Happy Valentine’s Day!  Decorations, Cookies, Valentine Cards all make for a very fun day.  Remember — it’s never too late to send an email Valentine or phone call.  It’s a great FRIENDSHIP Day!

Ta Da!!! The Valentine Box! What a great activity to do with a child. It’s even fun to do one and give it away full of treats to someone special. Someone always needs a little love!

It’s a BIG weekend ahead if you are making those wonderful school Valentine boxes.    This is certainly a family and friend activity.  First, know the student’s ideas for his or her Valentine box.  Then gather supplies together at home, then make a trip to a craft store to pick up items and supplies that are needed.  The sky is the limit on this project!  I’m helping with two boxes for boys this weekend.  Stay tuned for the revealing on Monday!

If you are mailing a Valentine package — you best get it in the mail!  If you are not — well think of someone who could use a “pick-me-up” and send them a Valentine package.  Pack you box with goodies specific to the person you are sending it to — I send Lego’s to my grand kids and plenty of candy.  Once the box is packed, then add some pizazz to the package with stickers and stamps.  Someone is going to love it!

Surprise someone with a “Heart Attack!”  Attack a friend or relative with lots of hearts!  Whether it be an office window or door, classroom door, bedroom door or window, cover it with pink, red, purple, white hearts — all sizes.  What a great way to tell someone you love them!

A Valentine tradition for us is making Valentine cookies.  It’s especially fun if a child can help.  Flour, powdered sugar and pink can  be found somewhere on everyone helping.  I have a mini rolling pin and a variety of cookie cutters to help with the creativity.  With a swipe of frosting, they are ready to eat!  Beware — they vanish quickly!

What a great Valentine treat!  Heart-shaped marshmallows are in stores right now.  Grab a bag!

Just imagine a steamy hot cup of cocoa with a heart-shaped marshmallow floating in it.  The perfect “comfort” food with a little love.  All ages will love this Valentine!

There are several treats that go with Valentine’s like red hearts.  Two popular treats are chocolates and Valentine cookies.  Because the “Celiac Kid” is near and dear to us, we are always on the look out for gluten free food.  We have found “Eleanor’s Bake Shop!”

They make the best sandwich bread and my celiac kid loves it.  However, today, besides buying bread, the cookies looked wonderful.  Gluten free people: CELEBRATE with a great frosted sugar cookie for Valentine’s!

And, I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this GF cake while I was there. Isn’t it amazing!?!

A quick way to remind a child that you love them is to put Valentine stickers on their lunch sacks.  If they don’t take a sack lunch, Throw a set of Valentine stickers in their backpack.  You might want to put them inside a notebook or book so they will be sure to find them.  If the backpack is not an option, under a pillow or in a coat pocket is a great place, too.

We are ready to roll with Valentine ideas!  Cookie cutters aren’t just for cookies! I loved cutting bread into a heart shape using a large cookie cutter.  Then I’d cut heart shaped cheese to fit the bread or bologna.  Depending on the person I was making lunch for, tuna, egg salad, ham or turkey all found their way onto a heart-shaped piece of bread.  Husbands and kids alike enjoyed the surprise when they opened their lunch — including my high school kids!

p.s. Use the bread crusts for bread crumbs!