It's Your Family - Love 'Em Anyway

 

It’s that time of year where everybody – I mean e’rbody – gets anxious about the family holiday get together.  Even for those who do love each and every one of their family members, the cooking, cleaning, baking, packing, weather watching, traveling can still make you a bit stressed.  So – cue “We Are Family” and read on for a few tips in getting ready for dinner with your favorite people.

Endure the craziness.  You probably think you are the only one with that cousin that everybody is keeping an eye on, with that aunt that folks are just nervously waiting to see what she’s going to say.  But we’ve all got our own form of family craziness. Embrace it.

Everybody needs love.  You may be tempted to not invite that uncle because he doesn’t know which is the proper dinner fork versus salad fork or the cousin that is, uhh, just coming home (and not from college) or the sibling who ticked you off at the 4^th of July picnic and you haven’t spoken to since.  You may be justified in your indignation and annoyance. But they’re family. Love them.

Give warnings on the food you bring. The pecan pie is obvious, but the ground almond and peanut butter cookies, might need a sign for the nut-allergy sufferer. Save yourself from making the 911 call and someone from a trip to ER.  Be considerate.

Know your family. If your people like Kraft mac & cheese, don’t show up with Gruyere and brie with truffle oil macaroni.  Or vice versa.  Each year, my made fresh that morning cranberry sauce sits next to the cylindrical, ridged cranberry jelly on the holiday table. Don’t be mad.

Know your own limitations. If you know that you can’t boil water, don’t volunteer to bring the sweet potato casserole.  You can be in charge of the beverages. Be sure to bring enough for everybody. Be generous.

Don’t forget your friends without family.  Perhaps their family is far away and its so expensive to go home, or perhaps their loved ones have passed and they are alone.  Maybe they’ve had a falling out with their family and can’t go home this year.  Invite them to join you. Yes, warn them that the crazy family is coming, but do invite them.  Be thoughtful.

Pour yourself a drink.  (Actually, you might want to start with that.)  But do drink responsibly. And don't drive while intoxicated, high, or texting.  We want you to be around for the next family gathering. Be safe.

Enjoy your family and have a safe, happy holiday season!

Join the conversation on Twitter @JustPiddlinBlog

5 Things Not to Do this Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day, like most holidays, takes on a new meaning once you have kids.  For the single or married without kids people, it’s about special dates and flowers and fancy restaurants. Maybe even an engagement proposal if you want to make it extra special.

But for married with children folks, it’s about cards and candies for classroom-counts of kids (even the one your kid doesn’t like and the one who bullies everyone on the playground) and teachers, a special something for the kids, and trying to squeeze in a minute in between running kids to their after-school activities to say “I love you” to the person with whom you’ve chosen to share your crazy and hectic life.

You’d think after so many years, I’d be better prepared for this day.  You would think that, if you didn’t know me too well.  But I am trying to handle things a bit better, because that is the point – to get better at this parenting thing, right?  So these are my things not to do this Valentine’s season.

Do not wait until February 12 to shop for Valentine’s cards or candy for the class.  There are many organized, on-top-of-things moms out there, and they leave the boring and/or weird cards and yucky candy behind.

Do not wait until February 13 to get all hyped up about the cute stuff on Pinterest and think that you can make 26 hand-painted, personalized gift boxes filled with home-made chocolates in time to catch the school bus in the morning.  If you are prone to DIY-crafting surges, start early. Click here to get started now.

Do not think you are going to get a reasonably priced dinner and a regular priced babysitter on February 14.  We know the dinner menus are cranked up and any market-savvy teen is charging a Valentine’s Day surcharge, too.  Instead, if you can swing it, meet hubby for a nice, relaxing lunch at that restaurant you can never get into for dinner. Go make your reservations now.

Do not forget to stick a corny love note in your kid’s lunchbox on February 14.  There’s some days where you can get away with this.  If you don’t make it too sappy, this is one of those days.  If they are very young, you can even plan to stop by for lunch.  If they are say, above 2^nd grade, do not even think about doing this.

Do not wake up on February 15 and realize that you forgot to send all those hand-made Valentine chocolates to school, missed lunch with hubby, and didn’t pack the kid’s lunch the day before.

Don’t wait til February 14 - tell someone you love them today!

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Our Holiday Party: Cookies & Hot Chocolate

If you’re a procrastinator who loves Christmas - how do you make sure your Christmas decorations get up before Dec. 24?  Host a holiday party.  For us, that means our annual cookie exchange.

