Love Boxes

 

This morning when the family sat down for breakfast there was our serving tray in the middle of the table with 5 heart patterned boxes, strips of paper and pens.  We explained to the kids that today and tomorrow we want them to think about things that we love about each other then we are going to write them down (secretly) and fill up each others boxes.  Tomorrow night when we do our little restaurant each person will get to open their boxes and read all the love notes they have received. 

I first got the idea from the blog inspired by family, she used mason jars and keeps them out for the 1st 14 days of February.  But since our kids are still so small and we need to help them I thought 1 day would be enough for them right now.  I used small boxes purchased at the dollar store and wrote everyones name in the inside of the box.  I did decorate the boxes with circles stamped with different LOVE stamps. 

There are LOTS of things that we love about each other but after talking this morning we want to encourage them in their characteristics that they are learning and that they are applying in their life.  Things like "I love how teachable you are", "I love how much you love to serve others" and "I love how hard working you are". 

I can't wait to open this up tomorrow night and see what everyone came up with.  What kind of special traditions do you do? 

LOVE party

One thing that I really LOVE to do for valentines is throw a party.  Lets face the facts I love parties.  I love the food, games, laughter, hosting and nothing (almost nothing) makes me more happy than to hear a room full of chattering women!  

I spent the afternoon making the final touches on all my LOVE decor.  Making sure my scrabble words were still spelt right (My 5 year loves rearranging), heart garland where hung up...I couldn't get the one in the picture to stay for me and my cups where all decorated to match my LOVE theme. 

For the past 3 years I have been hosting this special event.  I just tell people to come and join the party the only rule is they have to bring a treat to share that is red, pink, white or chocolate.  I love seeing all the creativity.   This year we had everything from delicious heart shaped brownies with cream cheese frosting, sweet pink rice-krispie treats,  chocolate covered pretzels, juicy red fruit tray, a fabulous red velvet trifle,  heart shaped pretzels, red velvet cup cakes with cream cheese icing, chocolate pudding in cute little tea cups and mason jars,  salted caramel bits, mini oreo cheese cakes, toasted cream cheese and cherry bites and lets not forget the multigrain tortilla chips with cream cheese and red pepper jelly dip!  Now this rule also applies to drinks so we had sprit and cream soda! 

Once all the ladies arrived we sat in a circle to play a big group game together.  This years games we played were catch phrase and pit.   What a great way to get everyone laughing and knowing each other a little better. 

One thing I love about this group of women is they LOVE taking pictures (which is one of my favorite things) and they love having fun and being silly together.  So I made sure I had some great valentines photo booth props all ready to go in cute valentines baskets for when the camera came out. 

  I used heart garland, lips made from felt, 3D movie glasses, funky red glasses from the dollar store, mustaches,  flowers and a big funny tie.

Like other years I had my jar of LOVE coupons for the ladies to take home and give to their hubbies.  I printed those off from here. 

I had such a fun night I can hardly wait until next year to do it again. 

Love the book

These are a cute way to spruce up the book you are reading.  We are doing the book one thousand gifts for small group and I am so in love with it.   These would also make great valentines for teachers!

I am enjoying the snow day today curled up in my new cozy corner soaking in this book.  If you want to check out her blog (which is also awesome) you can head here.  Hope you are enjoying your snow day. 

Kiss me

 

This was just a fun thing I wanted to try after seeing this on pinterest. I didn't even use paint...its sharpie marker!!!  I colored me in my hot hubby.  I put a magnet on the back so it can go onto the fridge.  I told Lady J they were kissing so she likes to take it off the fridge and open and close them while making kissing sounds!  You could also just keep this on a desk and fill it with LOVE notes! 

Salt dough decorations

 

 These salt dough decorations where very easy to make.  I followed this recipe.  The kids loved helping.  

Once the decorations where all on a tray I poked a hole through the top of the hearts so we could hang them up once they were finished drying. 

We made them on a Friday so I let them sit out all weekend as well.  During this past week while Eben and I were doing school Jaelyn was painting all the hearts we had made. 

I am so impressed with her craftiness for being 2 I think she did a great job of painting all these hearts.  And she didn't even try to eat any of the paint which was GREAT! 

When she was finished painting we let them dry and then the next day she did all the backs for the hearts.  Once they were all dried we put jute through the holes and hung them outside in a tree. 

The pop of color looked beautiful out there for the hole day they survived.  I should have checked the weather and didn't realize we were getting high winds of up to 100 km/hour.  Good thing I only put a few out there and we have lots more to hang up tomorrow. 

They are staying on the tree really well.  I love looking out the window and seeing a little pop of color against the snowy ground.

Pom pom fun

 

These pom pom decorations are new this year and I love them!!!  They are easy for the kids to do as well; just make sure they are careful with the needle. 

I used a very long piece of white thread and 2 bags of mini pom poms from the dollar store.  I didn't follow any pattern.  I clustered groups together, left some string showing...I just did whatever I wanted to! hehe.  Well the kids actually did.  Then we hung them up over the windows. 

Love more LOVE month decoration ideas check out my pinterest

Valentine decoration

Here is a new decoration this year.  I saw the idea on pinterest of course and loved it so much I thought I would do one just like it but instead of letting it lean again a wall (not a great idea here with 3 kids) I would hang it on the wall. 

I love this frame and use it for lots of different projects like the Christmas count down and we even used it for family pictures one year. 

For the hearts I cut them out using my Cricut.  I laid the frame up side down attached white string and glued 2 hearts together on the string.  Then I put a piece of white tissue paper with sparkles behind it and hung it up on the wall.  I wanted to use this as count down to Valentines day but I decided to do the book instead. 

For more LOVE month ideas check out my pinterest board.