Frugal Finds Friday: Planning for Valentine’s Day

Bring on the chocolate: dark, chewy, crunchy, creamy, sugar-free, you name it. Valentine’s Day is almost here and there are many ways to share your affection without breaking the bank.

In my family, this little day of feasting, candy and flowers falls right about the time the budget and diet are just getting back into shape and the cold winter air chills the plans for an evening out. Given these factors, we started a tradition when my girls were little. One snowy Valentine’s Day when going out wasn’t an option, we pulled out all the china, dressed in our finest, cooked and cleaned and waited for Daddy to come home with flowers for the table. The girls enjoyed it so much that now they have the table set before I even decide what to cook.

Why let a day about love fill you with financial dread? From gifts to dinner, there are multiple options to show love creatively this year without spending a fortune.

Starting with cards, communicate your affection through technology for a quick and easy gesture. The launch of online sites like e-cards.com, bluemountain.com, and hallmark.com let you send a free card via e-mail complete with animation. If you are the tactile type and need to send greetings on paper, your computer offers many options to make and print your own customized cards. If you are feeling extra creative, pull out the old ribbons and lace and make an super-special creation for little expense or effort.

For more of this article on money saving ideas for Valentine’s Day, head over to DIYFrugalwhere Sarah is gathering lots of money saving resources just for YOU!

I heart my ipod!

My ipod is one of my very favorite things in there whole entire world. I have it on a docking station in the kitchen and my kids and I rock out every morning before school to get the day started, I sing my little heart out while the kids are napping and I am working around the house or playing facey-book, and then every night at while I am making dinner…evening concert.

Music is such an important part of my life. I have playlists for just about everything and any mood. Ones that energize me, relax me, take me back to my childhood, teens, early 20’s (although that wasn’t too long ago, sing I am 29 and holding- wink, wink). I used to have hundreds of CD’s..hundreds! Pre- kids, I spent a lot of time in the car for work and music got me through the day. My CD’s were in CD binders, but somehow always ended up under my seats, in the glove box, side door pocket, they were everywhere. I always thought it was silly that I was carting around my entire music library in the car, but I was in sales and never knew what the day would bring, what kind of mood I would be in or when I would need a little pick me up or a little Dave Matthews to relax after a stressful meeting. I loved my CD’s. If I liked a song I would buy the CD. Doing that is how I fell in love with DMB. I liked “Crash”, bought the CD and 14 years and 10 concerts later. Dave Matthews is my all time favorite.

When I met my husband I had a teeny tiny cute little 2 seater. Throw in my work stuff, CD collection and other random stuff (shoes, shopping bags, camera bag) and there wasn’t much for him, or if I drove he had to hold a big old CD binder on his lap. Not so comfy.
The first present he ever bought me was my ipod. He had the majority of my CD’s downloaded and that began my love affair with my ipod…oh, and yeah, my husband.

Anyway… long story short, the reason that I started this whole ode to my ipod post….. my husband would like his own ipod for Valentine’s Day. He and I have WAY different taste in music. While I am crunchy 90’s Rock, Old School Hip- Hop with a punch of modern pop. He is 80’s pop with a touch of modern pop & hip hop.

He has a playlist on my ipod, but he rarely gets a chance to listen to it. He borrows my ipod when he goes to the gym, but I am always nervous he is going to lose it or break it. ( he has a track record for losing & breaking stuff) The minute he walks in the door, I ask for it right away and make sure it is okay. Silly, I know, but that is how much I love my ipod.. can you imagine the freak I must be about my kids? um, yeah!

So.. I am thinking it is time for hubs to get his own ipod… it will be a “come full circle gift”. He bought me my first ipod, I bought him his.

I was searching ipod prices today and looked on Amazon today and found a pretty Awesome Ipod Deal and wanted to share it with you. I scored an ipod Nano for $139. I saved $43!!!!

So.. hopefully my husband won’t read this post before Valentine’s Day and know what I got him, but just incase he does… Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy your ipod…and DON’T LOSE IT!

