Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone! Please see below for proof that you do not have to be all hot and heavy with someone in order to share the Valentine’s Love (although hot and heavy is a bonus)…
Flying Heart
Back in January I was reading my friend Rachel’s blog, www.lostintheattic.typepad.com, when I came upon this flying metal heart, created by Carissa Ann Fox. I loved it and I wanted it. The brown eyed fox was giving one away to Rachel’s readers that week and all we had to do to qualify was tell her what made our hearts happy. Out of 68 comments, guess whose name was drawn?
Mine! Now I have my own flying heart! You can have one, too – just click on her Etsy Shop button to the right of her blog, www.browneyedfox.squarespace.com . She makes heart bracelets and belts, also – I love this woman’s style and am still smiling every time I think about how I actually won the flying heart!
While reading my comments one day not long ago, I came across one from “Valynne”. Hmm – that was a first. Come to find out, this Valynne was born on Valentines Day, and that is how she came by her name.
My friend Sean found this picture of Valynne; her father made this rocket for a parade and that is Valynne on the rocket. I love this picture! Valynne, thank you for letting me share this and Happy Happy Heart Day and Birthday!
The Other Valynne!
I was telling my new friend Judy the other day that Paul and I were keeping it simple when it came to gift – giving these days and next thing I know there is a call from her telling me to check the mailbox. Judy had found this heart shaped tea cup at the flea market for $.50 and suggested that I serve Paul his morning tea in it on Valentine’s Day (today). Judy – you are so thoughtful – thank you – Paul loved it!
Valentine's Cuppa for the Englishman
Speaking of tea, I am on an herbal kick these days (today actually marks my second week of Beach Body, which I will blog about soon). My friend Emily of www.thingsgreatdaneseat.blogspot.com fame sent me this little Valentine Package…have you ever had Tea Forte? Heaven, I’m in Heaven…
And she actually knit a heart into this washcloth! Oh, and Rachel (aka she who loves the polka dots), I had to share this wrapping paper with you. Thank you, Em, my thoughtful (and very creative) friend.
Joy
And, Sunny – I am so excited to have yet another heart to add to my collection! Thank you, dear friend.
I met Sunny through my friend Kit. Five of us women met at least once a month to share our creations and otherwise motivate and inspire each other. We called ourselves the BAG ladies – short for Bolder Artists’ Group. I miss you all!
Sunny is working on her website as we speak www.sunnymonacodesigns.com. Keep going, Sunny – I can’t wait to see more pictures of you and your mom’s ceramic & wire wonders!
Oh, my. I seriously had no idea just how much Valentine’s Love I had to share this Sunday. I’m gonna have to keep going – can’t seem to help myself…
Heart Day on the Bay
I mean, just look at this morning! And it keeps getting better…Paul is back with a Sunday Times and a Latte (latte’s signify special occasions for us)…
CC Sunday Morning
And you know what is really yummy with coffee? And just about anything else for that matter? Blosm. Whipped. Cream.
I met Michael Markley at the Conifer Farmers’ Market in 2008. We traded soap for whipped cream that first day and I knew that it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
I have witnessed the blossoming of Blosm (sorry, couldn’t help that one) and am proud to know him – his whipped cream is natural and divine, and he was so much fun to have as a fellow market vendor.
You Colorado peeps are so lucky – you can pick up Blosm at your local Whole Foods Market! If you are lucky enough to meet Markley at a Blosm demo, please give him a hug for me.
Check out the Blosm website www.myblosm.com and find out what inspired Markley and his wife Kelli. Oh, and be sure to enjoy a can of Blackberry Amaretto for me…serious YUM. Which leads me to this:
Premier Issue of WWC
What does this have to do with Blosm, you ask? Well, both are YUM, for starters. My friend Christine won a copy of this Premier Issue of Where Women Create magazine in my last contest. I love this magazine and am so happy it went to someone who will really appreciate it. Especially since the premier issue has been sold out for a long time now. If you want your own copy, prepare to shell out upwards of $100!
