With winter in full swing and the holidays behind us, it's not only time for a new year, decluttering, organizing and clean up, it's also time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. Here at Old Fashioned Living we have plenty of ideas for you for this festive holiday, so be sure to check out everything in this issue! We welcome your feedback and comments, so please feel free to add your two cents at the end of this newsletter by clicking on the word "comment".
In This Issue
Kitchen: Chocolate Cakes
Crafter's Attic: Patchwork Keepsake Box
Home and Hearth: Household Uses for Vinegar
Tea Time: Valentine's Day Tea Party
Garden Path: Forcing Bulbs for Winter Beauty
Chocolate Cakes
Chocolate cakes are always perfect for Valentine's Day!
For garnish add small candy or chocolate hearts on top of the cake, or along the plates edge. Sprinkles are nice too. There is always a reason for chocolate cake!
To see the recipes, please visit Chocolate Cakes on OFL.
Patchwork Keepsake Box
The patchwork look is a fun way to create affordable country crafts and can be accomplished with ordinary crafting odds and ends. You can make a beautiful valentine keep sake box using a heart shaped inexpensive, paper crafting box, left over fabric, lace and antique buttons!
Here is a list of what you will need.
To get the instructions for this pretty box please visit Patchwork Keepsake Box on OFL.
Household Uses for Vinegar
Besides baking soda, vinegar has to be one of the best household helpers. It's non-toxic (though you should still keep it out of reach) and it's inexpensive. Today's tips use the plain, white distilled type of vinegar.
Since you won't be using it in food, buy the cheapest vinegar you can find. It can be used plain, though as I've mentioned in other newsletters, I think it's nice to infuse it with any extra herbs from the garden.
To read the rest of this article please visit Household Uses for Vinegar
Valentine's Day Tea Party
Each Valentine's Day our house is full of hearts, teddy bears having tea, straw hats with big red bows, and more homemade Valentine's cards than I can count.
We start decorating in January soon after I take down the Christmas decorations. It's a month of love and laughter in our family.
The Menu
This is a simple menu, which can be made ahead of time. The sandwiches should be fresh, but making them the morning of the tea is fine. The spread can even be prepared the night before.
To get the recipes visit Valentine's Day Tea Party on OFL
Forcing Bulbs for Winter Beauty
If you are like me and go through a little bit of a blue period in the winter when you can't garden outside, then you may want to consider forcing bulbs.
You can do this with daffodils, hyacinths, snowdrops, tulips and crocus, among others.
Read the rest of this feature by visiting Forcing Bulbs for Winter Beauty on Old Fashioned Living
If you don't already receive our daily tips via email, check out Old Fashioned Tips to get something new 5 days a week!
If you need more ideas for Valentine's Day, click here
Please visit www.oldfashionedliving.com for all sorts of great tea recipes, crafts, gardening advice, home & hearth and plenty more! Our site has been recently redesigned, so if you have trouble finding anything or just have a comment, please click comments below and leave us a shout! :)
