Valentine’s Day: An Evolution

I love Valentine’sDay!  Love it!  I know that a lot of people like to throw some shade towards this supposed made up holiday, but I still love it.  I mean, I am celebrating the people that I love, and I get to eat the chocolate.  And not just regular chocolate, the good stuff: the Godiva sampler box!

I know that I can eat chocolate and celebrate my loved ones any day of the week, so I did some thinking about why I love Valentine’s Day so much.  I think it’s because it is the one holiday that has not morphed into a major extravaganza.  Valentine’s Day does not require an air traffic controller to coordinate all of the different family schedules so everyone can arrive at the same place at the same time.  It’s not entrenched in the emotional warfare of finding the perfect gift.  You are not required to find/make the perfect costume that will only be covered up by a jacket.

It’s simple and lovely; therefore making the evolution of the celebrating seamless. 

Here’s our first Valentine’s Day together.  Oh, that youthful glint in our eyes!  I think we celebrated with some Russell Stover’s chocolates and cheap white zinfandel (as opposed to the expensive white zinfandel).

We stepped up our game when were engaged, four years later.  We went out for dinner and  sprung for real cocktails.

I know the quality is poor, but I love this picture.
It was the calm before the storm.

When Marie was born, it was still fun to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I mean, look at her – she’s such a little cutie dressed in her adorable outfit.

She wasn't as excited about the pink hippo as Harrington was.  Obviously.

And it just kept on getting better.  I loved decorating cupcakes with her.  And after she would go to bed, it would be happy hour complete with champagne and chocolates.

And then this little guy came along.

Still fun.

And I think they might even love each other.

Then, last Valentine’s Day we added Scott Awesome to our mix.

Yes, we have class parties, and it’s not easy to be at both at the same; however, it’s still not crazy-intense as Christmas.

In some ways, I think Valentine’s Day represents the ideal holiday: a simple day centered on love  . . . and good chocolate.

What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day?

DIY Valentine’s Day Banner

I can’t believe we are already through the first week of February!  The snow days really threw off my rhythm of the week.  And because I have used January to do some introspective work, I decided to have some fun with a Valentine’s Day craft.  I love this holiday, and I decided to comb Pinterest for some inspiration for some DIY décor.

I found this banner by VickyBarone.

I loved it and used is as inspiration for my banner (since I could not replicate it exactly because her skill set is just a *tad* above mine, being a professional artist and all).

First, I cut out rectangles out of brown cardstock.  They measured approximately 2 1/2" x 5".

Then, I picked out some printed cardstock that I had from my Thanksgiving project to use as the first mat.   I made these about 2" x 3 3/4".

I found some coordinating color cardstock for the second mat. These were about 1 1/2" x 2 3/4".

I glued the printed cardstock to the brown piece of cardstock.

I glued the coordinating cardstock to the printed cardstock.

Then I went to PicMonkey and found a font that I liked (Special Elite) and printed it out on white cardstock.

I cut the letters out into squares and stuck a double-sided sticky mounting square to add some dimension.

I cut some twine and put it on the floor so I could space out the letters.  Then I used the  gold glitter clothespins to attach the letters to the twine.

Then I hung it up.  I love how it turned out!

But I wasn’t done decorating.  I found these awesome printables from SoHo Sonnet.  You know when you print something out, and the colors turn out all meh and washed out?  These colors were *exactly* like they were on the screen, even the glittery gold color!

Have you done any fun (and easy!) projects lately?  Be sure to share – I would love to hear about them!

The Un-Valentine’s Day Post: The Valentine Gram

As young child, I loved Valentine’s Day!  My parents always made the day simple, yet meaningful.  I remember getting a red, heart-shaped box full of chocolate each year.  I loved the guessing game of what the filling would be.  Would it be  gooey, sweet caramel?  Or would it be that nasty, pasty “fruit” filling?  Oh, the simple joys of childhood!

