I’m very excited as today is the first of a new weekend series called Saturday Meanderings I’ll be doing with talented bloggers, Elizabeth of Pine Cones and Acorns and Juliet of Make Mine a Spritzer. Elizabeth has a wonderful way of sharing her favorite finds every weekend. Juliet and I also make many good discoveries we want to share, but don’t always have time for a full blog about them, so this will be a great way to share what we find regularly!
Valentine’s Day is just a week away and to have a little fun while we are up at our tiny cabin, I thought I’d surprise the family with a little Valentine afternoon tea when they got in from a day in the snow.
I knew they would be hungry and cold after sledding and some warm tea and treats would be nice. I made cucumber sandwiches cut in heart shapes, ( Boursin in place of cream cheese for more flavor), and almond butter and fig jam finger sandwiches. I added in some bought macaroons, and shortbread heart cookies, some strawberries and sprinkled in conversation hearts. It was the perfect little snack after an afternoon of sledding or skiing.
You could try something similar for your girlfriends, or family or sweetheart. Add in any little treats you like, but having it on a pedestal plate and a few cute heart shapes in pink or red make it fun. I was lucky to have some red plates and mugs that came with my cabin. I found these cute heart paper napkins which were perfect for the occasion. If you don’t have a pedestal plate, stack two plates with a short glass for the pedestal and use a smaller top plate for the same look.
Last year we decorated Valentine cookies here. I love making Valentines more fun.
Speaking of cookies, how pretty are these Lemon Rose Shortbread Cookies from Half Baked Harvest? I think I may try these beautiful cookies this week. They sound delicious too.
Are you watching The Gilded Age? With only two episodes in, I’m not a huge fan yet. I’m finding the characters just not that likable! Maybe that’ll change as the series progresses. I love everything about that era and the history and if you do too I think you’ll enjoy Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper. I read this book in a few days. It’s engrossing and fascinating about the gilded age and the sometimes sad and unbelievable true story of the Vanderbilt family, of which Anderson is a part of.
I found a few dresses that work for Valentine’s and beyond if you have something festive planned..
This heart tiered midi dress, and this crinkle mini shirtdress are both lovely!
I really enjoyed this home on AD this week in the Hamptons with a sunken conversation couch in denim and this wallpaper in the dining room..
I’m nuts about the Olympics and especially love the winter version. Ice skating is always one of my favorites and this year Team USA is so good. Read more in this week’s Vogue all about the amazing costumes that are constructed especially for our ice skaters like this look on Nathan Chen by Vera Wang.
I am supporting these athletes that have worked their whole lives to compete in these games. I do not support China, and have shared several things about the Uyghers on my Instagram. Perhaps the best piece to explain what is really happening there is this PBS Frontline piece. Everyone should watch and read this and know what is really happening there.
Are you starting to think (well hope) about travel this summer? I am dreaming of going back to Europe and there was a terrific post on the Rick Steve’s blog about Italy’s under the radar towns. It had me dreaming about fresh pasta and apertivo hours.
If you have younger kids you might like this post I did some years back about Griffin and I making some cool Valentines when he was small for his pals and classmates. I miss those days!
I can’t wait to head over and see what my fellow bloggers are sharing today..
Pinecones and Acorns
Make Mine a Spritzer
Hope it’s a great weekend!
Kim
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Kim, I am in love with your cosy cabin! I cannot wait to see more of this space in al seasons. It looks like the perfect place to host a Valentines tea for family and friends. I love it all!
I love the winter Olympics, the skating is my favorite too! The costumes are incredible! As for the Gilded Age, I have not watched it, but there have been a a plethora of articles about it lately. I recently came across several, this one is very good. https://airmail.news/issues/2022-1-29/an-unblessed-arrangement?utm_medium=email&utm_source=blast&utm_campaign=book_report-2022-2-3
I have been thinking about travel a lot, the first place(s) on my list is to Spain to see friends, Paris, to see friends and have a few eclairs and to Scotland!
Thank you for meandering along with Juliet and I this week, I am excited for our new series! Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy your cosy cabin.
Thanks so much Elizabeth! I can’t wait to read that article. I also can’t wait to get back out and travel. Paris for sure is on the top also. Thank you again for this opportunity to join up with you two and do this! Have a beautiful weekend. I am now going to pop over now to both your blogs. xo
I AM WITH YOU ON THE GILDED AGE!ONLY ONE EPISODE IN BUT IT HAS NOT STOLEN MY HEART!
