V-day

We had such a fun Valentine's day!

My only request is instead of going out to eat, we did something that required thought and effort instead. Jerad said he would handle dinner, so I took on lunch.

For breakfast I made some homemade blueberry muffins. Beth had made some the day before and they were so delicious I had to as well. Mmmm!

Right after breakfast, my Valentine's Present arrived!

Just like I had been wanting! I was sooo happy. I knew he had ordered one, but I didn't know it would be here on V-day! Instead of getting a red one, we got the Imperial Grey since it was more of a neutral color, and matched the blender we already have:


Too bad it didn't arrive in time for me to make the breakfast muffins and brownies that were part of my present to him:

I put together a picnic lunch for us, complete with little touches like hard pear cider, heart shaped brownies, and a mini yellow rose plant (yellow is his fav color).

We have both been doing The Love Dare together, and really enjoying it.


So I bought him the Fireproof DVD and Fireproof couples kit to go along with it.


As well as a few other books and a "Just for Jack Pack" made by All Things Jill, a Canadian company.
Its a bunch of 100% natural products made with certified organic essential oils.

The PLAN was that we would take the books and picnic basket and go have a romantic picnic lunch. Well, since everything was all blustery outside, we ate at home instead:)

He wanted me out of the house while he was making dinner so I wouldn't know what it was. So... he dropped me off at the theater where I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. It was cute, but nowhere near the books I have come to adore. Why did they take them out of London? Anyways, as soon as I stopped trying to compare the film to the book (something I always do), I had a good time.

After the movie he picked me up and made me stay in the living room so I still wouldn't know what he was making for dinner. He set up our bistro table in the living room and we had a romantic little dinner in there.

There was also candels and wine, but I didn't get a pic of that

He made some sort of special chicken stuffed with fontina and covered in a brandy sauce that you get to light on fire. Also homemade foccacia (thanks Kitchenaid!), stuffed mushrooms, and a spinach and steamed beet salad.



Everything was soo delicious.

We ended the night by watching a really romantic movie in bed:

Which, actually was really romantic because it was the kind of movie that I love. Jerad will choose a romantic comedy any day, but I am all about the SciFi, scary, or action films.

It was such a great day, and I love that we stretched it out allll day and were able to do thoughtful things for eachother and ohmygodihaveanewkitchenaid! I love that boy:)

Its 9:49...

... and I'm sitting in the living room typing on my new love...
...oh and life was good

If I was only dating another girl...

I am 100% confident that Jerad won't be seeing this till after V-day so I am going to post a few spoilers.

For a long time he has been wanting a camera of his own. When I got a new digital camera last year I gave him my old one which worked great for about a week and then promptly broke. So, this is what I got him this year:
I got a great deal on it used because the owner (a starving college student) just got a new camera and needed some cash. It even came with 4 memory sticks, a telephoto and macro lenses, and other goodies. Plus since its a Sony it will work with all my old camera stuff.

Anyways, on my lunch today I decided to run to Target to pick up a card and at least one other thing for him to open. After finding a cute card (its pretty slim pickins with only 2 days to go) I wandered over to the bath stuff. Oops, I forgot who I was shopping for. Then to the candles where I found some great ones on sale. Oops, get it together Steph you're not shopping for yourself!
Then I found the bedding. There was a ton on sale. Nice bedding. Soft bedding. I have really been wanting a new comforter set. The one we are using now I have had for a few years before I started dating Jerad and its just so... purple. I have as big of a soft spot for bedding as I do dishes.


And for a guy, he really does too! I know I could easily pass off ANYTHING to him cause he will be so stoked about the camera anyways... I put two different sets in my cart before stepping back into reality and deciding not to be selfish:)

Then I got the bight idea to buy all the stuff we need to fix up the yard this weekend and call that another gift. "Here honey, my gift to you: work all day on your day off fixing up the yard while I watch cause I don't really know how to help...." Hmm, not the best present either.

I settled for this instead cause I know its something that he actually wants
I will just hold off on the bedding until we actually need it.

Then again, all the bills are already paid and it IS payday tomorrow....

The Plot Thickens

So, Jerad just called me at work and told me to leave early for V-day because we were going somewhere where we needed to dress up, is about a 45 min drive, includes dinner, and I was going to love it. Hmm, I am really tempted to check the NewTimes and Trib and see if I can figure out what it is but I will be patient and see.

You might think that it's just a holiday and I'm a little obsessed... and you would be right. I start looking forward to valentine's in about September. To be fair, I am like that about most holidays but the feelings seem to intensify about V-day. Who knows... pretty excited though!

Valentine's Day

Jerad is notorious for waiting until the last possible second to shop for presents. I believe last Christmas he bought my presents on CHRISTMAS EVE. I am one of those people who is all about "its the thought that counts." So, holding out as long as possible then grabbing the first things that catch your eye is not THOUGHTFUL to me. I am also HUGE on cards. I like cards at least on major occasions that have lots of heartfelt sentiments in them.

I always tell Jerad that my dream gift would be to wake up to a homemade breakfast in bed with a little flower and a sweet card then take a drive to the coast and walk and talk and end with a picnic lunch or dinner. Sounds great right? And its cheap and easy to do, yet requires thought and planning.

Well, for our 2 year anniversary (and Christmas for that matter) he waited till the last minute and also forgot the card. So, Valentine's Day has been looming as the "day of redemption." Currently all of our friends are getting engaged so its been really hard. We talk about getting married ALL THE TIME. We have stuff planned out, have checked into pricing for the different things/places that we want and even made a guest list. And when I saw "we" that is really what I mean, its not just me pushing for this. So, for awhile now I have been teasing him that he needs to get me an engagement ring for Valentine's, and if he doesn't, he better get me something so fabulous that I don't even care.

He asked me to print out pics of the kind of rings that I like so he is on the right track. I put together this list of TONS of rings from plain and simple, to huge and diamond clad. I told him that I don't care that much and would even love a ring with a light pink saphire for the center stone. These however, were my two fav rings:




Then yesterday he started talking alot about how we really need to get a laptop. Which is true. We only have only one computer and it is a big problem when we both have papers to write.... then he reminded me how Dell has PINK laptops. Yesterday he was on the computer for a long time researching them. He also was looking at the pink SONY and the apple ibook but we decided all I would really be using it for is my music and pictures then papers for school so I don't need anything very fancy.

So, even though there will be no "question popping," I might be getting this bad boy which would would be a pretty amazing gift!


I guess I should upgrade from the pair of v-day boxers I got him.... just kidding. I am actually stoked with his present. Kinda want it for myself and I know he is going to be really surprised and thrilled to death! Well, only ten days from today to find out...