Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us. It’s exactly one week from today. Are you ready?
No matter if your valentine is your fiancé/fiancée, your spouse, your children, your best girlfriends (will you be my Galentine on Feb. 13?), your co-workers, your students or even your dog and cat, here are some fun ideas that won’t break anyone’s heart – or your piggy bank!
A really good website for all things to make for your valentine is www.goodhousekeeping.com The site devotes an entire section for Valentine’s Day 2022 – from special breakfasts, fun movies, last-minute gifts to buy now, and more. Check it out!
Home-Baked Treats:
In the online article posted Jan. 25, 2022 and titled “48 Homemade Valentine’s Day Treats to Make for the Ones You Love,” authors Samantha MacAvoy and Selena Barrientos offer a yummy-looking list of ideas. (Their thoughts are in quotes below):
- Homemade Marshmallows “Top off a mug of hot chocolate with one of these rosy marshmallows for a festive end to the day.” (I want to try the Rosy Raspberry ones made with rose water, raspberry extract with vanilla extract, and pink food coloring. The pretty pink and white swirls are fun, making them look like bite-sized works of art.)
- Watercolor Heart-Shaped Cookies “You don’t need to be the next Picasso to paint these cookies, a little bit of edible luster dust should do the trick. Take your sugar cookies up a notch by using a paintbrush to apply some pretty, pink designs.” (Now these truly look like works of art!)
- Blueberry-Cardamom Donut Holes “The sweet, ripe blueberries in this recipe’s glaze will give the donut holes a seasonally appropriate pink hue.” (Oh my! Be still my heart.)
- Chocolate Lovebug Cupcakes “These adorable cupcakes are sure to warm your sweetie’s heart and stomach!” (If cupcakes are your baking-go to, try these adorable ones that look like little lady bugs. This recipe is featured in the Good Housekeeping article titled “40 Easy Valentine’s Day Cupcakes to Make as the Sweetest Gift Ever” by MacAvoy and Amanda Garrity.)
Sweet, Not Sugary Gifts:
In an online article posted Dec. 15, 2021, on www.bhg.com author Sarah Martens lists “57 Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts They’re Sure to Love.” (Her thoughts are in quotes below):
- Bath Tea “Mix up a batch of homemade bath tea as a relaxing spa gift for your mom or your bestie this Valentine’s Day. It’s easy to make (just add oats, Epsom salts, and flowers to a small drawstring bag) and you can customize the colors of the dried flower for each recipient.” (I would love this gift; I hope my daughter is reading this post.)
- Alphabet Crayon Melts “Don’t throw away your broken crayons! Simply transform them into a kid-friendly love letter that they’ll use again and again. To make, start by peeling the wrappers off the crayons. Break down the crayons to make melting easier. Place the crayons in a microwave-safe container with an inch of water. Microwave in bursts of 30 seconds. Use a spoon to dab the melted crayons into an alphabet candy mold. Scrape a thin spatula across the top of the mold to remove excess; let cool. Pop letters out and compose your message! (Can we all say awwwww at the same time?)
- Homemade Lotion “Whip up a custom lotion using essential oils! Simply add a few drops to unscented lotion for a custom blend. Package the lotion into Mason jars and tie with a sweet message!” (This sounds so nice.)
Don’t Forget Your Dog:
In an online article posted Jan. 24, 2022, on www.dailypaws.com author Lindsay Tigar lists “8 Delicious Homemade Treats to Make with Your Dog this Valentine’s Day.” (Her thoughts are in quotes below):
- Watermelon Mint Dog Popsicles “This watermelon mint dog popsicle recipe creates a refreshing palette cleanser with just three ingredients to help cool your pup’s cravings. As a bonus, the added mint will freshen up any stinky puppy breath, too.” (These would be great for a summer treat as well.)
- Peanut Butter Banana Grain-Free Dog Treats “If dogs could speak our language, they would constantly be asking for another spoonful of their most-loved food: peanut butter. However, if your pup is sensitive to grains, it can be tricky to find a Valentine’s Day dog treat that fits their nutritional needs – until now. This peanut butter banana grain-free dog treat recipe swaps out traditional wheat flour for almond and coconut then adds in a dash of bananas and peanut butter for lip-smacking deliciousness. They’ll be begging for more, long after Feb. 14 passes.” (I wonder if there’s a human version of this treat?)
Or Your Cat:
In an online article posted Feb. 1, 2022, on www.dailypaws.com authors Hilary Braaksma and Abbie Harrison list “11 Ways to Show Your Cat How Much You Love Them this Valentine’s Day.” (Their thoughts are in quotes below):
- Windowsill Perch “Cats notoriously love a good view. . .[give] her the best seat in the house – a fluffy windowsill perch. [from www.chewy.com] Passing people and animals, falling snow, and other outdoor sights are incredibly stimulating for cats and can keep them entertained for hours.” (I think I’d also be entertained by watching my cat!)
- Tuna and Catnip Kitty Treats “For these homemade treats, tuna, catnip, and egg whites come together for a delicious goodie.” (Uber love, I think.)
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!