A Heart Filled Girls Night and Sunday Morning Coffee

There are some evenings, especially a heart-filled girls’ night, that fill your heart so completely that you find yourself smiling about them the next morning over coffee.

This past week, I had one of those nights, a Valentine-themed girls’ night that reminded me just how special it is to gather around the table with people you love.

A dining table set with floral plates, pink napkins, silverware, a vase of pink flowers, two lamps, and rose petals, in a bright room with large windows.

Season 6 Volume 6

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

A collage with a house exterior, a kitchen, a door with a wreath, text "Sunday Morning Coffee," and a Christmas ornament labeled "The Santa Family.

About Me

A wooden dining table set with floral plates, glassware, pink napkins, a lamp, and a vase of pink flowers, with rose petals scattered around.

A Heart Filled Girls’ Night

My best friend Maryliz was in town, and that alone was reason enough to celebrate. Life gets busy, schedules don’t always align, and time together can feel too rare. So when she arrived, I knew I wanted to host something simple but meaningful. What started as a casual dinner quickly turned into what I suppose could be called a Galentine’s night … full of hearts, flowers, laughter, and long conversations that felt like no time had passed at all.

A wooden dining table set for a meal with floral plates, glasses, cutlery, and pink flowers; a bright kitchen is visible in the background.

I set the table with a soft, romantic feel, using layers of pinks, whites, and natural textures. The table itself did so much of the work. There’s something about a thoughtfully set table that immediately sets the tone for an evening. It invites everyone to slow down, sit a little longer, and enjoy the moment.

Bouquets of pink flowers and green foliage are wrapped in plastic and placed in a shopping cart, partially visible with a package of Kellogg’s Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts in the background.

Four glass vases filled with pink roses and tulips are on a wooden table. In the foreground, pink roses in plastic wrap and green tulip stems are visible.

The flowers were all from Trader Joe’s, one of my favorite places to grab beautiful blooms without overthinking it. Soft pink roses, tulips, and greenery filled simple glass vases and ran down the center of the table. I even scattered a few petals for an extra touch of whimsy. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated, just flowers doing what they do best: making everything feel special.

A table setting with a pink floral plate, white dishes, silver cutlery, pink napkin, and a centerpiece of pink flowers and greenery on a wooden table.

Dinner was relaxed and delicious, the kind of meal that doesn’t require rushing back to the kitchen every five minutes. We lingered over plates, refilled glasses, and talked about everything: family, projects, dreams, memories, and the funny little things you only share with a close friend. Those conversations are such a gift, especially when they happen naturally and without an agenda.

A close-up of a table set with floral plates, woven placemats, silverware, pink flowers in vases, and glassware, suggesting a decorative dining setting.

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Cream Melamine 11″ Dinner Plates

Four round plates with different floral patterns in shades of pink, green, and cream, each featuring various arrangements of roses and leaves.

Gracie China Rose Chintz Porcelain 8-Inch Dessert Plate

A white plate with salad on a round woven placemat, with a fork and knife on either side; five additional woven placemats are shown below. — Brown Woven Placemats Round Set of 6

What I loved most about the evening was how easy it felt. No pressure. No perfection. Just a warm, welcoming space and the joy of being together. Sometimes the best gatherings are the ones that come together simply, with intention but not stress.

A dining table set with floral plates, pink napkins, woven placemats, glassware, and vases of pink flowers in a bright, elegant room.

A stack of folded pink cloth napkins wrapped with a brown paper band labeled "INFEI Classic Napkins Set of 12," perfect for Valentine table decorations.

Pink Linen/Cotton Napkins, 12

A five-piece silverware set with ornate handles, including two forks, a knife, a tablespoon, and a teaspoon—perfect for enhancing your Valentine table decorations and arranged elegantly side by side.

Wallace Antique Baroque 65pc, Silver, Service for 12

A clear wine glass with a gold rim at the top adds a touch of elegance, making it perfect for Valentine table decorations.

Gold Rimmed Goblets, Set of 6

The next morning, I kept thinking about how much that night meant to me. Hosting doesn’t always have to be a big production. It can be one table, one friend, and a handful of flowers. It can be spontaneous, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.

A wooden dining table set with floral plates, pink napkins, a fork, a glass, a vase of pink roses, and decorative lamps, in a well-lit room with framed photos on the wall.

