Perfect Combination - chocolate and peanut butter

For those of you that know me I am addicted to anything chocolate and peanut butter.
I came across this awesome drink - perfect for a snowy Valentine's Weekend!
PEANUT BUTTER CUP

Ingredients
1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1 oz Castries Crème Peanut Rum
3/4 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream

Preparation
Drizzle chocolate syrup into the bottom of a martini glass. Place the glass into the refrigerator until ready to use. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the chilled martini glass and garnish with a peanut butter cup.

Valentine's

Looking for some clever ways to express your love this Valentine's Day? It falls on a Sunday this year so perfect for messages left around the house.

How about a stamped message on your toast?

This would be great for breakfast in bed!!
Bake it Pretty or Fred Flare


What about a coupon book - check out MOO for a twist on making them yourself. Check out premade mini cards - 100 for $19.99.
or upload your own pictures and messages.








or personalized and individually wrapped fortune cookies from Fancy Fortune Cookies - Choose a variety of flavors.
50 min - $.65 each.

or a whole tin of cookies with loves message inside- also from Fancy Fortune Cookies.
$19.95

Art of Marriage

I just love this about marriage:

It rings close to my heart since I just celebrated my anniversary. Thought other to be wed or anyone in love would enjoy.

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created.
In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...

It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted;
the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humour. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best. - by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Cupcakes for your Sweetheart

Valentines Day Cupcakes
Moist Chocolate -makes 2 doz

1 package German Chocolate Cake mix
16 oz of sour cream
1/4 cup melted butter
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350, place baking cups in muffin pans and coat with cooking spray

Beat first 5 ingredients at low speed until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase speed to med for 1 -2 min or until smooth, scrap down sides as needed.
Spoon batter into baking cups 2/3 full

Bake for 20-25 mins or until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool for 1 hour before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting:
1/2 cup softened butter
3 oz cream cheese
16 oz powdered sugar
1/4 milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate morsels, melted

Beat butter and cream cheese until creamy, gradually add powdered sugar, slowly beat in milk and vanilla, increase speed until smooth. Add in 1 cup chocolate morsels and beat until blended and smooth.

Ice cupcakes, top with chopped creme de menth chocolate mints and put them in these adorable cupcake wrappers from Crate and Barrel

Conversation Heart Cookies

Check out this delicious chocolate butter cookie! from Williams Sonoma internet or catalog:

Made with equal measures of love, skill and premium ingredients that include dark Valrhona chocolate, our heart-shaped chocolate butter cookies from Sweet Guy Cookies will charm your valentine. The cookies are prepared, rolled and cut by hand, then decorated in green, pink, aqua and orange and yellow icing, each stamped with the words “Kiss Me,” “Cute,” “Love” or “Flirt.” The 2 1/2" x 2" cookies arrive in a reusable tin. 7 oz. Set of nine."

They are $22 and should be ordered by February 9th to ensure by Valentine's Day.

Maybe I will send these to my husbands office for V-Day! These would also be cute as a favor for a wedding shower or engagement party.

Get Away Idea

My husband and I just got back from a wonderful long weekend at Bedford Springs Resort - this was our Baby Moon! A time to get away with just the two of us before this little one arrives. I definitely recommend this place for a long weekend or a mini get away either before the wedding or baby or for your anniversary.

Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, PA

The place was built in 1796 and after being closed for 20 years recently reopened and newly renovated. There are 8 natural springs on site and the spa is awesome. We bathed in the springs then got a couples massage.

We choose a room with rocking chairs on the balcony - here I am enjoying the view after we had breakfast out there.


They have a fire pit and smores are available for a late night snack. The pool accommodations, dining and atmosphere is great. The only complaint was we couldn't check into our room until late on Friday - they were having some housekeeping issues. Either way it was a nice relaxing place in the middle of nowhere!

We also saw two weddings take place outside then heard them rocking to a band in the ballroom. The grounds and springs were beautiful and the weather perfect for an Aug wedding.

Ceremony Readings

In Staying with my theme from yesterday, here is a perfect poem to be read at your wedding.
The Art of Marriage by Wilferd Arlan Peterson

Readings"A good marriage must be created. In marriage the "little" things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, ”I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives. It is standing together and facing the world. It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right person -- it is being the right partner."

LOVE LETTERS

Why don't you let a wedding logo or monogram be a symbol of your love?
Check out Love Letters

They have lots of pre created logos that should definitely fit your look. Just change the name and voila! Only $75 - use them on your Save the Date announcement, invitation, program, menus, cocktail napkins, out of towner bags, favors and even on your dance floor!

Here are some ideas to get you started:
If you are getting married in June and plan to carry Gerber Daisy's -


Or a more formal event - show off your initials -


A nice flair for your special day!

7 Days of Love-HEARTS

Happy Love Day Everyone!
Thought you might enjoy a little history lesson... Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. More...

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward in the same direction.

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery