Tag: valentine

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Celebrating Valentine’s Day At-Home

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Hey Loves!

It is 2021 and we are still having holidays at-home. I mean, at this point, especially after I’ve realized the amount money I save, the memories that are made and seeing the joy on my kids faces, I think lots of the things we’ve done for “pandemic” holidays will stick when these times are just faint memory. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, I thought to get my kids involved with the planning and make an entire day out of it.

There are two parts to this-well, two focal points rather. Me and my husband. Me and the kids. Us as a family. Wait, that’s 3. I NEVER proclaimed to be a mathematician. Moving on…

Because I am a loved child of God, my mom is coming to visit the week before Valentine’s Day so my husband and are going places often. Any parent can relate on the joy of free and safe childcare and how one must take very opportunity to use it. After 2020, I will not be shy. So, my husband and I will have had our “date” fix and not need to schedule childcare and/or make reservations. If you do, do it now… actually do it yesterday!

Many will disagree here, but this time with your boo does not have to be fancy. I think time to just talk uninterrupted, eat like adults and enjoy each other bring some kind of restoration to people, individually and as a unit. As for actual Valentine’s day, we may enjoy a show together at the end of the day.

Next up, kids. Again, you do not have to this my way. Growing up, my dad always got me something for Valentine’s Day and I love the idea of continuing that with kids. However, with Christmas and Jude’s birthday less than 2 months ago and James’ birthday just 4 days after Valentine’s Day (not to mention me and the hubs celebrated birthdays in between theirs), your girl is a little tapped! So, their gifts are normally things I stashed over the year and put together real fast. Head over to IG to see how I assemble their gifts.

Now, for the family fun. Not to sound like a broken record, but make this unique to your family. My kids favorite vegetables are asparagus and roasted broccoli. They live for charcuterie boards. So, when I suggested we have a fancy family dinner, there was not a shortage of ideas. We also have family dance parties. We will probably watch a movie clad in Valentine Jammies. By movie I mean Avengers not a romcom. It will be low-key. Yours can be totally over the top. The point here is to make the memory and enjoy doing it.

Love you. Mean it.

crafting

Easy and Inexpensive Valentine’s for Kids

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Hey Loves!

As weird as 2020 was, I am sure we all learned a thing or 2. I for sure learned that people in our life love us so well. Almost too well to be honest. So, it is important to me to teach my kids how rare this kind of love is and to pay it forward. I love using holidays to do so. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I would share some easy valentine ideas and ways to share them in these quarantine streets.

Let me start by saying I apparently have no control over myself or what I end up purchasing when I walk into a well-stocked Dollar Tree. It honestly blows my mind that my restraint is inhibited so badly. Anyway, my inability to show restraint is your gain.

Next, I over-love a free printable. If I don’t have to design it, I am as happy as a clam.

Cupid’s Glasses: I mean what’s cuter than little faces with bright colored sunnies? Attach a cute printable like this and, easy-peasy Valentines to share.

  1. Pencils: This is probably the most inexpensive and the most versatile. You can leave solo, attach to a crossword or note pad, pair with treats or game. When 12 cost $1, you have a little wiggle room to make a few things happen.
  1. Slinkies: I’ll say it, I really don’t care for them but kids love them. Soooooo, with a little washiest tape and a printable like this, spring goes my heart! Get it?

You’re Number 1 in My Book: Who doesn’t love a bookmark? Especially when it’s crafted by little hands with lots of love! I chose DIY heart stamps but you could certainly do paint, stencils, hand or finger prints and delight the hearts of readers dear to you. 

Tic Tac Toe Sets: I saved this one for last because it is the most time-intensive. I grabbed two colors of heart table throw, and burlap sacks from Dollar Tree and Paint Pens from Michale’s. I had my kids write “X” on one color and “O” on the other with the paint pens. Then, after letting them dry and printing, cutting and laminating a tic tac toe printable, I put them in cute burlap sacks. Fun for days!

Now, how would one share these safely whilst still in the throws of a Pandemic you ask? Here are my answers:

  1. Door stop drops: These are my favorite they bring so much joy and such a pleasant surprise.
  2. Social Distance Meet-ups with masks: If you have a Quran-team or those you trust, this could be a great time.
  3. The USPS- I know, they were all the way slacking and some of us are still getting Christmas presents. However, they still work and they need to be supported.

I’ll be doing a combo of all this because extra is as extra does.

Love you. Mean it.

crafting

Fun DIY Galentines

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Hey loves!

As I am sure your feeds and favorite stores have been bombarding you with Valentine everything, here I am with more hearts and flowers. I get it. Hear me out-mamas need love too!!! Aunties need love!!! Your girl who will gather you quickly but also bail you out of jail definitely deserves love. So, for a few years now I choose Valentine’s Day to show it. 

There are two parts to my galentines- a handwritten note and a practical gift. 

By practical I mean anything from wine, to coffee, to accessories. This year hit different though. Not to harp on 2020 but if nothing, it made me really value those in my life that needs showing up. Also, almost all of these would have to go in the mail so it couldn’t be heavy, crazy expensive or require batteries. Enter Pinterest. 

Pinterest is the unsung hero of my holiday celebrations. I mean, it knows me so well, it will suggest things that aren’t even in my peripheral. So, in November when this Galentine idea landed in my lap, I took it and upped the ante a little. 

If you know me, you know two things about me: 1. I believe you shouldn’t leave home without a monogram and 2. I am always in need of a scrunchie or hair tie. 

I feel like these are things my girls could benefit from so I gathered my supplies. 

I used:

–This printable (I printed on white card stock)

–Initial charms

-Scrunchies

-Needle and coordinating thread

-Note cards, pens and a bleeding heart

Method:

Using a needle thread with coordinated thread close to that of the scrunchie, attach the initial charm with a few stitches, securing well with several knots.

Then, wrap the scheunchie around the printed and cut tag. Next, write out your feels for your girl. Layer in envelopes or present gifts bags. Viola! Galentine for your gal pals. 

Yes, I made one for me too. 

Love you. Mean it.