Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

Valentine's Day used to be for lovers, right?  When I was a kid in elementary school, we gave out little paper cards, and somebody's mama would bring in cookies and juice.  This all took about half an hour out of our school day, and then we went right back to our math worksheets.  We knew that grown ups might have a night out on the town with champagne, roses and chocolates because Valentine's Day was primarily about romantic love, something that we, as 4th graders, had no interest in. Somehow this has all changed.  I do not have issues with the fact that the holiday has metamorphosed into a day that embraces children as well as lovers, but I do think that we have taken Valentine's Day for children way over the top.  Yesterday at school my kids had parties that included elaborate games (Cupid's archery, anyone?), craft projects, a sugar-laden refreshment buffet, and scads of trashy, plastic party favors.  The kids all gave each other not only paper car...

Happy Valentine's Day, Y'all!! Love is Something Meredith  |  Myspace Video

Last weekend Sophia informed me, "I cannot wait to make Valentine's cookies with you!" I was all, "Say what?  Valentine's Cookies?"   And then I searched my memory for a time in the past when we had made Valentine's cookies and came up with nothing, but she insisted that cookies were called for.  And apparently I didn't take much convincing.  I dug up my best sugar cookie recipe, and we all got down to business last night. EVERY girl wanted to be involved. It turned out that this was a pretty excellent way to spend a Friday evening. And we all "felt the love" before it was all said and done. Now about that recipe... Best Ever Sugar Cookies (Courtesy of the Family Fun Cookbook guaranteed to 'unleash the creative cookie monster in anyone.') 1 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cream of tartar In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar u...

I spent most of my Valentine's Day in the kitchen with one of my favourite little sous chefs. Sophie found this recipe for white chocolate/ raspberry jam tarts in a magazine. We made them from scratch, which took a bit of work, but they were so pretty and so very tasty.... Lili provided the entertainment this evening. Who knows why we all found her profound interest in the bowl full of foil covered chocolates so very enchanting, but we sure did! "We are all a little weird, and life's a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutual weirdness and call it love." --Author Unknown "Come live in my heart and pay no rent." -- Samuel Lover Never has there been a baby more adored!