Valentines

Quick Valentine’s gift 5

This entry was posted in Craft Valentines and tagged gift ideas on

I dislike the commercial cards and all the balloons and gimmicks that go with valentines day each year.  All that money for a tacky gift, no thanks. I’m going to show you how to make a thoughtful and inexpensive gift. A stained glass effect candle jar. What you need is a jar, some tissue paper, a paint brush, PVA or Modge Podge glue and about half an hour. Firstly paint the jar in glue. Start ripping up bits of tissue and sticking bits to the jar.  White is a great base colour. Mixed up with the white  paper are pale pink pieces.  I got these damp in a bowl of water so the ink leaks into the white.

The book of everyone – Valentine’s gift idea 1

This entry was posted in Valentines and tagged book review Valentine's day on

The book of everyone, it’s a brilliant idea but I had trouble with the website, it took me hours. I want to be positive though, as the end result is ace, but the air was blue by the time I was done. The Book of Everyone Valentine’s Edition is a lovingly crafted book created for that special someone in your life. A truly one of a kind gift, made by the buyer (and a special hand from the geniuses who work at The Book of Everyone) with just a few loving taps of the keyboard.   The Book of Everyone showcases through the options of digital, paperback, hardback and deluxe books, the journey through the world they were born into. The Book of Everyone can be made in minutes, customised, previewed right away, printed and dispatched to you in under one week! Or if you really have left it until the last […]

Valentine’s on the Cheap 3

This entry was posted in Valentines Written By... and tagged Australia chocolate Sydney Valentine's day on

Valentine’s on the Cheap – it can be done! On February 14th most of the restaurants and theatres are overcrowded, overpriced and the service is just plain dismal. By staying at home you’ll save the pennies, avoid the crowds and increase your intimacy. Are you dreading the thought of spending yet another Valentine’s Day at home? Well, it doesn’t have to be drab and unimaginative. In fact, if you’re not off to one of the swish function rooms or wedding venues Brisbane or Sydney (or any other major city in Australia), why not plan something special for your Valentine without having to be out of pocket? But remember, these venues still offer your romantic options so you could still opt to go for the swish! Here are some ideas for celebrating a special Valentine’s Day at home. A Picnic by the Fireside Pull the sofa up to a roaring fire, […]

Printables – half term crafty ideas 2

This entry was posted in Craft Easter Valentines and tagged activity pages Cars childrens crafts colouring sheets craft for kids craft ideas Easter ideas Jen on

So it’s half term in most places, so these printables might come in handy for some “rainy day” fun. Click on any of the images to get the printable files. All images, except the last one (reef 2) are Copyright of Tiny Me. How about Valentines printables? I know, I’m a couple of days late on this one, sorry! Or if you’ve got some crayons and lolly sticks, make some finger puppets?

Thoughtful Valentine’s gift 6

This entry was posted in Cooking Recipes Valentines and tagged chocolate flowers foodie gift making making gifts on

I am not keen on overly commercial, over priced cards, or flowers. Instead I am making Blokey a gift. Its no secret that I can’t cook, in fact I go to basic cookery lessons. So I am making chocolates. I have some super strong Co-op fairtrade 85% cocoa dark chocolate, and some Cadbury DM fruit and nut. They are like the opposites, the Co-op being a coniseurs type, where you feel sick if you eat too much as its so rich. The DM is like comfort, its not too posh, not to cheap and its easy to eat all of it. I figure a mixture of these makes perfection. Like sweetness and bitterness, too posh versus normal.

Last minute romantic getaways 2

This entry was posted in BloggerOpps Holiday Valentines and tagged cake Cornwall Devon kids outdoors photo play wildlife on

At this time of year I am sure some of my readers are hoping to be whisked away by their other half. Or maybe you are the one doing the planning? Nothing beats a bit of alone time, perhaps cream teas and costal walks, or gyms and spas, maybe even sight-seeing? I’ve been thinking about places I would love to be taken to, whether for Valentines day or not, but I would love a relaxing child free break with my Blokey to be honest. The areas of the country we have spent a lot of time in over the years are Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall, and of course Gloucestershire where I now live. Yorkshire If you like “Up North” then Scarborough is ace, I am biased though, as I have a few happy memories from my Grandparents living around there. Ox Pasture hall is a lovely looking cottage-like country house, with ivy growing up […]

Romantic little things 3

This entry was posted in Competition Entry Toys Valentines and tagged birthdays Christmas coffee dog kids kids toys Pound Pound Puppies PP tv on

Romantic doesn’t have to be a silly over-priced token gift. To me its the little things that are most romantic. Things like coffee and breakfast in bed, or when Blokey picks up on tiny things I say. As regular blog readers will know, I’ve had a troubled past. For me the sweetest thing ever was when we were talking about 80’s toys as we are the same age. I said how I used to collect Pound Puppies and Pound Purries but I had to leave them when I ran away, and I regretted that. Well I wasn’t dropping hints, I was not asking nor expecting him to find me any PP’s. But he went on ebay when I was asleep and bought a Pound Puppy mummy dog. The ones with the velcro tummy with babies inside. I was so surprised, a simple comment in a conversation, I had forgotten it […]

Why I hate Valentines day 10

This entry was posted in Depression Partner Rant Valentines and tagged broken Canada cold Facebook fear funeral Gramps health Jen journey making mental health PND PTSD rant son travel Valentine's day on

So much fake lovey dovey stuff is forced in our faces from mid January to make you buy over priced and largely tatt tokens of affection. I don’t want chocolates in a heart shaped box, or a cheaply made teddy bear just because it’s hugging a heart cushion. It’s everywhere, and this year I am NOT playing this Valentine’s game! This is going to be a rant, a personal one. If you know my in real life kindly stop reading. One year ago, on Valentine’s day night, at midnight so he’d think I’d forgotten any kind of gift or love token, totally unexpected to him (I think) I got down on one knee and asked him to be my husband. He said yes, I was so happy. Then he refused to put the ring on saying he didn’t like jewelry, didn’t want it mentioned anywhere people might hear it or […]

Valentines day, over rated or brilliant?

This entry was posted in Rant Valentines and tagged chocolate Valentine's day on

Valentines day, to me it used to be special but now its just lame. Big shops and brands have got their claws into yet another traditional day and pimped it out for all its worth. I love sweet romantic thoughtful gestures, not so keen on another mug with hearts on, or heart shaped chocolates, or fluffy hand cuffs. Come on big shops, get a bit less tacky please? I’m going to be much more happy to receive a rose bush to plant out than a dozen roses to die on my fireplace in a vase. Much happier with a mars bar or a toffee crisp bar than a big pink “pretty” chocolate heart, its over priced and artificially coloured chocy always tastes wrong. Why did you have to mess with our traditions you greedy big brands? What was wrong with love letters and candlelit homemade dinners? Simple happiness not corporate […]