As I sit here scheduling things in my planner I realized that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Valentine's Day, or as I like to call it the "Hallmark Holiday" is either loved or hated. I truthfully have never really liked it. I'm not a huge fan. My husband and I have never really celebrated it, other than our first year together, many moons ago. I'm not the the type of girl who loves getting bouquets of flowers. I see the romance in the gesture but it's just not me. To me who looks at things on the practical side, sees it as a waste of money. You are paying for flowers that are going to 1) make me sneeze, and 2) die in week. Gee Thanks I get watch these flowers die as a sign of your affection for me? No Thanks. Besides, why do we need a specific holiday to tell someone we love them. Can't we just do that any old day of the week? Some may call me cynical, but that's just who I am. In the past, I never really decorated for Valentine's Day. My mother started decorating as I got older. I do remember that my mother would always get us kids a little something for Valentines. It was usually a small box of chocolates and a necklace or earrings and I loved it. Once I had kids of my own, I wanted to start doing the same. I didn't always get the kids a little something, but now I do and now we decorate for it, and have a special dinner that night. We celebrate "Love" together as a family. Now Because I am practical, I don't want to spend a fortune on decorations. Did you know that second to Christmas Valentine's day is the most spent on holiday. Sparkling wine, chocolates, and flowers are sold in copious amounts. So in comes the Dollar store. They have some pretty cute decorations and small trinkets. I also love handmade ornaments and decorations, so I have been scouring Pinterest and found some simple ideas to decorate the home for Valentines.
You're probably asking "If I'm such "skeptic" why would I put the effort in"? Well the answer is simple, my kids. My oldest son gets excited about it. He asked me once when he was quite young why I didn't decorate for it. I didn't have an answer other than I didn't like Valentines. He said it would be nice if I did. Just because I didn't like it, shouldn't mean he doesn't get to enjoy it. So in comes the decor and Valentines.
I wasn't always like this, I do remember being excited as a kid to hand out my Valentine's to the class, I loved coming home with my paper bag filled with Valentine's and pouring over them. I kept some of them in a memory box and still have some of them to this day. My son does the same when he gets home from school. He is so excited about it.
The past 2 years we have made our valentines, forget those mass produced kind (insert eye roll here) thank you to mother's upping the game everywhere by making handmade over the top Valentine's. I'm usually not one to be keeping up with the Jone's, but my mother is the Queen of Crafting, and thanks to Pinterest and it's black-hole of endless ideas, this is the new Norm. (It does cut down on the copious amounts of sugary treats that get sent home. Most times my kid can't eat due to allergies anyways) My kid does enjoy putting them together and handing them out. I even made valentines for my youngest son's friends at Playgroup last year. (Apple sauce squeeze packs with a label on them)
Stay tuned Next Week for DIY Valentine's Decor and Handmade Valentine's Ideas
Writing this post lead me to google the origins of Valentine's Day. If you want a little background on the History of Valentine's Day 1. This little video sums it up.
Do you Celebrate Valentine's Day?
~Mommy Dearest
1. http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day
Some great insight on Valentines day. I never knew it was the 2nd most expensive holiday but i believe it! I'm with you girl! People are ridiculous, also a lot of the time it's for show anyway.
ReplyDeleteI knew that people spent copious amounts of money but until I saw the stats on it, I was more bothered by it. Though to each's own I suppose.
DeleteI don't really decorate much for Valentine's day but it's nice to give out sweet treats especially to the kids. It's fun to unleash your creativity and do some arts and crafts for Valentine's.
ReplyDeleteCrafts are so much fun, my little guy isn't so into them just yet but my oldest loves sharing his creativity.
DeleteI like to have a little fun on Valentine's Day and I always hope my husband does something to show his affection. Loved the video but we don't go overboard.
ReplyDeleteWe don't go overboard either. Last year I crocheted blankets for my boys and gave them some chocolate. I also bought a box of chocolate for my hubby and I binge on while we watched a movie together.
DeleteYES! Hallmark holiday! Lol. So true. My husband and I buy our girls a little something, and that's it. I don't want flowers..I'm allergic, but they die! What a waste of money!!
ReplyDeleteYES! Flowers are a huge waste of money. I of course see the romantic gesture but it just isn't for me.
DeleteI am looking forward to it. I haven't had a valentine in a long time so I'm a little excited not for the materialistic aspect of it, but just to spend time with my honey and celebrate love. I don't plan to purchase him a gift instead I plan to work on some DIY crafty projects as my gift to him. We are more so looking forward to the time together as we are long distance for the time being. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic that you are looking to spend time together. I won't be purchasing a gift for my hubby either. But for the kids we celebrate. The dollar store and pinterest have been both a burden and a great help. It's like a love hate relationship with it.
DeleteI actually love flowers. Not super expensive ones, but a little something to brighten up the kitchen every once in a while. I don't really care about Valentine's Day gifts, but I like to celebrate it a little just in good fun.
