Happy Friday, Friends!! After two days of intense posts, I'm ready for something light and sweet!! Valentine's Day is just a week away, and I am sooooooper excited!! Holidays are a big deal around here. We bake, we craft, we read, we dress, we dance for our favorite occasions. I like to keep a Valentine's day Pinterest board stuffed full of great ideas (although most of them will never get used) so that I can plan something new and fun for our family to enjoy each year.
Here's a few things that I'm hoping will make this year's festivities memorable!
Great stories that capture the spirit of any holiday are a must in this house. I found a huge list of a variety of books online, and really appreciated this compilation of Real Love Read-Alouds from Not Consumed.
For the little ones, an active game such as this Heart Hopscotch from Toddler Approved is a great way to exercise gross motor skills and practice counting at the same time. And, its *easy* to make!!
I'm loving this Musical Hearts Game from No Time for Flash Cards. I honestly think our whole family will end up playing it...and laughing the entire time. Get out your love jams. Steve and I are making a playlist today. So far I've contributed "I Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie and the Blowfish. You know you love some Hootie!
Last year the boys wrote a Love sensory poem from Calico and Cupcakes, and I'm going to do it again this year, because their answers were so precious. The lines say, "Love sounds like.....Love feels like.....etc." My favorite answer was "Love smells like BACON." Mmmmm Hmmmm!!
I always make something crazy good for our Valentine supper, something that requires a dress code of elastic waistband attire, but the kids would just as soon eat mac 'n cheese if only they could have their fill of the sweets. I thought it might be cute to give them each a box (or small decorated brown paper bag) filled with this Strawberries and Cream Puppy Chow from Life, Love & Sugar for dessert.
Even though I won't be indulging this year, I thought I would make my lover a fun little cocktail to enjoy before dinner (and maybe steal a couple of sips!). 15 Love Cocktails for Valentine's Day from All Yummy Recipes has a fantastic list of sippers, and I really want to try them all. Gin and Jam is the one featured here, because Hendrick's Gin is my faayyyvorite!
Homemade gifts, to me, are the best gifts of all. These Heart Candy Jars from The 36th Avenue might take a bit of time, but I think they would make really sweet teacher or grandparent gifts. As a bonus, when the candy runs out, the jar would make a perfectly lovely candle holder! The tags are FREE to print on the website as well!
This is our lil' Charlie, dapper in his Love Day duds at 11 months. I discovered this adorable top from Antsy Pants on Etsy and couldn't resist. The company has lots of sweet clothing for boys, and a great variety of sweet attire for many holidays.
Why do I have this here?? I haven't polished my nails since 2001! But, I think if I had girls in la casa we would be all over this Valentine's Day Mani from the Beauty Department! Mucho cuteness! So, for those of you who have girls, I say go for it!
Okay, I confess I cannot resist these Knit Boot Toppers from Etsy. Aren't they so cute? They also come in grey with red hearts, which is my pick. Yes? No? What do you think??
This Crayon Hearts from Martha Stewart craft has been circling the web for a couple of years now, and I've always wanted to do it, but have never tried. Now that most of our crayons in the classroom are worn down to little stubs, or broken in pieces, I think it's a good time to make it happen! They will be so pretty hanging in front of a window...until someone's mysteriously curious fingers rip them down, grind them into the carpet, or try to eat them. Okay, maybe I should rethink this one!
♥ For the Heart: {One of my favorite quotes of all time....}
Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility..... It is therefore able to undertake all things, and it completes many things, and warrants them to take effect, where he who does not love would faint and lie down. Love is watchful and sleeping, slumbereth not. Though weary, it is not tired; though pressed, it is not straitened; though alarmed, it is not confounded; but, as a lively flame and burning torch, it forces its way upwards and securely passes all.
- Thomas A Kempis (1379-1471) -
How are you planning to celebrate?
Do you have a favorite craft, book, recipe or gift idea?
We'd love to hear it!
We celebrate lots of holidays and special occasions but rarely do much for Valentine's day. Sometimes I make a special meal but that is usually the extent of it.
ReplyDeleteSee, I don't need to browse Pinterest, I just come here because you've already done all the work for me. Thanks, Susan!
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