Monday, February 7, 2011

Feelin' the Love

Valentine's Day is next Monday.  I am not yet totally prepared.  Actually, I'm not even remotely prepared. I have some good ideas, though.  I'm thinking about picking up some cards from Driscoll Design, a wonderful local paper art and stationary company.  I had the pleasure of meeting owner/designer Angela earlier this winter.  You can find her greeting cards and paper creations at retail locations all over the US.  Clearly I need her to give me some lessons in successful wholesaling.  Angela makes truly beautiful items that are whimsical, retro and totally happy.  Many of the cards even have glitter.  I love glitter done tastefully.

Isn't this owl valentine great!*

I'm also thinking about making these root beer float cupcakes to eat after we make my kids' favorite meal: fondue.  We use hot peanut oil to cook skewers of beef, shrimp and vegetables before dipping them in a variety of yummy sauces.  My dad and step mom taught us another great trick few years ago.  They put out a bowl with raw, beaten egg (for adhesion) and a bowl of instant potato flakes to roll the meat or veggies in.  It makes a crunchy, surprisingly light layer.  It's really good.

Have you made plans for your Valentine's Day yet?  Have you picked up or made any goodies for the loved ones in your life?  Would you like to win some free ones?  Let me spread the love.  

In honor of Valentine's Day, I will be giving away (to one lucky person) THREE bars of my special lavender and vanilla Lotta Love Soap: one bar for your Love, one for your Mom (because moms should always get valentines) and one for You.  That's a lotta love.  

I made only one batch, and it'll soon be gone.  If you'd like a chance to win, just answer the following question in the comment box:  

What childhood possession (toy, book, blanket, etc.) do you remember loving the most?

For me it was my stuffed bear Growler who got his name because he didn't actually have a mouth, just stitching, so he could only growl...I theorized as a child.

A winner will be chosen on Wednesday so that the bars can be shipped out and be received by the holiday.

*Image courtesy of Driscoll Design Blog

15 comments:

Jen Mueller said...

My "fluffy tiger". It was a blanket that my Nana bought for me!

Ani said...

My most prized posession, that I still have today, was my "Foofy". Foofy was a fluffy pink stuffed dog from Nordstrom. My grandfather (who did not shop, ever!) took my big brother to the store while my mom was in labor at the hospital. Until his dying day, may he rest in peace, he swore it was his first and last time he ever stepped into Nordstrom. (It may be the 1st & last time for my brother too, for that matter!) Foofy was there for me just like my grandfather & brother always and still are their for me today. He has no fuzz left and looks like a naked mole rat with stitched and restitched ears but he still holds a special place in my heart.

Jamie said...

Mine was my bunny, still have him in the hope chest.

Crafty Farmer said...

I LOVED, Timothy, my stuffed monkey. He is all matted and dull looking now, but he serves as the mascot of my craft room. I can't ever imagine parting with him....sniff, sniff, sniff.....

Molly Hemenway said...

Paddington Bear. But he has an orange hat and green jacket. I thought he was gone but just found him in a box at my parents' house in Spokane at Christmas. He has a music box inside, is flat from being used as a pillow, and has a hospital bracelet around his neck because he was with me when I got my tonsils out at 5 years old.

Jennifer Young said...

"Softy" - my little stuffed dog that I took everywhere with me. He fit in my pocket. Mum went away for 6 months when I was 6 and wrote me a letter every day. She sent me Softy and I wouldn't part with him for a moment. At one point he got lost (I suspect I may have had a little neighbour "friend" with sticky fingers?). I was devastated. My Dad searched everywhere to buy me another one similar. We eventually found one... but it just wasn't softy. xo Jen

Unknown said...

Mine was my baby blankey/ Even when I was preggers with my now 24 year old son, blankey was a comfort to me. If my ex was mad at me and yelling I would cuddle with blankey.
My son had a similar blankey and he wore it out and then he *stole* my blankey lol. He even wore out my blankey.

ASBloom said...

Nice, guys! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Mine was my green baby blanket from my godparents. Now it is packed away, but up through my teen years it stayed in my room with me.

Rachelle Hand said...

"Bear", a brown bear that my dad gave me when I was a baby. It once upon a time played music but has long since broken. I don't remember the music but my mom tells me I loved it. I still have it and is stored in the attic. I have told my kids the story of "Bear" so they will know why I have him. They all think it is the ugliest bear they have ever seen.

Unknown said...

Definitely my battered copy of "Winnie the Pooh" -- especially when Pooh devours the contents of all the "hunny" jars in Rabbit's hole and gets stuck in the doorway, so Rabbit has to use Pooh's legs as towel racks.

Alas, even as a child I could relate to that level of gluttony....

Anonymous said...

I love my Peggy. A white stuffed Pegasus toy that my Mom tucked on the gurney when they wheeled me away for a tonsillectomy in the second grade. Peggy still lives in my room, on a shelf overlooking my bed. She's no longer white, and I pierced her ears, but she remains my favorite.

Amanda L.

Dawn said...

The one that I remember the most was my doll, Rachel. She was one of those hard plastic baby dolls whose eyes closed when she was on her back. (As a funny aside, my mom tells a story about the night I terrified her with this doll when I was 2. Seems I used to chew on her hand, and shortly after my brother was brought home from the hospital, I came into my parent's room crying and saying I was sorry. My mom was sure that something had happened to the baby. Nope, I just had finally chewed THROUGH Rachel's hand and one of her fingers had come off. She wore a tiny medical tape bandaid on that finger from then on.)

Anonymous said...

Definitely my "Tiny Tears" doll! She was my baby!
Kathy J.

Amber Howard said...

When I was really young I had a quilt that I loved--not sure who made it. But then my parents let our dog have puppies on it.:/ bleh.