each child's doorway on the night of the 13th so on Valentine's morning when they open their doors they will be surprised with hearts.  You may even want to add little love notes to each child on the hearts.  I am so excited to see my girls faces when they come upstairs that morning!  I know they are going to love it!  And my little guy will be surprised and happy to see his hearts he made hanging in his doorway.  

Fun and simple, that is the way we roll here!  

~Rachel~

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8

Letters of Love

Day 7:

Heather and I got together to makes these boxes for our Valentines a couple of years ago. I wrote a letter and put it in the box to my husband for a start for his "treasure" box, for his Valentines present. The point of it was for them to have a place for all of the love letters we give them over the years. The next year I filled the box with 100 strips of paper and on each one I put a reason why I love him. That's about as far as I've gotten with it. Truth be told, it has been filling up with letter and notes that he's written me. He's a lot better at that than I am I guess. I need to do better so that the box can be used what it was made for.

Things we Used:

a box (we got ours from Michaels)

scrapbook paper

ribbon

vinyl or stamps

any little scrapbook decorations you like that can spruce up the box, like frames or brads or anything else you can think of

Scrapbook ink to go around the edges

--Michelle--

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi and Chocolate Mousse

Day 6:

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
• 3/4 pound linguine
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 lemon, zest grated
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
• 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

Recipe found at foodnetwork.com

I don't always have lemons to do the slices, and it is still really good, but it is better with the lemons, they just add such a nice flavor to the shrimp

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

2 C. Bisquik 

6 Tbsp. butter

2/3 C. Milk

1/2 C. shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. old bay

1/2 tsp. parsley flakes

Preheat oven to 450.

In a mixing bowl combine Bisquik, 4 Tbsp. butter, milk and cheese using a pastry cutter of fork.  Spoon into baking sheet.  Bake 8-10 minutes.

While they are baking combine 2 tbsp. melted butter, garlic powder, old bay and parsley flakes.  Brush over biscuits when they come out of oven.

Roasted Asparagus

• 1 pound fresh asparagus
• Extra Virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
• Freshly ground black pepper.
• 
  
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• I always cut off the 1"-1 1/2" of the root end, it is a bit touch and woody tasting. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for 25 minutes, until tender but still crisp.

Easy Chocolate Mousse

from: Our Best Bites

1 tsp. unflavored gelatin

1 Tbsp cold water

2 Tbsp. boiling water (just heat in a small bowl in your microwave)

1/2 C. sugar

1/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 C. whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl, combine gelatin and cold water and allow to stand for about 1 minute.  While gelatin is softening bring 2 Tbsp. water to boil in the microwave.  whisk into the softened gelatin and allow to cool slightly.  

In a medium mixing bowl combine sugar, cocoa, whipping cream, and vanilla.  Beat with an electric mixer until medium-stiff peaks form.  Mix in gelatin and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  

I put mine in pretty wine glasses and then refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Add whipped topping and fruit right before you serve.

This is a very rich mousse.  My husband and I never finish in one setting, so really,  in just a few minutes you made dessert for two nights.  :)

~Rachel~

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5

Valentine Photo Shoot

Day 5:

A couple of years ago I was having a hard time coming up with a gift for my husband for Valentine's Day that  said "I love you."  A friend of mine and I were talking and she suggested that I take some photos of me and make a little book for him.  I was more than a little uncomfortable doing this because I am not a huge fan of the way I look in pictures, or the way my body looks (no they were not naked ones!!) still, I am in no way close to being a model.  After thinking on this for a while I decided that my husband loves me for me, and he loves the way I look, even if I am a little cheesy in pictures and I do not have the body of a super model, so I was going to do it.
I gathered all kinds of little props, like his favorite jersey and a basketball, borrowed some stillettos (which I never wear) fish-net stockings, a feather boa, you get the idea...  I did my makeup very carefully and fixed my hair just right... and then I took some pictures...

There are a couple of ways you can do this... If you feel comfortable enough with and you have a girlfriend of yours who is also okay with it, you can them take the pictures for you.  Maybe they will even get you to smile more naturally or even laugh a little.  But if not, I have found that it is really easy to take pictures of ones-self if you have a little hand held remote.  If you are lucky enough to have a printer at home that does a great job with photos - print them at home and get a fun photo book at the store.  If not snapfish.com has little books that all you have to do is choose your picture and drop it in the spot.  You can rearrange them all you want until it is just perfect.  I think the cost is around $11 and can be in your hands within a week of submitting the order.  

