Happy Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day always makes me a little Romesick. Valentine’s Day has its roots deep in Italy, and so much of what we now associate with this holiday of love is deeply rooted in Roman history.
Happy St. Valentine’s Day!!
Valentine’s Day always makes me a little Romesick. Valentine’s Day has its roots deep in Italy, and so much of what we now associate with this holiday of love is deeply rooted in Roman history. St. Valentine lived in Rome and was martyred about 278 ad. But the iconography of Valentine’s Day is even more ancient.
Take Cupid — the Roman god of love and desire. He is everywhere! And Cupid can easily be confused with putti — naked, winged babies who are all over the place in Italian art and seem to be everywhere on Valentine’s Day. But they are part of an artistic tradition that is more than 2500 years old.
I bought this antique Florentine box from @vintagecollected a few weeks ago. So pretty! The image decoupaged on the top of the box is a print of a fresco from the House of the Vettii in Pompeii. This ancient piece of art shows little putti making perfume. There are three scenes in the actual fresco, but only two appear on my box: putti crushing something to make the oils, and then setting up shop to sell the perfumes. So if you give or receive a bottle of perfume today, it is part of an ancient tradition and a link to the past, too.
However you celebrate Valentine’s Day, may it be a celebration of love! 😘
XOXO
Angela
Originally posted on Instagram. Are we connected on Instagram? If not, follow me! There’s a whole lot going on on IG!
Happy Galentine's Day!
Celebrate Leslie Knope’s favorite holiday, Galentine’s Day, every February 13. It is a celebration of female friendship and sisterhood — and it is awesome!
I am lucky to have some really lovely, wonderful women in my life! I have always been the kind who has a few very deep friendships, and some of those friendships now stretch back more than 25 years. For all of my sweet girl friends cast about across the country and the world — I am so thankful!
Happy Galentine’s Day!
If you are in the dark about Galentine’s Day, well, you aren’t alone, and clearly you didn’t watch enough Parks and Recreation! As Leslie Knope says, “What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year! Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair — minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”
Here’s a little Leslie Knope joy to help you in your Galentine’s Day celebration!
Happy Galentine’s Day!
XOXOX
Angela
Awesome Halloween Costumes for Kids
Instructions for DIY Halloween costumes including no-sew options as well as a free fall printable
It’s almost here! The day of dress-up and fun for everyone: Halloween! Seriously, even my 90-plus year-old grandmother dresses up each year.
We have been talking about Halloween for months with many, many costume ideas thrown about. We have a plan for this year, but I thought I’d share a few of our favorite costumes from years past just in case you are looking for ideas! Plus I’m sharing my secret weapon for great kids’ costumes! There’s one item that I always buy, because it makes the best foundation for all kinds of costumes and dress-up play — and it is under $30.
Bambino’s Super Hero costume
But if you are a mom, I also want to offer this: your child’s costume does not have to be a project that takes a month of your time or costs more than your mortgage or will win awards on Instagram. Let your child have fun! Let them help you — or even make their own. When Bambino was three, we went to hear the symphony play Fantasia at Halloween. All of the children were invited to come in costume, and this is what he pulled together himself. He was a Super Hero and chose every piece of his outfit himself. Clearly, Marvel has nothing on the madras pants and raccoon hat! Don’t sweat the Halloween costumes! Do something creative — or not! But don’t lose the fun!
I hope you’re having a lovely fall day! If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ll know we had SNOW this morning!
Cheers!
Angela
PS: don’t forget to make your Autumn bunting! You’ll find the free printable below.
