All you need is love...

Valentine's Day... love... flowers... candy... romance...

To be honest, I can't remember the last time I had a boyfriend on Valentine's Day (probably high school...). Usually, I dread this day. But I realized recently that I can define what Valentine's Day means and I can choose how to view it (doesn't that sound very counselor-y of me to say?!). And while I don't have anyone special in my life, I feel incredibly loved and supported by my family and friends. For example, my friends put on an amazing display of love this weekend as the birthday celebration week came to an end. I am so grateful to the people who came out to celebrate me, the ones who planned it, and the ones who stayed strong all night long. For the ones who take the time to let me know how important I am to them. And the friend that patiently teaches me a new craft as I struggle, shake, and sometimes cuss along the way. And the people who call, text, and email me to cheer me up and check on me when times are tough. Are you kidding, roses and candy have nothing on that!

Today I have been surrounded by love and have purposely done things that I love. I hope to continue this trend well beyond Valentine's Day, but you know sometimes we need days like this to help us remember how to live. This is what I loved today....

I love that...

I walked to the grocery store yesterday and to the library today

I rented 3 movies for free that I have been dying to see!

I took a walk with a friend who constantly reaches out in love to others and helps me strive to do the same

I happened upon free ice cream and it was multi-colored :)

I spent the evening with some of my favorite people

I got a valentine from a dear and extremely thoughtful friend

I created (this process is always questionable) a 3 cheese sauce for my pasta for dinner and it was yummy!

I have hope....

This could go on and on...

* a little disclaimer about me...I am not always this cheery...so I must be honest and admit there was ONE thing that stood out to me that I did NOT love today.... fed ex did not deliver my Valentine surprise from my nephews. Of course, this just means that I already know of something I can love about tomorrow!

Share the love! What made/makes your day so love-ly??

A gluten free birthday

This week I continued my birthday celebrations... I have enjoyed coffee, super bowl gatherings, margaritas, cupcakes, some great music and the fun isn't over yet!

This is the wonderfully snowy view outside my window...ok I might have made up with Jack Frost after this dusting...lovely fluffy soft snow!

Ahhhh....Joshua Radin...enough said!

Shana and I waiting for Joshua Radin!

Yummy cupcakes from my co-workers

Girls birthday dinner!

This year also marks my first venture into homemade gluten free cupcakes. I am a huge fan of cooking and baking. Sometimes the results are a little questionable...but these were amazing! I found the recipe on the Today Show website. I took them to my Super Bowl gathering and even gluten eaters gobbled them up! So if you know anyone who eats gluten free, share this with them and they will love you forever!

Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 Large eggs, room temperature

2 1/2 cups gluten free flour blend (I use Jules Gluten Free Flour, available here)

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons red food coloring

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt). Mix together wet ingredients (milk, vinegar, food coloring, vanilla). Add creamed butter and sugar, mix in eggs. Alternately mix in dry, wet, then dry ingredients. Fill 1 dozen (although mine made 18) cupcake cups and bake for 18-22 minutes or until tops are just dry on top.

Cream cheese frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 stick (4 oz) of butter, softened

3 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix cream cheese and butter. Add salt and vanilla. Slowly add in powdered sugar. I also added milk as needed to thin frosting. Warning: This makes a ton of frosting!

A little Monday inspiration

Monday has never been my favorite day. Now, I know that is nothing original and you are probably thinking "yeah, me too". We all have had "a case of the Mondays" every once in a while. Well today, I'm feeling it... especially after a great weekend of spending time with family and friends. So today I thought I would share a few quotes to maybe give a little jump start to the week.

I found these little quotes in a store a few months ago. I'm not really sure what to do with them, but I love what they say.

*If we are to reach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children -Gandhi

* Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside awakes. -Carl Jung

*I want to unfold.

I don't want to stay folded anywhere, because where I am folded, there I am a lie.

And I want my grasp of things true before you.

I want to describe myself like a painting that I looked at closely for a long time,

like a saying that I finally understood,

like the pitcher I use every day,

like the face of my mother,

like a ship that took me safely through the wildest storm of all.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

And my favorite (which found it's home on the back of my door, so I see it every day)

As I read over these, I am reminded how much more I want to learn, grow, and become. This begins by getting up, getting out, and being in this world. So Monday, I am ready for you! Bring it!

PLEASE free to leave your own favorite words of inspiration in the comments! :)

Let the birthday celebrations begin...well, almost!

Tonight was supposed to be the first of my many birthday celebrations with friends. Unfortunately due to the unfavorable snow storm this afternoon, it was cancelled. While I might have enjoyed a little magical snow fall today, this winter has clearly overstayed it's welcome. It was nice in the beginning of the year to have the temperature drop and wait in anticipation to see if it would snow. Clearly that joy and childlike wonder disappeared as it took an hour and 20minutes to travel the 5 miles home from work today. Truth be told, I was kind of sick of it on the night of the national championship when the snow/ice wintery mix caused a power outage during the last 16 seconds of the once in a lifetime (I'm not kidding myself to think it will happen again) game. Or every time my pipes freeze and I call the maintenance men (we are on a first name basis). So needless to say, my frustration with winter '11 continues as the icy rain falls outside of my window.

Good news....this weather may stop celebrations but it cannot stop my birthday from coming! One of my favorite things is getting stuff in the mail, especially around my birthday. And while I may question if my friends remember my birthday, Gap, Anthropologie, Starbucks, my dermatologist, and Vera Bradley certainly have not! Take a look at the birthday loot they have sent! Looks like I have some free stuff and good deals to check out! Oh and the card is from my apartment complex.

I did have one sweet friend who sent me a gift via the UPS man. I love her,

not because she got me a gift, but because she is the BIGGEST Alabama fan I know and it was probably very painful to purchase this little sweet coffee cup.

So this gift is straight from the heart and I LOVE IT! War Eagle!

Of course, my birthday isn't until Sunday so there will be plenty of birthday fun to be had, despite Jack Frost's best efforts! It's always nice to start celebrating early and often!

Knit night!

Tonight was knit night and I love knit night! It involves crafting, coffee, and great conversation...aka my favorite things! This week we had two mother/daughter sets in our group. While my mom and I both knit, we very rarely do it together. Mom, shall I say, is quite a bit advanced compared with my skills. While I learned to knit about 7 years ago, I am still working on scarves and more recently advanced to hats.

Tonight was even more exciting because I finished my scarf! Not just any scarf...but one that I have been working on for over a year and a half. It is even more special because I bought the yarn during my amazing trip to Italy. So now I have my orange (love!) Italian wool scarf! I am so excited that the weather is going to turn cold again this week!

My lovely Italian scarf!

(please disregard my 'it's been a nasty rainy day' hair)

Heath (our lone boy knitter, we love!) & Rhiannon (the yarn whisperer & fearless leader)

My sweet friend Amy & I (with lovely Italian knit scarf)

Martha's sock (she was making sure it fit!)

The Knitting Group

Yummy carrot cake cupcakes (made with love by Amy...so sweet!)

I am so thankful for Tuesdays and knit night! Oh and I love blogs with pictures...so rest assured, if I can find a picture for my posts, I will have them!