Valentine’s Day Treats & Goodies…Ideas for Kids

It’s that time of year again…love is all around us! Next week, on February 14, is Valentine’s Day! It’s the day that flower shops and Hallmark’s all around us thrive on! I’m sure you’ve been planning a little something special for the ones you love, but just in case you’re stumped…we have a few ideas for you. These Valentine’s Day treats are great to make with your children and for your children. They are also all wonderful ideas if you’re planning on giving your children treats to bring for their classroom Valentine’s Day parties at school or even great things to bring your co-workers for fun snacks for the office.

Teachers love when classroom parties run smoothly! So, forget the messy cupcakes this year…why not go for something a little neater…simpler…and that does two jobs at once?!

Like these little treat bags that combine the Valentine’s card and treat all in one…


You can create these treat bags by using small cellophane bags (found at any craft store) and a decorated paper topper or sticker. Fill the bags with a favorite candy, like red hots, M&M’s, conversation hearts or Hershey’s kisses, then attach the paper topper with staples or the sticker to the bag….it’s just that simple! You can get creative with the paper toppers and stickers…if you’re a stamper…create them using your card stock and stamps…if you’re more into digital designs…make round stickers on your computer with a whimsical design – you can even personalize them with your child’s name. Get creative!

Another great idea for Valentine’s Day cards and a treat is these cute flower and butterfly lollipop holders.
All you have to do is print…cut…and insert a lollipop! Can’t get much easier than that!
For the flower design instructions & download, click here and here.
For the butterfly design instructions & download, click here.
Get creative here too…print these designs on colored paper to save time or have your toddler color them for a more “personal” touch!

Would you rather make something that’s doesn’t involve sugar? Then here’s an idea for you…
Make heart shaped crayons! (These might not go over well with your co-workers at the office…but you never know!!!)

This is a great project, because not only are you making something fun and unique for your children to give out to their friends…but you can recycle all of those itty bitty crayon pieces your children have piled in their art boxes!

To make these crayons:
Get out your old crayons. Take off the paper (if it’s still on) and break them into smaller pieces (kids love to help with this). Spray your muffin tin (use heart shaped tins or silicone candy molds to make them heart shaped) with vegetable spray and put some crayons pieces into each spot. The more or less you put depends on what size you want for each chunky crayon. You can also group the crayons into colors that are fun together, red and blue for purple, pink tones or blue tones – or even red, pink and white for a fun Valentine’s Day theme. Place the muffin tin full of crayons into a preheated oven of 275 degrees F. Watch them carefully, they will melt fast. Bake them for about 7-8 minutes. When they looked melted enough, carefully and slowly remove them from the oven. You can stir them with a toothpick for a swirly look, or leave them as is. Let them cool completely (can be placed in the freezer to speed up process once the tin is not so hot). Once cooled, the crayons can be popped out of the muffin tin, tap the back to help this process.
If you love this idea, but don’t want to make them, check out this Etsy shop where you can purchase heart crayons…already made and neatly bagged up for you!

Or how about making these delicious Cookie Pops! Click here for recipe.

Or Valentine’s Day Chex Mix! Click here for recipe.

Want something a little more “chocolatey” instead? How about dipping your favorite treats in melting chocolate and handing those out? Like these yummy treats…
Oreos, jumbo marshmallows, Nutter Butter Cookies, pretzel rods, graham crackers sticks and fortune cookies!

All you have to do is melt the chocolate (Almond bark is also good because it “sets” the best) in the mircowave or in a double boiler on the stove until it’s completely melted and smooth, then dip your delicious treats! Decorate them with sprinkles if you’d like. Place them on wax paper lined cookie sheets and allow them to “set” or cool. Put them in the refridgerator for a few minutes to speed up the process. You can even wrap the goodies in cellophane bags for a more finished way to disperse them in the classroom or at work.

And one last idea…and probably the healtiest choice of all – Heart Fruit and Cheese Skewers.Just cut out melon and cheese into hearts shapes with a small cookie/pastry cutter. Put the fruit and cheese on kabob skewers…and enjoy!

We hope all of these ideas inspire you to make some fun and delicious Valentine’s Day goodies for this upcoming holiday!