This is the first Valentines Day that I can even think of that I'm not worried if he put thought into it, if I'll get anything (likely not), and there isn't any pressure for it to be anything special what-so-ever! It's my first peaceful Valentines Day. This Valentines Day ROCKS! THIS, is what Valentines Day is for.
Today couldn't have come at a better time for my Hubs and I. A one year old taking so much of our energy. A new baby on the way. A new job my husband started less than a month ago that has 39 weeks of training. The moments to sit back, sigh, and say I love you, are limited. So I decided during nap time (and late hours of last night) during the last week, to do something creative, thoughtful and special for my Hubs.
When we finally get a chance to head out for a date, we always sit there going back and forth, "what do you want to do," and sometimes end up doing nothing or renting the $1 Red Box...exciting, I know. Lately my wallet has been impossible to close. OK, I'm lying, it's been impossible to close for some time now. I have an insane collection of gift cards. By insane I mean 20+ floating around in my wallet. I'm afraid to spend them because I think there will be that day when I desperately need to buy a gift and I'm broke. Some of the gift cards are over 3 years old! Therefore, I took out all the guessing and cost and created a "Date Night" bag.
I made a folder for each month. Within each folder is a pre-planned, pre-paid date night. This was super easy and basically free for us lol. I went through my gift card collection and pulled out a bunch Mike would enjoy too (one for most months). I created a plan that coordinated with the weather. Gave directions for the "Date Night" and added the gift card. So the 1st of every month we'll grab our calendars and pick a date. Line up the sitter and then we have our monthly "Date Night" planned and we can look forward to it. There is probably about $400+ worth of gift cards in there lol, but, there are also some dates that are FREE. I could have completely made this without gift cards but my wallet feels so much lighter and will close now! For one example, I had a $20 gift card to Hallmark (this ones been around for years). Our date night is going there, dropping $20 on chocolates and candy and heading to the park where we got married and spending some quality talking time shoving chocolate in our face.
I would have packaged it more nicely, but really, the Hubs could care less lol. It's the thought that he doesn't have to come up with anything AND it's already paid for!
Next, I dug deep into our early days. My Hubs and I were the couple that moved in together after a month of dating...within a month of meeting each other. We knew early on we had something special. I remember us feeling silly saying I love you so early on in our relationship, so we would say, "Olive Juice" instead. Nearly 5 years later olives still make me smile.
I like to fill our home with personal touches. Many things have significant meant to them. Our couch in the new family room (was a storage space and unused gym) finished in December, needed pillows. So I whipped this up:
Yes, I made the pillow and yes there is a story from the first few weeks we were dating. And yes, it matches our family room decor color and YES it made my Hubs smile :) He completely loved it this morning when I gave it to him. I'm sure everyone wants a tutorial on this. Very easy:
You will need:
- 14"x14" pillow form
- 1/2 yard of fabric (main color)
- matching zipper
- small piece of olive felt and coordinating thread
- hand needle
- small piece of red felt and coordinating thread
- Iron on fabric (I purchased mine pre-cut from Hobby Lobby)
- Cut 2 15"x15" squares out of your main fabric.
- Next, hand stitch on your felt heart with the coordinating thread
- On the right stitch on your olive with the coordinating thread
- Sew the zipper to an end of each piece of fabric (directions usually come with the zipper)
- UNZIP THE ZIPPER!
- Pin the right sides of the main fabric together
- Sew around the 3 remaining sides 1/4 inch
- Clip your corners
- Turn the pillow case right side out through the zipper opening and pop out the corners
- Place your iron on letters into place
- Iron them on the front, turn the pillow case inside out and iron from the back
- Turn the pillow case back right side out, insert the pillow form and zip the bottom!
I hope this is the Valentines Day that Rocks for you...and if not, make it one of those special Valentines Day's that leaves an unforgettable memory. And, maybe next year will be the one that Rocks. <3
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