“How could it be that any knitter could have anything of value to say to crocheters? Didn’t I know that knitters and crocheters are like Sharks and Jets- They don’t get along, they keep off each other’s turf, they break into fights on the playground? Yes, I know, I know.  But have Tony and Maria taught you nothing? Can’t we see that we’re all sisters (and brothers) under the stitch? Sure, I’m a knitter. But I also crochet.” ~Debbie Stoller

Sorry it took me so long to post my last ‘Valentine Treat’….My sweet husband took me on a date…dinner and a movie! He gave me a dozen of my favorite Karen Roses. The same roses I carried along with English ivy, button mums, and freesia in a 30 lb bouquet of flowers on our wedding day. What a romantic boy.

Well, anyhoo,  I knit and I crochet too. I also sew, do needlepoint, redwork, and weave on a loom. I love almost all of the fiber arts. When I was little you could find me doing macrame, cross stitch and hideous latch hook rugs! I know. Silly. But I learned a lot. I’ve been knitting since I was fourteen when my aunt Bobbie taught me. (So, over twenty years.)  I’ve only been crocheting for a few years. Funny story, I learned from instructional videos on YouTube. What an amazing resource. I find crocheting to be much easier than knitting even though I’ve only been doing it a short time. If you’re a knitter, give it a try. The pretty, frilly stitches are almost instant gratification.

I found this beeeeaaauuuutiful scarf pattern on page 96 in my favorite crocheting book, The Happy Hooker, by Debbie Stoller. She writes the BEST instructional knitting and crocheting books. Her book, Stitch ‘n Bitch, is what I refer to as the knitting ‘bible’ and where I direct my many friends who are new knitters. Innocent, unsuspecting friends who I slyly reel in by giving them a skein of  thick-n-quick, Wool Ease yarn and a set of size 15 knitting needles as part of a gift… hee hee… Hi Dana! Dana is knitting her first scarf! I’m so proud of her.

Gracie is modeling the flower garden scarf which was crocheted from a partial cashmere blend yarn (Jade Sapphire) in ‘hot pink,’ ‘light pink,’ and ‘ brown.’ This would be the perfect scarf to make for your best girlfriends for Valentine’s Day. I made this in about 3 hours. Grace is also wearing a beanie hat I made out of simple, flecked, worsted-weight yarn (I think it’s called ‘Black Fleck’ by Red Heart). Please send me pictures of your knitting and crocheting creations! I’m always looking for inspiration. Love you yarn goddesses!

XO,

Happy Valentine’s Day!

~Melissa

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One of my favorite love poems…

The White Porch

by Cathy Song

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“Now in a cottage built of lilacs and laughter, I know the meaning of the words ‘ever after…’” ~Frank Sinatra (Polka Dots and Moonbeams)

A week of Valentine’s Treats-Day 5

We have so much fun decorating our house and doing special Valentine’s Day crafts every year, and this year I’ve had a great time sharing my ideas with you. I thought it might be interesting to see how you all celebrate! Is it the same every year or do you change it up?

Ever since Andie and Gracie were little we’ve started our Valentine’s Day by turning our living room into a place to lounge and relax all day. We put our goose down feather bed on the floor along with every pillow an mooshy blanket it the house. Jeff, Andie, Gracie and I (and this year, Maddie too!) get dressed in our most comfy pajamas and just snuggle in for the day. We watch movies, play video games and board games, and munch fun food. The only goal is to have fun.

Later in the day, Jeff and I will prepare a romantic dinner while sipping pink champagne. Sometimes the kids join us, and other times it’s just been the two of us.  In the past we’ve made Jeff’s  famous Chicken Marsala, my spaghetti, surf and turf, lemon chicken, Steak au Poivre & Potatoes Anna, and Duck L’Orange. This year we’re going to try Julia Child’s recipe for Poulet au Porto. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Love,

Melissa

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A week of Valentine Treats-Day 4

“I like to start my notes to you as if we’re already in the middle of a conversation. I pretend that we’re the oldest and dearest friends- as opposed to what we actually are- people who don’t know each other’s names and met in a chat room where we both claimed we’d never been before. What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer, I wait impatiently as it boots up. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You’ve got mail. I hear nothing, not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beat of my own heart. I have mail. From you.” ~ Meg Ryan (You’ve Got Mail)