This heart-filled girls’ night reminded me why I love entertaining so much. It’s not about the table settings or the flowers — though those certainly help — it’s about connection. It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for.

I already know I want to do it again soon. Maybe another girls’ night. Maybe a different season. But definitely another reason to gather, set the table, and make space for the people who matter most.

Six women pose together indoors, standing and sitting near a table with bottles, a lamp, and a potted plant, with large windows in the background.

Here’s to friendships that feel like home, evenings that linger in your heart, and slow Sunday mornings spent remembering how good it feels to share a meal with someone you love.

Two clear glass tumblers with pink rims and pink bow designs on the sides, placed side by side on a white background.

2 Pcs Pink Bow Icon Juice Glass

A brass table lamp with a round white fabric shade and a cylindrical base, turned on and illuminated. — O’Bright Seraph – Cordless LED Table Lamp

A stack of round, pink plates with a beaded edge design; one plate is standing upright, displaying its full face. — 12 Pcs Metallic Bead Charger Plates

My Latest Project

Personalized Clay Heart Ring Dishes

Three textured, heart-shaped clay ornaments with the names "KRIS," "LESLIE," and "ROBIN" stamped on them, surrounded by scattered rose petals on a light wooden surface.

I’m excited to share something a little extra special today — Personalized Clay Heart Ring Dishes. These are very similar to the clay heart dishes I shared in my earlier post (if you haven’t seen that tutorial yet, you can find it here → https://my100yearoldhome.com/clay-heart-ring-dishes/), but this time I added names to make each one unique.

These have a dual purpose! I used them as place cards on my table, and they are also clay heart ring dishes, and a wonderful gift for each of my girlfriends.

They turned out so sweet and are perfect for gifting, party favors, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or just a little everyday love on your dresser or nightstand.

If you’ve ever been intimidated by working with clay, don’t be. This project is easy and fun, nothing fussy or complicated, and you can personalize every piece with just a few simple tools.

What I love most is that these feel handmade in the very best way: beautifully imperfect, meaningful, and made by hand.

What You’ll Need

A heart-shaped clay piece with an intricate pattern, a metal heart-shaped cutter, and a patterned rolling pin on a white surface.

To make these heart ring dishes, you’ll need just a few basic supplies:

Air-dry clay (I used white clay — it holds all the texture beautifully)
Heart cookie cutter or a heart template
Letter stamps for names
Texture tools (you can use my favorites here)
Rolling pin for texture
A flat work surface
A round dish or styrofoam clay mold
Acrylic paint
Gold paint pen for edges (optional)
Mod Podge
Clay Glaze

A 10 lb (4.5 kg) package of AMACO Air Dry Clay, labeled as white, with product and manufacturer information on the front.

AMACO 4630-2B Air Dry Modeling Clay

Heart-shaped cookie cutters

18 Assorted Acrylic Paint Colors, 2oz each

Plastic cutters for Air Dry Clay featuring yellow grids with numbers, pink grids with uppercase letters, and several blue, green, and purple strips, all arranged on a white background.

225 Pcs Cookie Letter Number Stamp Set

A box of 10 wooden texture rollers with unique patterns; a circle inset shows hands using one roller on clay.

Clay Texture Rollers

An embossed rolling pin with a floral pattern lies beside three cookies imprinted with the same floral design on a wooden surface with green leaves in the background.

ROSES Em bossed Rolling Pin

Mod Podge
Waterbase Sealer

A small, white bottle labeled "Clay Glaze" with a blue label indicating it's a gloss varnish. The label shows art-related icons and states the volume as 100ml/3.4oz.

Air Dry Clay Varnish

A set of green plastic letter and number stamps, shown arranged in a tray and used to spell "LOVE" on a round clay surface.

Alphabet Stamps for Clay

Unlike traditional clay that requires firing in a kiln, air-dry clay cures at room temperature, making it perfect for beginners and for crafting with kids.

Step-by-Step

A clay heart with an embossed swirling pattern rests on a ruler-marked fabric surface, with purple and yellow plastic tools nearby.

A textured clay heart with a rectangular indentation is beneath a purple tool with yellow letters on a grid mat.

1. Roll the Clay
Start by kneading your clay until it’s soft and pliable. Then use your rolling pin to roll it out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Keep the surface smooth and even so your hearts will lay flat.

