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Tag: valentine’s day

  • Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts/Ideas 

    Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts/Ideas 

    With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might start feeling the pressure of finding the perfect gift for that ideal person-be it your partner, friend, child, or even pet. From my experience, it always felt like last-minute ideas carried more thought than overthinking your gift-giving and hoping for the best. While the traditional flowers and chocolate are the go-to for this particular day, there are so many options and get this; not everything has to be red and pink, as tempting as that is. 

    So without further ado, here are a few affordable, hearty, last-minute ideas and gifts to surprise that special someone. 

    Name Engraved Necklace

    You can find engraved necklaces at any jewel retailer in your area. Or you can find it online by just doing a quick google search. While the target audience is mostly women, I genuinely believe engraved necklaces are for everyone. The options are endless, and you can buy a set for you and your partner. ONecklace has some of the lowest prices and several options to choose from, so get a pair while they’re still on sale! 

     

    Idea: The heart and key necklaces are always a grand idea. You give one to your special someone, and one for you, so that way, you’ll have something to remind you of them. 

    Bath Bomb Gift Set

    The best thing about Valentine’s Day is it’s not just the chocolates that are on sale. Bath and body care products are fantastic gift ideas! Would I choose them over flowers and chocolate? Uhm, definitely. The sets are arranged beautifully, and everything is scented like a Midnight Summer’s Dream. Bath and Body Works ends to have incredible deals year-round, but it’s always extra special on Valentine’s Day. Lush also has some beautiful sets, as well. 

     

    Idea: Draw a bath for your partner, grab a bottle of wine, throw in a unicorn bath bomb, and enjoy a bath together… with John Legend playing in the background, of course. 

    Limited Edition/Exclusive Wine

    If you’re not aware of how romantic limited edition wine can be, well…you know now. Wine is an event planner on its own; it shifts all events into place. Of course, there’s always the option of buying from your local supermarket. Just because it’s a special day does not mean you need to empty your wallet on a particular item. For some great options, click here.

    Idea: Set up a room in the house to surprise your partner. Spread rose petals, set up candles, and prepare two wine glasses just for the two of you. The wine will take care of the rest. 

    Fill-In-The-Blank Journal

    The What I Love About Us journal is one of those presents that make you feel like a kid again. It’s one of those things that you’d love to fill out with your partner first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed. It’s something so simple but requires you to think intently about what it is you love about your relationship.

     

    Idea: Every other day, one of you pick a phrase to fill out, then discuss it with your significant other. 

    Book Set

    What’s a gift that you can open over and over again? You guessed it, folks, book! Books are practical, useful gifts. They increase in value as years go by, and it doesn’t require much thought, assemble, or batteries for that matter! If you’re loved one is a literary fanatic, then the first edition of their favorite book is a thoughtful present.  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Idea: Commit one night a week to read a few chapters of your favorite book together! The goal is to read a book every two weeks. 

    Sport Attire

    Give the gift of fitness. I mean, what’s more attractive than getting fit together? The fitness industry is forever growing, so apparel is just one of many choices. You can also choose a fitness watch, new sneakers, or new gym equipment. Several sports retailers hold limited sales on holidays like this, so be quick to catch some deals before everything’s gone!

     

    Idea: Buy matching sportswear and dedicate three days to the gym together. Couples who workout together, stay together!

    Lingerie 

    After all, it is still Valentine’s Day. Lingerie has a rep for being expensive, but thanks to the internet and thousands of lingerie brands, that’s not the case anymore. Rihanna’s recent launch of her lingerie line is epic. It’s insanely affordable, high quality, and offers sizes up to 3X! That’s a huge deal for some people who have a difficult time find the perfect fit. For an unforgettable night, look into laces and strings. And diamond rings. But that’s a topic for another day. 

     

    Idea: Do I really have to tell you?

    Polaroid Camera

    Memories can last a lifetime. What happened to good old Kodak cameras and polaroid shots? With smartphones able to provide us with everything with just the touch of our finger, old fashioned has become…old. Most Polaroid cameras nowadays come with bundles, stickers, and accessories. It truly is a perfect gift for both children and adults and is sure to capture every special moment!

     

    Idea: Take photos of your adventures together, and create a scrapbook of all your cherished memories. 

