happy super-valentine’s-lunar new year celebrations

Posted on February 16, 2016 by tandem in love

the day of the super bowl, we {last minute} had some peeps over.

we had been invited to a party but we weren’t really sure what we were going to do. then, we thought, why not just spend it together as a family, cook food, and relax? sounded like a grand idea, non? well that was definitely our plan! then a day before sunday, everything spurred together last minute. well, my family is always welcomed and they know that but everyone’s plans were in limbo as well. so, a small group of friends and family came on over and we had our super lunar valentine’s day party! woo hoo!

we weren’t going to see some of these people again before valentine’s day, monday was lunar new year, and obvs, sunday was super bowl. so, yes, we literally celebrated all three in one evening! haha! it was super fun!

hc cooked the most amazing items…savory, delicious meatballs, pulled pork sandwiches with a horseradish compote, and a corn salsa for dip. i made an onion dip with chips, guacamole, and everyone else brought over a dish! it was perfect for the small group we had.

we intermittently watched the game but us gals spent most of our time in the kitchen talking, while the kids ran around and played, and the boys were glued to the t.v. ya know, it all doesn’t really matter until half time comes on and then we really pay attention to the telly! ha!

[yes, we had a lunar new year, super bowl, valentine’s day party]

[please be mine]

[don’t mind the diapy sticking out. she had to be a part of the group so she insisted on standing on the chair to be with everyone]

[my lunar new year part of the decor and yes, we are still remodeling the kitchen but we are allllllmost done! yahoo!]

[the new year goody boxes for the kids]

[watching the game and eating and eating and eating]

[olive was having so much with the balloon with avery]

[yummy]

[opening their goodies]

[she would draw on the mask and then proceed to put the drawn, not dried marker part on her face. she pretty much stamped her face with marker each time she did that. haha!]

[such a modge podge kind of party! whoop whoop!]

the kids had such a great time, they loved their goody boxes, the food, and especially the desserts auntie kim brought! i must say, it was the best tri-celebration i have ever experienced, if i do say so myself. baahaha! anyhoozle, it was a fab evening. hc and i high five’d each other after everyone left. we truly love hosting and having people over and we truly had a great, great evening with everyone.

xoxo

caramel apples

Posted on October 30, 2015 by tandem in love

we love getting festive! so in celebration of halloween, i decided to use up the rest of the apples from our apple picking excursion and make caramel apples! yum!

it’s so easy and simple. just grab a few bags of your favorite candies or toppings, a few tubs of marzetti’s caramel sauce, lollipop sticks, wax paper, and your pretty much set!

first, remove any stems from the apples and then take the lollipop sticks and push it down the center, about a quarter of an inch or so. i warmed the caramel in the microwave in increments of 10 seconds to get it soft, easy to use, and coat. once the caramel is warmed up, i then take each apple by the stick and run it around in circles and coat it from top to bottom. i placed the apples onto the wax paper to run off the excess.

after i coat each apple, i then tear another sheet of wax paper to sprinkle the apples with yummy flavors. this is the fun part! i decided to coat my apples this year with reese’s pieces, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate toffee bits, and mini m&m’s! yum! you can use candy sprinkles, oreo cookies, peanut butter chips, anything your sweet tooth desires!

once i coated each apple, i then set each one into the fridge to harden just a bit; it only takes 15 minutes or less. after they chilled for awhile, i bagged each candy apple in a cellophane bag and tied it with a twist tie and voila! you’re done!

[supplies]

[for some reason, the sticks were so difficult to punch in!]

[just chill in’…hardening the caramel // graham cracker, m&m’s, chocolate toffee, reese pieces]

[the final product! yummmmmm]

there ya go my lovies! caramel apple deliciousness. i love making these every year. it’s so easy, fun, and everyone loves a good candy apple! i love gifting these to friends and family! a perfect autumn treat.

xoxo

love day decor

Posted on February 3, 2015 by tandem in love

so, i don’t usually go crazy in the decorating department for valentine’s day but i do love to jazz up the house just a wee bit. nothing big, but i like a spark of color…especially since january {and february} can be such a dreary month!

a few of the banners i hung, i made myself last year. yes…while the little babes was just a newborn. i crafted some quick banners to jazz up our house because being at home on maternity leave during the polar vortex {a.k.a chiberia} was monotonous and bland. putting color in our place was mandatory!

i totally enjoy valentine’s day decor. it’s pretty, fun, and brightens up the home! so, i placed a few banners across the living room window, it looks so pretty when the sunlight is shining through. i strung the festive strand of circle paper cutouts across a wall in our living room as well. i drew up some fun lettering and design on our chalkboard in the kitchen. i also nabbed an awesome gold heart for our front bay window! i didn’t get to snap a pic of it, but maybe later, it’s pretty darn awesome! i ordered red, pink, and white heart lights as well…but they haven’t come in yet. i want to drape it around the gold heart for a pretty, festive effect. there are still a few things coming in the mail that i will add to the decor around the house. once those items come in, i will {almost} be done! 😉

of course, i then snapped a few pics of miss olive with some delightful valentine’s day props. it was too sweet and she is too cute!

[my handmade banners…doily hearts + crocheted little circles and a hand cut paper ‘kiss me’ banner]

[die cut paper circles strung together on twine]

[my valentine’s day chalkboard]

[baby olive getting into the valentine’s day fun // that’s the gold heart i mentioned above…it was relocated to our bay window!]

[nordstrom’s baby bling headband, zara scarf & shirt, heart leg warmers, & stitches and soles latte bow moccs]

well my lovies, what fun decorating ideas do you have for this valentine’s day? it’s always so sweet to add a little festive love fun to your abode, non?!

happy decorating!

xoxo

tandem in love

{life is truly beautiful and it should be celebrated + shared.}

Tag Archives: festive

happy super-valentine’s-lunar new year celebrations

caramel apples

love day decor