Rushed Valentine Dinner

<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Before February ends, let me share with you the rushed Valentines dinner </b></span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>I prepared for my family.</b></span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></i><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Last Valentines, we really had no plans whatsoever to eat out. </b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>We didn't DARE TO! </b></span></i><br /><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>I didn't have anything special planned for dinner that night, but then a co-worker of mine mentioned she just ordered a Heart-shaped Pizza for her family for that day to celebrate.</b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>I didn't even know that kind of pizza existed! </b></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #990000;"><b>And that was my "light-bulb moment", I thought, MAYBE I could pull off a sweet surprise for my boys in 1 hour (because that was all the time I had from coming from work and before picking the kids up from school)!</b></span></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><i>First stop: Dollar TREE - I grabbed 4 balloons ( & some other stuff)</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><i>which I used instead of place cards.</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPBcO1cqUpK-lbl8RUCDRKwfrCPPrL-GkArhzkBq79fAbTYTOnCMj1pxx5ZaYB58T_jE_XyGw-Dy3rXZKkFtUIsfl4Jb9cZwydulVerS8W82FcLOAGV01COVHj_Vcuc9x-QwHLBmmLjw/s1600/DSC_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPBcO1cqUpK-lbl8RUCDRKwfrCPPrL-GkArhzkBq79fAbTYTOnCMj1pxx5ZaYB58T_jE_XyGw-Dy3rXZKkFtUIsfl4Jb9cZwydulVerS8W82FcLOAGV01COVHj_Vcuc9x-QwHLBmmLjw/s400/DSC_0017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was on my chair</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPoYoeU4prWuGr2vI6flMl_lCgFo2i_68EDCl3p8T9DZoSKu9kLzzjFlJHH8yKMlIIyOvyBTyFNWKmtoMGEbV166FJ6xH3Kf70SB71RYRefx_CTh1OH6SJYLCRrCZX-X3XmOag9-4qlO8/s1600/DSC_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPoYoeU4prWuGr2vI6flMl_lCgFo2i_68EDCl3p8T9DZoSKu9kLzzjFlJHH8yKMlIIyOvyBTyFNWKmtoMGEbV166FJ6xH3Kf70SB71RYRefx_CTh1OH6SJYLCRrCZX-X3XmOag9-4qlO8/s400/DSC_0019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rest of them had their names on it</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCE3AHE2d7LvtLeEzcFvF91IxvPCsC5uBIw2Q5apnmuwjVZQSljW_iFfrAdfDH-98nwFoC5Z89N8hp_4it1qnBgLJ0xA09zmE_ffueX4hXh_FsgSCFKSsMu_hyphenhyphengCH4uTQV_TYMFpkgsBv/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCE3AHE2d7LvtLeEzcFvF91IxvPCsC5uBIw2Q5apnmuwjVZQSljW_iFfrAdfDH-98nwFoC5Z89N8hp_4it1qnBgLJ0xA09zmE_ffueX4hXh_FsgSCFKSsMu_hyphenhyphengCH4uTQV_TYMFpkgsBv/s400/DSC_0018.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a short message.. :-)</td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i style="color: #990000;">I called in my Heart-shaped pizza at </i><span style="color: #274e13;">Papa Murphys</span><i style="color: #990000;"> and </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">started spinning my salad and making my dressing.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">I then baked my brownies and eventually used a heart-shaped cookie-cutter </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">(also from the Dollar Tree) to make these...</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBHiIGIHZrhVyzoCXr3G-wID9hEgpk5R4yoeRE_dgCn-wnesFsMi3PCVJTgO82eZffkU1oQFcrZ29xKxkJvlp1C7gDoxrL9GAzp9DmoBs4WrO_qznderXnNDEnOX38dE_xIzcU5uJbP8u/s1600/DSC_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBHiIGIHZrhVyzoCXr3G-wID9hEgpk5R4yoeRE_dgCn-wnesFsMi3PCVJTgO82eZffkU1oQFcrZ29xKxkJvlp1C7gDoxrL9GAzp9DmoBs4WrO_qznderXnNDEnOX38dE_xIzcU5uJbP8u/s400/DSC_0022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was gonna top this off with yummy Ice cream for dessert!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000;">Dipped my strawberries from some left-over chocolate that I had </span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000;">and waited for them to cool-off..