[Pancake hearts.]

Slowly but surely making my way back into the kitchen...this time with heart-shaped lemon ricotta pancakes. I don't really like pancakes or lemon-flavored things, but I do like heart-shaped food, bowls, and baking utensils. And I was cooking for someone other than myself, AND it was February, so...it all made sense at the time. It was a lovely dinner and evening, but guys...it felt so forced... I only cook for the ones I love, you know? (You know. You've seen.) I guess I don't yet love cooking just for the joy of cooking. Won't be trying that again anytime soon. Regardless, the pancakies were delish, and now that they are tucked away in my teeny tiny cooking repertoire, they will be replicated this weekend for Shannon, a lady I do love, in celebration of her recent engagement!! Aaaaah!

 


n.b. I should clarify that baking with someone is not the same as cooking for someone. K?

[Valentine.]

{Early morning break-in. Box of presents outside my bedroom door. Cupcakes. Red roses. Pink tutu. Sparkly tiara. Rosies for the roomies, too. Impressed.}

{Cupcake for breakfast. Cupcake for midnight.}

{Red skirt. Pink blouse. Fuschia coat. And gold, of course gold.} 

{"FYI, I treat Valentine's Day like St. Patrick's Day. And you're not wearing pink or red..." *pinch* <-- Me. To everyone. NOT obnoxious at all.}

{Surprise flowers delivered to work. Huge surprise. Office spectacle. Smiling girl.}

{Darth Vader candy dispenser. Best friend. May the force of love be with you.}

{Film festival. Wendy for Wife. Seriously. I'm looking at you, sir.}
{Tiara and tutu and wand. Twirling. Princessing. New favorite.}
{Favorite holiday. Still. Still!}

[Midnight cupcake.]

Nothing wrong with a black & gold cupcake for breakfast and a pink & red cupcake at midnight. Thank you to the one who was thoughtful enough to gift me these. I was a spoiled little girl today, that's for sure. A blissful sugar coma awaits me tonight.

But until then...Valentine's Day is over in DC, but not in Chicago and all that lies west of there, which is good enough for me. So, a cupcake in bed and a midnight movie. This is what one does at times like these, you know.

[Photo a Day: Heart.]

As always, my lovely Steph was here for me today. A Darth Vader candy dispenser? It's like she knows me or something... Dearest Estefania, thank you for being my love, this year, last year, and every day before and in between. 

:::::

february photo a day challenge

[Geek love.]

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 & 5

Love all of these.

And yes, I am a Star Wars fan and a Trekkie. Empire Strikes Back, The Next Generation, and Voyager are my favorites, FYI.

P.S. For all you fellow Star Trek fans...I know you must be out there (uh, right?? guys?)...did I ever tell you about the time I was at an event and Leonard Nimoy and Zach Quinto walked into the party **together**?!?!? Blew. My. Mind. One of the best moments of this little Trekkie's life.

[Two Tunes Tuesday: Lovies.]

My favorite holiday, so a couple favorite lovie songs.

The first is a live cover of "Feels So Right," performed by country god Tim McGraw at his July 2010 concert in Bristow, VA. And then "Home," set to some recent iPhone footage.

I may post up a million more lovie songs and/or V-Day things today.

Girl can't help it. I love.

[V-day: Pink & Red.]

clockwise, from top left:

neon riviera cuff / atmosphere print / notebook / macarons / clutch / top

[Photo a Day: Front door.]

My front door, decorated for Valentine's Day by our lovely Domineau, who is crafty in all ways.

:::::

february photo a day challenge

[V-Day: Black & Gold.]

clockwise, from top left:

melted deco cuff / feather wrap cuff / Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty book / chantilly lace cuff / cutt lace vanity tray / brass i-phone case / silhouette dish

February 14th is pretty much a high holy day in my book. Seriously--I love love love Valentine's Day, and would celebrate it year-round if it were socially acceptable. A day devoted to red and sparkly things and heart-shaped desserts?? Perfection. We know how much I support the Valentine-present-to-self concept (last year's Kate Spade gold purse and iPhone case, anyone?)...and as I, ahem, seem to be my own Valentine this year (a v-day without flowers?! a first. i hate it. let us never speak of this again.), I have been feverishly pulling together all sorts of giftie ideas. Always a sucker for collages/moodboards/gift guides, I thought I'd put together a few for all of our viewing pleasures.

Guys, if you're reading this, feel free to pull some inspiration from here for your lovely lady of choice. A girl deserves a little somethin' somethin' on this day...even if it's just a rose and a cupcake. And ladies, remember...it is always, always okay to treat yoself. You do deserve it, after all.

Next up, red and pink. Yeah. Excited, aren't you.

[Re: Steph.]

On Valentine's Day, my lovely former college roommate, fellow Smithsonian worker bee, and occasional sub-for-boyfriend Steph surprised me at my office with roses and chocolate, and made my little day. It's made all the difference in the world to have her living ten minutes away and working just down the street, available for spur of the moment cupcake runs, meltdowns, and other staples of our twenty-two year old lives.

Thanks, Estephania! So glad we were put together in this world again!

an assortment of vday things.

1 & 2 - sweets and treats for last night's party.

3 - valentines i made for my lovies.

4 - perfect valentine roses from my love.

I would like to wish you a happy Valentine's Day.

Loveasaur. Loveasaurus Rex. Veloveraptor.

I have received my first Valentine, from a five year old no less!

Excellent way to ring in Valentine's Weekend! Any others? I am quite at my leisure...

[my.life.curated] Valentine's Day.

pillow / print / iphone case / document box

I've had a life long love affair with the color red, ever since I bounced around in my little red Converse high tops as a two year old. It's sort of extremely difficult for me to resist buying every red thing I see, and the only reason I haven't yet dyed my hair red is because I would then clash with all the red things I already own and wear (plus I would look awful, obviously). We all know I love Valentine's Day for many reasons, but especially because it allows me to indulge a little more than usual--as if I needed an excuse.

In the spirit of the season, here are some pretty things I've acquired over the last little while. The Kate Spade iPhone case was one of my Valentines to myself (wait, doesn't everybody do that?), while the others I picked to decorate my room.

Happy Valentine's Month!

Valentine's Day is my FAVORITE holiday. Always. Boyfriend or no boyfriend (though there has basically always been a boyfriend, let's be honest...).

It allows me to be extra obsessed with my favorite color, red, and my favorite shape, heart.

I hope your February is perfect and lovely.

And that you receive some of these too.

Thank you for the surprise, you.