 I also loved celebrating Valentine’s Day in elementary school.  You know, when you were required to give *everyone* a Valentine Day Card.  I felt special when I read all those cards . . . even with that strict stipulation.

Somewhere around junior high, my candy-filled, lovey-feeling holiday started to become tainted with the horrible anxiety of whether or not I would be the lucky recipient of a Valentine Gram.  

In case your school did not practice this torturous tradition (in which case, consider yourself lucky), let me explain.

During lunch, you could go buy a Valentine gram for any of your friends.  It was a simple note on something as plain as pink photocopying paper and was accompanied with something as simple as a red lollypop.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention the proceeds went to student council which I am sure paid for a school dance (another distressing ritual).

Even though these Valentine Grams were simple enough, the implications of receiving one were anything but simple and deeply embedded into the archaic popularity caste system.  If you received one, then you were confirmed as popular! beautiful! 

If you were like me, who could be best described as a public school version of Mary Katherine Gallagher, you were not on the receiving end of any Valentine Grams.  When the student council members hand-delivered the Valentine Grams, I remember waiting with bated breath that maybe, just maybe, I would finally be a recipient of the highly coveted piece of paper that would confirm that I was not socially awkward and shy.

I think it goes without saying that I never received a Valentine Gram.

And to my horror, I almost choked on this suppressed memory when Marie, my sweet little 6 1/2 year old girl, came home with a note announcing that Valentine Grams were available for sale.  She innocently asked me if she could buy one.  In my head, I shouted, “NO!  ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!”

Instead, I calmly said something to the effect that she could, but it might hurt someone’s feelings if you accidentally  left them out.  She agreed and that was the end of the discussion.

I am kinda sorta outraged that someone at a decision/policy making level thought that this was a good idea for elementary school kids.  I am guessing this person is someone who received Valentine Grams her whole entire school career and failed to see how this could turn into a sea of tears  created by the hurt feelings of those who didn’t get a special and exclusive Valentine Gram.

It doesn’t seem that Marie is destined to be one of those who never ever receive a Valentine Gram as a little boy sent her one.  Which is fine, but I am going to hold out as long as possible (hopefully forever) against this popularity contest.

I mean, other than that period of my life, I pretty much have been on good terms with Valentine’s Day.  But those devastating feelings of being uncool and left out don’t die easily.

Do you have any jaded and hurtful Valentine’s day memories? 

Reasons I *Heart* Valentine’s Day

I love Valentine’s Day.  I know some people get all uppity and cynical; they claim it’s a Hallmark Holiday.

I could not disagree more.

I am totally OK with a holiday that

A) Celebrates people I love.  It’s not that I need a holiday to do that, but there is something about this holiday that adds some fun and lightness to it.  Maybe it’s the fun décor or yummy treats without the stress of planning parties to accommodate everyone’s different and busy schedules.  It’s just fun.  (Side note: it’s not like we don’t buy presents and are nice to others only at Christmas.  Why does Valentine’s Day get the bad rap?)

B) Breaks up the monotony of winter. (Which has been especially monotonous with barely any snow and 47 days plus of sickness).

C) Revolves around eating chocolate in various forms.  Cupcakes, candy, whatever.  I love it.  (Except Hershey Kisses.  Ever since Thomas was born, that particular brand of chocolate tastes like dirt to me.  At first I was sad.  Now, I (and the scale) am totally fine with it).

Here’s the thing: I love holidays mostly because I love the tradition of it all.  It makes me feel happy and cozy.  I want The Babes to look back and say they had fun baking cupcakes and making cards.  I want them to remember eating their favorite meal (this year, it will be tacos) on the fun tablecloth. 

I have vivid memories of sitting around my kitchen table as a kid opening the Valentine’s card and some candy from my parents and brother.  Ordinary, yet special stuff.

Traditions, whether it’s shopping for Valentine’s Day stuff or baking Christmas cookies or eating pizza while we watch a movie together every Friday night, are what hold us together as a family. 

Hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day!