Valentine's Day Decor and A Free Printable

E.E. Cummings has long been one of my favorite artists. He was a prolific writer, painter and poet. His body of work encompasses approximately 2,900 poems, two autobiographical novels, four plays, several essays and numerous paintings and drawings. But today, I wanted to share one of his poems....

                                                                                                                            ....you may recognize it.

Lavender Rice Filled Felt Heart Hand Warmers

Okay, I'll admit it, I haven't really had much use for these this winter. Other than one week in early January, we've been enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures in Illinois this winter. Heck, it was SIXTY FOUR DEGREES today...      
                                                                                                .......No kidding.

Cream Filled Chocolate Sandwich and Sugar Cookies

 I took part in  my very first cover shoot this morning.

                                                                                     In my kitchen.

Actually, I was the baker, the stylist and the photographer. I pretty much was the shoot...

                                                              ...me, and a couple of  my favorite Martha Stewart cookie recipes.

Lavender Milk Steamer {Recipe}

As promised, here's a quick post to share the recipe for drink that was in the photo that I posted on the Facebook page Friday afternoon. (See below)

Lavender Milk Steamers are one of my favorite warm drinks for cold winter days (and nights).

Valentines Day Mantel (Easy Decorating}

There's nothing I like more than free decorating. Yes, you read that correctly...free...zero dollars. Made from supplies that I already had on hand.  (Let me apologize in advance for the bad humor...keep reading....you'll know why in a minute.)

Vintage Valentine's Day Dining Room Decor...and a Love Story

I'm a hopeful  romantic.                
                                            I have been, for as long as I can recall....

Yep, all the way back to the first time that John Fowler arrived at the bus stop on my very first day of first grade.

Announcement: I'm a Contributor at Fox Hollow Cottage!

I'm thrilled to announce that, beginning today, I'll be a Monthly Special Contributor over at my good friend Shannon's blog:



I'm excited to  finally  be able to share the news! Simply click on the photo below to be taken to my very first post at FHC!

I'd love it if you'd visit me there but don't worry, I promise that I won't let you miss a single thing right here at Serendipity Refined!

xo,

Dollar Tree Valentines Day Heart Wreath Tutorial

Dear Really Nice Lady wearing a cute retro green wool coat in the south Chicago suburban Dollar Tree at lunch time on Wednesday,

Hi! It's me the woman in the yellow jacket that you probably thought was stalking you.  I wasn't. Honest.
I was just loitering wandering around the Dollar Tree on my lunch break from work.

I realize that I may have seemed a little distracted. I was thinking about Valentines Day and looking for a little inspiration so really, I wasn't following you for the better part of an hour even though it may have felt that way at a couple of different points during our "mutual shopping excursion".

Valentines Day Heart Paintings and One of Life's Lessons

Did you grow up with the Beatles? I did....well, sort of...

You see, I don't actually remember the Beatles, although I'm guessing that I probably saw them on television.

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecakes with Chocolate Hearts {Recipe}

I'll bet that you've been wondering about what I did with the mini peanut butter cups that I mentioned in last week's Secret Santa post,  haven't you?!

Chalkboard Tags, An Advent Wreath and Overdue Thanks

According to my BFF and the guide to my daily behavior, Emily Post, 
 (insert the sound of laughter and my family and everyone else who knows me rolling on the floor laughing)  
"One has a year to write a thank you notes for wedding gifts".  So I kind of figured that I was okay....even though this note (and one other that I'll share soon) are a couple of weeks late.

Basement Make Over Reveal and My New Year's Resolution

Maybe you can help me with a question that I've been mulling over for the last couple of  months:
                 
                           What is it that defines the lower level of my home as the "man cave"?

Can anyone explain it to me?  Ever since we moved into our home ten years ago, the basement has been the guy space.  In the beginning, I could understand.