     

  • Fun Valentines Day Activities for Kids 

    Fun Valentines Day Activities for Kids 

    Valentine’s Day has to be one of the most satisfying days of the year to get crazy creative. As adults, we don’t usually have the time to sit at a table and create anything by hand, unfortunately. But with children, well…they have all the time in the world. When I volunteered part-time at a daycare center for children in high school, Valentine’s Day was the hype. Children would arrive wearing red or pink, holding little bags of heart candies for their friends, and so excited to get started with the crafts we had planned for them. 

    Related Article: Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

    If you’re planning activities for your class or your kids at home, I have one piece of advice for you: don’t hesitate to buy ALL the glitter. If you choose to, please do your part by purchasing only biodegradable glitter. Children tend to use it in surplus when it comes to this particular day. Without any further ado, here are our favorite activities for children on this artful and candy-filled holiday. 

    Sponge Heart Painting 

    Sensory activities are great for children of all ages. They keep them occupied and bring out their imaginative side. All you need for this activity is a sponge cut into a heart (or any shape you want), white construction paper, and red/pink paint. Glitter is optional, of course, but highly recommended because come on, it’s Valentine’s Day. You dip the sponge into the paint and stamp it on white construction paper. By including different size hearts (sponges), your child will have more options to play with and get creative. The result is a beautiful masterpiece by none other than…well, your masterpiece. When it dries, have them write out to whom they’d like to give their painting! 

    Handprint Heart Tree Craft

    The reason I love this 3D craft is that it can be used for any special day. It’s uncomplicated, requires supplies you probably have at home, and counts as quality time for you and your child. You start by cutting strips from pink construction paper (6x.5) and hold the ends together with a staple, like a heart. You will need to make 15-50 heart “leaves” for your tree. On a brown sheet of cardstock paper, trace your kid’s hand, cut it out, and glue it on a piece of blue cardstock paper. This will be your tree.  Place a generous amount of white glue on a paper plate, but before gluing your hearts on the tree, arrange them to get an idea of where they will go. Dip the bottom of each heart in glue and stick them on your tree! Frame it or present it to a friend. 

    Valentine’s Sensory Painting

    If you think your children will be the only ones to enjoy this activity, you are mistaken. It combines sensory play, process art, and is very therapeutic. This activity uses shaving cream and paints BUT if your child tends to put everything in their mouth, consider whipped cream and food coloring instead. It’s edible, and you won’t have to worry about them becoming curious and eating it. Fill any baking tray you have with whatever cream you’re using and squirt paint or several drops of red/pink food coloring over the cream. Edible glitter is also an option here. Lastly, with a pointer or stick, have your child swirl through the cream and watch the colors mix differently!

    Exchange Coloring Pages 

    Tell me these coloring pages are not the cutest thing you’ve ever seen. The characters are so lovable! If you want something super simplistic, yet will keep your kid’s head down and intrigued, then coloring pages are the best option. All you’ll need are coloring pages and coloring pencils. Boom, that’s it. The best part is you can print as many copies as you want, whether it’s in a classroom or the home. With so many different preferences, it’s a great calming activity for both young and older kids. When they complete a page, have them write a love note on the back, place it in an envelope, and exchange it with someone else!

    Valentine’s Marshmallow Pop

    Finally, something to eat, right? All that crafting gets exhausting eventually. Don’t worry; this is possibly the easiest dessert you can ever make with a child. All you’ll need is jumbo marshmallows, white chocolate, red/pink confetti sprinkles, and wood pop sticks. It’s pretty straightforward from there. You melt the chocolate according to instructions and assist your child in sticking the marshmallows onto the pop sticks. Dip half the marshmallow into the chocolate and let it move down the sides a bit, so it doesn’t melt downwards. Cover with sprinkles and place the sticks upright into a glass until the chocolate sets. Eat right away or refrigerate for later!

    Valentine’s Day Heart Toss

    Time to bring out your competitive side, kid! Well, not too competitive-crying isn’t what the result should be. This game can be played with two or more players, and its simplicity makes it a recurring activity in my home. You’ll need one 12×12 scrapbook paper, scissors, yarn, hole punch, tape, and three pieces of “junk” construction paper. You fold the scrap paper in half and cut out one heart shape and 1.5 inside that heart, cut out another heart. Punch two holes through the top of the heart on both sides and tie two long pieces of yarn through the holes. Tape the end of the thread above a doorway at a height where your children will be able to toss comfortably. Cut three pink construction papers into four pieces and have the kids scrunch them up. Hand them the scrunched “balls” and have them throw it into the heart! It’s an enjoyable activity to add to a delightful day!

