My Five Favorites ~ Valentine's Day, The Classy But Lazy Way

Happy February friends!

 This month My Five Favorites is all about Valentine's Day,

food, decor, traditions ~ anything goes, so I'm anxious to see what my friends are sharing. 

In case you're wondering about my title :) I do love adding a few touches around

 the house and making my boys feel special but I'm just not big on a lot of Valentine

 decorations ~ a few simple nods to the holiday that don't take more

than a few minutes and I'm set. 

  

   Kris @ Driven by Decor

Lisa @ Shine Your Light

Jennifer @ Dimples & Tangles

I'm excited to welcome our guest this month, Ann @ On Sutton Place. There's not much she

 doesn't do, her beautiful blog is a treasure of pretty spaces, gardening, recipes and free 

printables including these for Valentine's Day!  

On Sutton Place

#1 ~ Red Books

I love using all my books with red bindings for a simple, classic touch that's not

overly Valentiney. :)  

Stack them on a chair, bench or small stool instead of the usual coffee table or buffet.  

To keep it super easy, I don't even re-style my cabinet, just replace a few of the books

with red ones. 

#2 - X & O Initials & Candy

I found these gold X & O initials a few years ago on the clearance rack at

Hobby Lobby, they still sell them. This year I added them to my kitchen 

vignette. I also love the fun touch they add to place settings.  

Super simple ~ a clear container filled with candy for a festive pop of color.

#3 - Faux Brass Heart

An oldie DIY project from the Dollar Store...but I still pull it out every year,

I love that it's so easy to plop down in any vignette. 

#4 - Do Ahead Valentine Dessert

I love that this decadent dessert can be put together the day before (in about 10 min) 

and just popped in the oven and served warm for a delicious Valentine surprise. 

#5 - Donut you know I love you...

My boys love this simply sweet Valentine tradition for breakfast ~ 

powdered sugar donuts served with a clever sentiment on my chalkboard.  

Be sure and check out these talented friends' favs:

 Kris @ Driven by Decor

Lisa @ Shine Your Light

Jennifer @ Dimples & Tangles

Ann @ On Sutton Place

You might like these previous Five Favorites, too:

Home Organization TipsChristmas Wish List
Recipes for the Holidays
Entertaining Accessories
Displaying DIY Artwork
Ways to Mix Metals

DIY Projects

Fabric

Decorate an Outdoor Space
Pillow Projects
Decorating for Spring
Decorative Accessories
Home Organizing Tips
Quick & Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas

Paint 

You can also find me on Instagram and Pinterest.  

happy valentine's day!

Wishing you a sweet and lovely
 Valentines Day!

~ Our girl Rio ~

From the bottom of my heart,
 thank you for your visits and kind words throughout the year. 

xoxo,

pam

simply sweet valentine treat

Just a quick reminder to share my favorite super simple Valentine treat.

I love starting the day with a festive surprise, and my boys love being greeted by a

 heap of Hostess Powdered Mini Donuts.

   

DONUT you know I LOVE YOU a hole lot!

If you don't have a chalkboard you can make a simple sign like I did

last year here.

If you're in the mood for something a little fancier, but still simple, this is a favorite:

Do - Ahead Molten Chocolate Cake

Five ingredients, and super easy to whip together then refrigerate up to 24 hours.

 When you're ready to serve, bake for 20 min and serve warm. 

Recipe here

Do you make a favorite Valentine treat?

   

loving my valentine vignette

Although I miss the some of the sweet Valentine traditions with little ones, I wasn't ever

 fond of cute cupids and construction paper heart decor. This year simple pink flowers I

 picked up at the grocery store, a couple of pink books, and my newly thrifted foo dog

 for a little unexpected edge are making me happy!

 I've rounded up a few other pretty looks for you, it's a great excuse to pick up

some fresh flowers!   

Add a few of your favorite flowers to an interesting vessel and you're set,

no cupids necessary.  

 Schuyler Samperton

Stephanie Sterjovski

 karearosenlund.com

highstreetmarket.com

 

Stephanie Sterjovski

madinpersbo.blogspot.com

Btw, are you a foo dog fan?   

happy valentine's day...

Sending a little love your way...

Rio

...thank you for taking time out of your

 busy day to stop in and visit us. We couldn't

 love your encouragement and enthusiasm more!

Happy Valentine's Day!

   

xoxo

Pam

a simple valentine treat...

This super simple idea is a hit at our house on Valentine's Day!

Who doesn't love to wake up to a festive table, sweet treat and love note?  

I ran into Walmart and picked up: 

Hostess Powdered Mini Donuts - $2

Package of patterned hearts - .97

Large Red Tissue Pom - .97

Write your love note using one of the packaged hearts.