I LOVE THE ARCHITECTURE!FIRE PLACE IN ENTRY HALL ETC………..SEPARATE BEDROOMS!!!NOW I GET IT!
MAYBE WE WOULD STOP WAKING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF WE ARE ALONE!!!
I’m KIDDING but it was A THING! I think the KING BED has replaced that NOW!
LOVE THE NAME SATURDAY MEANDERINGS……..remember I try to stay off LA COMPUTER on the weekends so you mayn’t hear from me often here!
XXX
E, What is it about that show? The characters are not endearing. Yes the architecture is amazing. I know who knows if we are woken up by some random noise from our partners??? LOL. Thanks for being here on your weekend! xo
Kim, your tiny cabin is the best … I love the glimpses of your time there. How much did you family love their Valentine tea?! Yum. I haven’t watched the Gilded Age yet. And I’ve heard many other have the same feelings about it as you. That said, it’s Julian Fellows … and a wonderful cast, so I’ll have to give it a try even if I don’t make it all the way through. I just ordered Vanderbilt and can’t wait to read it. Especially fun written by a descendant … who doesn’t love Anderson?! I’m going to be glued to the television this weekend watching the Olympics. Ice skating is my favorite sport during the games too … but I’ll enjoy them all. Curling cracks me up. And for some reason I adore speed skating. Anyhoo … its off the walk the dogs before settling into a weekend of Olympic sports. So fun to join you and Elizabeth on Saturday mornings. Enjoy your time at your tiny cabin. xo
Juliet they had fun having tea! I know Julian Fellows can usually do no wrong and why I tuned in. Hoping the show will improve. I’d love to know what you think about the Vanderbilt book. I know I’m glued to the tv every night with these olympics. We watched the curling last night. What a crazy sport! I just love all the skiing and skating so much. xx
What a great idea at your cabin!. Looks wonderful..I am not so creative. I love the skating and skiing and hope USA
does well. Such an ordeal to get there with all the Covid protocols. My brother in law just came back after a year in China
(he’s was filming a documentary). The protocols are real and mean business but he loves the people.Hope ours stay safe,
and healthy. Such dedication for them. Loved this post as usual…the wallpaper was certainly a wow ..too much ..sensory
overload for me but I live in Arizona and you don’t see a lot of wallpaper here. 😂 I want to go to Europe too but just
not ready yet hopefully by next year. Look forward to the new series.
Whoops don’t know what happened on my formatting! Sorry
Hi Char! Thanks so much about the cabin. The snow makes it look cozy. I was just watching a show about how strict they are on protocols. I saw some athletes were duct taped in their rooms until they were cleared. I know I am thinking the years, days and time put in by these athletes. I wish all of them the best. The wallpaper is a pretty big statement I agree. I hear you about Europe and I am not sure how safe I feel yet too. I hope we make some big strides with Covid this year.. Thanks so much.
Kim! What a treat for your family! And a surprise no less! It’s perfect! I love how you make every occasion a little celebration!
So ready to travel to Europe again! I will definitely check out that article, although so tempted to go back to our favorite spot!
xx
Annie thanks I think maybe I try now a harder to make anything a bit more fun considering the past two years..I’m with you on Europe. I know you have that dreamy place you love. I always want to go back to places and my husband wants to always try someplace new! xo
Three of my favorite people IN ONE SPOT on Saturdays! Another reason to look forward to the weekend!
I just finished Anderson Cooper’s book too…and we love the show (me especially).
We are going to Italy at the end of May so I am happy to have your link.
I like your Valentine’s day idea. I’m so lazy though, I never organise anything special for Valentine’s day. I think it lost something of its lustre along the years.
What a lovely welcome back after sledging! Your cabin makes the perfect backdrop for such a special afternoon tea!
Everything looks perfect! Thanks for the tip about making a pedestal plate … simple, yet so useful.
I’m with you on the Gilded Age 😞 but I’m going to keep watching ( if only for the decor and the costumes) and hope it improves as the storyline develops.
I love this idea of Saturday Meanderings and look forward to following along!
Rosemary xxx
I keep trying to like tthe Gilded Age but I don’tt like the chactters or the acting. As to China…almost always believe all the awful things you read or hear about the government. We watched a little more than figure skating but not much at all. I miss all tthw childhood things too.
Linda, I am with you on Gilded Age! Why are the characters so awful? I haven’t gone back to it. I do believe what China is doing and I hope they never get another chance to host anything until they fix their human rights issues.