On the Rocks: Valentine’s Day Edition.

A selection of tasty cocktails for your Valentine’s Day Weekend – whether you’re spending it with a significant other or a group of friends. Drink up!

Ingredients:
– 1 part chilled blackberry sauce
– 1 part vodka
– Ice

Put into a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a martini glass and there you go.

Blackberry Sauce
– 1/2 lb blackberries
– 1 cup water
– 1/3 cup sugar

Heat the above ingredients in a saucepan on medium-high heat. Mash the berries with a wooden spoon to release all the juices. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved (about 10-15 minutes). Strain liquid through a fine sieve to remove the seeds, then chill well.

:: cocktail recipe and photo via Foodista Blog

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz Francois Peyrot Cognac
– 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
– 1 oz fresh cranberry juice
– Sparking wine

Garnish: lemon wheel

Combine Cognac, Grand Marnier and cranberry juice in a champagne glass. Top with sparking wine and garnish with lemon wheel.

:: cocktail recipe and photo via Cocktail TImes

Ingredients:
– 1 part vodka
– 1 part Chambord
– 1 part dark cream de cacao
– 1 1/2 parts half and half

Shake ingredients with ice and strain.

:: cocktail recipe and photo via Hostess with the Mostess

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz vodka
– 1/4 oz Chambord® Raspberry Liqueur
– 1/4 oz fresh pineapple juice

Shake with ice and pour into a cocktail or martini glass.
Garnish with lemon peel twist.

:: cocktail recipe and photo via Hostess with the Mostess

Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup half and half cream
– 4 ounces white chocolate, rough chopped
– 2 ounces vodka
– 2 ounces Simple Syrup

Heat half and half cream in a small sauce pan; slowly add white chocolate, whisk continually, until chocolate is melted. Cool to room temperature. Add vodka and simple syrup* to white chocolate mixture; stir to blend. Pour into 2 martini glasses; serve.

:: cocktail recipe and photo via The Food Channel

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RoundUp: Valentine’s Day Gifts, Ideas + Stuff.

World’s Smallest Postal Service.
Here’s how it works: You write a letter and I transcribe it onto tiny stationary (1 x 1.5 inches) with a magical transcription device. It then goes into a tiny envelope which gets addressed, stamped, and sealed with a miniscule wax seal with your initial on it. The letter then goes into a see-through folded coin case and is packaged up with a magnifying glass in a larger glassine envelope, finished off with a large “World’s Smallest Letter” wax seal. It is then put in a sturdy mailer for shipping.

Two of a Kind. (via Josh Spear)
Many rings have been exchanged that symbolize a bond between two people… but few come close to the Two of the Kind ring in the romance department. Delivered in one piece, it’s meant to be broken by you and a loved one into two, perfectly matched rings. That way, when together, you really do “complete each other”.

Nice Dream Pink 1/2 Pint Mug. (via Ill Seen, Ill Said)

Love Letters. (via poppytalk)

La La Love You poster. (via perfectbound)
“All I’m sayin’ pretty baby…” This 11″ w by 17″ h poster features a lyric from everybody’s favorite indie-surf mutants, the Pixies. Light aqua blue with magenta and white type and a cute little heart on the bottom.

Kiddie Valentines.

Heart-shaped paper clips.
A piece-of-cake Valentine project: bend regular paper clips into little heart shapes.

Get in here.

Custom Silver Bracelet.
Go ahead – say something sweet in sterling silver. Our custom bracelets are expertly cast and hand-stamped with your message.

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Roundup: Valentines.

I waited. And then waited some more. And now that February is here I’ve officially jumped on the V-Day bandwagon.

Is it a Hallmark holiday? Yes.
Does it make singles feel crappy? Yes.
Is there tons of cute stuff everywhere? Yes.

This year that last one won out. Take a look at all the pretties out there!

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Happy Valentine’s Day.

V-Day always carries a lot of pressure for me whether or not I happen to be in a relationship come February 14th. If I’m with someone there’s the pressure of what to plan, what to eat, etc. And if I’m single it’s only a day long reminder of just that.

This year – in which I fall into the latter category) – I keep reminding myself that it could always be worse. My all-time low involved a blind date which was easily one of the most awkward few hours of my life.

So on this day of sugary sweetness I want to hear your story. What was the worst/funniest/best Valentine’s Day you’ve lived to tell the tale of?

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Crayon Hearts.

I remember seeing these Crayon Hearts in Living a few years ago and now it’s the only crafty project I think of when V-Day rolls around. Mainly because I’m dying to melt down old crayons. Actually, I think these guys might be fun to make any time of year in different shapes. Erase that, any time except the dog days of summer. (Unless you want a melty, waxy mess that is.) I have yet to go through with the plan, but one day …

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Round Up: Valentines.

Valentine’s Day is two weeks from today and I’ve held off on this Round Up because new valentines keep popping up every day! So without further ado – or babble – here are my favorite valentines of 2008. (I tend to lean more towards the quirky/funny side with these cards because that’s just where my personality falls in regards to this holiday.)

16 Sparrows Valentine Cards
Together, we make a pretty badass robot.
Take those damn pants off!!

Aran Made letterpress Valentine’s Day cards
i’m trying…
i really like your pheromones
hello
run away with me…

Bella Muse Valentine’s Day cards
I want to have text with you.
Happy Valentine’s Day you saucy little tart.

Ella Studio Valentine Expressions Cards
I Fucking Love You.
Fucking Be Mine.

Earmark Invitations Let’s Fork

Orange Beautiful’s LOVE cards

Pressa Russa’s letterpress V14 cards and envelopes

Melissa Kate’s Olive You linocut card set

Tina Seamonster’s Zombie Plague Gocco Valentines Day Card

Turtle Papers’ Giraffes in Love note card set

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Scotia Made Valentines.

Valentine’s Day is exactly one month from yesterday. Although I’m a firm believer in it being a full-on Hallmark holiday, I love the sentiment and ritual of giving out valentines. Remember decorating shoeboxes or paper bags as drop boxes in elementary school? So, so much fun if you were the Artsy Kid like I was.

I still give out valentines every year and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. But who says they have to be all saccharine-sweet? Check out these ridiculously hilarious valentines from etsy shop Scotia Made. I hate the phrase, but they literally had me laughing out loud when I first saw them.

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