a t-shirt kind of love-BB Jean Events, Bellingham WA, Wedding planner

This year will mark the seventh Valentine's Day I will be celebrating with my husband. And I'm excited. After seven years, I still get butterflies when he walks in the room, I look forward to just hanging out with him and he's my favorite person to talk to.

In the past, when it came to Valentine's Day, I would rack my brain for something new and amazing I could do for him, each year trying to top the last. After seven years, my husband has gone from being this bright shiny new exciting person in my life to the favorite comfy t-shirt, and you all know what I'm talking about-the one that's worn out from years of wearing but it's super soft from all the washes, has your favorite design on the front and is your favorite thing to live in.In the process of my husband turning into the fuzzy shirt also came the realization that sweet words and time spent together meant more then a fancy dinner out. It's an understanding that our relationship has grown into the realm of being comfortable-in a really great way. We're not trying to impress eachother, we're just happy being. We've gone from tiramisu to oreo cookies-sweet, familiar, comfortable.

So what am I doing for my husband this year? A little something meaningful, a little something he'd love and a little something sweet. A book in fact, wrapped in brown paper with the lyrics from our first dance written on it. Along with a batch of homemade oreo cookies. Nothing super flowery, over the top romantic, because that really isn't my husband. It's a cozy, comfortable, cuddly kind of Valentine for a man I'm crazy about. And I know he'll love it more then anything else I've done.

So the moral of my little story: Whether you're at the bright, shiny new relationship stage, or a t-shirt kind of love, know that roses are wonderful, chocolate is yummy but neither are as lasting as taking the time to really love and appreciate the person you're with-something we should do beyond February 14th.

To all of you out there, I hope you have a very Happy Valentine's Day and wish you a warm, fuzzy, cuddly well worn t-shirt kind of day :) XO -B

Last Minute Date Ideas

Still mulling over what to do for your sweetie on Valentine's Day? With only a few days left, we're offering up some easy and affordable date ideas to give you a little inspiration!

• Make a gourmet dinner for two, at home. Valentine's Day is best when shared so put together a tasty menu, grab the goods and spend a leisurely afternoon preparing your feast.


• Set up a scavenger hunt. Write down things you like to do/eat/see and go urban exploring with your partner through the city trying to find your favorite things. If you can enlist the help of a friend, end your hunt at home and have wine and glowing candles at the ready.


• Create your own drive-in: Get a few of your favorite movies (the more romantic the better, it's Valentine's Day afterall!), set up a pile of pillows and blankets in your living room, popup some Jiffy Pop and enjoy.
  
• Go bowling! And to make things a little more fun, place a little wager. Whoever gets the highest score gets . . .


• Pack up a picnic. If it's sunny out, pick an outdoor spot with an amazing view and bundle up! If it's chilly in your region, pack a thermos of hot chocolate, hot gourmet soup and bread, and other tasty treats that will fight off the chill. Then when lunch is done, snuggle under a blanket and enjoy the view and your company.


• Go wine tasting by finding a tasting room in your region. Learn about the different qualities of regional wines and at the end of the afternoon, bring your favorite bottle home to have with dinner (double points if you get some tasty cheeses to go along with it!)


• Wine tasting: the at-home-version. Go online for instructions on how to host your own wine tasting for two! Pick out a few bottles of what you'd like to try, prepare your own cheese plate and challenge your partner to finding all of the different flavor notes in the wine you've selected.


• Create a fondue night for two. Make cheese fondues for breads, fruit, and meats and follow that up with a chocolate fondue complete with strawberries, marshmallows and other goodies.


• Take a hike or just play outside. Try finding new trails or head up to the mountains and go sledding together or find a park and make like 6-year-olds by playing on the playground.


• Still trying to put together a night out but need to keep it affordable? Opt for cocktails and appetizers during happy hour instead. Then hit up a comedy show or dancing at a club. Cap off the night with dessert (to-go dessert perhaps) at your favorite restaurant.

Eco-friendly spin:

Just about any of these date ideas (or special evenings out) can be made eco-friendly. It's all in the choices we make. Looking for a bottle of wine? As your wine retailer if they offer biodynamic wines, choose to bring real plates and silverware along on your picnic, buy organic strawberries, chocolates and cheeses. Purchase beeswax and soy based candles (need incentive? some retailers offer soy based candles that turn into massage oil when heated) and keep the lights off (save energy+more romantice in candleglow!)

If you're still considering those dozen red roses go better by finding a retailer that offers organic or rainforest alliance flowers. Go best by offering your sweetie a potted flowering plant that will last indefinately with proper care.