Christine and Markley and I were The Three Muskateers at many a Farmers’ Market (That’s right, I am indeed talkin’ about Christine of Christine’s Canine Cookies fame). Christine and her hubby Simon have a new baby boy named Oliver – so if you don’t see her at the market’s this summer, you’ll know why…
Sweet Milo Boy
Speaking of babies, this boy is most likely the closest Paul and I will get…is he not adorable? And no, I did not plant that teddy bear for a photo op – Milo loves his stuffed animals and must have picked this one out for today, especially. We. Love. This. Dog.
OK, I think it is time for the NYT Book Review…
Again, Happy Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you…Here’s to sharing the love…whatever kind of love it may be. XOX from Valynne and Paul
sending some ♥ your way today. i ♥ the heart that carissa sent you – cheers to you again. and oh my, polka dots too. i will need to find a ♥ tea cup now. off to check out blosm too, sounds DELISH. WARM hugs and ♥ to you and paul.
Thank you, Rachel, for the extra LOVE (and for the e-mail – you are pretty intuitive, eh?).
Blosm would be Osm with some Nestle Abuelita…it is truly the best whipped cream on the planet.
I should know, being a connoisseur of all things whipped and creamy. Hmm…sometimes I sound pervy without meaning to. Anyway,
Hoping you are having the best of days filled with lots of X’s and O’s…
PS Paul got me a Leonard Cohen CD (Live in London 2008 – watched the DVD when John E was here – thank you for sharing, John!)and I got him Sade (Soldier of Love). We listened to music and watched Out of Africa (again). Heavy sigh – what a beautiful and moving film.
This is our fifth Valentine’s Day together and our Fourth Anniversary. Typically we go somewhere (Santa Fe, Key West, Denver to see Dakota Blonde) but hanging around the house proved to be a lot of fun, as well!
For our Anniversay, Paul bought me a Waterman Fountain Pen complete with ink and blotter, and two travel books. Life is good – very good.
Would love to hear your stories; that is actually why I began blogging (blogs are interactive whereas traditional websites aren’t). Engaging with you is my objective – so talk to me, people. To Quote Rachel, “Don’t be a lurker” – tell me (us, actually) your stories! XOX
yeah, BRING IT, don’t be a lurker. v is such a sweet girl and she actually answers our comments, emails, etc. and she’ll talk pervy to you if you want. the latter, just had to throw that in for you v. loves.
Valynne and Rachel:
You are so nice to mention Blosm, we are working hard these days to get “our cream on” so thanks. Rachel, let me know when and where I can “whip you” (now you see why Valynne and I are friends) and Valynne, I am so happy that you and Paul are havin’ fun but I still miss our pow-wows; we just have to do them remotely now. Tell Paul I said “hello”.
Wow, and I thought I was Frisky in February! Missing you and the old gang, Markley…XOX to you and Paul says “hi” back : )
to michael: ooh, would love to be ‘whipped’ – sounds tasty. i checked out your site was considering using you for one of my friday features, buy local/support local.
valynne: thanks for continuing to introduce us to local genius.
xoxo.
You Two are CRACKING ME UP! You have no idea how much I needed to laugh today and I have been laughing ALL DAY!!!
Rachel: That would be awesome but you have to try it to talk about it, when and where can I get some to you?
V, if anything I am always good for a laugh!
ah happy to entertain. i’m full of it aren’t i.
michael: sounds like a whippin’ date. shoot me an email and let me know when/where we can meet up. rachelincolorado{at}yahoo{dot}com.
So glad you like the washcloth : ) Think of me when you use it to wipe up the herbal tea that you have spit all over the counter when recounting my hilarious antics in your lovely little head.
Your washcloth is going on the wall with the rest of my hearts : ) I just may frame it.
Will use a dishtowel for the messes you inspire…will have to spit herbal tea all over the counter more quietly next time we talk – I didn’t realize you could hear that.
How embarassing…