a few things

valentine's day is my favorite holiday. {ok, besides christmas}. i love that it's a celebration of love! usually my blog is pretty plain jane, but with vday coming my excitement has spilled over onto my background. this month is adorned with love birds and sweet sentiments, best. why vday rocks my socks: it's a holiday everyone can celebrate. seriously, everyone has the capacity to love. growing up my mom always made a big deal out of it. not just for my dad, but for her kids. we always got sweet cards and little gifts. it made me feel so special and loved. when i was 13 my dad gave me a red carnation {bleck}, it was the sweetest. heart decor. flowers and chocolate. even if you have to buy them for yourself. my mom makes heart shaped chocolate biscuits with strawberries and whipped cream, i've missed them the last few years but last vday i made them with my roommates. even if you don't have a "significant other" the list is a mile long of people and relationships and love that can be celebrated. those people who say it's just a hallmark holiday and commercialized etc. etc. etc., pish-posh. every holiday is commercialized. embrace it.

also, had a great weekend. saturday i had brunch with my dear friend allison at alice's tea cup. It's an alice in wonderland-themed restaurant/tea room. The food is great and it's just so dreamy and whimsical. We saw a little girl there with her daddy {sweetest}, she got sprinkled with fairy dust and was so thrilled. it warmed my heart. after brunch we flea market shopped in the 15 degree weather, ouch cold. but i scored a lovely vintage clutch.

that night i made dinner for my honey. let me just share this super easy and impressive recipe. spaghetti squash with sage and walnuts: cut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds & season with 1/4 t. each S&P. place 1T. butter and two sage leaves in hallowed-out core of each half. bake the squash at 400 degrees for about 1 hour, or until soft. remove and let cool. scrape the meat from the skin using a fork and set aside. in a large sauce pan over med-heat melt 3T. butter. once melted, add 1/2 c. chopped walnuts. toast the nuts and allow the butter to to bubble {about 1 min.}. add 15 fresh sage leaves. when they release their aroma and begin to crackle {about 1 min.} add the squash and stir to coat with butter and warm. season with more S&P serve with fresh parm. lastly, i've gotten a little hooked on the bachelor. i blame a few people. my cousin ashley because she posted about the girls on her blog and made me curious, my friend ashley because she started watching it on hulu and inspired me to do the same, and living 40 minutes away from my church because now that i'm caught up it's just so much more convenient to sit home on monday night and watch it rather than driving to connecticut for fhe. i'm pulling for tenley. she's so sweet.

xo, nic.