The Simple, Subtle Way to Work a Home Bar Into Your Space

<div style="text-align: center;">In my mind, a gracious home always includes a cocktail area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This doesn't mean an enormous vinyl-covered wet bar,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but a chic little display that functions as a serving spot</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and provides an interesting vignette.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJg6jbuyzxI6HpuKSAyp5jJ4dJFoVyilKHni7D4XzBu-JLh_l6EQLYilssnY-uPHFgqEb1szO6yZhACSsgdp2hCshxDd3KYP1PT-em3t61o_H8Tq8xKPI9Qz_SQe25hmxuoyOikfSFwU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-06+at+11.29.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJg6jbuyzxI6HpuKSAyp5jJ4dJFoVyilKHni7D4XzBu-JLh_l6EQLYilssnY-uPHFgqEb1szO6yZhACSsgdp2hCshxDd3KYP1PT-em3t61o_H8Tq8xKPI9Qz_SQe25hmxuoyOikfSFwU/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-06+at+11.29.10+AM.png" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/13-jan-feb-2011-issue/pages/1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">D and I are former bartenders,</div><div style="text-align: center;">(and certainly got over-indulgence out of our systems way back when!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we rarely drink unless we have company,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then in moderation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last thing we want is to have the focal point in a room be the bar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So how to incorperate this space subtly and easily?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pop over to my guest post at <b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/projectgadabout/2011/3/5/awe-inspiring-anne-maire-guest-post.html">Project Gadabout </a></b>today</div><div style="text-align: center;">for some GOR-geous examples.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">x am</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

The Simple, Subtle Way to Work a Home Bar Into Your Space

In my mind, a gracious home always includes a cocktail area. This doesn't mean an enormous vinyl-covered wet bar, but a chic little disp...

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Yummy Hallowe'en Libations

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><img height="459" id="il_fi" src="http://www.themomsalon.com/uploaded_images/ghouls-764656.png" width="668" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Three types of drinks for three types of Hallowe'ens..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">first - the cocktail party:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Created by a Harry Potter fan,  this was named the You-Know-Who Cocktail..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Voldemort Cocktail" class="centered" height="413" src="http://www.killingtime.com/Pegu/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Voldemort-1-450x413.jpg" title="Voldemort-1" width="450" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.killingtime.com/Pegu/2009/07/18/the-you-know-who-drink/">source</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 oz black sambuca</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 oz absinthe</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 oz gin</div><div style="text-align: center;">dash lemon bitters</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">pour into shaker over ice, shake, strain into glass</div><div style="text-align: center;">garnish with lemon zest and a chip of dry ice</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">serve smoldering :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="120" id="il_fi" src="http://www.countrylifegraphics.com/item_images/free-crow1.png" width="145" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The all-ages get together:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">some Spooky Punch..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://simplystated.realsimple.com/.a/6a00d8345165de69e20120a5c37fa7970b-320wi" width="279" />     <img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/tv/ms_living_tv/2007Q1/tvs7477_xl.jpg" width="256" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Freeze juice/colored water in silicone surgical gloves, mask overnight.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mix up your choice of fruit juices and ginger ale,</div><div style="text-align: center;">add your ghastly ice and voila - spooky punch!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you'd like to add alcohol, try this version: use cranberry, orange and soda</div><div style="text-align: center;">then add 1 oz vodka into each glass, garnish with orange zest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="120" id="il_fi" src="http://www.countrylifegraphics.com/item_images/free-crow1.png" width="145" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">for the Trick-or-Treating crowd..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">after the first year of this my husband and I learned the secret to taking the kids out:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://s10.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/4AC66B81.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">fill with this:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mulled Pom-Apple Cider</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="399" id="il_fi" src="http://rlake.smugmug.com/photos/678707154_oWR8f-M.jpg" width="600" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Place equal parts pomegranate juice and cider over heat</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a cinnamon stick, orange zest, dried pears and apples</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Place in mugs with your choice of brandy, rum or port - I like spiced rum!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Share with your neighbours :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="120" id="il_fi" src="http://www.countrylifegraphics.com/item_images/free-crow1.png" width="145" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Which one will you be drinking?<br />Are you attending any festivities this weekend?<br />Any special decorating plans?<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's been a million posts on Hallowe'en decor, but I really liked this front porch, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-6946" height="500" src="http://makingitlovely.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IMG_0263b500.jpg" title="The Front Porch, Decorated for Halloween" width="500" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">from <b>Nicole</b> at <a href="http://makingitlovely.com/2010/10/26/spooky-halloween-front-porch-for-bhg/"><b>Making it Lovely</b></a> - she's entered into the BHG contest, so head over to her blog and vote!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Off to put the finishing touches on Vampire Queen and Miss Canada costumes..</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cam has decided to dress as a hockey player, and since he is one, all we have to do is choose a jersey - </div><div style="text-align: center;">have I mentioned I love that boy?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tomorrow we will carve five pumpkins (one for each of us - tradition)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and hang our mad spider collection from the porch ceiling..</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think there's about 50 now, it's becoming a bit creepy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Halloween All!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">til next time..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Yummy Hallowe'en Libations

Three types of drinks for three types of Hallowe'ens.. first - the cocktail party: Created by a Harry Potter fan,  this was named the Yo...

