Valentine’s Day Playdate

Prepping for a family Valentine’s Day has really been bringing extra joy to my life!  So today I’m sharing a fun idea to spread the love to the kiddos.

Some people refer to Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark Holiday”.  When I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids I always thought that Valentine’s Day has so much hype and pressure.  While it isn’t my favorite holiday, I still appreciate that we have one day of the year reminding everyone to tell their friends and loved ones how much they mean to them.  Everyone could use a reminder now and then.

To honor this special day, invite your friends and their kids over for a fun playdate that parents and kids alike will enjoy.  You’ll need to have a few crafts on hand the kids can do without too much assistance like large foam hearts the kids can decorate with stickers.  This way, everybody can have a Valentine to go home with.  Ask your friends to bring an appetizer to share that goes with the theme.  Here are a few snacks that worked for me!  And a few that my friends brought.

Top 10 Valentine’s Day Decoration Pins

Earlier this month I shared my Valentine’s Day decor, (you can see 2014 here) but I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and new ways to display what I’ve already have.  Gotta love Pinterest for this exact reason!  I may not have the exact same items as these talented bloggers and designers, but I can learn from their placement etc.  That’s exactly what I think Pinterest is all about, gleaning inspiration and learning from other people with like minds.  Here’s a group of gorgeous Valentine’s Day decorations from some seriously talented people.  Enjoy.

You can see my top Valentin’s Day Pins from 2014 here.  For more inspiring Valentine’s Day ideas follow my Valentine’s Day Board here or follow all my boards here.

Fave January Buys

December ended with an over abundance of items entering our home.  Mainly for our little Lyla due to her December birthday.  So January was pretty scaled back around here.  I feel like I spent a lot of time trying to organize the new gifts.  My main purchases this month had to do with hands and feet… and an amazing skin peel.

Flowers, Teachers, and Big Boy Beds

 Restaurant night at school, PTA meeting, the 100th day of school celebration, Catholic Schools Week, Special Friends Day and mass, Girl Scout Meeting, and on and on and on.  Last week was a blur of activity!  With school-aged little ones in the house, it seems most weeks are like that .  But, I did take the time to smell these gorgeous flowers above from the flower section at Whole Foods.  It’s right next to the juice bar and they have been carrying freesia, lilies, hyacinth, and ranunculus lately.  Ahhh… ♥!

Here are a few other highlights from this week that added a little extra pep in my step.

3 Easy Salads for 1

“What’s for dinner?” is the crowned champion of questions in many households, but “What do you eat for lunch?” is coming in a close second amongst moms.  I was on a “Moms and Kids” forum last week and a new mom was asking this very question.  The answers were interesting and varied.  I prefer to eat my lunch in kidless silence while watching something juicy on TV.  The honest truth, for me anyway, is that I typically eat leftovers.  But when there aren’t any left, or if it’s something too heavy for the middle of the day, or I just don’t feel like that right now I like to make a salad.  I fancy myself a bit of a salad connoisseur.  I really love any and all salads from fancy shmancy down to a pizza parlor salad bar.  There’s just something about the way sunflower seeds mingle with beets, croutons, and ranch.  Anyway, today I’m offering up three really delicious salad options anyone can make at home for just one person.  Each salad has it’s own unique home-made salad dressing.  It’s really not as difficult as it sounds!  When you taste your own fresh-made dressing, you’ll never go back to the bottled stuff!

Valentine’s Gifts for Teachers and Grandparents

Like most kids, my kids like to receive gifts anytime.  However, I am thankful that they also enjoy giving gifts.  This upcoming holiday is a perfect time to offer a sweet sentiment to the people that add so much fun, value, and excitement to my kids lives.  We are very lucky to have two sets of grandparents that love my kids as their own.  We are also lucky to have so many amazing teachers involved in their education.  This is why I am constantly on the lookout for some really fun Valentine’s gifts for teachers and grandparents.  I’ve got a round-up of 7 Grandparents gifts and 7 teachers gifts.

For more inspiring Valentine’s gifts for teachers and grandparents follow my Valentine’s Day Board here or follow all my boards here.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin and Chard/Kale Mashers Recipe

Tonight I shared this photo of our dinner of Pork Tenderloin and Chard/Kale Mashers on Instagram and I had a few requests for the recipe so here it is.  Let me tell you that my kids LOVED it!!  I hope your family will enjoy it as much as I did.

Valentine’s Day Prep

With January coming to a close it’s time to start prepping for Valentine’s Day.  Here are some great ideas to start thinking about now.  I kept one wreath and heart handprint for myself and made some to give as gifts.  I love seeing their little handprints, it’s amazing how fast they grow!  Plus, I have a great idea for a kid’s Valentine’s Day dinner that is packed with secret veggies.  The best part about making the kids their own dinner, is that you and the hubs can have a romantic dinner at home after the kids go to bed.  I suggest something fabulous (very NOT kid-friendly) like oysters followed up with surf and turf.  YUM!

Babies, Valentine’s Day, and the Tooth Fairy

Love is in the air at Casa de Rino!  Adding seasonal flair to my home has been especially fun over the last several months because my kids have been getting so into decorating.  My daughter is always pushing me to get the decor out weeks in advance.  My son loves to go around and talk about each item.  It’s really sweet.  I save all the craft projects from the previous years the kids made and I really enjoy displaying them.  You can see last year’s Valentine’s Day decor here.

Green Juice for Good Skin

 

Let’s talk good skin.  I mean the kind of skin you see and you have to ask even a total stranger to tell you everything they use, eat, and do to make their skin literally glow from within.  I don’t have that kind of skin, but, as I’ve told you before, I’m always in search of it.  Today I want to talk about how you can get on your way to enviable skin without buying any new creams, serums, or lotions.  We’re talking about a good old “bottoms up” beauty remedy:  Green Juice for Good Skin.