Kicking off Five Days of Valentine Fun!

Valentine's day is coming and I've got 5 days of fun valentine gift and food ideas for you! I like Valentine's day because it's all about small tokens of love and thoughtfulness (at least to me- but I wouldn't turn down BIG tokens of love and thoughtfulness either :-))

Sooooooo, this week I'll be posting little project ideas great for giving gifts to your sweetie, your little ones, friends, and even the grandparents. But first, today's post is about a project from our recent MOPS meeting. We made "Date Diaries" using purchased notebooks (found at Michaels- $1!) and page markers we made using clear glass beads, printed paper, and clear glue. Thanks to Molly for showing me how to make the magnet version of these neat "bubbles".

If you want to make some yourself simply cut words out of magazines, or print them from your home computer. Cut into small circles and glue paper on the flat side of a clear glass florist bead, using a clear drying glue. (Make sure the side you want to see through the "bubble" is facing the glass.) Coat back side of the paper w/ another layer of glue, & let dry. When the bead is completely dry, hot glue to the paper clip and let dry.

Here are some of the ideas that the MOPS ladies came up with for creative dates in three categories. Maybe it will help you plan your Valentine's Day date. Some of these are specific to STL but you can adapt them for where you live!

Romantic Dates/ Ideas:
Anything in a Tiffany's box
Little Surprises
Chocolate Strawberries
Friday Night Movies at home w/ snacks (good when you can't get a sitter)
Spa Day for couples
12 Dates of Christmas (plan 12 dates in December)
Fondue at home
Go to the Melting Pot restaurant for dessert
Bowling for Wishes (Each person writes down 10 wishes and puts them in separate piles. Whoever loses the frame has to pick a wish from the winner's pile.)
Take a night away at a local Bed & Breakfast
Go to the Botanical Gardens & Dinner on The Hill
Make a giant Chocolate Kiss using a plastic funnel. Add fillings if desired
Living Room Picnic w/ Music
Visit the Bissell Mansion
Send your date on a Gift Treasure Hunt
Gourmet Night; make special meals

Cheap Dates:
Make Sundaes with your favorite Ice Cream
Cook Together
Priceline a Hotel stay
Go for A Walk
Free seats at the MUNY
Go to a Drive In Movie Theatre
Swap Babysitting with a friend (and go back to your house to watch a movie!)
Take advantage of free meal/ dessert coupons on your birthday from participating restaurants
Go to Sonic for Java Chillers
Drive the Great River Road to Grafton/ Pier Marquet State Park. You can bike, boat, window shop, antique, read at coffee shops, picnic, go to winery, etc.
Camp at a state park
Go to Barnes and Noble's to read
Take advantage of all the free things to do in STL; Art shows, Forest Park, etc.
Go to the Zoo
Go to a video arcade, bowling, roller/ice skating
Walk to Dairy Queen

Family Dates:
Double date with another family to dinner, dessert, or a fun spot
Chunk E. Cheese
Camping- outdoors or in the living room
Peoria Wildlife Preserve
Grant's Farm in STL
Monkey Joe's or other indoor inflatables place
STL Transportation Museum
Luminere Scuplture Museum
Soulard Farmer's Market and breakfast at LaFayette Square (good park there too)
go to the Zoo
Biking (Katy Trail is a great place to explore)
Magic House or the Edwardsville Children's Museum
Family Game Night
Family Movie Night
Trip to the St. Louis Mills for shopping, playland and carousel
Go Fishing
A family day hike
Make your own pizza and placemat's night (you make pizza, kids make placemats)
Yager Lake in Litchfield
Dress up and Play Rock Band/ Fashion Show
Go to the YMCA or local gym for indoor swimming
Geocashing
Check out a Kids Eat Free resturant
Letterboxing with the Kids! (don't know about letterboxing? check this out!)