VALENTINE'S DAY = LOVE.

If you don't already know me, or haven't figured it out yet through my blog.. I'm a holiday kinda gal! I don't really care the occasion.. Ground Hog's Day is a means to celebrate in my book! My holiday craziness has only gotten worse since I had Cash.. I don't know what it is, but I always feel like a holiday is "wasted" if it isn't spend with some sort of tradition or festivity. Charlie Brown specials WILL be watched. Traditional food WILL be eaten. Parties WILL be thrown. And everything will be cute, personalized & made by YOURS TRULY. And that's just how it is.. J doesn't seem to understand my obsession with all things holiday; they just might as well be any other day as far as it goes for him. (Of course, who WOULDN'T see every day as Christmas when you get to come home to ME each night? Serious sarcasm intended.) Valentine's Day is no exception, although I seem to feel like it's being bullied & pushed to the around by Mardi Gras, because J sees February through March as "Mardi Gras" time, where as I see it as "Valentine's" time.. Okay, let me stop boring you with my redundance. It's exactly ONE WEEK until Valentine's Day.. YIPPEEE! Oh, Valentine's Day.. we've had a love/hate relationship most of my life.. AGE 5: LOVE. We got to bring "Valentine's Day" boxes to school, and I had by far the cutest one. As in, most of the kids brought a shoe box with cut-out hearts glued on, and I had a fabulous fabric-covered box in the shape of a bird house with rhinestones galore, and my name on it. AGE 10: LOVE. So what if some of the "fast" girls are already having boyfriend?? Boys are dumb, and Spice Girls Valentine cards with matching tattoos are cool. AGE 15: HATE. Boys break hearts. AGE 20: LOVE! Man of my dreams? Checkkk.

I'm a firm believer in Valentine's Day being a "Mama/Daddy holiday" (Cash can celebrate at school when he's old enough.. Mama & Daddy need a day together! Plus, EVERY day is Cash Day in our home..) But this year, since he's beginning to understand and appreciate little "surprises" I decided to make Valentine's Day (and EVERY holiday, for that matter) special for him too. Last week, I made him the cute X O cookies, and today, one week before V-day, I surprised him with this little number.

Okay, so it's not much.. but any of you who have/ have had a 16 month old little boy know how exciting anything with wheels can be. I made the firm decision early on that I wouldn't just buy Cash toys every other day for no reason. I want him to appreciate EVERYTHING that he has, and not expect new toys all the time on "average" days. Valentine's Day is no average day, and we've yet to buy this wheel-loving boy any toy cars, so I thought this would be the perfect time. Here was his reaction to seeing the car & Valentine's card:

Hopefully his excitement for the "little things" will continue throughout his life.. I can see him now doing this EXACT face the day he gets a REAL car on his 16th birthday! Here's a couple of restaurants I'd suggest if you haven't already made your V-Day plans:

HB STEAKHOUSE:

Okay, this one was a give in. I've blogged about mine & J's favorite restaurant from the get go. I love EVERYTHING about it. The food. The service. The tea. The atmosphere. But most of all, the fact that it's hidden away in a strip center next to T-Mobile so that there's NEVER anyone there. Except for the regulars. And the workers. And the 5 of you who read this blog and take heed to my advice. BEST. RESTAURANT. OFALLTIME. We'll be there a week from now!

THE MELTING POT:

I've only been here once or twice, but I've loved the experience. If you're wanting to go for Valentine's day, it's important to make reservations FAAAARR in advance, and I have to warn you, making them can be a pain. Aside from the fact that I'm convinced that the credentials listed when they hire their "Phone Answering Girl" is "MAJOR BEEYOTCH", the food is well worth the hassle. It is a Fondue restaurant, so you can pick from various side items and have dinner/dessert with a Fondue fountain at your table. I've only eaten the Chocolate Fondue here with various sides (Pound Cake, Strawberries, etc.) and let me just say that it was DIVINE. The idea of dipping food into cheese just kind of grosses me out, but I've heard that the Cheese Fondue is good as well.

If you're anything like me, you have to have a different candle for every holiday.. I don't know why I feel like this is necessary (possibly because my Mom did the same when I was growing up?) but if I'm not burning an appropriate scented candle(s) in the house, I'm just not as festive. Please, don't try to sell me your Scentsy product or any other kind of "burner." I think they're clever and work well, but I can't see myself straying from a good ol' fashioned jar candle. If you share in my guilty obsession, I'd suggest Yankee Candle's "Candy Hearts" for all of your February candle burning needs. (I've always wanted to say a line like that. Sounds like an infomercial!) It's a swirl candle with a mix of Black Cherry & Vanilla Cupcake, and it's sweet & sugary & THE BOMB! If Valentine's Day had a smell (oh you know.. like Thanksgiving & Christmas do..) THIS would be it.

I saw this book at a Half Priced Bookstore for $4.. (COUNT EM!) FOURRRR DOLLLAAAA and since it was in perfect condition (almost looked like it had never been read?) I snagged it to give to Cash on Valentine's Day. He loves anything Curious George, so I was excited to come across a Valentine's Day edition. Can't wait to read it to my little bookworm!

Hopefully this blog has helped settle some of the Valentine's Day ideas you were looking for, but if not, I enlisted in help from my trusted alpha-male contributor/baby daddy for all of the "Best Gifts for Your Hubby/Boyfriend/Wannabe Boyfriend/Males that are Just Friends."

CUSTOMIZED BOBBLE HEAD

I'm obsessed with this choice! I think it's hilarious & would be perfect for a work desk.

 

iPHONE BOTTLE OPENER CASE

Another genius idea. What guy doesn't like iPhones & beer?

CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS

I had to include this one because he felt so strongly about it.. I don't have to approve of it, however. Do yourself a favor.. If you EVER want to talk to your man again, do NOT: I repeat.. do NOT buy him this game!!

Couldn't end the blog without leaving ya'll with a recipe! I know it's totally out of my character to post ANY baked dessert recipe that isn't just tweaking up something store bought, but THIS is the exception. And if you have a Valentine this year, I'd HIGHLY suggest you bake this for them. If I can do it.. YOU can do it, and trust me when I say it is TOTALLY worth it. This is the best Cinnamon Cake I've ever tried. Actually, this is the best thing I've ever tried with Cinnamon involved, EVER. This includes my beloved Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal. Not to mention it made my house smell better than any candle could ever do! Let me know how much you love it..

 

CINNAMON SWIRL CAKE:

 

NEED:

3 c. flour

1 c. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. milk

1 cube melted butter

1 cube melted butter (yes, 2 total!)

2/3 c. brown sugar

1 T. flour

1 T. cinnamon

 

STEPS:

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, and melted butter, and mix well. The batter will be on the thick side. Spoon into a sugared (sprayed with cooking spray, and coated with sugar) bundt pan. Melt the second cube of butter, then stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Pour on top of the cake, and with a butter knife, swirl it through the cake. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

ICING NEEDS:

8 T. butter, room temperature

3 3/4 c. powdered sugar

3-4 T. whole milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

ICING STEPS:

Place the powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter, and 3 T of milk. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the powdered sugar is incorporated, then add the vanilla and cinnamon. Increase the speed to medium, and beat until fluffy. Add more milk if the frosting seems too stiff. Melt icing in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until you can pour it over the cake.