{Guest Post}: Lindsay Martin-Nez

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we all know what that means. Hallmark cards, flowers, teddy bears and of course, delicious treats!  From those “mystery candy boxes” to conversation hearts, sweets are a staple of any Valentine’s Day celebration.  For those of you who are living gluten free, you either dread the holiday or love it. 

For those of you who dread it, you probably eye every treat from a friend or co-worker suspiciously.  After all, it could be loaded down with evil gluten.  Or, if you’re anything like me, you anxiously look forward to Valentine’s Day as an excuse for making some of your favorite treats.  I love to whip up quick and easy recipes for any occasion – all gluten free of course! 

Here are some gluten free treats I love that will hopefully inspire your inner-chef this Valentine’s Day.

{The Heart Shaped Cake}
No matter what the occasion, you cannot go wrong with a cake; especially one shaped like a heart!  Consider decorating your cake like a Conversation Heart with a cute message (“Kiss Me” or “XOXO”) written in icing in the center.  Or maybe even write a secret message to your special someone. 

For those of you who don’t like to bake things from scratch, there are lots of incredible gluten free cake mixes out there.  My favorite gluten free cake mix has to be from Betty Crocker.  Probably because it is SUPER simple to whip up and you can purchase it at your local grocery store. 

{Rice Krispie Treats}
Rice krispies are my favorite treat of all time.  Nothing is easier than mixing together butter, marshmallows and some gluten free rice krispies.  But when the holidays roll around, it’s fun to add something special. 

Strawberry marshmallows are a great substitute for regular ones – and your rice krispies will turn out pink!  (Red food coloring works for this too.)  Consider topping with white frosting and pink or red sprinkles for extra sweetness.  Or consider using a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut your treats up! 

{Red Velvet Cupcakes}
I am not a big red velvet fan, but for some reason, Christmas and Valentine’s Day always make me think of red velvet.  Nothing screams festive like that rich red cake topped with cream cheese frosting. 

If you’re looking for an easy gluten free red velvet mix, try Williams Sonoma!  Their line of gluten free products is absolutely amazing, and their red velvet cupcake mix is no exception. 

{Chocolate Covered Strawberries}
Whenever I make chocolate covered strawberries, I always convince myself they are healthy because they’re packed with fruit!  How could fruit possibly be bad for you?  But they are so easy to make and so gluten free that sometimes I find myself whipping them up for no occasion whatsoever. 

If you’re looking to try something new, why not try the mini semi-sweet chips from Enjoy Life?  Gluten, soy and dairy free, these little morsels can accommodate almost any diet! 

Bonus: for Valentine’s Day, strawberries bring an extra element of sexiness to your dessert.  Maybe consider feeding some to your special someone? ;)

I know that holidays, especially ones filled with so many goodies, can add an extra level of stress for those who are living with allergies.  But hopefully now you have some new ideas to make this year’s holiday super sweet.  Happy Valentine’s Day! 

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While we all love a dozen red roses and getting all dressed up for a big fancy dinner, sometimes it's fun to get a little more creative with our Valentine's Day plans. Below are 14 fun, different ways to celebrate Valentine's this year. Whether you're married, dating or single, we've got a little something for everyone!

{Walk and a Picnic}
Want to do something romantic, but want to keep it low key and budget friendly? Go for a stroll in a pretty park, along the beach or near the reservoir. Take along a picnic dinner. Lay out a cute quilt, grab some wine, relax and enjoy each others company!

{Backyard Bar B Q and a Movie}
Are you looking to keep it casual? Grill up your favorite masterpiece, light up the fire pit and spend some time outdoors.  If you have an outdoor television, even watch a movie outside!

{Dine at Your First Date}
It's Valentine's, so it's perfectly acceptable to be a little cheesy. Go out to eat where you had your very first date or where you celebrated your first Valentine's Day together and reminisce!

{Baseball Game}
There's nothing better than spending a gorgeous afternoon at a baseball game with good company, tasty hotdogs, and a cold drink! Both Mississippi State and Southern Miss kick off their baseball seasons at home on Valentine's Day. Take a road trip and enjoy the whole day together! You could even make a weekend of it since Valentine's Day falls on Friday this year.

{Boys Night Out}
Speaking of sports, this one's for the single boys! Head out to the local batting cages with some buddies, then go for a round of drinks at your favorite sports bar and catch a game!

{Manicures and Margaritas}
Single this Valentine's? Will your husband be away on business? No problem! Grab some girlfriends and head out for manicures. Follow it up with some tasty margaritas at your favorite happy hour.  (This idea even comes with a hashtag!! #manisandmargs ..We love a good hashtag.)

{Wine Tasting}
Who doesn't love a wine tasting? This would be a great first date or double date, as it's interactive and takes a bit of pressure off of constant conversation.

{Home-Made Pizza Night}
Making home-made pizzas is fun for everyone but is also a great first date idea! Buy all sorts of toppings and just have fun with it. It will keep you entertained and give you a chance to learn about the other person.

{Girls Night In}
Call up your girlfriends and have a night filled with all things girly: champagne, cupcakes, gossip and a good chick flick!

{Singles Mixer}
Host a party with all of your single friends and ask everyone to bring a friend with them. You never know when love may be in the air!

{Scavenger Hunt}
Guys! Do you want to really impress the lady in your life? Take a few minutes and put together a scavenger hunt. It can be as simple as a few sweet post-it notes around the house or as elaborate as you'd like! She will just love the extra thought you put into making her day special.

{Breakfast}
Do you already know that you will be working late on Valentine's night? If so, start the morning off with a surprise breakfast!

{Dessert}
Valentine's is all about the chocolate and sweets, right? Go out for yogurt or a delicious GiGi's cupcake.

{Pay the Love Forward}
Not really into Valentine's? Pay the love forward by volunteering with a local charity, paying for someone's meal anonymously or going to visit with the sweethearts at the nursing home!

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In the middle of the ceremony, the lights went down and a video began; a video telling the story of how their relationship began, a love story rooted in Christ. 

Grant and Rachael's story is centered around Christ and they just had to share. For one, they wanted a way to uniquely memorialize Grant's late father who had passed away six months prior. Second, they wanted their friends and family to know how important their relationships with God were and the major part He played in their story. They wanted everyone to know how their faith brought them together and wanted to take the opportunity to witness a bit to any guests who may have been non-believers. And lastly, they wanted everyone to know just how special the very room was that they were gathered in. Not only was it their sanctuary, but it was the very room where they met; the very room where their relationship began.

Below is the video Grant and Rachael shared with their guests; a video of a love story and how one room, one prayer and one night at Church changed their lives forever.

{Psalm 27:14}
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.