I'm so happy to welcome Blooms by the Box back with their 2nd in a series of how-to floral videos. Previously on the blog, Diana showed us how to create a beautiful ranunculus centerpiece. Today, Diana is here to show us how to create a trendy and romantic bouquet using the same flowers plus hydrangeas. Today's wedding flower trends are being driven by light, whimsical flowers such as the ranunculus, peonies, and garden roses. This DIY will show you how to replicate this popular floral design trend but on a budget.

Flowers featured in this video include: light pink o'hara garden rose, pink romantic antique garden rose, white ranunculus, pink ranunculus, mini green hydrangeas, peach rose versilla, italian ruscus, and green + peach hypericum.

Since we're just 2 days away from Valentine's Day, I wanted to share with you my favorite ideas that I have recently pinned on pinterest. And, you know what? The ideas include not just paper and crafting goodies - but yummy sweets as well.

1. Who needs real flowers for decor when you can create a paper heart bouquet? 

2. It's easy to attach your love notes with these clothespin love arrows.

3. Place an everlasting rose at each place setting with this printable PDF of Red Paper Roses & Leaves.

4. These Raspberry S'more Macarons are beyond cute and I love the heart shape.

5. The Cranberry Cookie Pops will look sweet as a cookie bouquet or wrapped individually as gifts.

6. These Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies are just too adorable and so clever.

7. You won't get a cavity from this super adorable Ruffle Cake Valentine's Box.

For even more inspiration and ideas - please visit my Valentine's Day Ideas and my Valentine's Day Sweets on pinterest. 

Today's it's all about hearts on the blog. Coming up a bit later, I'll have ideas for a Heart Wedding Theme. But, first I have the simplest of ideas for Valentine's Day. Simply take a small glassine bag, fill with conversation hearts {or candy of your choice} and seal closed with washi tape. I used a heart paper punch and added hand written sayings to them to resemble the hearts inside.

Other ideas include . . .
1. write your guests name on the heart {or another shape} and have a bag at each place setting
2. write thank you on the tag and have the bags serve as a favors
3. you can even use rubber stamps if you'd rather not hand-write

I personally think the tags look super cute when attached with mini clothespins. And, looking beyond Valentine's Day, these little candy bags would of course make cute place setting favors for showers or weddings - you can even color coordinate the tape and candies to the party.

above photos by Brenda {that's moi}

With Valentine's Day next Thursday, why not try something out of the ordinary and spice-up your Valentine’s evening menu with some delicious, yet simple, meals from the Central American country of Belize? You can bring some tropical flair to your dining table this year with a spicy Valentine's menu to heat up your body, heart and soul. These recipes and more can be found in the first hardcover cookbook from Belize entitled Flavors of Belize: The Cookbook. I have the full recipes for you today, along with a printable menu {available both with the following menu or left blank with spaces for appetizer, main dish, side dish and dessert - see end of post for the link to download your menu}.

Download Printable Dinner Menu for 2 | Download Blank Printable Dinner Menu

Each menu is 4.25 x 5.5 and comes with 4 up on an 8.5x11, simply trim in half both
vertically and horizontally and you will be all set to present at each tablesetting.

PS: Are you loving the red lip stamp and "Valentine" type as much as I am? Well, they are available for download from Ex over at Creature Comforts. She created them as Valentine Themed photoshop brushes along with a few other "love" themed sayings.

I'm so excited to share this post with you today as it's the first video tutorial I've ever posted. Not sure how that's possible, but I'm hoping to have more videos to share with you soon. Blooms By The Box has just released a new video called "Make a Romantic Ranunculus Centerpiece". The arrangement is made step by step in the video below and with the antique colored greens, soft textured flowers, and hard textured fillers, the perfect shape and holistic style is created for romantic garden weddings.

The vintage style milk vase was found on etsy and the flowers include pink & white ranunculus, o’hara garden rose, romantic antique garden roses, peach versilla roses, hypericum berries, seeded eucalyptus, and Italian Ruscus.