Valentine's Day Table Setting 2016

Years ago, we decided to forego the Valentine's Day hubbub of trying to find, (and pay for), a babysitter, make reservations, stand in lines, eat overpriced meals, and instead, I made a "fancy" family dinner at home.  It has become an annual tradition.

The kids probably don't care one way or another at this point, but every year, I set the table and make a meal, complete with cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and dessert, all with a Valentine's Day theme.
(Last night after writing this, The Kid made several very sweet  comments to me about these types of dinners I do for them.  I guess they notice after all.)

I know the food wouldn't necessarily have to be anything extravagant, but I like to make special things that I wouldn't normally bust out on a random weekday.

I'll share this year's entire menu with you in a separate post, but today I'm throwin' the table setting out there.

You know by now, that I hate buying a bunch of holiday or themed crap that just ends up in a garbage can.

So, as usual, I dug through cupboards and drawers to set the table this year.

The only non-edible thing I purchased was the mini rose in the center of the table.

It was at the entrance to the grocery store and I just couldn't help myself.

It was less than $4 bucks, so I figured it was my gift for slaving away in the kitchen for two days.  ;o)

My aunt just recently gave me the red glass ice bucket, so I plopped it down, pot and all, inside of that.

I found the red and white, and black and white, placemats at the Dollar Store last winter.

I pulled out a couple paper lace hearts, also from last year.

The little bottles got sprigs of flowers from the yard.

I put tea lights down inside two dessert dishes from my sister.

The multi colored napkins are one of my absolute favorite things, but I only have three, so I mixed in two others that I made, exactly like these, a couple years ago.

The old salt and pepper shakers have warped lids, but I still love them.

The little red plastic hearts came home with The Kid from a project at school.

The paper heart straws in the kids' glasses were in my stash - I think they originally came from Target's dollar bins.

I put the treats on the table for color.

I have no clue what pigs have to do with Valentine's Day, but they were pink and cute, so....

I even baked a pie!

From scratch!

And on a fluke, the bottle of wine I had open matched everything.  :)

The banner was from The Girl's Ladybug Birthday Party yeeeears ago.

I threw it up on the wine cabinet for fun.

And there ya have it.

Another Valentine's Day family dinner at home.

I'll be back to share all the yummy food!