This and That
February has arrived and we are ready for the Super Bowl! We are not hosting or attending a party because we want to be sure to watch every minute of the game...EAGLES !
The weather has been cold and icy - so it's the perfect time to read, cook, and enjoy cozy indoor time.
Here's what I have been up to...
We ended January with a winter dinner party.
I like to make little butter balls for the table - like snowballs!
Some treats for after dinner.
I found these snowflakes from Dollar Tree and put one at each place as a take home for everyone. Don't know if you can see the beautiful blue steak knives that I used...they were a gift from one of our guests and I wanted to be sure to use them so they knew how much we loved them!
We had a great evening...simple dinner of salad, salmon, and roasted veggies - with chocolate mousse for desert!
The next day I put away all the winter decor and pulled out Valentine items - very simple as it won't be up for long...
Those Dove chocolate hearts are very tempting as we walk past...
Trying to hold off as we will be hosting a "Sweetheart Brunch" for some friends on Valentine's Day and they will be part of the treats.
While out grocery shopping I stopped at a Thrift Store nearby and was browsing around. My wonderful husband John usually stays in the car and listens to sports radio - especially this week as our Eagles are in the Super Bowl - but he couldn't get good reception. I turned around and he was next to me browsing and found this -
What a find! And the best part was...
wait...there's more - it was the First Friday of the month so everything in the store was 50% off !!! We thought it would be a good piece for on top of the kitchen cabinets, but it was a little too tall with the lid on,
and the lid is such a nice touch we did not want to use it without it.
But, we found the perfect place -
We had a light blue vase up there with the electric candle on a clear pedestal, but this piece really stands out up there. Just moved the candle in front...
Really like the way it looks...
even better when all the lights are on! And, all the profits from that Thrift Store goes to helping the local community with counseling for people in need - so it was a win-win!
Don't know if I mentioned that we celebrate our anniversary not just once a year on January 8th, but once a month on the 8th. After our 40th we realized that you never know how many anniversaries you will have and we were going to celebrate each month. Nothing huge...out to lunch, go for ice cream, a day out shopping, or a play or movie...We were supposed to go to dinner and a concert last night but the ice and freezing rain kept us in. So I made one of our favorite meals - Chicken Parmesan.
So very easy when you use those Perdue individually wrapped chicken breasts. I used the ones that were already seasoned with Italian seasoning, some leftover sauce and some oven roasted tomatoes that I made this summer from a neighbors crop...easy -
and delicious!
Hope wherever you are this week the weather is better to you than it will be here in Pennsylvania. Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? Do you like to celebrate with friends?
Leave a comment below - I love hearing from you !
Have a LOVELY week 💗💘💟
Always appreciate how you celebrate life!
ReplyDeleteThanks - until further notice, celebrate EVERYTHING!
DeleteAnn, I love your Valentine's Day decorations. I especially love the nice jar with the lid you bought. It looks like MacKenzie Childs and what a great price. The chicken parm looks great and I hope your team wins. Happy Anniversary Ann and I love that you both do something on the 8th. We too got snow last night and we were out shoveling snow today. It's going to be more snow and nasty weather this week. I can't wait for spring! My family and I will be going out with people on Thursday night for dinner and my husband and I will probably do take-out food for dinner on Valentine's Day. I hope you stay warm and have a happy Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of celebrating your anniversary once a month, that sounds like fun! I also love that your husband gets as excited about thrift finds to feather your nest, as you do. I suspect that's why you are celebrating 40+ years of wedded bliss! My husband occasionally enjoys poking around the shops with me too. It's always more fun with a friend! And looks like last night was a good night for your husband...wow, what a game, the Eagles owned the night!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kim - it was a great night for Eagle fans!!!
DeleteWhat a great find with that MacKenzie Childs jar! I love your idea to celebrate your anniversary every month. We need to begin that as we’re nearing 56 years this August. Your decor is very festive! Lovely table setting, and a January dinner party is a great idea. We hosted some friends for a soup lunch during the month. A former student (now retired) was punter for the Kansas City Chiefs, and we began to favor them a bit unless it was when Peyton Manning was playing, too. Peyton made several visits to our elementary school while he was a student at the University of Tennessee. Take care! Winter isn’t over yet. We’re having a flood advisory here as heavy rain is expected the next two days!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 56 years! It's fun to follow students through the years...several NFL players came through our district. Stay warm and dry this week !
DeleteHi Ann! There is so much here to love, I don't know where to begin, but I guess I'll start with a thank you for visiting me at Marmelade Gypsy and checking out the year-end book post! You're right -- Being Mortal is a spectacular book and one that I truly believe changes lives, as you mentioned referring to your move! It's nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteYour winter dinner is a wonderful idea -- post the crazy holidays but still in the season when it feels all the more important to join with friends. (At least here in Michigan, we tend to hibernate in winter unless one is a sports enthusiast!) Your table is beautiful and I love the blue-and-white theme. Very wintry! Your dinner sounds delicious, too.
Your valentine decorations, like mine, are spare, but pretty. We don't celebrate that day with friends but just Sunday had our bi-monthly Cork Poppers wine tasting and it had a half-valentine theme! (I know what you mean about putting the candy out early -- I waited till the day of the party!)
What a pretty table for celebrating a winter meal together with friends! I have a Christmas/winter theme set of dishes that I use through January. I like your Valentine's Day touches. I decorate a little for the "lovely" holiday which I find enjoyable. Ah, a good thrift find- nothing better than helping an organization out and finding something that you love. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI was so happy for your Eagles win! I hope you have the sweetest Valentine’s Day!
ReplyDelete