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Its February! Celebrate Love...

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6LyXpBZRFvdhQTVDu7hxa1wLVSgSl9yAN3XfSbQAzSmNbd_fWRg-wGZlOT0psHWfb_8jOUjh9G5AMM_rEOWAsWLNRBBEWKpzz9IdgEUzeWJEYg5C-L3xaw3HuoHoxehAPN7hrWQQapA/s1600-h/Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6LyXpBZRFvdhQTVDu7hxa1wLVSgSl9yAN3XfSbQAzSmNbd_fWRg-wGZlOT0psHWfb_8jOUjh9G5AMM_rEOWAsWLNRBBEWKpzz9IdgEUzeWJEYg5C-L3xaw3HuoHoxehAPN7hrWQQapA/s320/Heart.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">February is one of my favourite months.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just when you feel like you'll never see the sun again</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (maybe thats a canadian thing)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this day appears, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">set aside just to celebrate the love we have in our lives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">for the record, i wasn't always sappy like this,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my husband ruined me :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and my children provide me with more love than I deserve</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgZgN6lnJzb2vd2WTVBGEvqBjWTobkB2-mHAovC-y-g_3XiWpg1wlAl9A_zRqJ8_gXgi4teYwB5ORXOeWVQzGDlyRy309fB5wWLOwUzjKOHmHl-obkllm7Rd4c6w-ebQ8z-EFbY0Tum8/s1600-h/gc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgZgN6lnJzb2vd2WTVBGEvqBjWTobkB2-mHAovC-y-g_3XiWpg1wlAl9A_zRqJ8_gXgi4teYwB5ORXOeWVQzGDlyRy309fB5wWLOwUzjKOHmHl-obkllm7Rd4c6w-ebQ8z-EFbY0Tum8/s320/gc4.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwLl-5ey10rjEmzaKcTT-lhx9KX87lPpZlh0k-Fbzs4AQrRcJvoJiGOZApb9x1ZcJjRouKe6CB2Nc1FxbK_gi6zAkoYpD3ZRuV1fCxqKahqmll4hNY20burP1hGi8jq3M5s2xS3CjZ3Y/s1600-h/gc2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwLl-5ey10rjEmzaKcTT-lhx9KX87lPpZlh0k-Fbzs4AQrRcJvoJiGOZApb9x1ZcJjRouKe6CB2Nc1FxbK_gi6zAkoYpD3ZRuV1fCxqKahqmll4hNY20burP1hGi8jq3M5s2xS3CjZ3Y/s1600-h/gc2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwLl-5ey10rjEmzaKcTT-lhx9KX87lPpZlh0k-Fbzs4AQrRcJvoJiGOZApb9x1ZcJjRouKe6CB2Nc1FxbK_gi6zAkoYpD3ZRuV1fCxqKahqmll4hNY20burP1hGi8jq3M5s2xS3CjZ3Y/s320/gc2-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb1vssFkJoecIQO1Nr10GNa9rSdJ-XjO0JzdlTHXWArqeZULQ2J0j_XQZkYdmiVDqPZTHVgTtGEQ6VUX9quJvSd0XllgWzqCo88YnBvffa2uqThnO9-FLmYd4BQwv0ZQg0btLCiVBU3k/s1600-h/gc3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb1vssFkJoecIQO1Nr10GNa9rSdJ-XjO0JzdlTHXWArqeZULQ2J0j_XQZkYdmiVDqPZTHVgTtGEQ6VUX9quJvSd0XllgWzqCo88YnBvffa2uqThnO9-FLmYd4BQwv0ZQg0btLCiVBU3k/s320/gc3-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPXZ8_t7RLI5ukXUbTe5HWxaUkJf53vV6QcfsiSOn8aBLOpVhMFpjYKxrlt2ebBB8zfTuXhgJk3Z1aZG_C0szCjMOZYakUqoTX-pPnHnpa0sOos4Ss42qis46lksRji93nN2HH9BB6Ng/s1600-h/gc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPXZ8_t7RLI5ukXUbTe5HWxaUkJf53vV6QcfsiSOn8aBLOpVhMFpjYKxrlt2ebBB8zfTuXhgJk3Z1aZG_C0szCjMOZYakUqoTX-pPnHnpa0sOos4Ss42qis46lksRji93nN2HH9BB6Ng/s320/gc1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.gourmetcupcakes.co.uk/">The Gourmet Cupcake Company</a>, via <a href="http://i-heart-cupcakes.blogspot.com/">i-heart-cupcakes</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So pretty to hang in a window...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIohUOEiyAQjF8ZDDavHEPi92Wm6Sv4NirRHJQMEkjSMzpf9FbPVhIGtf2_R1NGvhqDj_5OcrE_O7Ls9BN8vY73bovab3M6Dte-OcKZrcJA5mQfwJgEwGM2_mkb_rpHFuZ89o5GAjmuaE/s1600-h/wax+paper+hearts+with+crayon+shavings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIohUOEiyAQjF8ZDDavHEPi92Wm6Sv4NirRHJQMEkjSMzpf9FbPVhIGtf2_R1NGvhqDj_5OcrE_O7Ls9BN8vY73bovab3M6Dte-OcKZrcJA5mQfwJgEwGM2_mkb_rpHFuZ89o5GAjmuaE/s320/wax+paper+hearts+with+crayon+shavings.