I have had this blog post mostly written since Valentine's Day but didn't finish it because my phone is uploading pictures sideways. So now it's 5 days later and I went to a couple quilt shops over the weekend and I have new things to blog about so I guess you're going to have to turn your head a little cockeyed to see my pictures right. Here goes...
I love the internet, I really do. I was browsing the other day looking for Valentine ideas for Monkey Boy's class. I found a simple sucker idea I was going to go with, then a friend posted on Facebook her Lego Star Wars one with a glow stick as a light saber. I set off on a hunt for that one.
And that's when it happened... I fell in. Do you know how many blog posts are dedicated to hand crafted Valentines? Oh man, almost makes me wish we had more parties to celebrate, there are some great ideas out there. Anyway, I saw some that had a small toy instead of candy and I kind of fell in love with that idea. In particular, I loved this one. My kids like rice bags anyway and it seemed simple enough. I let him choose the fabric and got crafting.
Apparently I was the only one in the class who went a non-candy route, which is unfortunate. But maybe... Just maybe I've inspired someone else to do something different next year. I realize not everyone is going to sew something, but I saw plenty of ideas for other candyless gifts. Balls, trucks, etc. I just don't want "celebration" to always mean sweets, you know? I'm an emotional eater so I know how easy it is to equate comfort with chocolate. I don't want every joy to be associated with sugar. Or maybe I'm just a Valentine Grinch.
But you have to admit, they're kind of awesome. In case you can't read the poem (since your head is cocked and all) it says:
When you're waiting for the bus
Or sledding down the hills,
Just a minute in the microwave
Will take away your chills!
And that's when it happened... I fell in. Do you know how many blog posts are dedicated to hand crafted Valentines? Oh man, almost makes me wish we had more parties to celebrate, there are some great ideas out there. Anyway, I saw some that had a small toy instead of candy and I kind of fell in love with that idea. In particular, I loved this one. My kids like rice bags anyway and it seemed simple enough. I let him choose the fabric and got crafting.
Apparently I was the only one in the class who went a non-candy route, which is unfortunate. But maybe... Just maybe I've inspired someone else to do something different next year. I realize not everyone is going to sew something, but I saw plenty of ideas for other candyless gifts. Balls, trucks, etc. I just don't want "celebration" to always mean sweets, you know? I'm an emotional eater so I know how easy it is to equate comfort with chocolate. I don't want every joy to be associated with sugar. Or maybe I'm just a Valentine Grinch.
But you have to admit, they're kind of awesome. In case you can't read the poem (since your head is cocked and all) it says:
When you're waiting for the bus
Or sledding down the hills,
Just a minute in the microwave
Will take away your chills!