     

  • Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

    Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

    Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

    In our last article, we talked about throwing an incredible Valentine’s Day party, and I’m sure if you read that article, then your Valentine’s day party was the talk of the town. Now, while your local Target is probably overfilled with human-sized teddy bears at the moment, there’s always something about homemade gifts that hold more sentimental meaning to what love truly is. To save you time and trouble, we have picked a few simple ideas that will have your partner smiling from ear to ear.

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    Valentine’s Day Mason Jar

    “I am obsessed with Mason jars!” says the stay at home mom who spends hours scrolling through Pinterest every day. Let me tell you why Mason jars are the absolute best.

    •     You can use them to plant herbs
    •     Great for smoothies and juices
    •     Toothbrush/pencil/twine/buttons holder
    •     Prep salad in them and take them to go
    •     Overnight oats or puddings

    The list is endless! For Valentine’s Day, here’s how you can benefit from a mason jar: 

    • Fill it to the brink with candy hearts, and you can use either a boutique of fake or real flowers. Your call.
    • Handpick your loved one’s favorite chocolates and cut out paper hearts with sweet messages on them. You can choose to paint the jar pink or wrap it with a red glitter ribbon.
    • Valentine’s Day goodies! This includes heart-shaped cookies, pink/red macaroons, sugar cookie hearts, Hershey’s Kisses, conversation heart cookies.
    • Fill the jar of notes on why you love this person. Design the outside of the box with glitter, hearts, and both your initials. Anytime your loved one feels down; they can open a note and remember how much they’re loved.

     

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    Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs

    Even though bath bombs have been a thing since the 1990s, they only gained popularity in early 2018. After they blew up, I felt like they dominated the cosmetics industry. People were making bath bombs left and right. There was so many shapes, colors, and scents to pick from that you would have thought at this point, I would have tried one.

    Creating your own bath bombs at home is an incredibly simple task. You can find the steps here and get creative! You can make them heart-shaped, cupcake shaped, and even in the shape of lips. You can literally find the mold for anything on Amazon. You can present them in a mason jar (obvi) or any acceptable container you have on hand!

    If you’re planning on creating this gift for your partner, always remember bathtubs are fit for two (wink, wink).

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    Scavenger Hunt

    I know what you’re thinking. Who has the frikin’ time to create a scavenger hunt?

    The answer is me, always me. I’m adding this to the list because it was my gift to my husband last year and he thoroughly loved it! If your loved one is a fan of riddles and finding things, this one’s for you, too! Every puzzle and hint was kept within the house, so it didn’t take long. I kept them short, simple, and sexy.

    The last clue-which was really more of an answer-led him to a hotel where I had rented a room for the night. Rose petals everywhere, lavender scented candles, a steak dinner, a bottle of bubbly, a sexy film (Secretary), and err, that’s it.

    Now I’m just waiting for someone to hand me the “Best Wife” award. Should be any minute now.

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    Homemade Cake with Message

    Do you love to bake? Does your house always smell like the holidays because of the cinnamon buns you’ve been baking? Do your neighbors continuously ask you for your recipes because your pecan chocolate chip cookies are the best damn thing they’ve ever tasted?

    Then I want YOU to bake a cake with a loving message this Valentine’s Day. You know the phrase “The quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”? Yeah, well, I’m here to tell you that the quickest way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach because food is fantastic and clearly essential to our survival. I just never understood how they made something as simple as food about men.

    Moving on. If you’ve got a message for your loved one, then grab that frosting and get to writing. Then enjoy with a glass of red wine while cuddled under a blanket watching Pretty Woman.

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    You + Me on a Tree

    Click here for a visual. When I first stumbled upon Jamie’s DIY, I immediately thought “What the-,” because never in a million years would I have thought to use leftover firewood to make a memorable gift.

    Did I believe it would be difficult? Most definitely. Was it? Nope. But it does require you to be patient and careful since you will be using a utility knife and woodburning tool.

    The result is rustic, romantic, memorable, and a great addition to any room.

    See? There are just a few ideas to get those wheels in your head turning. All simple, all significant, all made with love and appreciation. Regardless of what you choose to make, always remember that at the end of the day, the perfect gift is you being there for your loved ones.