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/crayon-hearts">Wax Paper Hearts, Martha</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LOVEly Umbrella</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5YACgRVUAQCLndIy-eFUa2ll6_t2xXARoRX5bz9JdOGop5KjTen8FH7Zl3OxJSMMVRWQ8l-0oaHi-Vy-1_cA0VfFVi9RFXZuEpvjMCJG72NI9jDGJWWllTa__cz8sXfWmKj-DU4QMZk/s1600-h/red_heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5YACgRVUAQCLndIy-eFUa2ll6_t2xXARoRX5bz9JdOGop5KjTen8FH7Zl3OxJSMMVRWQ8l-0oaHi-Vy-1_cA0VfFVi9RFXZuEpvjMCJG72NI9jDGJWWllTa__cz8sXfWmKj-DU4QMZk/s320/red_heart.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.buggybrolly.com/">BuggyBrolly</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breakfast for your Honey</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8Foty8uimo5blVwYxbBV4YvIhMz2bAdokeEkBte9MufTG5_PbQtEFB4_lFUdO7EN5Alohyy9hjsBXOG2x15Vf8X_H63Up1ylNWd6x8IhMZuZmB9puEoPNQCDwK6-LHSF4u4o6zSbxjA/s1600-h/viastylehive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8Foty8uimo5blVwYxbBV4YvIhMz2bAdokeEkBte9MufTG5_PbQtEFB4_lFUdO7EN5Alohyy9hjsBXOG2x15Vf8X_H63Up1ylNWd6x8IhMZuZmB9puEoPNQCDwK6-LHSF4u4o6zSbxjA/s320/viastylehive.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stylehive.com/">via stylehive</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04PgB6PH7MJaKUX1FDXA8GUSfhzdfhVyiz0RA3OILgAnFYqn_JBCIIjTJwWBXPUvB0Em7nLJ1xybJorGCbmCJKr_1h3cAwpyC0Vh_wJQkpsjwG_odA0SczsySfjk8jWsQBydwq-0pPME/s1600-h/etsyzuppaartistaloveonasaucer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04PgB6PH7MJaKUX1FDXA8GUSfhzdfhVyiz0RA3OILgAnFYqn_JBCIIjTJwWBXPUvB0Em7nLJ1xybJorGCbmCJKr_1h3cAwpyC0Vh_wJQkpsjwG_odA0SczsySfjk8jWsQBydwq-0pPME/s320/etsyzuppaartistaloveonasaucer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/zuppaartista">Love on a Saucer by ZuppaArtista</a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For your little darlings..my kiddies have this, theirs gives "heart hugs"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlPe7e6DrkiZuCQ7fr7-AR9lB-WQVM_ueVouJxsYI7xi8xbrwhWyVW5oFfva3X8w7T8bjd6PZCZZt5UIvzXk7ZpOGkoZaSzkD_HD396YFS0o0WeEyvyNHHWURv7zxF6Nik5K7C8M-arA/s1600-h/22946_PE033927_S3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlPe7e6DrkiZuCQ7fr7-AR9lB-WQVM_ueVouJxsYI7xi8xbrwhWyVW5oFfva3X8w7T8bjd6PZCZZt5UIvzXk7ZpOGkoZaSzkD_HD396YFS0o0WeEyvyNHHWURv7zxF6Nik5K7C8M-arA/s320/22946_PE033927_S3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/">ikea</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">Share the love with some friends over Valentinis</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 1/2 c currant vodka</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 1/4 c champange</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3/4 c raspberry shnapps</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 c lime juice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">shake over ice...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6KwrOFvs7fBP2SiHrlWVFUb7T18HrGjSSjthSWG7acnMvp-8mLox_N5tHLYZOVYzcYZl5YXnXCfxGWKJEZY5ANcxNhGSXNVuOHyD1c1mU0nDhl6FuMhGVbrdfSGMAaLdKbZnzRvHTpE/s1600-h/StrawberyMartini-230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6KwrOFvs7fBP2SiHrlWVFUb7T18HrGjSSjthSWG7acnMvp-8mLox_N5tHLYZOVYzcYZl5YXnXCfxGWKJEZY5ANcxNhGSXNVuOHyD1c1mU0nDhl6FuMhGVbrdfSGMAaLdKbZnzRvHTpE/s320/StrawberyMartini-230.