Happy Valentine's Day

When I was a kid, Valentine's Day was always prefaced with a week long take-over of the kitchen table. My mother would get out her boxes of special stuff, and my sister and I would sit down with her every night, cutting and pasting pictures from old cards, flower catalogues, and magazine ads. The cards would be enhanced with stickers, glitter (always lots of glitter), and doilies, before being set out to dry, then carefully addressed with colored markers and pens. After the Valentine making, the table had to be cleared so we could start in on the cookies or cupcakes. One year we had a cookie decorating party, with little bowls full of colored sugar and sprinkles and the little "Be Mine" hearts that taste like chalk.

However you choose to celebrate (or not) the day, I hope it brings you a smile, a hug from a loved one, and a good start to your week. Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Aruba, Jamaica, ooo I want to take you...

This past week was the coldest one we’ve had yet this winter, at least here in Boulder. I know a lot of the country has been fighting off the snow and ice and below zero temperatures for weeks, so we can’t complain much, especially when we have been promised (based on groundhog events in Pennsylvania on Wednesday,) that spring is around the corner. But while we all wait for the sun to return and the ice to melt away, I thought I would take this opportunity to share some of the photos I took when Nick and I were on our honeymoon in Aruba back in November. Maybe they will help warm you up a little on the inside.