Valentines Day

Valentines day is on it's way. It's time to start buying up the candy cards and flowers and shower your loved ones will all your high priced goods.....................NOT.

Good heavens how the holidays have become commercial all of them. Well it's time to put our cash back into our bank accounts and not into the merchant's. Here are some wonderful gift and card ideas (for the little ones school chums) to show your love and keep more of your cash to yourself.

Home baked goodies are always a treat they show a lot more love then a box of cheap chocolate or chalky candy. Want a Valentines theme try a Cherry or Strawberry rhubarb pie or heart shaped sugar cookies frosted with Cranberry Frosting.

Cranberry Frosting
3/4 cup Butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup Cranberry juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 lbs confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
Place butter, shortening, juice, vanilla, salt and one pound of sugar in large bowl.
Beat at low speed until combined.
Gradually add the other pound of sugar.
Stop and scrape sides.
Beat on high until mixture is light and fluffy.
Keep covered with plastic wrap to prevent crusting.

Hey Husbands do you really want to score some points. Hit that TO DO list you've been putting off. Then when you finish get some of her chores done too. With less work to do she will have a lot more energy for more romantic endeavors.

What was the first movie you saw together? Redecover those old feelings. Go hit the library or video store and have a private viewing.

If you have any sew skills takes some fabric (kids hit their growth spurt use a favorite old shirt) cut out some heart shapes sew around the edges (not all the way) Stuff if full and sew the rest of the way shut for a cute heart shaped pillow they can keep for years.

Scoop of Hugs and Kisses recipe

Small scoop (kitchen or clean laundry scoop or check out the local dollar store if you need to)
Hugs and Kisses Candy
Clear or Colored Plastic Wrap
Tags and ribbon

1. Ribbon Fill the scoop with hugs and kisses.
2. Cut a large piece of plastic wrap.
3. Set the scoop in the middle of the plastic wrap.
4. Fold the plastic wrap over so that the two ends meet at the scoop handle.
5. Pull the plastic wrap tightly around the scoop and gather around the handle.
6. Tie a ribbon around the handle to hold the plastic wrap in place.
7. Tie a note onto the scoop that says "A scoop of Hugs and Kisses for you."

FOR THE KIDS:

Let them make their own cards. This of course works best with kids who love to make things but even less artistic kids will find these fun.

For both of these ideas cut out some heart shaped cards for your kids.

Stamping fun. Take a rubber eraser and draw a heart on it then cut away the rest of the eraser about half way through, leaving the top to hold onto. Using stamp ink or washable markers let the kids stamp to their hearts content on th cards you cut out for them.

If you happen to be in one of those schools where everyone attaches candy to their valentine and don't want your kid left out try this:

Candy Valentines:

Cut Two Heart shaped cards for each child that needs a card. Take one of the cards and cut a second heart shape out of the middle. Now you should have one whole card and one with a heart cutout in the middle. Give your child the whole one to sign names and decorate one side.

Now Take your selected candy (I used chocolate hearts when my daughter did this) and put it in the middle of the Whole card (this should be positioned about where the hole is in the second card) Using plastic wrap or the press and seal plastic wrap (I used the press and seal because it stayed in place while glueing) cover the candy. Then glue the second Heart to the First one. Covering up the plastic wrap. Make sure you do this several days in advanced to allow time for the glue to dry.