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">D. and I don't give each other presents, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">we try to find some time just for us instead,</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"> but we always give cards/notes/poems</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">For </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">it was not into my ear you whispered</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">but into my heart</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">It was not my lips you kissed</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">but my soul</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">                      </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">                           -Judy Garland</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">          </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is on the painting I did for over our bed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqfx-5-jxQp5yTLNOR255yYOB_uyeSSNpjhT5s9cr0PHZbRAletWqIxg9rpQeJVOzMXPA_mf-QfSEblKb80LzSMO0s5TrbNzrxlVaeTkIwXebn1PiKHuKq2ZSPP75nn5Qrok0meq00rw/s1600-h/P1313970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqfx-5-jxQp5yTLNOR255yYOB_uyeSSNpjhT5s9cr0PHZbRAletWqIxg9rpQeJVOzMXPA_mf-QfSEblKb80LzSMO0s5TrbNzrxlVaeTkIwXebn1PiKHuKq2ZSPP75nn5Qrok0meq00rw/s320/P1313970.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXldW0mreeD50ZbMjTmtJRBFSZNyuAtvoTNGCWw9UBrgFMjgA1WrVCnxv09U-z4CK69HYuNjTd-faaid84vXRZqelXEwcqY9zDcXWYpTvHgmb6nWOE0fUXwjvxrDD17WsUBhn47YSgbs/s1600-h/P1313974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXldW0mreeD50ZbMjTmtJRBFSZNyuAtvoTNGCWw9UBrgFMjgA1WrVCnxv09U-z4CK69HYuNjTd-faaid84vXRZqelXEwcqY9zDcXWYpTvHgmb6nWOE0fUXwjvxrDD17WsUBhn47YSgbs/s320/P1313974.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">These heart-shaped coasters were given to us as a wedding present</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;"> - they're made entirely of recycled aluminum from pop cans! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">I have no idea where our friend got them - it was a while ago ;)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They have lived on our bedside tables in every house we have lived in </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- there's been a bunch.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoLvBLfmqoo7RQpqaYG7yN1TwwKTXpcJxv47QOeerP-XIqarvL5q5A_kOPBW0gjFDIXMBS3UwhJakSlmVkABbe0c96SNL2frnO73ctEZnzFT_T9VUOcKs9u-uwKIfMagdLVavUjEqYb0/s1600-h/P1313983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoLvBLfmqoo7RQpqaYG7yN1TwwKTXpcJxv47QOeerP-XIqarvL5q5A_kOPBW0gjFDIXMBS3UwhJakSlmVkABbe0c96SNL2frnO73ctEZnzFT_T9VUOcKs9u-uwKIfMagdLVavUjEqYb0/s320/P1313983.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See? I told you he ruined me!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never thought I would be a romantic..</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ps5cWxI7IBsYodefed2puHq3TWGJ4tZhAdHMbD6Tq7pi3Jp5yYoXPGxQZFmYbw92WP-LZHfnCzwWIOHUDuyOjK2AnT10zl4oYg6SZRbzbypsvMZsSnsfYqXcvrDKmDNLMjOPxereZiY/s1600-h/script-scribble-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ps5cWxI7IBsYodefed2puHq3TWGJ4tZhAdHMbD6Tq7pi3Jp5yYoXPGxQZFmYbw92WP-LZHfnCzwWIOHUDuyOjK2AnT10zl4oYg6SZRbzbypsvMZsSnsfYqXcvrDKmDNLMjOPxereZiY/s320/script-scribble-heart.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">I'd love to hear about your Valentines Day plans...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">til next time..</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Its February! Celebrate Love...

February is one of my favourite months. Just when you feel like you'll never see the sun again  (maybe thats a canadian thing) this day ...

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