</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7gkOzIDyxl0VFfOn8QuAHdviW4CVhYX0Ak5NNw7BPBGCe0QPv3pRzrM59XZwCa-xAKenO3F3cU_IC7tKRP6oo6NlD_0ELvHmJkn13c9APA4WM6svJYRmWh44_XbS3qW_F9SCP3Vb3VWg/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7gkOzIDyxl0VFfOn8QuAHdviW4CVhYX0Ak5NNw7BPBGCe0QPv3pRzrM59XZwCa-xAKenO3F3cU_IC7tKRP6oo6NlD_0ELvHmJkn13c9APA4WM6svJYRmWh44_XbS3qW_F9SCP3Vb3VWg/s400/DSC_0023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are as yummy as they look!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">I then started with my table setting.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Using left-over gift wrap from <a href="http://buhayatbahay.blogspot.com/2013/01/dr-seuss-birthday-party.html">Aidans Dr. Seuss Party</a>, I cut my place mats to size.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">I then added the Valentine Napkin and heart shaped marshmallows (all from Dollar tree) and brought out my milk glass collection.</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MmFmNLQ4hwEG0d-tnSUzKzEt5ZAkAgnQqZwJGyGIy4jNOX3KgdIzVSV4C6OrnUqDRVXbxS2uGnGZ0oiUY1-XnewKOg9wqrOkeOBGI5HJoq6R3u-9doAXaMShzEKnS28LNf28q2FAROu7/s1600/DSC_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MmFmNLQ4hwEG0d-tnSUzKzEt5ZAkAgnQqZwJGyGIy4jNOX3KgdIzVSV4C6OrnUqDRVXbxS2uGnGZ0oiUY1-XnewKOg9wqrOkeOBGI5HJoq6R3u-9doAXaMShzEKnS28LNf28q2FAROu7/s640/DSC_0021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">After I picked up the boys, we went straight to their weekly Piano lessons, then went to Papa Murphys to pick up our pizza! I baked it and here it is...</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmjFSBjT9yHkgH_VIzMFTWlmLvIA7rllKNBGu7k4WKuqSh5T_0ifKTtQEyLRZ74cjFbnyJFKR3mSxQy8xqVgafOWpWr_LRTUxzzZQLBpon6Waxq56MVyqEgPrLHQsHSY5K4Ux6fbbLdCJ/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmjFSBjT9yHkgH_VIzMFTWlmLvIA7rllKNBGu7k4WKuqSh5T_0ifKTtQEyLRZ74cjFbnyJFKR3mSxQy8xqVgafOWpWr_LRTUxzzZQLBpon6Waxq56MVyqEgPrLHQsHSY5K4Ux6fbbLdCJ/s640/DSC_0024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacon, Pepperoni, Green Peppers and mushroom with lotsa cheese = YuMMy!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><i>For Drinks, my husband and I had Pink Moscato and the kids had Freshly-squeezed grapefruit juice with  apple slices.</i></b></span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomT7pKOpwXswsToYLju9hrEJHlafQhq2LETgD2pfwkJtPIt7WIV3lOA54XO3m2x1QYeNGAjsOofyGLyAPKrGVbSR13YbAn5XGp2mzVWC8DfsavUk4eLCd206UEayZE3xjO0iQr_gy0bT8/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomT7pKOpwXswsToYLju9hrEJHlafQhq2LETgD2pfwkJtPIt7WIV3lOA54XO3m2x1QYeNGAjsOofyGLyAPKrGVbSR13YbAn5XGp2mzVWC8DfsavUk4eLCd206UEayZE3xjO0iQr_gy0bT8/s640/DSC_0025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course what dinner would be complete without Candle-light?!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMStmoggi7D9Y-xZp3SRnDfzmKSGcxqEw8Bfep3JQWuby71uug7xepP61oin4uHc1vCXpuTn7_EgKYAvo6pfoIaYUhUuOtIXmybZVh5SFkqLLFYYINELAHtPZmbugYW-V6Kto9fiOmG42H/s1600/DSC_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMStmoggi7D9Y-xZp3SRnDfzmKSGcxqEw8Bfep3JQWuby71uug7xepP61oin4uHc1vCXpuTn7_EgKYAvo6pfoIaYUhUuOtIXmybZVh5SFkqLLFYYINELAHtPZmbugYW-V6Kto9fiOmG42H/s640/DSC_0028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys reading their Valentine Card from mommy and daddy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o_xGE2GSA4py1qcr6hP-TsL7TgGzSqAcQdqXhFq5g87ZlfnwnywOhHlKo79Fh2Y8Q9EIQq5MnA45dDKttCOJQCIMcSligfVjqvM1OoUd6mUgxKun6cH4HKWw2ldyPIpjqJlb2RmfnM6u/s1600/DSC_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7o_xGE2GSA4py1qcr6hP-TsL7TgGzSqAcQdqXhFq5g87ZlfnwnywOhHlKo79Fh2Y8Q9EIQq5MnA45dDKttCOJQCIMcSligfVjqvM1OoUd6mUgxKun6cH4HKWw2ldyPIpjqJlb2RmfnM6u/s640/DSC_0031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired but happy mommy with her happy family!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b>My kids and husband were all pleasantly surprised </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b>and I am so glad I did this for them! </b></i></span><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><i>Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines day too</i>!</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Linking back to <a href="http://www.serenitynowblog.com/2013/03/weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up.html">Serenity Now</a></span></b></div><br />

Rushed Valentine Dinner

Before February ends, let me share with you the rushed Valentines dinner  I prepared for my family. Last Valentines, we really had no plans ...

Read more »