Valentine's Favorites

Happy love day, friends! I hope it's been a great week for you filled with so much love, not just today, but every day. I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of our past Valentine's Day celebrations and share in all the love. I've mentioned it before (probably every Valentine's post), before Eric and I had kids we never made a big deal over the day. We were perfectly fine with ordering in and maybe watching a movie or doing something low-key. I remember one year we went out and the restaurant we went to was completely packed. It felt more chaotic than enjoyable and wasn't the idea I had in mind of a fun night. So we nixed that and kept it simple from then on. That is, until we had kids. 

Yup, it was a whole different story once we had kids. Things are just different with kids and it feels like every holiday, no matter how big or small, means so much more with them. One of the approaches we've taken to Valentine's Day is explaining to our boys that it's another way for us to show Jesus' love to others just as He shows love to us. I know some look at the day as a halmark holiday, and I agree, sometimes the meaning can get lost or everyone feels they need to go above and beyond with things, but if we find a way to tie it back into our beliefs and showing love to others, than I'm on board with it. 

DISNEYLAND:

this year we had the privilege of celebrating in one of the most magical places with our little family. I am so excited to be partnering with Disney and look forward to sharing more about our adventures. We took the boys to Disney World a few years ago, but this was our first time visiting Disneyland and taking it all in.

ICE CASTLES: 

visiting the Ice Castles in New Hampshire was probably one of my favorite trips because it was so unique to us and not something you do everyday. Well, at least if it's not in an area that's right around you. As far as I know, this is the only location on the east coast out of their 6 locations total.

NYC HEART WALL:

i remember for little nugget's first Valentine's Day it was unseasonably warm so we wanted to take advantage of doing something outside. I had seen another blogger, barefoot blonde, post about a heart wall she came across in NYC. I did some digging to try and find where it was located and thanks to some hashtag searching, sure enough we were able to find this heart wall mural. We had a great outdoor brunch after and a successful day taking both boys into the city for the first time.

ICE CARNIVAL:

before we even knew the ice castles existed, there was an ice carnival that was near us. I'm not sure they even have it anymore, but I am glad we went when they did. Just envision a carnival made out of ice with games, rides, and attractions all made out of ice. I think everyone's favorite was the ice slide.

VALENTINE'S THROWBACKS:

i always enjoy a good throwback so I put together a post a few years ago with some of our first celebrations and a throwback pic of Eric and I from college. There's also some cute ones of A baking his first batch of Valentine's cupcakes for his little class. Gosh, they really do grow so quickly.

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and a wonderful weekend of love! 

Easy Ways To Make Valentine's Day Special For Your Kids

I was recently talking with a friend who mentioned she wants to make Valentine's Day special for her little ones but doesn't want to spend a lot of money or feel like she has to put on a big production. I get it. Most of the time we're exhausted as parents, working off of a budget, or wondering how we're going to fit something extra into our schedule. 

I was never really big into Valentine's Day until I had kids and realized that any holiday with them, whether big or small, is fun to celebrate. There's something special about seeing your kids light up when you do something out of the ordinary that makes their day. I also quickly realized that holidays can get out of hand if you don't have any idea or direction with what you want to do and aimlessly shop for things that many times aren't necessary. Of course everyone is entitled to celebrate how they please, but I want to share some easy and cost effective ways you can make Valentine's Day special for your kids without breaking the bank or feeling like you need to put on a Pinterest show.  

BUY SMALL USE BIG: 

a lot of times my kids will come home from school with artwork or projects around this time of year that can also double as setting out for some extra decorations. I also love Target's dollar spot, although, sometimes I wish there were more dollar options there, and when in doubt. the Dollar Tree is always a great option as well. You can give yourself a small budget, even if it's $10 dollars, and get creative with what you buy. What has worked really well for me is getting a pack of something, my tried and true foam sticker hearts have been great to spread around the table and the whole pack is only $1. If you buy something like a pack of pencils or stickers, taking them out of the pack and displaying them fills the space and also looks like more.

ATTIRE THAT'S NOT HOLIDAY SPECIFIC: 

yup, you read that right. If you don't spend money on holiday specific attire that limits you to wearing it again, you can find a lot of cute options that are a general color or design that don't scream, kiss me I'm your Valentine.  It's a double bonus because you have the versatility to wear it a lot more than for a specific timeframe. The boys wanted to pick out their outfits last year and I love what they went with. If you're looking for something a bit more traditional I love styles like this pink polka dot shirt for a little girl or this simple tee for little boys. And of course a fun heart sweater if mama wants to feel festive.