As always, we ate way more cookies than any person – child or adult – should at one sitting.  Probably more than anyone should eat in a week.  But I’m pretty sure that calories consumed amongst friends are good for you.

Chocolate definitely was the – unintentional – theme this year. 

• chocolate chip - an annual favorite, one family always brings these and no-one else bothers to even try to make chocolate chip
• chocolate wafers – perfect to go with coffee, if there were any left
• chocolate covered marshmallows – okay, not really a “cookie” but who’s going to argue when “chocolate” and “marshmallow” are in the name
• cheesecake bars
• shortbread cookies with pecans, chocolate dipped and plain – these were our contribution
• brownies

Cookies packed up ready to share

Since it was freezing cold on the day of the party (I was actually nervous we’d have to cancel for snow), I made hot chocolate in the crockpot.  Of course, I saw the idea on Pinterest and thought “genius!”  Hot, unburned, creamy chocolate. 

Turn the crockpot on, let it heat a little bit. Pour in the can of condensed milk, sprinkle in the melting chocolate.  The kind I used was in little slivers.  Mix until melted together, it’ll be dark and thick. Add a teaspoon of vanilla.  Pour in milk, about a half gallon.  Mix.  Let heat.  Taste, adjust to your preferences.

Hot chocolate fixin's

For a bit of added fun, we had a fix-ins tray for the hot chocolate: marshmallows, mint chocolate chips, chocolate chips.  Kahlua and peppermint schnapps was an adult option.   

As you know, when hosting an event at your home, there’s a lot of prep from getting the food on the table to  putting clean towels in the bathroom.  Usually, when we have a family party, I call out tasks as a kid happens to wander through the kitchen. Not such an efficient plan. This year, I wrote the tasks that needed to be done on cards - clean the bathroom, make table cards for cookies, set out cookie trays, put candy in bowls, set-up plates & silverware.  The kids then picked out their cards and went about getting their tasks done. They seemed to not only like being useful, but took some ownership in their jobs.

My daughter used scrapbookbook paper to make blank table cards for the cookies (guests filled them in when they arrived).  The kids taped together 3 candy canes to make the card holders.

As the children have grown (we’ve lost count how many years we’ve been doing this but there were some kids who didn’t even exist when we started), it’s been harder to find a date that fits perfectly for everyone. We usually have families rolling in before or after a basketball tournament, soccer game, chorus performance, birthday party, or something.  This year, to make it easier, I decided that we would just order food, cooking a few sides, so that we could concentrate our kitchen time on the star of the party. It also made transport of food easier in a busy schedule.

As always, we had a great time.  But with cookies and friends, how could you go wrong?

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

O Christmas Tree! How to Decorate & Make it Beautiful

We've been snowed in for the past two days.  Okay, "snowed in" isn't a true description because we actually left the house both days. But school has been cancelled for the past two days.  It's enough to drive one just a wee bit house crazy.

The kids and I baked - and ate - cookies: sugar and oatmeal chocolate chip pecan cranberry.  When I make oatmeal cookies, I have the tendency to kinda throw all kinds of ingredients in them, except raisins because I really don't like raisins in my desserts.  Today, we had fudge brownies.  Our outing was to the gym because, really, sitting in the house eating sweets for two days really is not a good plan. Luckily, it looks like there will be school tomorrow.

Some of the time has been productive - we put up our Christmas tree and most (maybe, all?) of our Christmas decorations.  I used a few tips from decorator, Wanda Alexander, of Panache Interiors.

• Put the lights on in sections - think of filling in one side, or one square area, of the tree, rather than wrapping the lights around it, like I usually do.  This will make taking them off easier come January when the branches have dried and the lights are tangled in there.
• Use lots and lots of ornaments - as many as you've got - to fill in the tree
• With kids and pets in the house, use the long ornament hooks and wrap it around the tree branch, rather than just hang it on, to secure it. You know, just in case a candy-cane happy kid happens to bump into the tree.
• When taking down the tree, carefully and neatly put everything away to make it easier for next year.

Take a look at her tree.

Note the ladder and many many boxes of ornaments.
This is serious work, here.

  

It's packed with ornaments with a pretty angel on top.

Ta da!

