Before I give you the details surrounding my “Valentine’s Day Romantic Table for Two”, I would like to bring up something that has been on my mind all week. If you’ve been following along here at redheadcandecorate.com you have probably heard me talk about my husband often, and most of you know how we are still very much in love- even after 30 Valentine’s Days (as of this year). I know being happy in love for that long is very rare, and I certainly know that 30 years with the same mate doesn’t involve luck. In fact, when someone says, “Oh, you got lucky!” I cringe 😳 because luck really has nothing to do with a happy relationship/marriage. Marriage takes work, and Rick & I are constantly “working” on keeping our connection fresh. Let me give you a personal example just for fun…
I recently read an article regarding texting. Yep…you heard that right. Texting. Most of us text often, maybe a little too much at times, and it has become my first form of communication with everyone I am close to, with the exceptions being my Mom & cats. They do not text 😀 . Now, what I learned is that texting can be very good for a marriage (“Hi honey! I miss you!”), but it also can be bad for a marriage 😯 .
To get down to the deets, the article discussed co-workers texting. I’ve never really given the “co-workers texting” thing a thought, until now. My husband is a lawyer and sometimes he does text his co-workers- usually during a crisis, and I can see why they would use that form of communication because it’s fast & simple. Heck, if I had co-workers I would text them, too. As you know, I do not have co-workers. Oh, I have blog friends where we network, and sponsors I discuss campaigns with, but that is all through e-mail, or Facebook (that’s another topic for another time).
So, the article explained that when co-workers text it can become a little “too personal, too quickly” by accident 😯 . It described how boundaries can be pushed when the co-workers least expect it. For example, if the text-er brings up an argument/problem with their spouse inadvertently, and the text-ee takes it to the next level by being kind and offers advice, or even a shoulder, that’s where an unexpected connection can surface, and it can really open up a whole new “situation”. You see where I’m going here?
All of this really began to sink into my dollar store soul, and I couldn’t help but tell my husband about this texting anxiety I was now feeling 😥 . It’s theory all made perfect sense, and it almost made me sick to my stomach. It was then that I wrote Richard an E-MAIL. He ended up calling me in my time of despair, and reassured me that he loves me, and he can completely understand why I would feel that texting is a bit too personal for co-workers. Then, he said he would e-mail co-workers from now on 😯 . He explained that it doesn’t make any difference to him e-mail or text, but he will do e-mail out of respect for my feelings.
There I was worried he would get angry and think I was being ridiculous. He did the exact opposite, and made sure I was okay.

Fill plastic shot glasses with water & faux rose and it looks real.
After 25 years of marriage I can tell you that this is the kind of “work” that goes on in a happy marriage/relationship. There’s communication, honesty, vulnerability, genuine concern, empathy, compromise, and love. Rick could care less about the texting, and just wanted me to feel respected. Well Richard, I certainly do feel respected, and I wish that for all who read this.
Now that I have your attention that off of my chest…let’s get this “date night” started. Can you guess where I went shopping???
You know me too well. The dollar store wins again. Geeze, I really wish they paid me for these posts. Almost everything on the “Valentine’s Day Romantic Table for Two” is from the dollar store just like the “Valentines’s Day Tree” from last week. Even the card for Richard is from the dollar store.
Before you beat me up for mention my unique “flatware placement” know that I put all of the goldware on the left side of the heart placemats because it fit in there perfectly like a little nook when I turned the heart placemats. Feel free to follow flatware rules, but I don’t worry about that sort of thing. Here’s another fun flatware idea if interested.
Here’s a few notes about the supplies:
-Heart chalkboard sign, placemats, red glass heart paper weights, faux roses (I cut), plastic shot glass, heart beads, heart sticks, doily/glitter hearts, and candles are all from the Dollar Tree.
-The clear glass plates, bowls, & wine glasses are thick clear glass and from the Dollar Tree, too. I may go back for more, they are very nice.
-The pink scarves are from the Dollar Tree as well, and I just folded them up to make them fit in the wine glasses. So fun!
Happy Valentine’s Day from us!
(Stay tuned I have a new pasta dish coming up next week to serve on this “Valentine’s Day Romantic Table for Two”, but if you can’t wait that long, try these recipes I hand picked for a romantic dinner for two below…)
PS: No texting during dinner allowed.

30 years ago!
Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms

Hi Julie!
A beautiful table for two, how romantic! I also really enjoyed your thoughts on marriage and luck! I totally agree, luck has nothing to do with a long marriage, it’s success and length is all about what you continually put into the relationship and a whole lot more. Cheers to belonging to the 30 + Valentine’s club!!
Thank you, Kaycee! Have a great weekend!!
Julie,
Love your tablescape – especially those scarves in the stemmed glasses. The place mats look so nice under the clear glass plates. You’ve done a fantastic job and most of us “readers” appreciate the thrifty ideas you use! Thanks so much. Hope your Valentine’s dinner is magical!
Thank you, Barbara! I almost chose white plates & bowls and then I thought no way I won’t see the cute placemats.
Oh Julie – such a nice post! And the photo of the 2 of you is the perfect end!
How did you like that red blazer? Ha ha. Thanks, Nancy!
Well how about a 40+ Valentine’s club? It does take work, but a labor of love and he is worth it. Table is beautiful. Thank you.
So true, Becky! We are both worth it 🙂
Pretty! We will be on a road trip on the 14 but will do some decorating on 13th for fun dinner.
Thanks for the recipes.
Awesome!!
Morning Julie:
First of all, how are you making out with your cold winter? So sad about all the deaths.
Wow! What a lovely table, you could use that for any date night. Just love the idea of shot glasses and fake roses too. I bought some Valentine candy a few weeks ago and I will use that to make heart shapes. Thanks again for your wonderful imagination.
Glad things worked out with hubby, I agree that texting sometimes can lead to other things.
Your picture is so cute.
Have a great Valentines dinner,
Cheers, Bette
We are finally defrosting today and we made it through! Kids were off school almost week! Back to reality. Enjoy your candy designs!!
Love your frugal tablescaoe! Just love Dollar Tree! Also love your message on love and marriage! The Bible says above all else to guard your heart andthat includes all messages in the internet and in person. We should never share our problems with the opposite sex and always seek wise counsel! Things make start out innocent but can get out of hand very quickly!
[…] time bickering driving when we can enjoy our warm toasty fire at home, and even utilize my “Valentine’s Day Table for Two” that I designed last week. Did you happen to see that yet? It’s so cute for a nice […]
What a wonderful post!
Thanks, Josh!
First love the picture of you two…….how cute! Your hair is 80s and mine was in the 70s and long…..either way hubby and I are recognizing 40 this year, and I’m truly daunted by this……hubby is very much into the technology and has a Nextbook. He is glued to it as he reads the political stuff, checks email and reads whatever entertains him. It’s like a book he can’t put down. Yet when he continued to read during our meals (all of them), I asked him to refrain because I felt ignored. He’s better at lunch and dinner, and yet still has to work on breakfast. Happy Valentines to you lovebirds!!
Julie…I hear you! Rick likes his iPad watching hunting & gun target practice videos. It relaxes him which is very well deserved. However…not at dinner lol! Thanks for your sweet comment. Loved it on this crazy cold day!
so inspirational
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