14 Days of Valentines Day: on day 14 express your gratitude and love to them...

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Tamara Matthews-Stephenson is the creative talent behind Nest by Tamara, a captivating journal dedicated to interior design, history and lifestyle inspiration. With a passion for design and a keen eye for aesthetics, she shares her expertise and insights. Tamara has established herself as a prominent figure in the world of interior design and her design philosophy is rooted in the idea that a well-designed home can elevate the quality of life, combining beauty with functional everyday living. Her blog is a testament to her dedication to helping readers achieve this balance. Beyond her writing, She is also an accomplished interior designer who is known for her talent blending diverse styles which has earned her a loyal following and recognition within the interior design industry. She has worked on a wide range of projects- from luxurious urban homes to cozy beach houses. Additionally, she is the Creative Director and Owner of root cellar designs, LLC, an artisan line of textile and wallpaper sold exclusively to the design industry. She designs and manufactures her wares in the United States and sells her line through trade showrooms around the country. Connect with Tamara Matthews Stephenson through email at rootcellardesings@gmail.com and at nestnestnest.blogspot.com for weekly stories, or through her fabric and wallpaper designs at rootcellardesigns.com and embark on a journey to transform your living spaces.

Posted by Tamara Stephenson February 14, 2012

14 Days of Valentines Day: on day 14 express your gratitude and love to them...

Happy Valentines Day!

let's talk about love for a second...

we have all heard the tune -

"diamonds are a girl's best friend"

and

this single blue box can illicit squeals of delight from women.
Entire movies have

been written about shopping

or a box of chocolates, maybe champagne?

men continue to court women,

and we can certainly be "wowed" by extravagant gifts...

but hold on to that thought for a second,
because I'm waxing poetic when I contemplate that someday
we'll walk through those later years,

and quite frankly I don't think I will remember a necklace, chocolates or beautiful purses. Don't get me wrong, I love nice stuff just like everyone else,
but here's a secret...shhh, lean in gentlemen because I will only whisper this one time for fear of this spreading too widely, but honestly at our core we women mostly want you to be thoughtful and appreciate us. As corny as it sounds, it is wonderful when your loved one remembers your favorite ice cream flavor, or brings you a glass of water just because you look thirsty, or when your newborn is crying, and he takes a shift. How about the times he lets you sleep in on Saturday because you had a tiring week?

We would gladly forgo the other perks
(well, maybe a teenie little diamond here and there just to keep up appearances), for those kind, loving, daily affirmations that show you love us. This is how love grows over time.

my trusty camera may be my very best material object as it is my memory catcher,documenting the many fleeting moments as they fly by.

Poof they're gone in an instant...

I look at my family growing and changing by the second,

and I realize how each moment needs to be relished.

May I suggest we take time this Valentine's Day to think about what makes us truly happy in life, and count our blessings...I for one, can simply tell you there are three people who complete my Valentine's Day,

and some of the seemingly inconsequential moments I've shared with all three have been the most important moments of my life.

It's not the big events that come to mind,

but those quiet times, sometimes captured by the camera lens.