My husband loved the book and told me he wouldn't mind in the least bit getting a new one every year.  

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 6

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

Day 4:

I was soo excited to make these again this year for Valentine's day!! Last year I gave my hubby a boot box FULL of treats && sweets.  I decked the box out in cutsie Valentine's looking paper, and then as I said, FILLED the box full of goodies.  I made cupcakes, dipped strawberries and pretzels, had cheesecake strawberries, and these red velvet cheesecake brownies.  I spent a good portion of the couple days before in the kitchen.  It was great! I haven't really thought about those brownies, until just a couple weeks ago and I instantly craved them!

These are honestly my FAVORITE treat!! I absolutely looove cheesecake, and who doesn't love brownies.  It is probably the best combination someone could have come up with! Wow!!! I just made a batch, and most likely make them again on Valentine's day! I want to eat as many of them as I can, while it is considered okay.  Here is the recipe! Give them a try, and I can promise you won't regret that decision! 

Red Velvet Cheese Cake Brownies

Ingredients:

1/2 c unsalted butter

2-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 c sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp red food coloring (I love the gel food coloring)

2/3 c all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

8-oz cream cheese, room temperature

1/3 c sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 8 inch metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up two sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.
In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir until combined and very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Add flour and salt and stir until just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
To prepare cheesecake mixture, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Distribute the cheesecake mixture in 8 dollops over batter in the pan. Swirl in with a knife or spatula.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.
Let cool completely in pan on a cooling rack before lifting out the parchment paper to remove the brownies.

Makes 16 large or 24 small 

brownies.  

Source: Baking Bites

Hope you love them as much as I do!! Enjoy!

-Melanie-

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 5, Day 6

The Best Husband Valentines Day Present

Day 3:
A couple of years ago we were really poor, so when Valentines day came around we decided to do homemade presents for each other. I'm always horrible with coming up with things...but I was determined to come up with the Best. Present. Ever. And I think I did a pretty good job! My hubby L.O.V.E.D it...our very own board game!

You can do it one of both ways, when I first saw it it was on a sheet, I've tried both and I like the board game better. But do whatever you think would be fun for you.

For the sheet you get a fitted sheet...just find the cheapest one you can get. You'll need masking tape, a permanent marker and cardboard (from a cereal box would work perfect). At the top of the sheet I believe I named it "The Game of Love" and underlined it, and then used the masking tape to evenly mark the lines. My game board was 7 across, 7 down so I had 49 total. After you "draw" your lines, you'll cut out whatever shape you are using out of your card board, this is a horrible drawing but I used something like this:

You'll trace that on your rows...49 times and then go back and fill in your game plans. You'll want to use the majority of your sheet. I think I had about a foot at the bottom left, and maybe 6" on each side. Each shape was about 4", but measure what fits your bed best. I used each "activity" at least twice so you make sure to land on it at least once. And you can say it different ways to change it up, for instance "XOXO" and "Kiss Me Baby". You can be creative and come up with ever you want and whatever you feel comfortable about. I had to edit mine a little and blot some of mine out so we can keep it G rated here, and because our Mom reads our blog. :) 

The sheet is fun because you'll cover it up by making your bed so your hubby will have no idea. And it's good for in the future to too surprise him random nights.

When we moved I just threw away the sheet and decided to get a $3 board game at the D.I. and I'm really glad I did. Now it's our inside joke that no body has any idea what we're talking about...besides you now that are reading this. But there's been a few times that we are out to dinner or out and about and will say "Soooo do you want to play Chutes and Ladders when we get home??"

How to Play:

You'll just need 1 dice, they will roll it every time, if it's a 4 or 6 divide by 2, and if it lands on 5 I let him pick between the 2nd or 3rd one.

They have 30 seconds for each activity, no exceptions. :) You can have a stopwatch or just count, whatever you'd like to do.

That's pretty much it, it's fun and your husband will love you even more forever and ever! He will think this is the best present you could ever give him!

**I have everything out and ready sitting on the table. I've made some chocolate covered strawberries, since we don't drink alcohol for our "bubbly" I used sparkling cider or wild cherry pepsi. I get a couple little silly presents like candy or something and had them wrapped up for him to open if he landed on a present. And for the music I just used Pandora and the station I like is Ashanti because a lot of the songs it plays is circa my high schools years, so it's a fun flash back and it's kind of sexy music. But like I said...do whatever makes you happy!! And have fun!!!

