Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

A vision board or dream board is simply a collection of images and or words that represent your dreams and goals.

There is no right way to create one. In a moment, I’ll share with you one of my favorite fun and flexible formats.

Ideas and Options for Creating a Vision Board

• A separate collage for each goal or area of your life

You can pin the collages up on a bulletin board or wall, create a book, or leave them separate and flip through them each morning for inspiration

• A collage all on one board like a poster board

• A Digital version of images

You can keep these on your desktop, watch daily as a slideshow, or put on your smart phone or ipod.

• A combination of the above

My Favorite Fun and Flexible Format for a Vision Board

In the photo above, Susan has created a wonderful vision board which is a combination of separate collages of different areas of her life and goals such as finances and health.

In addition to the collages, she has included a fun picture of herself as a child as a reminder to have fun and enjoy a bit of whimsy in her life.

She also has some empowering words that she typed up and printed out.

One of the things I love about her vision board is that it is flexible.  Each item is artistically arranged on a bulletin board.  She could easily add or remove or change any element as her goals and desires change.

What are some ways that you could create your own vision board?

Chocolate and Valentine’s Day just go together.

If you love chocolate like my family does, you may enjoy making these cupcakes and have fun playing with the chocolate decorations.

For the Cupcakes
I  used a devils food chocolate cake mix but you could buy cupcakes or a cake ready made and embellish it.

For a special touch, I added raspberries to the center of the cupcake.  Fill the cupcake tin about 1/4 of the way with the batter, add some raspberries, or raspberry jam, then continue filling the batter about 3/4 of the way for each cupcake.  Bake as directed on your mix.

For the Chocolate Decorations

I’ve done this before by melting chocolate in a baggie and cutting off a small corner to squeeze out a design.

This time, I used a squeeze bottle and had much more control over my designs.

1. Melt chocolate chips.
I put them in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until they are melted. You can also melt them in the microwave.

2. Put the melted chocolate in a clean squeeze bottle like the one pictured below.

3. Line a tray with wax paper or plastic.

Line a tray with wax paper, parchment, or plastic.  And Play with your chocolate.
You can make designs, squiggles, write names or initials, write words like Love and Be Mine.

4. Let the chocolate set up.

You can let the chocolate set up at room temperature but I usually put mine in the refrigerator.

Frost and Decorate
I made a chocolate ganache for the frosting and just dipped my cupcakes in the melted ganache (that’s why they look a little messy but they still taste good!).  You could use any frosting you like.  They would look pretty and taste delicious with a white marshmallow frosting.

Chocolate ganache is a magical thing.  It is cream and chocolate.  Just heat cream gently on the stovetop and then mix in an equal amount of chocolate chips. I only used about 1/2 cup of cream and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.

My favorite chocolate chips are the Ghiridelli Semi sweet chocolate chips.  Mmmmm.

When you are ready to serve, choose a chocolate design and place on top.  And enjoy!

My chocolate decorations got a little soft to just leave out so I waited until right before serving to put them on the cupcake so they would stay upright.  Otherwise, they kind of fell over and while it still tastes good, they didn’t show up as well.

Have fun with your chocolate and have a Happy Valentine’s Day

I picked up some of these fun cards with great quotes at Patina Antiques , a wonderful unique shop in Greenwood Village, Colorado when I was out with a friend.  I just love this quote.

One of the secrets to a happy life is continuous small treats.

How can you treat yourself and others with small little joys?