A Handmade [With Love] Valentine

(A homemade valentine from a few years back)

I love valentines. I especially love handmade ones, whether it is one that I receive or one that I make and give away. It doesn't take a ton of effort. Only a little creativity and a lot of heart. You can recycle an old newspaper, gently used wrapping paper from Christmas, a rock (see the heart-shaped rock in the valentine featured above?), or even a Shakespeare book. Don't be appalled, it was already falling apart and begging to be turned into a creative project, or two, or three... I know, it seems sacrilegious but honestly, this book love to be used in valentine projects, handmade cards, heart-shapes for a drawing, or even cut into oversized heart-shaped confetti for bridal showers, just to mention a few. And besides, the romantic words of Shakespeare get to live on in a different way. I think old William would approve.

So anyway, there are still a few days left to make your valentines (or galentines - valentines for your gal friends - a clever idea that I unfortunately cannot take credit for). So pull out your scissors, some Elmer's glue or a glue stick (even tape works in a pinch), some colored markers, an old newspaper, magazine, string, etc. Use your creativity. The recycle bin is your oyster. Jot down your favorite love quote, some words from your heart, or something silly and fun... you name it!

Of course, you could also sing a song for your loved one and perform interpretive dance at the same time in lieu of a valentine card. Speaking of dancing, maybe this year my husband and I will have to come up with a special Valentine's Day dance! Hmmmm.... The Heart Shaker? Or maybe I'm Wild About You? Maybe I should just stick to a handmade card instead? ;-)

Whatever you do, be sure to share a special moment with someone you love. Call your mom or a friend you haven't spoken to in a while or surprise someone at work with a cupcake or similar treat!

Two Monkeys in Love

“Once there were two monkeys in love.”

This line is from an anniversary card we received from a dear friend. It makes me smile and giggle every time I see it, no matter how many times I’ve smiled and giggled at it before. The card sits on a shelf I pass by every day so the reminder to smile and the opportunity for a chuckle is always available. And those two kids in the heart-shaped frame with their bicycles? Those kids make me smile too. They never knew each other back then, they met much later in life and I am so glad that they did. Those kids are my husband and me. 

Playfulness is one of the main ingredients of happiness, in my opinion. Even now when we are much taller (and slightly more round) than those two silly kids in the frame, playfulness and riding our bikes are part of the main ingredients of our relationship, and our happiness. There are, of course, many other important ingredients in a happy relationship, like friendship and respect and love. In fact, I would venture to say that friendship is the most important ingredient. Because with friendship, one also has love, respect, playfulness, and a bicycle. Okay, that last ingredient may be special to our relationship.

I read a book once called A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson. I can’t find my copy to get a direct quote but I remember something from her book that has stuck with me. She says that we are to make our romantic relationships more like friendships and our friendships more romantic. This may seem strange but it actually makes perfect sense to me. Treating our friendships with the same level of love as a romantic relationship and treating our romantic partners more like our best friends, which hopefully they are, has a way of transforming both relationships. 

On this Valentine’s Day I reach out to all of my friends... with a wish for you all to be surrounded with the most expansive, soul-warming love possible! And if you don’t have a romantic partner to celebrate Valentine’s Day with, don’t fret, treat yourself to some of your own big-hearted love... and maybe even a decadent chocolate treat! 

Sending out lots of XOXOXO’S!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY MY FRIENDS! 

Heart-Shaped Fun

Since Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, I thought I would devote this week to love and all things romantic. I love "love." Most days it could be said that I view the world through heart-shaped glasses, maybe even rose-tinted. I am a hopeless romantic and the symbol of love - the heart - has always been one of my favorites. In fact, my husband has been known to say that I am running out of tokens for bringing home hearts-shaped objects.

I actually understand his fear of having our home overrun with hearts, since i do have a tendency to collect them, but there are times when I just cannot restrain myself. I come across a new heart and it seems to smile up at me, which then makes the corners of my own mouth turn up, and then we go home together. If something so small and so simple can make me smile, should I pass it up? My thoughts exactly, of course not!

I'll admit that we do have quite a few but there's always room for one more, right Whether the heart is a true work of art, or simply a stone with an abstract heart shape, found while foraging at the seaside, the joy they provide is immeasurable.

Lucky for my husband, hearts that I find or make around Valentine's Day usually have a destination and aren't around very long. Below are a few images from my heart-shaped, valentine-making fun...

Chocolate cupcakes... recipe compliments of Jo Burley. :-) The frosting was my own creation - chocolate cream cheese - mmmmm...

Heart toothpicks made by recycling a brown paper bag...

"Layered cake" valentine with paint "frosting"

Another angle...

Bike love. What more needs to be said?!