We have glass ornaments, even a couple crystal ones, but with a house full of kids, most of our ornaments are kid focused.  There's the ornaments from their first Christmases and little felt ones they made in school.  Barbie graces our tree, as well as Charlie Brown.  We have angels and ornaments from various vacations.  Our angel is from a long ago trip to Martha's Vineyard, our last summer before we had a kid.  I don't know why they were selling Christmas ornaments in MV in July, but anyway, that's where she came from and is one of my favorite ornaments.  Each year, the kids have a good time, pulling out their favorites, looking for their own personal ornaments, excited to put up their special ones on the tree.  It's one of those great occasions of the season, reliving the memories of where the ornaments came from or the class in which they were made.

What are the favorite ornaments on your tree?

Join the conversation - "like" us on Facebook:  Just Piddlin' with Frances

Small Town Christmas & Dinner at Salamander

There's Christmas.  Then there's small town Christmas.

This week, I peeked at a little glimpse of small town Christmas on my way to a dinner party at Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, VA.

For the DC/Maryland/Northern VA folks - the directions include "take the Dulles Toll Road to the end."  Doesn't this sound like "go to the end of I-95"? Who knew the thing ended? And what's beyond that?  As it turns out, there's miles that are much longer than city miles of horses and farm houses.  And then eventually, you get to the little town of Middleburg.

Here's a little bit about me. I don't live in a little town, but I love wandering through them.  Fresh ice cream, yarn shops, and an artsy little shop.  There's always these spots in a small town.  And 2-lane streets with stop signs where folks really do stop.

1st sign I was in a small town - free parking meters?!  Nice.

Since I was going to dinner, I skipped the ice cream shop.  And of course, I found the yarn like a magnet, except, this wasn't actually a yarn shop.  It was a needlepoint store, Stitches.  They had one collection of yarn from a local farm, Gum Tree Farm, with natural wool.  Wool can be funny, sometimes it can be scratchy as heck, sometimes really soft. This one, I wasn't too sure about, but they had mittens that had been made from the wool and, well, I bought 2 skeins.

Organic wool from Gum Tree Farm

I stopped in a funky little clothes store, picked up a Christmas present (shhh...) and then spent most of my time in Salamander Touch.  Its one of those shops that has a little of this and a little of that - bath soaps, lavender sachets, tea pots, hand lotion, and barn blankets designed by Sheila Johnson.  And there's Fern. Not the plant, but a NYC transplant who after decades out of the city still has the recognizable accent that will tell you about everything in the shop and help you find exactly what you need. I got hand lotion because that is one of my other secret addictions.  There were shop-folks up and down the street putting up wreaths and bows and Christmas lights. The fox hunting Christmas parade is on Saturday.  I admit, I wouldn't mind seeing that.

A friend of mine lives nearby, so she met me for pre-dinner drinks at the Salamander Resort.  We sipped on Parlays - a refreshing vodka based drink with muddled basil and lime juice - yumm - in the dark wood, cozy bar.  Over in the living room, next to the bar, we munched on chocolate chip pecan cookies that were set out for the Christmas tree lighting.  There was hot chocolate, children dressed up in their holiday velvet and bows, a children's chorus singing carols, a bell choir, and Santa - I told you, small town Christmas. The festivities were led by Sheila Johnson, the owner of the Resort.

One of the horse barns as you drive up to Salamander Resort

Our dinner party was in the Cooking Studio.

The Cooking Studio ready for dinner

I was really excited, I love watching a little behind the scenes in the restaurant kitchen. I was waiting for the chef to throw a pan and curse someone out for undercooking the risotto, but alas, there was no risotto and the chef, Dean, was a very nice guy from South Africa.  Our first course included a Pumpkin Cappucino, one of the other ladies frothed the milk foam for those.  For the main course, I had the swordfish, sweet potatoes, and collard greens.  Swordfish can sometimes come out a bit dry, because it's thick and steaky, but this one was moist and well-cooked.

The chef plating our dinner

Swordfish with sweet potatoes & collard greens

Making our own dinner - yukon gold potato gnocchi

What happens when quality control has wine on the job
- but they tasted good.

And for dessert, well, if you know anything about this blog or me, you know what I had. The 10-layer chocolate cake.  I don't even remember what the other option was, I'm not even sure I looked.