Plate the donuts and embellish with more hearts.

Couldn't be easier, and...

they'll love it!! 

Join me at Kim's Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays  

understated valentine's decor...

Happy Monday! : )

It's a four day week for us, followed by a four day weekend so I'm anxious to

get it started. I don't decorate much for Valentine's Day, although I do like to make a

 special dinner, fun treats and give little presents. This is my idea of perfectly subtle

 Valentine's Day decor, along with a dish of your favorite candy, of course!

lilou73tumblr.com

House of Turquoise JAC Interiors

settingforfour.com

housetohome.co.uk

abigailahern.wordpress.com

apartment living

heartbeatoz.tumblr.com

styleathome.com

Tomorrow I'll show you a fun, easy surprise for breakfast that is sure to elicit a
smile!  

kate spade inspired valentine table...

We are a sad, stunned bunch in Denver today, but still love our Broncos!
Congrats to the Seattle Seahawks, their fans and all my Pacific Northwest blogging pals!
It was a well deserved win, and who couldn't be happy for Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson?
Moving on...

  

These Kate Spade salt and paper shakers were a favorite birthday gift from a couple
 months ago, and inspired my Valentine table setting.

 I love Kate's signature style, it's sophisticated, playful and she has a way with
 stripes and polka dots.

I was a little giddy when it dawned on me I had a couple gift wrap patterns that would tie
 in perfectly to use as a table runner and place mats. The pink and gold stripe is from
 TJ Maxx, and black and white polka dot from Hobby Lobby.

 I've had the antiqued gold letters for a year or so, they were in the Hobby Lobby clearance
 section, guess X and O aren't popular initials. I used some of my leopard ribbon from
Christmas to tie around the napkins for another bit of pattern.

 Mr. Simple always inquires about our table decor so he can coordinate gift wrap on
 presents for me! :)  Ha Ha!

If you're looking for a fun girlfriend birthday or hostess gift I highly
recommend the fun salt and pepper shakers!
Are they something you'd like?  

do-ahead valentine's day dessert...

Happy February!

Rich, decadent, romantic and delicious.
 Simple, quick and easy can be our little secret!

Do-Ahead Molten Chocolate Cake
~just these 5 ingredients~

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (I use Nestles Chocolate Chips)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, diced

3 large eggs

3 large egg yolks

Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

4 Servings - Use 4 - 6 ounce ramekins

6 Servings - Use 6 - 4 ounce ramekins

Butter ramekins or use cooking spray. Whisk sugar and cornstarch in large bowl to combine.

Melt chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.

Cool 10 minutes. Add sugar mixture to chocolate mixture and whisk until blended. 

Whisk in eggs 1 at a time, then whisk in yolks. Divide batter between ramekins.

Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake cakes until puffed and dry and cracked on top and 

tester inserted into center comes out with some wet batter attached.  About 20 minutes,

(23 minutes if batter has been chilled). Cool 10 minutes. 

Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

Enjoy!

You still have time to enter the Ramsign giveaway here,
until Saturday February 2nd @ midnight.

Have a delightful weekend, sweet friends!

Sharing over at:

Mangia Mondays here

Dog Days of Winter LOVE it Challenge here

dollar store diy gold heart...

I don't decorate for Valentine's Day, but I do like to style a quick,

Valentine vignette on my coffee table using all of my red books.

I thought a simple looking heart-shaped gold paperweight would be a pretty addition.

  I headed to the Dollar Tree in search of the perfect heart to diy with my favorite

 Rustoleum Metallic Brass spray paint.

Ta da...

I always like having a little treat set out, I'm not much of a chocoholic,

but Jelly Hearts, Hot Tamales, Caramels, Taffy....I can't resist! 

I've had these books for years, you've seen them in our bookcase styled for Christmas here.

The one on top in the back is titled, The Horrors of Love, ha! It's old, worn and the perfect

color. I remember finding it at a garage sale, one of my favorite places to buy books, they'll

practically give them away.  

 The plastic gem from the $ Store before being transformed into a gold paperweight!
  The three Sweet Tarts were a bonus. The other small heart I happened to
find in a 'Valentine' box, you could still see the outline of, 'SMILE,' so I turned it over.

I also did a quick spray of clear gloss for a little shine.

  

Super simple, super quick and super inexpensive!

If you missed Valentine post last year you can check it out here,

more super simple and sweet ideas!

Do you have a sweet tooth? What's your favorite candy? 

Need more Valentine inspiration
Debbie @ Debbiedoo's and Shannon @ Fox Hollow Cottage
are hosting a party here.