Valentine's Day in the Vale House

Want to know how we do Valentine's Day in the Vale house? 

Well on Sunday Chris unpacked the groceries when I got home and found two Cadbury cream eggs that I planned on giving him on Valentine's day.  Yep.  Easter candy and four days early.  Oops.  

Our plans consist of Chris making a stir fry dinner and watching our regular Thursday night tv shows.  And I really am completely content not doing much to celebrate..  I would however like flowers or candy on a random day in the future, "just because."  

Are you reading this Chris?

Something that is much more exciting than how we celebrate Valentine's day, is a guest post from a sweet girl named Kendra.  I've read Kendra's blog for quite awhile and think she has one of the cutest families out there.  You are in for a treat.  Plus a giveaway at the end.  That is better than a Cadbury cream egg.  



Hello fellow admirers of "For Lauren and Lauren!" Isn't Katie quite possibly the most charming woman of all time? I love finding lovely blogger ladies, instantly feeling a connection and thinking to myself "yep, we'd be real life friends!" Luckily this blogging world allows us to forge friendships with one another :)

I could introduce myself by stating my name and where I'm from, but that's the boring part of me, so I'll let you get acquainted with the details first. I hate the crust on bread. I can eat a rittersport in about 1 minute and if practicing patience maybe it'll last two. I'm self conscious of my hips. I'm an organizational nutcase. My favorite fastfood is grilled cheese +tatertots+ cherry limeade from Sonic. I'm a Sprinkles Cupcakes fanatic. I studied abroad in London. I first fell in love after Jared asked me to Prom our Junior year and we were married 5 years later. I'm super frugal but don't like to sacrifice sophistication for tacky. I love taking in my surroundings and exploring every nook and cranny of any city I live in, which currently is Washington DC. And I am a mother to the two most beautiful babes, Evelyn and Warner! So, hi there! I'm Kendra. 

Over yonder on my blog, Kendra May, I love to document my experiences as a mother, our family films, and my coming of age. I remember years ago, I thought that once I got out of high school I would leave the awkward and ever-doubtful me behind because high school is the time of great self-discovery right? Then college came along and I re-defined myself. It was a better self. Then marriage. Surely, if there is ever a time to truly emerge into your own it is when you merge yourself together with another person and discover that you+him = you. You are forged together in unity and it is tough but it is beautiful. Then the two of you decide "hey, doesnt you+me+baby+baby = neverending happiness?! Let's dooo itttt!!" and before you know it you're like "hey, where'd I go in all this?" 

And so my blog is my travel log, if you will, of my road to self-discovery. Each day, each new experience, is teaching me that I am just now chipping away at who I really am and what I am truly capable of. I'm on a voyage to  re-defining myself as a mother, forging new paths, conquering anxieties, opening up vulnerabilities, testing my limits, growing patience, discovering my strengths and strengthening my weaknesses. And I blog about it all because that's what the internet is for, right? Sharing our intimate details with the rest of the world? And with Katie well on her way to assuming this role of being a mom, I can't help but be elated for her. Motherhood is one crazy world ;)

Whew, how was that for our first meet and greet, huh? A bit too deep? 
Well, if I have intrigued you in the least bit, I'd love to have you pop on over and say hello! 
Thanks Katie for having me, and congrats again!

Isn't she wonderful? I love that she married her high school sweetheart, love her cute family, but most importantly love how real and honest she is.  And yes, we could definitely be friends in real life! 

And a bonus is that she is super talented and is giving away any item from her shop, The Pink Rosette, to one lucky reader.  Enter below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway