By 
[bigletter]Small and intimate, two words I’ve always used before to describe a perfect celebration with loved ones, right?[/bigletter]
This year I think we could all do without yet another small and intimate gathering, that is if we even have the privilege to gather. Obviously I’d desperately trade for a big event or fun getaway after almost a year quarantined from most of the people and places I love, but after all we must appreciate what we have.
So a small table for two works for me and my hubby, but I’d just as easily do something similar with a good friend or maybe even my mom who would have certainly adored this color palette as much as I do.
Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays many of us have reclaimed from the card and chocolate companies. I see it as an opportunity to remind ourselves of the love in our life, starting with self love first, all others kinds an added privilege. So as much as I happen to love a handwritten card, box of various chocolates and a pale pink floral arrangement (hint, hint Arthur) I most certainly do not enjoy the ridiculous pre-fix menu for two most restaurants force on on us, the expectation of big gift giving and of course the cheesy lingerie.
But this is America everyone, do what makes you happy.
Just please make it fabulous.
So this is what I came up with, table for one or two for two. Enjoy.
Perhaps my biggest aesthetic accomplishment this time around were the florals I arranged all by myself, might I brag?
And my husband noticed how lovely they turned out, which means a lot given his general lack of attention to detail if you will!
As always I try to pick a few different types of flowers with complimenting colors and variance in shape. This time around I found fresh pale pink roses, pink coffee beans and a small bunch in a purple shade. My advice is go with what you and is fresh at your local shop, the rest of the table will work regardless.
After seeing enough floral garlands on Pinterest I finally found a way to do it myself requiring a well known with chicken wire. Unfortunately I didn’t order any in time so I improvised with seran wrap and a toothpick, poking holes for each floral stem, above a glass tupperware filled with water. See below.
Looking back chicken wire is definitely more effective, given it has the proper wide netting fit for flower stems of all thickness, but the saran wrap will do in a pinch as long as you slim down your stems from all the leaves and extra branches first so the holes in the plastic don’t have to get too wide.
My second favorite detail were the amazing love letter cookies Jess from @jessmadewithsugar created for me. As some of you might already know, I always send handwritten valentines to my friends each year from the goodness of my heart but also because I always forget to send a holiday card. So I wanted my place settings to reflect that tradition of mine and ended up making them not just for Arthur and I but also for our parents and our dogs of course too.
Muffy and Pearl’s aren’t made for dogs but instead for me because it’s the thought that counts right?
I’m unsure if Jess’s lovely cookies are available outside of the LA area but this baker from Etsy does ship across the US.
In addition to the sugary sweet place cards I couldn’t resist making a trip over to Ladurée in Beverly Hills to pick up a plant based version of the a few favorites the world famous French pâtisserie is known, for such as the rose petal and raspberry filled ispahan, the hazelnut plaisir sucré and of course the swoon worthy box of pretty pastel macarons.
After receiving much feedback, I am fully confident vegan sweets are my husband’s love language. And outside of their animal free deliciousness, they clearly make beautiful table decor too.
As do pomegranates!
To add some warmth I used my woven placemats, bamboo flatware and a fun paper gift tag napkin I found at Bonjour Fête. I also couldn’t help getting these heart shaped cocktail napkins as well, too bad they are single use, I’d love to keep them forever.
My cocktail of choice was simple, brut rosé with perhaps too many edible dried roses sprinkled on top? I considered making this rosé sangria but wanted to avoid the sugar given how many sweets already had a seat at the table by this point!
Given all the pastries made by others, I did attempt to make something in the kitchen myself that I’d consider somewhat of a win, this meant-to-be heart shaped baked camembert. In Europe they often make camembert rinds into heart shaped molds, which I don’t believe has anything to do with Valentine’s Day but is now more than ever so difficult to find in the US.
After phoning several cheese shops in the area a kind woman at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills told me I’d have better luck cutting the camembert into a heart and bolstering it with dough around the edges. So with the emergency help of my husband I tried and got fairly close! We had baked the mold of dough for a while first, which perhaps changed the shape on one side a bit, before reinserting the cheese with some garlic, rosemary and pepper to melt inside.
Despite the shape, I still devoured the entire thing, and it was worth every bite.
We sat and enjoyed, opened the patio door and turned on the fire, grateful for these beautiful small moments and an abundance of salt and sweets.
Shop the Post