Goodies in your Own Backyard

Well not literally, but Bellingham has some tasty treats if you know where to find them. Before you go to the grocery store and purchase a box of Russell Stover's for your valentine, check out these local vendors first!

Chocolate Necessities: Located on the Guide (take a right on Horton Rd and look for the awning with their name on the left) and at the Public Market on Cornwall, Chocolate Necessities offers up a full array of tasty treats. From truffles to barks they have everything your chocoholic lover might want for Valentine's Day. If you're also considering making your own goodies (like chocolate dipped strawberries or lava cakes) they have those chocolates available as well and let me tell you, getting good chocolate for your treats can make all the difference!

The Spice Hut: I was making a "chocolate basket" for a client and stopped here on a whim hoping they had hot chocolate mixes (like GOOD hot chocolate mixes). They didn't but they did have chocolate teas! That's right, CHOCOLATE tea! I made a cringing face at first but the guy who helped me said that with a little cream and sugar in your cup, it will taste like dessert. And after I smelled a few of them, I was certain he was right! It was heaven! And aside from the chocolate tea, they had over 170+ others to satisfy anyone's tastebuds and love of tea! Check them out on West Kellogg (near WCC)

Paper Dreams: I love Paper Dreams in Fairhaven! They offer fun cards and gifts for an occasion. They also offer up homemade fudge in a variety of flavors! They can literally be a one-stop-shop for your next occasion! If you are getting fudge, I would recommend getting a little for yourself as well! It's too good not to get any for you!!

Mt. Bakery: Offering fresh treats and sweets daily, there is bound to be something here that anyone will love! The offer creme brulees, chocolate mousses and tarts galore and even have individual sized desserts so you and your sweetie and each get your favorite! Find them on W Champion St downtown.

La Vie En Rose French Bakery: I have a tender spot in my heart for this place since we got our wedding cake here. And like Mt Bakery, they offer a plethora of Europpean inspired goodies to tempt your tastebuds. Location on Holly St, downtown, you can smell the tastiness when you walk inside.

Grace Cafe: Grafe is a more casual bakery/coffee shop located off of Sunset. But don't be fooled by their pies. Their pies are amazing and there are plenty to choose from! Buy by the slice or the whole pie, it's a good investment either way! Perfect warmed up wtih a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Theo Chocolates Take Two

Ok, so I know I posted about Theo Chocolate in Seattle, WA only a few months ago but the more I learn about them, the more I love them. And with Valentine's right around the corner, I'm all about offering as many solutions of sweet things to do for your sweetie and what could be sweeter than chocolate?!
Theo Chocolate has paved the way for fine confections by not only offering a tasty product, but also in proving that creating their product can also make the planet a better place to be. They have made themselves a forefront producer of fair trade and organic goodies and aren't afraid to showcase their passions. Their Jane Goodall chocolate bars are a sweet reminder to the benefits of their company: proceeds from these bars benefit small cocoa farmers and promote rainforest conservation, just to name a few perks.

But beyond their ability to work with the planet AND make a product that tastes good is the way they showcase their products so beautifully. I'm in an industry that is all about presentation so being able to find that they not only make favors for your special occasion, but they're almost to pretty to eat makes me smile :) I'm all about little surprises in the weddings I put together and as a guest discovering that you're getting a small box of exquisite treats at the end of the evening is a big reminder of how important and special your attendence meant to the couple.



If you're looking for something fun and unique to do, you may be excited to note that Theo offers a variety of chocolate inspired classes and activities. Just last week they had a movie showing of Charlie and the Chocolate Facotry (circa 1971) complete with hot chocolate and popcorn. Other activities include chocolate making classes, knit nights, sponsorship of local shows and events like Chocolate Confessions (a one woman comedy show including the origins of some of our favorite candies) and more! Just check out their website for the latest and greatest offerings.

And as for Valentine's Day, choosing to get your goodies from Theo is a no-brainer. You'll get exceptional quality from a company with exceptional values and what's in the box will taste as good as it looks! And look to Theo for chocolate treats that go beyond the box: they offer a variety of exotic flavored chocolate bars, sipping chocolates, wine pairing chocolate kits and more. Satisfying someone's love of chocolate and keeping things special and unique will never be difficult at Theo.

Spread the Love!

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, you might be wondering of ways to profess your love to that certain someone. Well if you're the type of peron that likes to keep things short (a less is more kind of person, if you will) and you feel that sweet and simple can mean more to the person you love then flowerly love letters ever could then please meet Made By Girl . Made by Girl offers you trendy, cute and succint ways to let your feelings show. And the cherry on top? The items Made By Girl offers are also eco-friendly :)