 10-layer chocolate cake with
pumpkin ice cream & dark chocolate lace

It was a delicious dinner, but the best part was the company. I know folks always say that, but really it was.  The party was organized by a business associate/friend of my husband and mine and it was a gathering of her invited guests. So unlike most social events in my life, I didn't know most of the other guests; only another couple and a woman that were at the same get together last year, too.  Business also mixed in with social as our host graciously chose my novel, Life in Spades, as a gift for all the guests.  It was fun to meet new folks (the couple who grew up next to each other as kids, but then just eloped last year), laugh over the random connections in our lives (the woman next to me travels to Seoul for work), and celebrate being happy with nice people.

I wanted to stay overnight and indulge in the spa.  However, the place is a bit expensive, and having to get back the next morning for mommy-duty, I didn't think I'd get all my dollars' worth.  It would be more justifiable for a special occasion (like an upcoming birthday, hint hint, dear husband) or a getaway treat, when you could really hang out and relax.  I'd love to wander around the grounds, watch the horses (you can even bring your own, if you got one in the backyard), and of course, melt into the hot towel chaise lounges in the spa that one of the other dinner guests swooned about.

Looking for small town living for a day or two? Go right on out, way past the airplanes and the traffic, look for the horses, and enjoy the sunset.

Join the conversation, "like" Just Piddlin' with Frances on Facebook

Sparkle for the Holidays

It's the sparkliest time of the year.  Yes, that's been scientifically proven.  Between Christmas decorations, Hanukah candles, and holiday parties, there are more candles and twinkling during the month of December than any other time of the year.  And when you go out to for your holiday shindig - whether the office party, the charity gala, or even the neighborhood spiced cider get together - why not be part of that sparkle?

In my small arsenal, two of my favorite things for party glitzing is a super sparkly, multi-chain necklace a friend of mine convinced me to buy (oh, the arm twisting!) and a pair of high-heel red shoes.  (Side note - every girl should own a great pair of red shoes, right?  I'm sure that's in the girly handbook.)

For more ideas for all your holiday parties to come, I turned to my friend Robyn, owner and designer of SydneyAustin Designs, hand-made custom jewelry.  

How to Accessorize for Your Holiday Parties

Scene: Formal Holiday Dinner Party

Go for Old Hollywood glamour! Think Great Gatsby! Anything that sparkles. Try a pair of long crystal or rhinestone earrings, jeweled headband or perhaps strands of pearls accented with a big sparkly brooch. Here is your opportunity to wear that statement necklace that you bought and you had no idea where/when you would wear it, but it was on sale and everyone has a statement necklace. 

Scene: Holiday Cocktails/Appetizers Party 

One statement/conversation piece will do here. A big chunky cocktail ring, colorful festive dangle earrings or rhinestone bangle bracelet. 

Scene:  Secret Santa/Ornament Exchange Holiday Luncheon

More casual but still festive. A pretty pair of gemstone hoop earrings. Try a rhinestone barrette in your hair. Several gold chain necklaces of various lengths with a great pendant. Lastly, add a crystal brooch to jazz up a plain blazer or cardigan. 

  

Where to buy Holiday Jewelry

1. SydneyAustin Designs on Etsy

2. Bauble Bar - online retailer with great statement necklaces

3. Charming Charlie - lots of jewelry at a reasonable price

4. DIY - make your own holiday jewelry. There are lots of tutorials on Pinterest and YouTube! 

Have fun!! Robyn 

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

#GivingTuesday...and Don't Forget Wednesday, Thursday...

Perhaps, hopefully, you've seen my blogposts or tweets or Facebook status updates. All to remind you that the first Tuesday in December is now #GivingTuesday. Perhaps you haven't and now you're wondering, "what is that and what's for sale?"  Nope, surprise, no sale.  Instead, it's a national movement to remind us all that in this holiday season of thankfulness and giving, that we should concentrate a little on the giving of ourselves and sharing of our blessings, not just buying widgets on sale and wrapping them in shiny paper (though, of course, that is lots of fun.)

On this #GivingTuesday, hopefully, you will be inspired to take inventory of all that you have that you can offer to another person or to your community or a special cause. Write a check to your favorite charity, take food to a food pantry, cook a meal at a shelter, read to children at the hospital, give the waitress at dinner a little extra tip, help an old lady with her packages. I don't know - what've you go to give? We all have something to share.

