Holidays are really something special. Just as winter is setting in comes the sparkle and magic of Christmas to distract us. Then, cold and quiet January is a welcome change to the crazy bustle. The simple and quiet routine of winter months can start to become a bit of a bore... then along comes pink boxes filled with cupcakes, iced sugar cookies, bouquets of pink flowers and romantic candlelit dinners. Valentine's Day is exactly what we need to lift our "hearts" through to the spring thaw. Amazing isn't it - how this world works?
Shop the entire Valentine's Collection, here.
I hope you enjoy this collection of fun, light-hearted goodies that will make celebrating the loves in your life a complete pleasure!
Jenny
Isn't this just darling? I lined the box with Liberty Flowers Paper Napkins, made chocolate glazed cupcakes and wrote on them with a simple icing. I just love how it turned out.
Did I mention the box is pink?
Pink Bakery Boxes, 10 for $8
These might be my favorite product for Valentine's Day. I just love the color! They fit 4-5 cupcakes perfectly, but could also hold cookies, a mini cake or any other treats you can dream up. They are kraft inside and a very pretty matte pink on the outside. Love!
Red Heart Tags, 10 for $4
This is simplicity at its best, the red heart tags are back, too. A simple red heart on a natural cardstock with hole punched ready to hang on treats and gifts. Classic and beautiful. These tags can be fun with the pink bakery boxes, but also can transform into an elegant and classic accent. Add them to treats for school, or a hostess gift - one of my favorite's yet.
Liberty Flowers Print Cupcake Papers, $8
When I saw these I just couldn't get over how perfectly whimsical and lovely they would be for Valentine's Day. I mean, who doesn't want a box full of florally cupcakes?
What I love about this set, is the mix and match, pieced together feel - they have a nostalgic feel, don't you think?
Set of 100.
Glassine Treat Bags, Set of 50 for $8
Liberty Flowers Print Heart Stickers, 50 for $8
Liberty Florals Paper Napkins, $6.50 - $8
What I love so much about these florals is what while they will look perfect for Valentines, the various florals will be perfect all through spring and summer.
This scent, Lychee Rose, is my all time favorite that instantly gives me all the warm and cozies. It is soft, feminine and floral, and has an underlying warm amber. Mike buys me a huge stack of the soap each Valentines. This year I even got some in my stocking : )
"This fragrance, inspired by the revered Chinese lychee fruit, blends fresh lychee with juicy mandarin, peach and black currant. These fruits intermingle with white rose, warm woods, sensual amber and white musk to create a delightful scent."
My favorite - Lychee Rose Soap
Lychee Rose Hand Cream
Lychee Rose Candle
Clearly we all have a thing for velvet ribbon. For the last couple of seasons, I've tracked down new colors and they sell out like crazy. There is something about it, right? I just removed the deep green color that was holding my paperwhite upright and swapped it for the Blush color. Amazing what a little touch of pink velvet can do :)
Blush Velvet Ribbon - 33 yards
Rose Velvet Ribbon
Bashful Pink Ribbon
Mini Cherry Heart Scones
I made these darling, small heart scones using the smallest of the set of 3 cutters. I took the most of the sugar out of my standard recipe, added chopped dried cherries...
And drizzled with a simple glaze. They were so good. Just the break I needed from the overly sweet treats from the holidays. The tart cherries, the buttery, tender texture - perfect.
Set of 3 Cutters, $6
This set of three cutters is just so perfect for turning anything into a Valentine's treat. You can use them for cookies, tiny pancakes, biscuits or scones, like I've done here.
Last year, I made these layered heart cookies with copper cutters, but they can also be created using the largest and smallest from the set of 3 above.
Set of 3 Cutters, $6
Cello Bag
Bashful Small Velvet Ribbon
Lily Tag
Heart Ramekin for Creme Brûlée, $6
I don't like to own too much specialty cookware just for one holiday... except Valentine's Day. A heart-shaped dessert is just so darn cute. There is nothing quite more Valentines than Creme Brûlée + Chocolate... especially in a heart shape.
I used the Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Creme Brûlée recipe to make this. It was completely simple and absolutely luscious.
Cupcake Kits, $5.50 - 12.50
I think these sets are so stinking cute. So cute, in fact, that we used them for Emma's very pink 4th Birthday party. It is the perfect amount of whimsy and sparkle to dress up the simplest cupcake - I just love them! There are two sets of various patterns and toppers.
And then, of course...
The Dripping Milk Chocolate Heart Cake I made with the new 8" Heart-Shaped Pan. Of course, you can make any sort of heart cake with this pan... but I really recommend starting with this one!
Heart Pan, $12
Lily of the Valley Tags
These tags have my heart. I love the little sweet floral sprig in a soft coral pink.
And of course, I love the repeated pattern on the back.
Freshening Your Home
Of course, we don't dedicate as much time transforming or home for Valentine's Day as we do for Christmas, but little touches go a long way. After the Holiday decorations come down, our home always feels a little sparse. I added some potted flowers on my counter, in our powder room and on our table. I also replaced my autumnal botanical prints with fresher versions (below). My next move is to bring in a blush colored pillow here and there to add softness. I love the mix of pinks and corals with soft warm browns.
I'll share photos of our freshened home featuring these products later this weekend. We are currently too covered in frosting and chocolate glaze to handle velvet pillow cases...
Leaf Block Print Napkin in Nude, Set of 4, $32
I love this print. It is just the right amount of pink to be used anytime. It doesn't have hearts all over it, so its use is limited to two weeks out of the year ; ) It will look just as lovely with big bowls of peonies and hydrangeas, as it does with my potted roses for our Valentine's Day table.
Bashful Velvet Pillow, $28
Clay Velvet Pillow, $28
Blush Velvet Pillow, $32
Army Velvet Pillow, $24
Bashful Velvet Pillow, $28
This collection of Botanical Prints have been visually layered on a soft cream backdrop, modeled after the ones I created above above in our guest room. This effect makes it truely look like a page from an antique book that has been mounted.
Vintage Botanical Print professionally printed on photo paper.
$8 - 8x10"
$5 - 5x7"
Shop all Botanical Prints, here >
Have fun gathering things for your loves and to make your home feel lovely this season : )
All the Best,
Jenny