Valentine's Favorites for Kids

GIFTS
We like to get the kids a little gift on Valentine's Day.  It varies each year, sometimes it's candy, lipgloss, nail polish, bath bombs, journals, etc.  This year Jordyn is getting this suitcase because she's been using this one {in a different print} since birth and it's getting a little small.  Cullyn is getting this TreasureX thing that he couldn't believe Santa didn't bring him.  For the record the first time he mentioned it to Santa was Christmas Eve!  Our favorite heart themed book is In My Heart which talks about feelings.  Jo Witek has several cute books!  I also have my eye on this one and this one that may have to be added to the collection this year. Jordyn loves her pink camera and rose gold microphone.  This little doll is discontinued {it was Land of Nod} but there are several cute ones here.  And of course, both kids still love their Magnatiles!

CLOTHING
This tee for me.  This sweater & headband for the girl.  Be Kind & Love More top.  And this top for my little wanna be Paleontologist.

RECIPES
Valentine's week calls for all.the.hearts and/or all the pink/red food you can imagine at our house.  Heart shaped sandwiches, pizzas, desserts.  I like to make a festive little trail mix with stuff in the pantry {pretzels, marshmallows, m&ms, chex, raisins, and of course Conversation Hearts!}  Valentine's themed breakfasts are super easy too!

DECOR
We keep the Valentine's Day decor real simple at our house.  I usually just decorate the mantle with a sign, a couple red and pink trees, and a festive garland.

TRADITIONS
How we celebrate Valentine's Day really depends on what day of the week it falls on and what activities we have scheduled for that night.  Over the years we have booked a sitter and went out to dinner {easier when we lived in Des Moines}, ordered a heart shaped pizza in {also easier when we lived in a town that actually delivered pizza -- ha!}, or left the kids with my sister.  This year we're trying to do date nights every Friday {it's not going that well -- thanks basketball!} and it's my week to plan, it's also the also weekend of basketball -- praise.the.lord!  So I'm not sure how it will play out.  I love the idea of making it a tradition to get the whole family dressed up and go out to a nice dinner together.  We'll see...

VALENTINES
I used to spend hours finding the perfect Valentine's from Pinterest or Etsy and spend a million dollars on supplies/Etsy and then give them to all of the kids' friends, classmates, teammates, etc. And last year it finally clicked...in less than a week all of that was in the trash and nobody cared but me.  Seriously, the kids could have cared less.  So here is my PSA to all the mamas of littles.  Give your kids $5 and take them to the Dollar Store to pick out whatever they want for their friends.  It might just be the most freeing thing you've done this year! ;)

Previous Valentine's Posts::
2015 Valentine's | Our 2014 Valentine's | Our 2013 Valentine's Day and Night | 2012 Valentine | 2012 Valentine's Day | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

Daddy Daughter Dance 2018

After last year, J knew just what to look forward to this year!  She's been so excited!  I think she was happiest to go out to dinner with Adam and her friends.  My favorite moment was when I was doing her hair and nails and Adam walked in with a glass of apple juice for us served in wine glasses, she felt like such a big girl -- it was adorable! :)

2017 Daddy Daughter Dance

Happy Valentine's Day!

I wish so badly I was home with my kiddos making everything heart shaped and shades of red today, but now that they're in school it isn't really possible.  I hope they're having a blast exchanging Valentine's with their friends.  I'm looking forward to picking them up a little early and surprising them with a few goodies and then going to dinner with Adam, even if we got the last reservations {8p! -- booked 2 weeks ago!} at Simon's.

The photos below are from a little shoot the kids got to do for my sister's company.

Favorite Things Party + Best Chocolate Fondue Recipe Ever!

Last week a few of my favorite gals came over for a Favorite Things party.  We hung out until after midnight, which is unheard of for me!  

If you haven't been to one yet, you basically just invite a few of your favorite people and everyone brings a favorite item {we had a $10 limit}.  Once you know how many people are coming, you have everyone bring that many of their favorite thing.  For example, I brought 5 prayer journals.  Each person went home with 5 of their friends' favorite things!  Super easy and tons of fun!  

One friend was sick and one was traveling, so I'm hoping to throw another party, Happy Hour style, this summer!  If you don't get to catch up with your girls as much as you would like, this is the perfect party for you.  Adam put the kids' down at 7, and the girls came over for fondue and an evening of chatting & sipping wine in lounge wear around the living room -- my perfect night! :) 

Here's the chocolate fondue recipe -- just in time for Valentine's Day! 

My favorite things to dip are Rice Krispy bars, pretzels, marshmallows, fruit, brownie bites, vanilla waffers, graham crackers, but the options are endless!  

Here's our favorite Fondue Pot, if you don't have one yet.  {ps...perfect wedding gift!}

Valentine's Day Ideas

Who's ready for Valentine's Day?!  For the first time ever, ME!  I'm always the mama out there the night before Valentines trying to find supplies for everything I've screenshotted {a verb at our house!} from Pinterest, but this year I set a reminder in my phone to order the kids' Valentine's in January so we're set.  They're even labeled already!  Below are the gifts we're giving the kids for on Valentine's Day -- I hope it gives you some inspiration if you're still looking.  

Cullyn's...

Book | Superhero Crayons | Shirt | Boogie Board

and Jordyn's...

Book | Prayer Journal | Shirt | Boogie Board

The cutest kids classroom Valentine ideas | For my single ladies