the way to their heart...

 What could be more romantic than having a lovely home baked breakfast treat ready for Valentine's morning?

In continuing my quest to create yummy foods with low to no fat for my mom to make for my dad (his post stroke low fat diet), I've found a way to make a scrumptious coffee cake that has virtually no fat.

Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

1 box of Krusteaz brand cinnamon swirl crumb cake mix

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup of applesauce

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Toppings:

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 packet of maple brown sugar or cinnamon instant oats

Mix all of the ingredients (except the brown sugar and oats) with the packet of cake mix in one bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix the topping packet with 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1 packet of maple brown sugar instant oats.

Pour 1/2 of the cake mixture into a greased 8 x 8 pan.

Then sprinkle 1/2 of the topping mix over the batter.

Cover the filling layer with the remainder of the cake batter.

Finally, cover the top of the second layer of batter with the rest of the topping mixture.

Place the cake into a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. I begin checking mine at 35 minutes. Once a toothpick can be inserted and come out cleanly (meaning there is no more uncooked batter on the toothpick), the coffee cake is done!

This coffee cake can be baked the night before. It is almost better the second day! Each serving has approximately 1-2 grams of fat.

CLICK HERE

for a link to purchase Krusteaz boxed mix.

* also available in gluten free!

It's an easy and delicious way to start your Valentine's Day.

Let the people around you know how much they mean to you by doing small acts of kindness. It's not about expensive gifts, it's about gifts from the heart!

Happy Valentine's Day...

all my love,

hand sewn hearts

 Although rainy days are a rare occurrence here, especially this time of year, I like to be stationed in my sewing room. It seems like the perfect reason not to be in my garden.

Right now my heart is thinking of love. So why not make some Valentine's Day vintage fabric hearts. Normally I make these hearts in all neutral colors and I sew on an antique key. I call these the "key to my heart" mini heart pillows.

But these are a little different. I've been saving this wonderful old cotton and linen table runner. Although there are stains, I loved the vibrant colors of the floral design. So I cut out as many hearts (roughly 6-8 inches each) as I could, trying to carefully avoid the stains. They are filled with batting and I added small pockets on each.

All of the pockets have a hand stitched message of love and include a small ephemera card so a personal message can be written inside.

No two hearts are the same because the way I cut the fabric from the table runner. And each little pocket is different as well.

The extra tiny pockets can also be used as tooth fairy pillows for wee ones. It's nice because the "fairy" doesn't have to fish the small tooth out from under the pillow of a sleeping child.

The slightly larger pockets can hold a letter, photo or gift card.

I had great fun creating these small puffed heart pillows.

If you are inclined to make handmade gifts for family and friends, this project is very simple. It's great for beginner seamstresses.

Nothing beats a handmade gift from the heart. After all, most of us are not out doing a lot of shopping right now.

I wish you...lovely projects for rainy days.

romantic ephemera

 February is the month of romance.

Personally, I think romance should be a part of our lives every day all year long. There is something about love. It should have great importance in our world. Not just any kind of love but romantic love.

As Valentine's Day approaches, I like to look through my collection of vintage Valentines. There is just something about ephemera that fills my heart with joy. The old paper, the script, the use of language and the stunning graphics in radiant yet aged color.

Not only do I love to incorporate these tiny works of art into my decor, but I love to read the letters.

The next thing I know, I find myself hopelessly lost in a daydream in lives lived decades ago.

Several years ago, I styled the guest bedroom of my Sanibel house for a Valentine's Day magazine photo shoot.

Red transferware is another lovely addition for a Valentines vignette.

And I simply can't help myself, seashells are a part of every design and every season.

This certainly inspires me to add a little extra romance into my world. I think tonight is a good night to watch my favorite version of Cinderella (the 2015 film adaptation).

CLICK HERE

to watch the trailer.

Enjoy!

valentine's day

For those of you who visit my blog, you know that I try to practice what I preach. Live a slow paced, simple yet beautiful old-fashioned life. If it can't be everyday, then it should at least be on special days like Valentine's Day.

Here are a few ways I try to incorporate

romance into the day...

 

 

Wear something that will make you feel beautiful.

Add elegant jewelry or a flower in your hair.

 

Hand write notes or cards

to the special people in your life.

 

If you're having dinner at home,

set a gorgeous table.

Even if you order take-out!

 

Make something from the heart.

It doesn't have to take long.

Just make a batch of cookies

and decorate them in a lovely way.

 

Last but not least, make a heart-warming bed.

The perfect place for sweet dreams!

 

Happy Valentine's Day

from my house to yours!

 



sweet treat

A house full of fresh flowers and sweet treats could be any day of the year at my house, but it's super important to have these essentials on Valentine's Day!

 

Here is a quick and easy recipe for a homemade candy that is a little salty and a lot sweet!

 

What you will need...

pretzels

honey roasted peanuts

cashews

melting white and milk chocolate

 

 

You can keep the nuts whole or do a rough chop and break the pretzels into one inch or less pieces.

 

Then melt the white chocolate or almond bark in a microwave safe container according to the directions on the package.

 

Mix the cashews, peanuts and pretzels into the melted bark being sure to completely coat everything as evenly as you can. Place the cookie sheet into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

 

Next, melt the chocolate almond bark in a

separate microwave safe container. 

 

 

 

Melt the chocolate bark and stir well until it will run in a smooth consistency off of a spoon.

 

Gently drizzle the melted chocolate over

the chilled white bark mixture.

 

You can use a toothpick to thin the large puddles of chocolate.

 

For a little extra sparkle...

 

...sprinkle decorative silver sugar over the warm melted chocolate.

 

 

Place the cookie sheet back into the refrigerator for another 30 minutes until the bark is completely hardened.

 

Use a butter knife to break the bark into bite sized pieces.

 

 

From my treasure-trove of vintage dishes I decided to use the red and green transferware to serve my sweet homemade treats!

 

It looks good enough to eat!

 

Serve up your treats to those you love. You can even place a little cellophane around a teacup full of candy and wrap it with a ribbon to give as a homemade Valentine to someone special!

 

I hope you're inspired to make something this Valentine's Day!

  

feeling the love

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought I would share one of my collections with you as well as how I like to display my treasures.

 

 

Most of my cabinets are filled with white Ironstone and Transferware. So adding my vintage souvenir shell boxes is a seamless fit.

 

I also have some beautiful old ephemera including postcards, letters and prints. My collections come from thrift shops, flea markets and yard sales.

 

Filling a single cabinet makes for a splendid

and eye-catching display.

 

The vintage shell floral arrangement is a spectacular

addition to the collection!

 

Each tiny trinket box is a little different.

 

One tip to creating a visually interesting display is to create levels within the vignette. I always look for mini shelves and cubbies like this... 

 

Most old shell boxes have a red velvet interior but my heart flutters when I find black!

 

They are such a beautiful addition to the

black and grey Transferware.

 

Some little displays come together naturally like these 3 flat zig-zag shells on a beautiful antique plate!

 

Whether you have a single postcard and a shell or two or an entire collection like this, I hope you are inspired to get them out and display them this Valentine's Day!