Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Mardi Gras!

The terms “Mardi Gras” (mär`dē grä) and “Mardi Gras season”, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. From the French term “Mardi Gras” (literally “Fat Tuesday”), the term has come to mean the whole period of activity related to those events.

:: photo via ffffound

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Roundup: Valentine’s Day Treats.

They say that the fastest way to the heart is through the stomach. Whether you’re looking for something for your sweetie or your friends, you just can’t go wrong with one of these sweet treats. Enjoy these eats to your heart’s content!

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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 New Year!

Thanks for stopping by from time to time in 2008. It was lovely getting to “meet” each and every one of you. 2009 can only bring bigger and better things to us all and I can’t wait to share it with you through Design Crush!

I’m signing out for the year and will be back Friday. Until then…

Here’s to 2009!

:: photo via ffffound

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