ReplyDeleteCelebrating in good fun is always welcome for any "holiday" we recently started celebrating St. Patricks Day. We don't go overboard. I agree that flowers do brighten a room, but I'm allergic and can think of other ways we could have spent the money.
DeleteWe really don’t celebrate Valentine’s day in the traditional buy gifts / go out and celebrate kind of way, but we always get each other a card and take the time to write a really thoughtful message to each other in them. To me that’s honestly the best way I could think to celebrate! I’m sure once we have kiddos I won’t be able to resist getting in on decorating haha
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the cards and writing a nice message to your partner. That's really how Valentine's began writing love letters. A friend of mine uses the same card and they staple a piece of paper to the inside for their anniversary and write each other a love note each year. I thought it was just the sweetest thing and resourceful too.
DeleteIt's so true, it really is right around the corner! Because we don't have kids, it's not really on our radars as much as it probably is for parents of school aged kids. We usually try to enjoy a nice dinner cooked at home together, something fancier than we usually make, just to try to avoid the crowds at restaurants
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine the crowds at restaurants it's been at least 16 years since I have been to a restaurant on Valentine's day. It's nice to spend some time together as a couple, though with kids it's a little tougher. So we make it a family night.
DeleteI love doing arts and crafts with my kids especially on different holidays! Valentine's day gives you a chance to go all out on the arts and crafts, I'm planning to do my own decor as well.
ReplyDeletePinterest has so many great ideas for Decor! I wanted to keep it simple this year and within budget. My oldest enjoys that I put up some decorations and he is getting excited about his valentines for his class. I remember being excited about it too as a kid. I think I like to keep the magic alive for any holiday. At least for my kids sake.
DeleteI don't decorate much for Valentine's Day. In fact, I don't really celebrate it much at all.
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to celebrate Valentines day or decorate either so I completely get where you are coming from. However I do love getting gifts and I love that you make decorations for the kids.
ReplyDeleteWe do celebrate but maybe it is a little more routine then we'd like. This year it is a movie and dinner out. Which is fine!
ReplyDeleteI love Valentines day! we should be remembering those who we love all year but it's fun to have a day just for this occasion
ReplyDeleteI don't really have strong opinions one way or the other on Valentine's Day, but as someone with a major sweet tooth, I've gotta say that one of the best days of the year is February 15, when all the candy goes on sale!
ReplyDeleteMy and my boyfriend have celebrated Valentine's day every year. I think it is important to celebrate each other and show appreciation. Also a great excuse for a date night :) One of my favorite holidays by far!
ReplyDeleteAww, this is so sweet! Honestly, having children is so amazing, they really can bring new excitement to things that we boring adults have long since forgotten about! It's great that your son can bring some new light to the holiday!
ReplyDeleteI used to like Valentine's Day when I was a kid. My family always exchanged cards so it was a fun tradition. Now, I'm over it. I do get cards or little gifts for my nieces and nephew but otherwise I stopped with buying everyone a card. It's become too hard to find cards for my sister or brother that actually express how I feel about them, especially since we already tell each other we love you whenever we talk.
ReplyDeleteI never really decorated for Valentine's day, but I really want to this year. They have a lot of cute things out and I really think I am going to do a little decorating!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome you decided to decorate for your kids to enjoy it. I am not a valentines fan but I do love the spirit it gets people in!
ReplyDeleteI saw something on Pinterest that the mom put a heart with something nice about their child on their door every day of February until the 14th. I think I'm going to do that this year!
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids were younger we made Valentine's and baked goodies. Now that they are older, we don't do as much.
ReplyDeleteWe don’t decorate or do much for Valentines in our house. We make sure our kiddos have their little treats but beyond that not much we do!
ReplyDeleteI have decorated here and there but never too consistently. I do celebrate mostly for my Kiddies. I give them each a small present and perhaps a stuffed toy. My husband and I try to get a night out but if it doesn't happen it's never a big deal.
ReplyDeleteYes we celebrate Valentine's Day. My husband and I and I give my kids a small gift. It's tradition.
ReplyDeleteit had become my tradition to give flowers to all women in my life, my mom, my grandma and those close to me that I believe, no one else could give them. I think I'll gonna put some effort not on decorating but on gift giving.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has been asking me lately if I would decorate for Vday this year. I normally don't, but I am seriously thinking about doing it. She has already started making her cards for the classroom, as she herself is a serious crafter.
ReplyDeleteThrifting Diva
www.thriftingdiva.com
Having two little girls has Valentine's Day an absolute favorite in our home. I haven't decorated much yet but plan to this week! Personally handmade valentines are always my very favorite from my daughters but have some fun crafts planned too.
ReplyDeleteI don't decorate much during this holiday but this is some kind of sweet and I wanna try it. This is so adorable
ReplyDeleteI always love looking st other people’s valebties day decorations but never really done it myself. This year I want to go all out.
ReplyDelete