~ Hearts & Ex Voto

When you take a moment to look closely, you often see things that you miss in your daily running around at full speed. It wasn't really until only a few years ago that I noticed heart shaped beach stones, even though I grew up near the ocean and spent many wonderful hours there. For Valentine's Day especially I love bringing out this shadow box that shows off the Heart Stones along with a silver Ex Voto and an Antique Skeleton Key. It's on the entry table along with some roses, the Mercury glass heart, and one of the little silver crowns and another small silver heart. Sweet Hubby and I a very simple short vacation at the beach the year we found these, when all we did was walk the beach and swim and eat. Very boring stuff for most people today, but we thought is was perfect. During those long walks I began to notice how beautiful the shades of gray were in the shells and I as I started collecting a few for color and paint inspiration, I noticed the heart shaped stones. They remind me of the beach and a very happy time.  The pretty hearts on the entry table this year, reminding me to look for the heart in all, and to see with my heart, not just the eyes and brain.

See Y'All Soon~

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~ Valentine's Day Decorating

Mercury Glass Hearts,
Antique Skeleton Keys
and
a Simple Beautiful Rose

There always seems to be an abundance of beautiful roses for sale about this time each year. It may be that with trying to time roses to be in  the perfect pre-full bloom stage for Valentine's Day, growers have to stagger the bloom times and lots of roses are ready for market now! On the last trip to Costco's they had beautiful roses in bundles of 2 dozen for $17.  Personally I'd rather have a nice dinner or a special gift instead of sweet hubby spending a $100 more on rose delivered on Valentine's Day. The ones from Whole Foods are about the same price for 2 dozen, and so far they are holding about the same, and are opening up better. 

See Y'All Soon~

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Click on the pictures below to visit The Decorated House Shop!

~ 101+ Ideas for Valentine's Day

  

Click Picture Above To View Lots of Valentine's Day Ideas

These are some of my favorites. I try to link to

the correct & original source so you can find directions.

It's not too early to be thinking of something special and fun you would like to make

 for Valentine's Day! Here are some links to light a spark 

to your imagination.

You'll find at least 101 ideas and maybe more!

Two more to explore:

This one has lots of DIY ideas for you to try.

More great ideas and decorating, too.

See Y'All Soon~

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Click on the pictures below to visit The Decorated House Shop!

~ Black & White for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day will be coming very quickly. Yes, I know,  we just got the Christmas decorations put away. And on our morning walks, there were still Christmas trees out by the curb to be recycled yet. But still another holiday will be here soon and that means there are so many people 

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