Valentine’s Day is a wonderful excuse to celebrate the special people in our lives. Whether it’s for your family, friends, or the fabulous women in your circle, a little thoughtfulness goes a long way. As always, we like to keep things simple but meaningful, focusing on easy decorations, gifts and recipes that bring joy without adding stress. Try our chocolate-covered date caramels, molten chocolate cakes or a hot cocoa bar – 3 easy chocolate treats. These treats are not only delicious by simple to make and a thoughtful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This year, for decorations, we’ve wrapped up vibrant hot pink Kalanchoe plants in burlap squares, added a few colorful ribbons and attached a felt heart for an extra sweet touch. These make the perfect make-ahead gifts for girlfriends, teachers, or anyone who could use a little cheer. Until it’s time to give them away, we like to add them to our holiday table arrangement—a win-win! The bright blooms and pops of ribbon add a festive touch to any room. We also use these same wrapping techniques to wrap up small gifts. We utilize the same ribbons (pom-pom ribbon, striped and gingham), heart design tissue paper, felt hearts, dehydrated orange slices, festive lollipops shredded paper, and cellophane bags to package small gifts (for our gal pals we added Grace & Stella Under Eye Masks, Ole Henriksen Lip Treatment, Collagen Face Masks and Hershey Kisses). To keep the celebration going, we love hosting a simple Galentine’s Day gathering. Our go-to menu is both easy and delicious. Start with a cheese board featuring blue cheese drizzled with honey, a wedge of brie, baguette slices and a few strawberries. Follow it up with a crisp, colorful salad (beet-shaped hearts are a fun extra, if you’re feeling creative). And for dessert, it’s tough to beat molten chocolate cakes topped with fresh whipped cream and raspberries. Pair everything with a light, crisp white wine or prosecco, and you’ve got a celebration to remember. To tie it all together, those wrapped Kalanchoe flower pots make the perfect centerpiece. They bring color and warmth to the table and double as thoughtful gifts for your guests. It’s a simple way to show your love while keeping the focus on what truly matters: celebrating the people who make life sweet. This Valentine’s Day, keep it easy, thoughtful, and filled with love. That’s what the day is all about!
Entertaining
No Fuss, No Frills Low-stress Girls’ Night
How to Host a Low-Stress Girls’ Night After the Holidays After weeks of holiday chaos, it’s time to unwind and recharge. What better way to do that than with a no-fuss, no-frills Girls’ Night? Keep it simple, cozy, and fun—think jeans, jammies, and lots of laughter. Here’s our perfect formula for a Girls’ Night In: No Dress Code: Invite your friends to come as they are—comfy jeans or cozy pajamas. No glitz, just fun! Simple Eats: I love making our Shookhill Spanakopita. We have provided this simple to make recipe below. It’s easy, delicious, and pairs beautifully with a good bottle (or two) of wine. Don’t stress about the rest—order takeout and let someone else handle the cooking. A Little Self-Care: Set out Grace & Stella eye patches for everyone to relax while swapping holiday stories and catching up. It’s the perfect mix of fun and self-care. Favorite Things Gift Exchange: Add a little extra joy with a “favorite things” swap. Each person brings a simple, inexpensive favorite gift to share. Only do this if it doesn’t add any stress for you and your group. This is not meant to add post-holiday stress. If you have a group of friends that don’t exchange holiday gifts, this is a great option. We have a small group that started this tradition years ago. We look forward to our Favorite Things exchange every year. Some of our favorite gifts have been – Diva Wash, Maldon Salt, a portable charger with built-in cables, and an immersion blender. This year the gift is a wrapped Amaryllis bulb and attaching a little surprise treat (shhhhh….). A no-fuss, no-frills, low-stress girls’ night is the ideal way to decompress after the holidays. It’s easy, thoughtful, and a great way to catch up with your friends. So, pour the wine, enjoy a piece of spanakopita, and make this week about relaxing, recharging, and sharing laughs with your friends.