Some hacks to make the holiday a little easier
It’s not Christmas with its gift list or Easter which requires your Sunday best, but Valentine’s Day does take some effort. It just doesn’t have to be a lot. Here are some parent tips to ensure an easy bull’s eye for cupid.
Valentines for the kids
Sure, you could do something cute that’s homemade and we are not here to stop you - but you can also just buy the store Valentines. If it was good enough for 1980s you, it’s good enough for your kids and their friends.
One mom shared an easy way to personalize the cards if your child’s penmanship, or endurance, isn’t there yet.
“You can also get personalized Valentine cutouts at the drug store photo section with their name and a picture,” she said.
If a Valentine’s box or bag for the school party is a to-do item and you’re not Martha Stewart, just hand your kiddo a box or a paper bag and a few sleeves of heart shaped stickers or pom poms. Voila.
Want to up the difficulty a notch? Country Living showed a cute Tie-Dye Valentine's Box where you could wrap up the box with one of your kids’ old camp-Ts and fasten it with double sided tape or spray adhesive.
Photo by Leah Kelley from Pexels
Treat or no treat, that is the question
Some parents do classroom candy, and some parents know that other parents are the ones eating that candy, so they skip it. As for the teacher, get her a gift card. She’ll love it a lot more than candy.
If you do plan on offering a little something sweet, candystore.com can fill you in on the bigger trends. Sweethearts are back in this year, along with M&Ms and Cupid Corn. Which is Candy Corn, by another name.
For those bigger gifts
If gift bags are in your future for family or friends, you can make it easy on yourself buying in bulk ahead of time.
“I bought knick-knacks for Halloween bags online in October and went ahead a purchased Christmas, Valentine's and Easter so I wouldn't have to worry about those holidays,” said a friend. “Also, I bought a large pack of clear gift bags and I change out the ribbon for whatever holiday I'm making bags for.”
The family celebration
I have friends who do a simple dinner of a heart-shaped pizza or spaghetti and some that spend the time to make a fancier Valentine’s dinner once their kids were older.
One mom I know buys everyone their own heart box of chocolate and then hides hers so no one eats it.
Gifts, if given, don’t have to be simple. One year we did IOUs in a jar. “I’ll do one thing you ask without complaining.” That was my favorite.
For adults only
The Candystore.com also offered a recipe for something I’ve never heard of – candy infused vodka. Here’s how they recommend you do it.
1. Pour candy into a glass container with a lid, such as a mason jar.
2. Pour vodka on top of candy, at least covering it and usually to fill three-quarters of the container.
3. Seal container and let sit for some amount of time — usually at least 24 hours and up to a week.
Visit their website for more variations on the theme.
Hope your Valentine’s Day is both simple and fun. And that no one eats your chocolate.