2. Cut Your Hearts
Use a heart cookie cutter or a paper heart template to cut out your shapes. I like to make a mix of sizes so the dishes feel layered and playful when displayed together.

3. Add Texture
Before personalizing the names, I pressed a silicone texture mat lightly into the surface of each heart. This gives them a subtle, swirled pattern that shows up beautifully once dry.

4. Personalize with Names
This is the part that makes these absolutely charming. Use small clay letter stamps to press each name into the center of the heart. I also made one for each of my daughters-in-law and my granddaughters, simple, sweet, and personal.

Take your time with this step. Press the letters evenly, so they imprint clearly, but don’t worry if they are not perfect. The handmade look is exactly what makes them special.

5. Shape the Dish
To give each heart a slight bowl shape, gently lift the edges up over a small round object, a styrofoam clay mold, a lid, a cup, or even your fingers, so it becomes a shallow dish.

6. Let Dry
Air-dry clay usually takes 24–48 hours to cure completely. Make sure they are fully dry before you move them or add any paint or finish.

Final Touches

Five heart-shaped clay ornaments with embossed patterns are laid out on a white surface, with a paintbrush and some white paint visible at the bottom.

Once dry, these personalized clay heart dishes are ready to be used. I painted mine with just a light whitewash paint to soften the surface and let the texture and names stand out. And I added gold on the edges with a gold paint pen. You could also paint them in soft pastels, add gold details, or seal with a clear matte varnish.

Why I Love This Project

What makes these ring dishes irresistible to me is not just how they look, but the intent behind them. Each one holds a name — and once gifted, becomes a little treasure. They’re practical, heartfelt, and beautiful when styled on a dresser, bathroom counter, or nightstand.

Best of all? They’re easy to make. You don’t need years of clay experience, just a bit of clay and a little creativity.

If you make these, I’d love to see how you personalize them! They are such a sweet way to show someone you care.

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What Worked This Week

A close-up of cooked shrimp on a bed of avocado and rice, drizzled with oil, served on a white plate.

The menu for this party was incredible.

And believe it or not, I found the recipes all online.

Honey Lime Shrimp and Avocado Rice Stack

Asian Flank Steak with Scallions and Sesame Seeds

Thai Cucumber Salad – Martha Stewart

Except for the dessert, as I shared it earlier this week on my blog.

Three small cups with pink bow designs filled with dessert, topped with chocolate drizzle and chopped peanuts, on a light wooden surface.

A stack of four pink ceramic ramekins with white interiors, next to two more ramekins, one upright and one on its side.

Ramekins 6oz Oven Safe

A beige nonstick pan with lid, a wooden spatula, and a metal steamer basket, all displayed on a white background. — Our Place Always Pan 2.0 | 10.5″ Ceramic Pan

Four white ceramic heart-shaped ramekins are stacked in pairs against a plain background.

6 Pcs Heart Shaped Ramekins

Finalize dinner ideas for Friday Night Dinner Party
Finish two weeks of A Handmade Spring Crafts
Get ready for Girls Week at the Beach

A table setting with pink plates on a decorative white charger, gold cutlery, a gold-rimmed glass, and pink peonies in the background.

Check out these Romantic Inspired Place Settings. Wow.

A dining table set with gold-rimmed plates, wine glasses, pink napkins, and a floral centerpiece featuring pink and peach flowers, placed near large windows.

Check out this Valentine’s Day Table with Pink and Gold.

A round blueberry cobbler with a missing slice sits on a white cloth, with a fork resting in the empty space on a marble surface.

This Overnight Baked Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal is amazing.

Spacious kitchen with checkered tile floor, large arched window, black cabinets, marble backsplash, wooden island with stools, and white and gold range.

This Dreamy Kitchen and Boot & Flower Room is to die for!

Two frosted sugar cookies with colorful sprinkles are stacked on parchment paper in front of a glass bottle of milk on a wooden surface.

You are going to love How to Make Perfect Sugar Cookies Every Time from The Idea Room.

Pink Water Glasses, 4

A stack of glossy red plates with a beaded rim design, reminiscent of Valentine table decorations, neatly arranged with one plate standing upright at the back.

Red Beaded Charger Plates – 12 pcs

A set of rose gold cutlery, perfect for Valentine table decorations, includes a fork, knife, tablespoon, and teaspoon elegantly arranged on a white background.

40 Piece Copper Silverware Set

And what a week it was!

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