CREATIVE IDEAS WITH FOOD:

this is probably my favorite suggestion because if you've been reading this little space of mine then you know I love to have fun with special breakfasts for my kids. We are a breakfast loving family. Like, eat breakfast for dinner when I'm out of ideas, and everything is better with an egg on it, family. I have the best time sneaking down to the kitchen before the kids make it there and having a little spread ready for them. I love incorporating some treats and mixing it in with some fruits and playing up on the colors of food. Strawberries, raspberries, smoothies, and cherries are great to use as Valentine's Day foods. My friend Lindsay put together a great Valentine's charcuterie board and an expansive list with  pink and red foods that you can check out for even more inspiration.

USING THINGS YOU ALREADY HAVE: 

I always love this because it takes away from the time and effort of having to get something new and allows you to get creative with things you already have. If you look around your home, or even at your kids toys or art supplies, you will probably come across some options that you can us. Think pink, white, or red tissue paper, crayons, or even colored hot wheels cars. The ideas are endless if you do a little thinking.

I hope this has inspired you to enjoy this special time with your kids and not feel like you have to spend a lot or go above and beyond to put a smile on their faces. After all, it's about spreading love and reminding those around you how much you care about them. 

Ways To Show Love

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! It's the day of love and all things pink and red. This holiday never really meant much to me, and honestly, I really cared less about it. My mom always made things fun for us as kids and I remember being really excited about it, what kid wouldn't enjoy getting some treats? Even being married neither Eric or I really make a big deal out of it. It's not for any real particular reason, it just isn't our thing.

Now that I have kids holidays have taken on a whole new meaning and they are some of the most special and exciting times. It's amazing how those little ones can do that. If you've been following me for awhile you know that I enjoy doing a special breakfast for them (I'm sure I'll be sharing some of that in my stories today). We like to get a heart pizza for dinner and keep it low-key at home watching movies. I'm pretty sure we'll be indulging in more treats than needed #holidayproblems. 

At first I thought about putting together a cute little setup to take pictures of the boys but my creativity just wasn't there and exhaustion was setting in. Then I felt kind of bad because it is baby C's first Valentine's Day (third child problems). I went down into my craft bin and found a bag of dollar store hearts and let the boys stick them to the wall. They were in such a silly mood, and being extra cute at the same time. so our pictures turned out like this.

On another note, have you ever taken that 5 love languages quiz? I took it about two years ago and recently took it again to see if it was consistent. I am definitely driven by acts of service. When Eric does things around the house or takes part of the load off of my plate, I am one happy girl. 

I saw that they also have a quiz you can take to learn your child's love language, so I will definitely be finding time to take that at some point. We're always looking for teachable moments to trying and instill in the boys to love one another. It got me thinking, regardless of being romantically involved with someone, focusing on a lost love, or searching for love, we can all show ways to love others. 

Here are some simple reminders that we can all reflect on to show love...

1. Do Someone A Favor: 

I know most of us like to try and keep it together and take on these supermom or super woman roles, but sometimes having a favor done for us can make such a difference. Maybe a friend needs some extra help with drop off or pickup, some soup when they aren't feeling well, or an extra loaf of bread when you forgot it for the second time at the grocery store (I might be talking from experience there).  Whatever it is, either big or small, doing someone a favor can go a long way. We usually feel better about ourselves after we do it, too. 

2. Be Positive: 

I shared last week 5 simple ways to be positive and I loved hearing from so many of you that you feel you are a positive person or it's something you could work towards. I do know one things for sure, when you surround yourself with positive people it can start to make a difference in you. 

3. Give a Genuine Compliment:

I used to be the type of person that when someone would compliment me I would somehow downplay it. I didn't even realize I did it until I was watching something on tv (I can't even really remember what it was) but I realized that was me. Someone would say, what a nice shirt. I would reply saying, oh this old thing? It's so old, blah blah. Or someone would say, your hair looks great. I would come back saying, oh really, I haven't washed it in days, it's getting so greasy, etc. If that's you, do yourself a favor and just say thank you. It has changed my perspective so much. When you learn to appreciate compliments you are also more inclined to give them. And when you give them, you end up feeling much better. 

4. Celebrate Others: 

This isn't always an easy one for some people, but we all know it's the right thing to do. Others will feel your love when you celebrate them and you'll feel better after doing it. It ends up being a win, win. 

5. Give Hugs: 

It's a proven fact that hugs can help reduce stress and have a positive impact. I'm not saying you have to be that odd person who goes around just hugging strangers (but hey, if that's you're thing more power to you). When you can tell a hug is appropriate, especially to a friend in need, it's an easy way to show love. 

6. Smile Often: 

Let's put aside that smiling can cause those nice little lines around your eyes. Let's focus on the positive affects of letting the sides of your mouth curl upwards. I think we underestimate the power of flashing a smile to others. I'm not saying we have to be walking around with a big grin on our face all the time, but sometimes a smile can really brighten someones day and we don't even have to say anything to them.

{above all, love each other deeply} 1 Peter 4:8

What are some ways you like to show love to others? 

Love One Another

Happy Valentine's Day, friends! I hope love is in the air for you :) More importantly, and if nothing else, I hope today brings you all kinds of happiness. 