  • How to Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

    How to Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

    Holy moly, can you guys believe we’re already in February? I swear just yesterday was New Year’s, and I was toasting to a more productive year, and here I am wondering what the hell happened to January. Well, in the words of Anthony G. Oettinger, “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

    Get it? One of the perks of growing old is finding anything and everything amusing.

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    Moving on! Another month means another holiday and with all the heart-shaped cookies, balloons, and candies at every corner, I’m sure you can guess what holiday we’re talking about here. If I’m honest, I have never been a fan of Valentine’s Day because, um, hello, it’s dead set on shaming all my single people. A shame, I know, considering the history behind Valentine’s Day is a beautiful one.

    But it’s become a commercialized holiday just like Christmas.

    Damn it, America, you insatiable beast.

    Alright, I’m done ranting, let’s move on to why I still think it’s a good idea to throw a party on this particular day. Personally, I don’t need a holiday to tell me to buy sweets and teddy bears for my loved ones because I already know I’m #blessed. The reason I love throwing a party is that I have tons of single friends who don’t know how to express themselves due to society’s ridiculous notion that being single is abnormal.

    So I host a party and invite all my friends, regardless of their relationship status because even though this just another day of the year, everyone needs to feel like they’re loved.

    So here it is people, this is how you throw a righteous Valentine’s Day party.

    Invite (Almost) EVERYONE

    Ok, I know what you’re thinking. Is it really a good idea to mix my single friends with my dating/married friends? And the answer to your question is yes, it a fantastic idea. This isn’t your “making out in a corner” or “get a room” kind of party, and it’s always best to make that clear when inviting people over. This is not your frat house college party, this is a gathering of your loved ones, and people need to be on their best behavior.

    Is kissing off limits? No, I’m not a monster, but if couples wish to be passionate, then they can stay home.

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    Now here’s who you don’t invite:

    –  That one friend whose sworn off men/women

    – Jim, from accounting, whose mood kills party vibes

    – Anyone who was dumped February 13

    While you do want to be considerate towards everyone, you need to know where to draw the line.

    Heart Shaped Invitations

    Or cupcake shaped. Or bear shaped. Hey, be creative. If you’re feeling up to it, you can even send out personalized invitations to all your guests! Just make sure you send them out a week before, so you have an estimate of how many people RSVP.

    Now, invitations are amazing because this is where you’re going to state the event, place, time, food,  and my personal favorite, the rules.

    What, a party with rules? Yes, those are the best ones, duh.

    There will be singles at your party, so you need to make it clear that there is NO KISSING ALLOWED. At least nothing heavy and makes people wonder why they showed up in the first place.

    But alas, an invitation is not a rulebook, so if anyone has any questions about the party, they should be able to contact you via phone or email! I once had a couple bring their kids and leave. Do you know where I am with those people now? I’m not. Because I cut people out the same way I cut paper hearts, smoothly and without complication.

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    The point is, always know what’s allowed and what’s prohibited at YOUR party. For some, it’s a very sensitive day, and the last thing you want to do is hit a nerve.

    Ariana Grande Your Place

    I’m talking pink walls, pink hearts, pink plates, pink balloons, pink punch, pink lightning, etc. I guess you can pop a red in there somewhere. This one day a year is when you can go HAM on decor. Have heart-shaped balloons fill the ceiling, pick an array of red and pink foods such as chocolate cupcake with pink frosting, heart candy with messages (obviously), chocolate dipped strawberries, raspberry and strawberry punch, etc. Purchase red and pink curtains and cover up the walls.

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    Of course, can’t forget the DIYs. Your choices are endless, and they’ll make great additions to your home even after the party is over.

    Be Extra

    Well, more than your usual extra. You want to go all out? Here are some bonus tips:

    – Hire a professional photographer to snap pictures of everyone.

    – Set up a Photo Booth with a hedgewall that says “I’m a Lover!”

    – Set up a projector and play a few classic romance movies in the background.

    – Piñata, Piñata, Piñata! With heart eyes blindfold!

    – Goodie bags (be that badass host!)

    – Palm reading!!

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    There are just a few things you can incorporate into your party! No matter what you decide to do, the most important thing to add to any party is lots of love and laughter. I know that sounds like something out of a fairytale, but hey, it’s true.

    XOXO,

    Your Friends at HitchSwitch