Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Celebrating Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 2010 ~ me and my honey playing BINGO together :)


Hey Friends!

OK, I'll warn you ~ I LOVE Valentine's Day! Even as a little girl ~ Valentine's Day was my all-time favorite holiday!

It hasn't always been because I had a "Valentine". Some years it's been downright painful. In fact, Valentine's Day 1999 was extremely difficult for me. My fiance David had just been tragically killed 2 months prior (recap here). The thought of happy couples and roses and date nights nearly kept me in bed for the day. Instead, my aunt Debbie and I spent the day making Valentine's for all my single friends.

Thinking of others and focusing on blessing them helped make a hard day much less painful.

To this day, I love trying to think of creative ways to bless my friends and family ~ and remind them that they are dearly loved!! :)

Here are some things we do to celebrate Valentine's Day in an inexpensive, simple Family Friendly way:

Books ~ I have a special heart basket with Valentine's Day books I pull out on February 1st. My kids LOVE reading from the heart book basket, and I usually add a new book or two to our collection each year. One of our favorites, "
Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink". Too cute! :)

Decorations ~ Our city has a
Dollar Tree store where you can purchase plastic table cloths for $1. (I always have an assortment of colors on hand). On Valentine's Day, the family will wake up to a red table cloth and heart paper products. (I stock up at Party City right after Valentine's Day each year). It's amazing how simple decorations can make it look festive already.
Oh, and don't forget the confetti and the tattoos! :)
Food ~ I'll make heart shaped pancakes for breakfast, pink milk, and have fresh strawberrries.

For dinner, we always have heart shaped pizzas.
In my city, Papa Murphy's Take & Bake Pizza is a great resource. The kids love it ~ and I am grateful it is so easy (and not too expensive).


Sometimes we make desserts, or heart shaped finger jello. Last year I picked up cute cupcakes from our bakery. Do you think my daughter liked them???




Games & Activities ~ What would be a celebration without games and activities?? We like to have...

* Color sheets, word searches, etc... (Many to choose from here)

* BINGO. We use conversation hearts, red hots, or pink and red M & M's for markers. (Here is one happy BINGO winner. I think she liked her new prize)...


We've been having our Valentine's Day party ever since the kids were little. I found this fun picture from 2007. Aren't they cute? :)


* At our party, we'll make sure we reflect on the origin of Valentine's Day. Easy kid version here.

We'll probably end our Valentine's Day Celebration all snuggled up together watching Charlie Brown Valentine's Day. Simple, but fun :)


Our Valentine's Day Celebration will actually be on Sunday this year (the 12th). The date doesn't matter ~ I would just encourage you...whether you are single, married, a Grandma, an aunt, a mom, a student...take the time to share LOVE with others this week! :)


And please share with us what you are planning for Valentine's Day ~ I'd love to hear your ideas!!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a love-filled day! :)


P.S. The greatest Valentine anyone could ever receive came in the form of a tiny baby - His name was Jesus, and his LOVE for us - went to the cross, died and rose again, so we might have life ~ full, abundant, and eternal life! Make this Valentines Day the best of all - and give your HEART to JESUS! :)


P.S.S. For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head over and visit Kristen at We Are That Family. What fun! :)

5 comments:

Linda said...

Well Cindy...I think you may be the best Valentine girl around!

I love your zest for life! And I also love your wonderful smile that comes all the way up from your toes! Every time I see a picture of you, it reminds me to smile, and to let the love of Jesus flow out to others.

Great Valentine's Day Ideas!

Have a good one...and may God bless you and yours!

Linda

Denise said...

Thanks for sharing such sweet ideas. My husband and I always enjoy our favorite meal by candlelight, and then give each other gifts, and snuggle down to watch romantic movies. I love Valentines Day.

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Well, I'm with you Cindy! I love, love Valentine's Day and always have. I made big chocolate chip cookies today in the shape of hearts for my husband's staff. My little Granddaughter and I are going to do some Valentine crafts on Friday and I'm going to make cake balls on a stick this weekend. It is just another good time to let others know they are loved and are being thought of. Hugs to you!

Keena said...

My hubby has to work ALL day so we will not do anything special....Its all good though!!! Neither one of us are big into holidays and such, we try to enjoy each other every day!!! I love your energy for life.... PLZ pass some of that to me...LOL

Tyrean Martinson said...

I love how you embrace Valentine's Day!!! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm. Ironically, my husband and I have dentist appointments that day . . . not our idea of a romantic date, but we will be together, and my husband will take the afternoon off work so we are looking forward to our afternoon "date" even if it includes the dentist.

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