I just want to start this by saying that some of my favorite movies* are romantic movies with sad or unresolved endings. I do not, however, think that these movies are appropriate viewing on what is suppose to be not only a romantic holiday, but a happy one. Jeff and I had the worst luck choosing Valentine’s movies our first few years together. We wanted to watch ‘romantic’ movies that neither of us had ever seen, so we relied on recommendations from other people. We were steered wrong so many times! For the love of all that is holy, on Valentine’s Day I don’t want to watch a movie that ends with someone dying (Message in a Bottle*, Titanic*, Legends of the Fall, Romeo + Juliet*, Ghost, City of Angels, Love Story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Moulin Rouge*) or where the main couple breaks up or parts ways (Gone With the Wind*, Shakespeare in Love*, Splendor in the Grass, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Once, Lost in Translation*, Casablanca, Roman Holiday*) or one where someone is cheating on their spouse in the name of ‘romance’ (Bridges of Madison County, Closer*, Dr. Zhivago*, Vicky Christina Barcelona*). I really don’t want to watch something that is going to make me so sad that I’m still crying during dinner. This happened the year we went to see “Message in a Bottle” in the theater and then to the “Dock Cafe” in Stillwater afterwards. Jeff kept patting me on the back and telling me it was going to be okay. How depressing.

Anyhoo, that being said, here is a list of what I consider good Valentine’s Day viewing Enjoy!

1)Amelie

2) You’ve Got Mail

3) Love With the Proper Stranger

4) 500 Days of Summer

5) Because I Said So

6) Something’s Gotta Give

7) Just Married

8 Stranger than Fiction

9) The Holiday

10) French Kiss

11) Twilight

12) Pride and Prejudice (2005 version)

13) Jerry Maguire

14) Ever After

15) Love in the Afternoon

16) Love Affair

17) Much Ado About Nothing

18) Dirty Dancing

19) Top Gun

20) Sabrina (1995 version)

21) Never Been Kissed

22) When Harry Met Sally

23) Pretty in Pink

24) Some Kind of Wonderful

25) The Shop Around the Corner

26) Dan in Real Life

27) Chocolat

28) Sleepless in Seattle

29) A Good Year

30) Under the Tuscan Sun

xo,

Melissa

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“Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I’ll not ask for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.”

~Ben Johnson

Bonny Doon’s Framboise Fleur-Book of Love

Raspberries, raspberries and more raspberries. Framboise Fleur is actually made from three different kinds of raspberries!

This would be a perfect dessert wine to pair with cheesecake, or a rich, dense flourless chocolate torte.

Francis Ford Coppola’s Sofia Blanc de Blancs

A fruity, fresh blend of pinot blanc, sauvignon blanc and muscat.

Crisp flavors of tart apples, pears, citrus and honeysuckle.

A wonderful dessert wine to pair with orange spongecake, lemon meringue pie, creme caramel, or vanilla flan.

Enjoy! xoxoxo

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“I’m a-gonna wrap myself in paper,
I’m gonna daub myself with glue,
Stick some stamps on top of my head;
I’m gonna mail myself to you.

I’m a gonna tie me up in a red string,
I’m gonna tie blue ribbons too,
I’m a-gonna climb up in my mail box;
I’m gonna mail myself to you.”

~Woody Guthrie

Day 2

Remember making Valentine boxes every year for your elementary school Valentine’s party? I remember the first one I made in Kindergarten. That year I was the star of the Valentine’s music show and dressed up in a Raggedy Ann costume!

My mom got a box, ribbons, decorative paper, stickers, markers, and other art supplies together and let me go to town decorating it. I remember falling in love with this tradition then and there…and I still look forward to helping my daughter Gracie make hers every year.

Even if you don’t have little kids around who need Valentine boxes (or if for some reason their teachers only have them decorate little paper lunch bags…yuck…) I think it’s about time you re-lived this tradition! It’s so fun and nostalgic. Guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again, if only for an hour or two This year we discovered that scrapbooking paper is the perfect medium for covering a Valentine’s box. We used red grossgrain ribbon, conversation hearts, vintage lace, and scrapbooking tags as well. Ladies and gents, get your glue guns ready! It’s time to have some fun

You’ll need:

an old shipping box or shoebox

glue, embellishments such as stickers, paper doilies, scrapbook tags and decorations, ribbon, lace …scrapbook paper or wrapping paper or whatever paper you like…I used brown craft paper one year, and butcher paper another year…adorable with potato stamped hearts!

Here’s what we ended up with!

Have fun!

XOXO,

Melissa

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Cocoa Java Body Polish

“If I were a woman, I’d wear coffee as a perfume.” ~John Van Druten

This is one of my favorite body treatments, and I invented it The rich scents of creamy cocoa and chocolate are pure decadence and are a perfect way to treat yourself for Valentine’s Day. Try this treatment in the shower instead of the tub because it’s a little messy. Trust me, it’s worth it!