--Michelle--

Day 1, Day 2, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6

Star Jones' Garlic Lobster Tails plus Stacy's Steak for Valentines Dinner!!

Day 2:
  Last year for Valentines Day, I honestly can't remember why we did not got out to dinner like we usually do.  I don't think I particularly wanted to cook dinner for my husband and I because we so rarely go out to dinner, I really enjoy it.  He may have actually had to be out of town or something.  Regardless the reason, I cooked our Valentines dinner and I wanted it to be good.  I do not like seafood, but he does.  I RARELY ever make anything with seafood because I dispise it so much, but I thought for this dinner I was going to spoil him with lobster!
  My favorite grocery store, Publix, actually had a decent price on lobster tails that week (probably for suckers like me ;) so I went ahead and bought like 4.  I found a recipe on www.foodnetwork.com that looked really good and had lots of stars and lots of reviews and gave it a shot.  I paired it with the best looking steak I could find and a great salad and my husband and I really enjoyed it.  I actually thought it was the best steak I had ever made and I haven't been able to repeat it since then!  We had sparkling cider since we are non-alcoholic drinkers, and topped it off with my husbands favorite, cheesecake!  It was delicious.

  Here is what I did. . .Star Jone's Garlic Lobster Tails

Ingredients

• 4 large lobster tails (8 ounces each)
• 4 to 6 large cloves garlic, minced
• 6 tablespoons butter, cut into bits
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun spice
• 1/2 teaspoon seafood seasoning, such as Seafood Magic

Directions

Preheat broiler. With kitchen shears or large, sharp knife, cut lobster tails down back on curved side of shell. Pry sides of shells apart to expose meat. Top meat with garlic and butter. Squeeze lemon juice over lobster meat and dust liberally with Cajun spice and seafood seasoning. Preheat broiler. Set lobster tails in roasting pan and broil 4 to 6 inches from heat for 12 to 15 minutes, until meat is opaque in center.

This is rated easy and serves 4.

For the steak, I rubbed it with a steak dust and let it sit in that for 30 minutes or so.  Then, just as I was putting the lobster in, I put the steak on the grill with about 1/2 tbsp butter on top.  My husband likes his medium rare and I like mine well done so I put mine on first.  Once one side was cooked, I turned it over and added his.  I definately had to cook it a little longer than normal because they were so much thicker than I regularly buy, but it was worth it!!!  It was literally, melt in your mouth, delicious!

For dessert I made my husbands favorite cheesecake...from a box!  Jello brand cheesecake is his favorite.  And it is Valentine's Day, I can't deny him his favorite!  :)

-Stacy-

Day 1, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6

P.S. Don't forget to check out our Shops "Item of the Week"!

14 Days of Valentine Ideas

I love Valentine's Day, but let's be honest-what girl secretly doesn't??  It is a day all about love.  Not to mention all the treats that are made on and around that special day! Mmm..my favorite! My sisters and I have kept our eyes out for recipes, gift ideas, and other things we have done in the past to share with everyone. The next 14 days, we will be posting ways to celebrate February 14.  Hope you enjoy!

DAY 1:
 -Better than anything red velvet cupcakes-
Just take a gander at these for a quick second, and tell me your mouth isn't watering.
 

Let's take a look at the recipe and then get started baking.  If you have never made better than anything cakes, they are easy peasy! All that it takes is:

Better than anything red velvet cupcakes

*1 pkg of red velvet cake mix
*Caramel topping (I love the Mrs. Richardson brand)
*Chocolate syrup
*4 Heath or Score bars (divided)
*Cool whip

Soo easy! Make the cake according to directions on the package.  Bake the cupcakes and let them cool on a rack.  Then poke holes into each cupcake.  I use the end of cooking spoons, so they are larger holes, leaving more space for the good stuff.  After the holes are poked, drizzle warmed caramel and chocolate syrup over the top.  Top with 2 crushed candybars, and then add cool whip.  Top again with the remaining two candy bars and tada-they are done! Next step-indulge in these amazing cupcakes!

~Melanie~

Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14

P.S. Don't forget to check out our Shops "Item of the Week"!