Set the Mood this Valentines Day

Valentines day is next week.  Are you ready?  Last year in lieu of going out to a restaurant, I decided I wanted to prepare a special meal at home.  It was beautiful, we were alone and not in a room full of strangers, I controlled our food quantity and seasonings.  I saw this on my husband's calendar several weeks ago "dinner with Cindy", so I am now thinking about what to do.  If he is planning something, I would not want to rob him of his blessing.  I may do my meal on Sunday, but we do go out often.  We actually just got home from a week in the sun with a couple of special dinners out.  When ever I do make our special meal, my menu has not been decided; but I do know I will be making Red Velvet cup cakes 

(especially since I found silicone heart shaped cup cake molds).  

The following link is a blog with a very interesting recipe~~ http://bestcupcakerecipes.blogspot.com/2009/02/red-velvet-cupcake-recipe.html.  

Had I not found the heart molds I think I would be making Red Velvet Whoopie Pies (I'll try it some other time) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cousin-jonnies-red-velvet-whoopee-pies-recipe/index.html.  Well, enough about me and what I will make, this is for you.

We all want to set the mood for romance, don't we.  We will fix our hair to our best ability, put on our 

make-up, his favorite dress or outfit, light a scented candle (by the way...if you are preparing a scrumptious meal and filling the house with great aroma of cooking, you don't want to compete with it), set the table with your good china.  It doesn't have to be a complicated meal.  A simple Shrimp Scampi (look on line for recipes~~you should be able find a simple one), some grilled or roasted asparagus topped with some slivered almonds, salad of cut up avocado, tomato (about equal parts), a little arugula, thinly sliced red onion or shallots on top, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Just make it something out of the ordinary and it will be special.  I almost always google recipes, read several and come up with my own ideas from what I see.

Now, if you are in the season of life with young kids at home, you may need to be creative for a solution for a romantic evening alone.  How about trading kids with a friend on Saturday and Sunday night; you will each have one quiet night alone.  When the kids are over, opt for chicken nuggets and pasta salad with broccoli and bow-ties or mac and cheese.  With a little bit of advanced planning, you can set the mood for a quiet romantic evening at home, whether it be on Valentines Day or any other day.  You have all that is needed for a timelessly beautiful evening.  Make the magic happen.  Have a truly beautiful celebration of your love.

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; 

and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) 

of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. 

1 John 4: 7 Amplified Version 

Don't Sweat the small stuff

Why is it that stress and holding bitterness are linked to so many health issues?  We are told that God's grace is sufficient for us.  Sometimes we just might have to say "but how can it be?"  Back in the 1980's, if any of you remember him, Richard Simmons was very popular at encouraging people to loose weight (whether you liked him or not, he did do it).  A phrase he often used was "Don't Sweat the small stuff".  It is no wonder, stress is actually a factor that will cause weight gain.


If you are  trying to loose weight, one suggestion is to use relaxation techniques through out your day, especially when you find yourself in a stressful situation.  Weight gain, belly fat especially, is also attributed to cardiovascular disease among other illnesses and disease.  So, if you are trying to loose that extra weight you put on over the summer (from all those bbg's perhaps), one key factor is to get rid of stress in your life. Of course, you still need to eat proper nutritious food and exercise, but hanging onto stress will also hold on to the weight.


Neither is holding onto bitterness something to take lightly for your health and wellness; it is actually a cause for stress.  If you are harboring ill feelings, you need to let go.  To everything there is a season--A time to keep and a time to let go.--Ecclesiastes 3:1,6 These words were in a song back in the 60's, funny it was an anti war song I think; I never knew the lyrics were actually adapted from the Bible.  Wise words to hold on to.


Many times bitterness comes through someone in our life, from a envy or the seed of pride. There are times that it seems as though the Lord puts someone in our lives like that to see how we deal with it.  He wants to see us forbear, not hold bitterness or be judgmental.  Simple words, yet often so hard; let go and let God.  We need to just be there, to be ready for refreshment and renewal, to love and accept.  It may be you seem alone through the process, but the important thing for you to do is let God deal with it and you just keep loving while you trust He is there. Oh, that is really hard sometimes, but God does give us what we need to do that.  You may have to think on other things, to consciously focus elsewhere, but do what you have to be happy and cheerful ~~ "A cheerful heart is good medicine.--Proverbs 17:22"   Pray for strength to get through and pray for what or who ever is challenging you.  God will make a way for you.


Yes, forgiveness, love, beauty traits from within.  Timeless.