In a small, glass bowl combine:

1/4 cup freshly ground coffee beans

3 Tablespoons white, granulated sugar

2 teaspoons unsweetened, powdered cocoa powder

2 Tablespoons oil (such as sweet almond, apricot kernel, or olive oil)

1 Tablespoon water

Mix all ingredients together. Step into shower and wet your entire body. Massage body polish all over,  avoiding face and genital area. Rinse well with warm water.

Sweetie Pie Strawberry Facial

“Kelly Clarkson smells like strawberry shortcake, I know that.” ~Steve Carell

Mix 5 mashed strawberries with a Tablespoon of honey. Apply to clean face. Rinse with warm water after ten minutes.

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Q: Why did the cupcake major in hotel and restaurant management?
A: It wanted to be a Hostess.

I love cupcakes. They’re so cute! I love little tiny ones, regular sized ones that you can display on a cupcake stand with their adorable little papers showing, I love crocheted and knitted cupcakes that aren’t even edible but look sweet as a decoration when my covered cake plate isn’t full of other delectables…and now I love the giant cupcakes I can make with my giant cupcake pan. I made the chocolate one for Gracie’s birthday. She wanted it to look and taste like a Hostess cupcake. I ended up taking a shortcut on the cake and frosting parts and just used Duncan Hine’s ‘Super Moist’ cake mixes (you’ll need two) and a jar of their frosting. The top and bottom of the ‘cupcake’ bake in separate halves of the cake pan. I used Baker’s Joy cooking spray to insure easy removal of the cakes from the pan, and it worked splendidly.  Before you assemble the fully cooled cake halves, cut out the center of the bottom half for the cream filling. Don’t cut out too much, or the cake won’t be able to support the top half once it’s assembled. I know I’m making this sound more complicated than it is. It’s so simple. I just want to give you all the little details I gathered while making my first two, to give you a head start.

I made the filling using this simple recipe:

3 Tablespoons all purpose flour

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Whisk flour and milk in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until thick, but not boiling. Transfer to a bowl. Cover and cool completely at room temperature. When cool, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk mixture and vanilla. Beat on high for seven minutes. Fill the cupcake.

Place cupcake top on the filled base, frost with frosting of your choice (I used chocolate fudge.) Decorate with a white swirl design using the writing tip in your cake decorating kit.

To make the one pictured on the top, just substitute a white or yellow cake mix, buttercream frosting, and use sweet tarts for the sprinkles! You could also use Skittles, Necco wafers, conversation hearts…. whatever your heart desires.

This would make a cute cake for a kid’s birthday party or for Valentine’s day.

XO,

Melissa

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Mark Webb’s first full feature length film was nothing short of spectacular! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I re-watched it with Jeff over the weekend and he liked it too.

Does destiny play a role in who we end up falling in love with? Tom and Summer have different answers to this question.

The movie opens with the following quote:This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he’d never truly be happy until the day he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total mis-reading of the movie ‘The Graduate’. The girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parent’s marriage she’d only love two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.

The soundtrack was amazing! Some of my favorite artists including: Regina Spektor, The Smiths, Black Lips, Zooey Deschanel, Doves and Temper Trap…to name a few.

I think this would be a good movie to watch on Valentine’s Day if you want something a little more interesting than the tired “Boy Meets Girl” movies that Hollywood usually recycles this time of year.

~Melissa

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I was thinking I’d save this post for February 14th and quickly decided it must be sooner! I know that when I’m looking for inspiration for the next holiday I’m looking early. So here you go…my little Valentine’s display. Gracie had the day off from school today and we spent the day decorating for Valentine’s Day and making creamy chicken and wild rice soup. Here are the pictures that the hubby took…enjoy!

Gracie’s newly polished nails by Bon Bon nail polish in “Sparkle Red”

The dining room hutch decked out in vintage valentines, glassware, enamelware and linens…also a vintage tractor from Jeff’s childhood that will soon be filled with conversation hearts…

My fuzzy Kate Spade purse is perfect for Valentine’s Day! Fuzzy hearts and a pink bow!

The Mantle

Historic Love Letter circa 1763 from John Adams to Abagail Smith

Jeff gave this to me for Valentine’s Day 2001, along with the first class “Love” stamp for the same year.

John and Abagail were married late October 1763, and Jeff and I were married October 14th 1995. So romantic!

one of my favorite vintage valentines, painted wooden conversation hearts, and “Layer Cake” cabernet sauvignon…perfect with Godiva chocolates!!!

More Valentine’s Day inspiration to follow on February 14th! Stay tuned.

XOXO.

Melissa

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