Showing posts with label valentines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label valentines. Show all posts

Vday with the kiddos.

So it's fair to say valentines day with kids is very different than valentines day for couples. I have to plan 2 entirely different itineraries for us with the kids, and for when the kids go to bed. I love valentines day! I know a lot of people hate it and its not nearly as fun when you are single but even than, I loved it. It brings people together. It doesn't matter if you are just there to love your cat...you find a way to be more appreciative of your cat on this day. It's just a great day, I feel this way about most holidays. It's a way to remember, cherish, and celebrate.

Each year I get the kids a pair of socks and fill it with treats. Ussually I find socks that are striped or have hearts on them however, I dropped the ball and waited till the last minute so instead I bought them new white and gray socks and we colored hearts on them instead. It actually was a lot of fun and I might try it again in the future.

 

5 tips for planning holiday fun.

5 tips for celebrating the holiday fun (specifically valentines)

I am no expert so please take this with a grain of salt. You have to do what works for your family and the one thing I have learned over my short life, is that what works for one person, does not work for everyone. Either way though, I feel like I should share what helps me plan my holidays and keep traditions going, specifically valentines day. To do this, I have created the top 5 tips for celebrating valentines day successfully each year.

1. WRITE DOWN each valentine tradition that you want to continue each year. This will not only help you stay organized but also help you not forgot what needs to get done each year. Most of us just wing it each year putting together what we have time that year for but with a small list for each holiday on what you would like to do, it can help keep those traditions going. Specifically for Valentines Day, my family and I always get Chinese take out each year and we rent a movie for the kids and one for us after they go to bed. We also stuff a pair of new valentine socks with treats for the kids when they wake up. It is a way to include everyone for this holiday. We also dip chocolate strawberries. Now you see, their is no way I would remember all of this if I did not have it written down.

2. Look up yearly events to add to your itinerary. About a month before valentines day, start looking any events being held that could be fun. Look up events at public libraries, and on your city service site. You can also just type in "valentines day fun in (place where you live). This is something you can do for all holidays too. After you have a list of ideas, decide which ones you will attend and put them in your schedule.

3. Decide on your menu. Deciding early is key. Often if you wait too long, you will not get what you want done plus if you plan early, you can do a few leading up to the holiday to get kids, and family excited. I decided this year to try chocolate ice cube tray strawberries and I am looking into decorating heart cookies. Also, I have a special breakfast planned the morning of valentines day. The truth again is, If I didn't plan ahead of time (like a month ahead), it wouldn't happen. If you need some inspiration, I suggest pinterest.

4. Include one easy family craft for each holiday. We chose to make spray on tissue paper window hearts this year and it was so fun and such a success. The key to choosing a great craft is to make it simple, good for all many age groups (if you have more than one child), and open for interpretation. Children like to create and they don't follow step by step instructions very well so you have to choose an activity or craft that can be interpreted, changed, and created in each child's own way.

5. Think about specifically what your family can reasonably make happen and what you can afford. We all love pinterest these days and its so fun to look at everybody's creations and life and try to copy that. The truth is, you can't create and copy everything and make it fun for your family just because it was fun for another's. you know your kids, your husband, your busy life better than anybody else and so you have to decide accordingly to what you can handle and what you can afford. Budgeting, and planning ahead of time helps. You don't have to do 20 crafts, and make a whole feast of food for each holiday, maybe you just do 1 thing total each year for each holiday and no food. What works for you is fine, just think about what you can handle and what your family would like.

 

 

 

 

 

Tissue Paper Window Hearts

I saw this great post on DIY tissue paper decorations at getcreativejuice.blogspot.com. She used fabric starch to make tissue paper stick to windows. I have been wanting to put paper hearts on the windows but I didn't want to just tape them up cause they wouldn't look as cool so I was glad I found this post. She (the blogger from get creative juice) created a really cool mural for Easter.
Ok so basically you cut up the hearts with tissue paper and then you hold the hearts to the window and spray the fabric heavy starch spray and wipe the excess. The get creative juice blog offers a better tutorial with pictures. I want to leave the credit to her so be sure to see her creation too!
getting ready for valentines day!
 

candy flower treat.

this is such an easy idea. I used extra cupcake wrappers from our ice cream treat cups and flattened them out.

an ice cream love treat


simple as all my projects are: An Ice Cream Love Treat.

3 Easy & Fun Valentine Crafts!

valentines day crafts and fun--


$1 Valentines Door Sign
I have no valentines wreath and really not much home decor either. I bought these glitter board hearts & signs on clearance last year after valentines.
They were only $1.00 a bag on clearance which held a pack of 
4 hearts or 2 letter signs. While many of you won't be able to find them on clearance anymore, I saw some very similar ones at the Dollar Tree and I saw the almost exact same ones at Walmart. They were $1 each sign. I punched holes in the sign and hung it with left over ribbon. that's it! so simple right?





simple as all my projects are: An Ice Cream Love Treat.


first, scoop an individual serving of ice cream into the cupcake liner and place in the freezer until you are ready to serve or surprise your loved one with a sweet valentine treat. You then want to take two candy hearts & a cake pop stick. You can either hot glue the hearts together to the stick or you can use a frosting if you plan on eating the hearts after.






Candy Flower Treat
This is such an easy idea. I used extra cupcake wrappers from our ice cream treat cups and flattened them out.
I actually used wilton baking cups which are a little different, but cupcake wrappers will do the same thing. flatten out the wrapper and place some candies and treats inside. I used purple vines licorice (that I got at the dollar store) as the leaf and stem. and that's it!


valentines & I AM IN EXHAUSTED mode

Well I wanted everyone to have some Valentines Day Inspiration as we near mid february so here are some Valentine ideas. Come back tomorrow too! for our weekly coloring post. It should be good. 

happy LOVE day!

happy LOVE day. 
Baby Valentines Day
easy and simple. I bought a pair of socks and filled them treats. I found the  cars ziploc bags at target. I put some treats in and wa-lah! a perfect baby valentine.
Baby Valentines Day
I let my baby finger paint with yogurt this morning. I put some vanilla on his tray and then put a spoonful of strawberry and I used a cookie cutter to make the heart shape. he went crazy. It was very messy and ended in a bath but it was a quick and fun activity for babies on valentines day. 

can you SEE how much I love you? CARD.

This was very simple. I added letters to a photo shop program (flickr) but you could also make it on a simple microsoft word document. upload a photo and paint the whole thing white (just save it as a different document so you don't lose the photo). I then used a clip art eye on the bottom. perfect for any couple this coming valentines day!

THIS IS A FREE PRINTABLE. take it and enjoy. 

tip: (simply open in a photo progam. doodle/paint white over the name johnny and use next to put in your own). 

Valentines Card

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