Tag Archives: valentines day

Whether you’re in the just-starting-out, “honeymoon phase” of your relationship or whether it’s been many years since your first Valentine’s Day together, it’s always nice to take time to celebrate your relationship. But going out on Feb. 14th can be a hassle with pricey, prix-fixed menus and often overcrowded restaurants. Why not cook up a Continue Reading

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, but don’t panic if you don’t know yet what you’re doing for your special someone on the big day. Customary celebrations include flowers and chocolate or a fancy dinner out. Here are some ideas for meals you can make throughout the day if you’d like to save a little money, can’t get a reservation at your local romantic bistro, or just want to stay in and snuggle.

I don’t know about you, but now that I have children who are past the toddler phase and actually fun to hang out with, going out sans kids on Valantines Day sounds dreadful to me. That’s why, for the last few years, we’ve decided to build a fire, hunker down and celebrate as a family.

Here are a few tips for making a stay at home Valentines celebration a big success!

Valentines Day is the time to put your diet on the back burner and indulge in a few sweets with your sweeties. One of my favorite things to do on Valentines Day is to make a cake with my kids. You’ll want to use a heart shaped cake pan and MyGofer has several to choose from.

Red Velvet cake has always been my favorite, but I don’t always have the time to make it from scratch. Here’s a quick and easy way to make a Valentines cake that tastes delicious.

Are your children planning to pass out Valentines cards in their classes this year? I don’t know about you, but the selection of pre-made Valentines that you can purchase at the drugstore, seem to fall short for me. I’m not a huge fan of “character” merchandise. I know that kids are all crazy about Star Wars right now, but I much prefer traditional Valentines.

Making your own cards, especially for a classroom full of schoolmates, can seem like too much work. Actually, it’s not that much work. Here’s a tip. Don’t put any of the recipient’s names on the cards. You’ll want your child to decorate them and simply sign their own name. Also, don’t use glitter or glitter glue. It’s too messy and takes too long to dry.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you have children, they probably really enjoy making gifts for the people they love. I think that it’s important for children to learn that giving a gift should come from the heart. The old saying, it’s the thought that counts, really is true. That’s why, rather than spending a lot of money on “things”, teach your children about the importance of giving by encouraging them to make Valentine’s gifts this year. Here are some quick and easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas.

I was reading an article online about the worst ever Valentine’s Day. Many onliners (mostly women) must have related, because there were all kinds of comments with examples about the time HE blew it. Frankly, I felt for the guys in many cases. Trying to show that you care can be tricky on a day to celebrate love. So, I thought I’d share some of the common mistakes guys make and explain why women find some Valentine’s Day selections to be just wrong, wrong, wrong.

First, I should probably explain that I have two brothers and that I have two sons. I also have worked in fields where the bulk of my co-workers have been male. My main hobby is grilling and barbecue, so that again throws me into the world of guys with some rare exceptions. Generally speaking, I spend more time with men than with women. And, I should also note that I really like guys. So, don’t expect this to be a bash post. I really do think that women and men often look at things differently, so I simply hope to help on both sides of the gender divide.

If you’re not in love, then Valentine’s Day can be annoying or even stressful. Even if you are in love, it can be a day fraught with expectations that may or may not get met. I’ve seen many a family member, friend, or student bummed out on what should be a nice day to celebrate special relationships. The Valentine Day stress seems to start early. I remember hurt feelings back in elementary school when some kids did not get as many cards as others or when the special cards ended up on the “wrong” desks. My best friend in fourth grade, for instance, thought one of the boys in class was fabulous. She was in puppy love. He gave the fancy card from his pack to a girl on the next row over. That girl wasn’t smitten with the boy. Even today I remember that being an awkward class moment.

Yes. A holiday to celebrate “love” can be a headache and does fall into the “marketing ploy” category. But, blowing off Valentine’s Day can be hurtful. So, make an effort to be thoughtful, since the main thing that matters on Valentine’s Day is showing that you do care.

As Valentine’s Day approaches again, I think back again to my worst one. I was in college, and I spent a lot of time thinking about a good gift for my boyfriend then who had a good job and a lot of disposable income. I knew I could not match his spending power, but I gave a lot of thought to a gift that he would enjoy. That was a pair of green shorts to replace his favorite gym shorts which were about to fall apart and also a card with a special note. I felt good about my gift and was excited to spend a holiday with a special “someone.”