And, I don't want to push you too hard, or maybe, maybe I do. After you think about what you will do on this #GivingTuesday in December, don't forget about  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.... and January, February, March.... There is always someone in need. The family that is picking up food from the food pantry this month may be fine come January, but unfortunately, there will be another taking their place in line. Sadly, little kids will still be sick at the hospital, your favorite charity will still be in need.  During this month of feeling good, we give so much that pantries and closets and volunteer rosters often find themselves overflowing.  Remember, to fill these cups through out the year.

Make your commitment to give not just now, but in a month or two or nine when we've all returned to our normal lives.  During your Christmas shopping, pick up gloves, socks, and scarves to donate to a shelter in January.  Make a note to provide Easter baskets to your local children's hospital (of course, check with them first.)  Volunteer at a food kitchen on a random day in the spring.  Write yourself a note on your June calendar to donate sunscreen and hats to a local summer camp for underprivileged children.  Make plans to volunteer for a voters registration drive next fall. 

Not sure what you have to give?  As the Little Drummer Boy realized in the children's Christmas song, we all have something to give. Give the best of yourself.

Happy Giving!

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Favorite Holiday Gifts from JustDiva.com

What do you get for your sister, friend, co-worker, kid's teacher, brother, sister-in-law? Oh, it's a lot of folks on the gift list.  As for me, I do like gift-giving and when I find the perfect gift, I get so excited! But it's finding that gift that's the problem. So, I'm happy that Martine is back to offer her gift-giving suggestions, just as she did last year.  Martine is the Editor of JustDiva and the writer for CandidBelle.com, and curates unique and sometimes little-known products and services for her daily email, JustDiva.  Let's see what she's putting on the holiday list this year.

Favorite Holiday Gifts

Admittedly, I love the holiday season.  Hands down, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.  I also love giving gifts.  The look of pure joy on someone’s face when they open their gift and it’s clear that they love it – well, that look is priceless. 

What I do hate, however, about the holiday season, is all the stress that goes into gift buying.  I am not a fan of Black Friday (no offense to anyone who is) and I truly think that buying wonderful gifts from the comfort of my warm, cozy home is the way to go – always. 

If you agree, then check out this short list of JustDiva’s favorite gifts for the holiday season.  These are gifts that you can’t go wrong with (and some of them are even gifts that give twice).  Also, if you want more ideas, visit our website to access our FREE holiday gift guide.  It’s sure to help you put a smile on everyone’s face this Christmas.  Enjoy! 

Cocotique – For just $20 a month, Cocotique delivers a box filled with 5-6 expertly curated beauty and lifestyle products. This makes a great gift for a girlfriend.  You can just send one box, or choose a subscription. 

1/2 of profits from One Hope Wine
go to end childhood hunger

One Hope Wine – A cause-centric wine brand that offers a number of varietals attached to a specific social cause, One Hope Wine is one of our new favorite things.  Buy a bottle and 50% of the profits are donated to the cause associated with that varietal. They also offer gift sets during the holidays. 

Heart of Haiti – Available at Macy’s, this collection of beautiful accessories and home décor items are sure to please someone in your life.  Handmade by artisans in Haiti, the sale of the items in this collection is helping these artisans rebuild a decent life for their families after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Love With Food – Love With Food delivers a carefully curated box of organic and all natural foods to your door step every month for only $10 a month.  The items are healthy, often unique, and also tasty. For every box sent, Love with Food donates a meal to a hungry child. 

Kathy Bransfield Jewelry – We are in love with this jeweler who designs pieces that don’t just speak to your sense of style, but also speak to your soul with inspiring inscriptions.  

Fitbit Flex – Released earlier this year, we think Fitbit Flex is one impressive device.  Perfect for anyone who loves gadgets, this little thing does it all.  A great way to inspire someone to get fit and live well in the new year. 

FiLip – One of the coolest devices we’ve come across recently, we think this watch makes a pretty cool gift for a kid.  To your kids it’s just a cool watch, but for a parent it’s a way to keep their child safe. Definitely worth checking out if you are concerned about your child’s safety, or if your child has a physical, developmental or mental health issue that requires you to put extra safety measures in place.  

What do you think? Like those ideas? Any other great gift ideas you'd like to share - leave them in the comments below.

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Are you part of the 80% or 20%? #GivingTuesday

What will you give on #GivingTuesday?

I am what some have termed a “professional volunteer.” I’m an active PTA mom, I help out with the summer swim team, I’m a Girl Scout troop leader, I crochet scarves for homeless women, I assist with my sorority conferences. Yes, I’m busy. But here’s the thing, between you and I, a quietly kept secret. I don’t volunteer for everything. There are some “signup to volunteer” messages that I hit “delete.” Guiltily so, but I do.