Last week I shared about our Valentine's Day last year and the plans we had for this year. We also did some early celebrating with the nuggets over the weekend and took them to an ice carnival. It was one of the coolest things, ever!

The nuggets will be waking up to a special breakfast this morning before we head out for the day that will be filled with fresh fruit and all the heart shaped pancakes. Well about those heart shaped pancakes, of course I searched high and low for my heart shaped cookie cutter last night, but wouldn't you know I didn't have any luck. I'll try finagle something with a sandwich cutter we have but let's just say they might not be the best looking hearts around. I'll try to share more of their breakfast on my Friday favorites or if you can't wait until then I'll more than likely be sharing something on my instagram stories.

The nuggets are excited for their Valentine's Day parties in their classes today and I got a surprise when I found out Eric arranged for a sitter tonight. We normally don't go out to eat on actual Valentine's day and just hang out at home, but I appreciate the thoughtfulness and will gladly enjoy a dinner out. We've been wanting to try a local Italian spot in town so this is the perfect opportunity.

I always try to put the nuggets in some sort of festive shirt for the day but this year it was really weighing on my heart to go a more non-traditional route. With so much going on in the world today I feel one of the greatest accomplishments I can achieve as a Mother is to teach them about God's love and for us to be an example and show His love to others. 

When I came across these shirts I knew they were perfect for the message we are trying to teach the boys and something that could be a great conversation starter with others.

So today, whether you are decked out in your favorite bright pink outfit (mine might happen to have lips on it), anticipating those flowers and chocolates, or rolling your eyes because you just aren't into a hallmark holiday–let's all try to remember above all else to love one another.

~Love one another. As I have loved you~ John 13:34

Valentine's Day Plans-Family Heart Wall

I was never really a big Valentine's Day person and always thought the holiday was kind of cheesy. I don't know, something about all this hype for one day and the over whelming thought of pink and red everywhere left me rolling my eyes.

I guess in general the idea is nice, but I was never really one to go all out or feel a certain kind of way if I wasn't showered with gifts and all that good stuff.

Well now that I have kids wouldn't you know my take on the holiday has changed. Kids will do that type of thing to you, you know. I'm still not overly dramatic about the holiday but anything that gets them excited and puts a smile on their face has me doing things I never thought I would.

Last Valentine's Day I was still on my blogging break from having little nugget and realized I never shared what we did last year. It was so much fun that I couldn't pass up doing a little #tbt and also sharing what we have in store this year. So take a little trip down memory lane with me for some picture overload and all things Valentine's Day 2016 fun...

You all know me and my love for some street art, so when I saw someone post a picture on instagram of this awesome heart wall I knew it was the perfect Valentine's Day spot for us to check out. At first I was a little apprehensive because it was the first time taking both nuggets into the city and I wasn't sure how I would be able to maneuver a double stroller around. I'm happy to say everyone's heels are still intact (at least that I know of) and overall it wasn't bad at all.

We actually did not go into the city on Valentine's Day weekend because of course it was one of the coldest weekends ever. We looked at the extended forecast and saw the following weekend was supposed to be close to the  50's (huge difference) so we decided to wait. I'm really glad we did because it all worked out perfectly.

We decided to drive in instead of taking the train and luckily found on street parking pretty easily. I knew the mural was in the East Village and parking there is a lot easier. We found the anticipated heart wall and of course it gave me all the heart eyes.

We let the nuggets run around, well actually only A at this point, and admire the row of different murals for awhile. Look how small my little loves where! There was a little park around the corner that we stopped off before deciding on where we wanted to eat.

We stopped off at Rosie's for brunch and ended up getting a table outside because it was so nice out. I don't know about you, but every time we find a place that has outdoor seating I'm so much more relaxed and actually have a chance to enjoy my meal. Maybe it's because I'm not as worried about the nuggets being on their best behavior. For some reason outside seating just has a more relaxed feel.

I think last years Valentine's Day is going to be hard to top but we do have something fun up our sleeves this year. We're taking the nuggets to an ice carnival. Yup, an ice carnival. I had no idea something like this even existed, and I have no clue what we're in store for–but it sounds pretty cool. 

I'm also planning on having a special breakfast for the nuggets on Valentine's Day morning before we head out to work and school for the day. I was able to find some cute things at the Target dollar spot. I love when they're on point.

They both have parties that will be going on in their daycare classes so we put together some fun Valentines for their friends. I made these printables for little nugget's gummy bear treats, but I just didn't have time to create my own for A. Thank God for Pinterest and people who are much more creative than I am. I came across these adorable tags for our milk and cookies theme, and I think they will work out just fine.

What I'm really hoping for this Valentine's Day is a night off from cooking and cleaning and just relaxing and enjoying all the hugs, kisses, and love from my little family. If that happens I will be one happy mama.