s I think about all the special people in my life, I'm reminded that romance is not about a single day nor a single gift; it's about celebrating our connectedness, sharing our lives with people who mean the world to us, even though we don't always remember to tell them. I’m a sentimentalist at heart. I keep my love letters in a pretty box… right beside the love letters my grandfather and grandmother exchanged more than a half-century ago. They’re some of my most cherished possessions, faded reminders that the power of love transcends time. Feelings live, touching others, long after the people have gone.
This Semi-Homemade Valentine’s Issue is a tribute to the joys of the heart, overflowing with wonderful ways to spread the language of love throughout your life and home. Tell that special someone how much you treasure him or her by writing a Passionate Love Letter, presented in a romantic Forget-Me-Not Keepsake Box you make yourself. The Art of the Seduction offers a titillating trio of tips for creating your own little love nest, while Sexy in Seventeen Minutes is your quickie countdown to becoming an enchantress. The Invitation of a Lifetime gives Cupid a nudge… or find the way to your beloved’s heart with my Raspberry Fondue and Meringue Cloud Hearts. Snuggle up to the best Romantic Music and Movies and watch your own evening to remember unfold.
Of course, not all loves are romantic. Friends are a gift we give ourselves. Show them how much their friendship means with Four Fantastic Friendship Finds – a quartet of sweet, sentimental gifts to make or buy. Or get together and mix up a batch of Champagne Perfume and pretty Pink Linen Dusting Powder to sweeten your next romantic rendezvous.