I believe in the 80/20 rule. I accept it – 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.  I know that often, I am part of the 20%.  I’m now telling myself that I don’t always have to be part of 20%, sometimes I can be part of the crowd of folks that sits back and enjoys the fruits of everyone else’s volunteer efforts.  That’s fair, right?

I’ve never heard of the 100/100 rule, meaning that all of the work is shared equally among all of the people. In fact, I’ve never been involved in an organization where that has been true. Never.  I will thus conclude that this is an improbability of human nature.

Instead, I think that everybody can do something. I have friends who pay their PTA dues and then leave everything else to people like me.  And in turn, I do nothing more than show up and cheer at my daughter’s basketball games, while other parents man the clock and keep the statistics and blow up basketballs.  I manage the ticket sales of our sorority’s fundraising event to support our scholarship program, but I don’t tutor at the high school.  This balance seems fair in the overall cosmos of volunteering, right?

No-one should be dragged into volunteering.  It’s like the Bible says about tithing, you should do it willingly and happily, not grudgingly.  You should consider what you have to offer and where you can make a contribution.  We all do have something to offer, we all can make a difference, we all have value.  And there’s the perfect spot for everyone to share their gifts.  If we each give somewhere, then we all can rest sometine, too.  If we all take turns being part of the 20%, 100% of the work will get done.

What will you give?

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Happy [HEART] Day!

Valentine's Day.  Probably second only to New Year's Eve for over-the-moon expectations, crowded restaurants, and inflated dinner fares.  When you're young, single, or perhaps both, there's even the added pressure of who will be your Valentine?  If you are really young , and hopefully single, there's the panic that the mean kid in class won't give you a Valentine and will make a big deal out of it.  (Unless you are the mean kid and you look forward to leaving kids off your heart-candy list.) But now that I'm married and not so young, it takes on a different meaning - it's another day with it's own to-do list.

Oh, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to get a big ole' box of chocolate and enjoy a nice glass of wine in a white table-clothed restaurant with a strolling violin player.  I'd also be lying to myself if I thought any of that was going to happen on the sentimental holiday of love.  But it all happening on February 14 isn't as  big a deal as my wedding anniversary, which is nowhere near a holiday with jacked up flower prices.

As a family with kids, here's how we celebrate Valentine's Day.

• On the Saturday before the big day, the kids remind me there's a party at school and they need, all totaled, about 100 cards, lollipops, conversation hearts, and chocolates.
• Despite this reminder, I will get the surplus of red and pink doo-dads on the 12th, whatever day that is.  I will also be inspired by great ideas on Pinterest and be confident that I can get them done in time.
• We will spend the next 2 days frantically cutting out hearts and gluing stuff to them, making cute gift bags, and witty gift tags.  Even if I try to be lazy and buy the pre-packaged cute lollipops stuck on a card, just fill in your friends' names cards that could be done on the ride to school, my kids will still insist that they need more pizzazz!  My kitchen will be covered in pink and red scraps of construction paper.
• Valentine's Day also usually falls somewhere near Girl Scout cookie pick-up day, so while the heart workshop is going on in the kitchen, I'm counting and distributing 1200 boxes of cookies in the dining room. 
• Even though the kids will get almost as much candy as they do for Halloween in school, I will still pack a Valentine treat in their luncboxes because, hey, mom loves them, too.
• Enjoy Valentine's lunch with hubby - If hubby's schedule works out, we might get a nice Valentine's lunch.  It's so much less crowded than dinner and we don't have to negotiate a babysitter on a school night.
• Order dinner in for the family - something other than pizza (it is a holiday, after all) and save the work of cooking.  Although, it's really the clean-up that I don't like, but Valentine's on paper plates is just so not-fancy.  But at least we can drink that bottle of wine that would've been ridiculous at lunch.
• Try to control the consumption of candy.  The kids will attempt to eat all of the candy hearts, gummy hearts, chocolate hearts, marshmallow hearts, and cookie hearts that they acquired in school.  They will be bouncing off the walls and ceilings until way past their bedtimes.  Luckily, we don't have to drive home.  Pass the chocolate and the next bottle of wine.

Happy Valentine's Day!  Hug somebody you love!