Shmalentine's Day

A couple days before Valentine's Day Landon's friend Lexie came into the office to ask me if I thought Landon would agree to be her Valentine. Basically she meant that they would give each other something as friends just to make the day more fun. It cracked me up because a bit because they told each other they liked Kit Kats, so we thought it was basically going to be an exchange of Kit Kats.

It turns out that Landon got her a King Sized Kit Kat but she made him this cute poster full of candy and a cute rhyme. 

Wendy got a bouquet of flowers from her husband and from her son...no I didn't feel dumb and flowerless at all. Randy ended up giving me a couple gift certificates for pedicures and some truffles and chocolate covered strawberries.

Randy and Whitney made this cute English mailbox with Harry from One Direction leaning on it for her Valentine box this year. She's very lucky to have such an artistic dad, otherwise she would have to do these things by herself.

Shmalentine Rewind

This is the Valentine box Whitney and Randy came up with this year (Whitney's idea). I think it is super clever!

 The manhole lifts up to receive the candy.

My day at work was festive, Wendy made these gorgeous chocolate-covered strawberries (check out those stems) for the office staff.

We receive a bunch of deliveries for students and had to keep them in the office until after school. I thought this multicolored rose was heinous! What a terrible thing to do to a rose!

I cut out some pink hearts and taped them to the inside of Landon's locker and included a bag of Dove chocolate hearts for him, I'm bummed that I didn't take a picture.

My blogging friend Jenny's daughter delivered a morning-mix cd and a Ghiradelli chocolate bar! That was such a nice surprise. My desk drawer looked like a treat haven and cry for help. Ha. I love sugar cookies.

 Randy brought Wendy and I a Cafe Rio burrito to split for lunch.

He also brought all the gift-wrapping supplies needed to wrap a bridal shower gift I had for a co-worker AND he spent 25 minutes wrapping it perfectly for us (Wendy and I went in on it). I considered this a true Valentine's gift!

 I came home to my favorite truffles and a gift certificate for a pedicure. Those have become Randy's go-to gift for me but I'm okay with that.

My visiting teacher had dropped off this perfect-looking, homemade sugar cookie and note. She's always doing cute things.

I'm happy to report that I was in excellent form for this year's holiday and experienced no issues whatsoever. What a relief. I'm starting to view Valentine's Day as a treat fest to enjoy.

**How was your day?

Did you make sugar cookies?

What do you think of that rose?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I was irritated by the first episode of Survivor that I don't think I can watch it anymore. It seemed more like some cheesy Seduction Island type show. TV has just gotten gross, I may have to give it up all together.

Shmalentine's Day 2011

This Valentine box was a result of the combined genius and efforts of Whitney and Randy. Whitney wanted a snake, but we (yes, even I consulted) knew gravity would have to be factored in so the two of them came up with this while Landon and I were at Michelle's house for Creative Friday last Saturday (you know it's Creative Friday even if we don't get together on Friday right?). Her class voted and she won a prize for the "Most Creative" box.


This was our stash of Valentine gifts for each other, definitely a better showing than in years past. This is mainly because Whitney had an idea for me and ended up helping Randy get it.

Landon got two boxes of Nutty Bars.

Randy is incredibly hard to buy for, so my gifts were mainly gestures. He's way into those water bottle flavor packets these days so I stocked him up with 3 boxes of those and then gave him the Sheri Dew audio collection (I told him it was the ultimate self-help set).

Whitney got a baby giraffe figurine.

The Cold Stone store near us now has a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory counter in it, so Randy and Whitney got me a box of milk chocolate goodies I like (i.e., caramels, truffles and toffee).


Whitney's gift idea for me was a big, soft blanket; it's a huge Full/Queen size (yikes, that sounds like my size!).


Speaking of being Queen sized, I made these amazing cupcakes in an effort to do something festive for Shmalentine's Day. I don't normally even care about cupcakes, and especially not chocolate cupcakes but these are fantastic.

Overall it was a good Shmalentine's Day; I think I may have given up on any Harlequin Romance notions I ever once possessed.

**How was your Shmalentines?**

Comment Window Tidbit: We had super crazy winds and sleet last night so I thought there might be a possibility of having a snow day today, but no such luck. Dang it!

Shmalentine's Day

I wasn't feeling very Shmalentiney this year so I didn't send any Valentines or put up any decorations or do much of anything other than make cookies and make sure the kids had Valentines for their classes at school. Weird. I normally enjoy the gift giving, candy-eating, good mail sending activities that go along with Valentine's Day, I guess I just wasn't in the mood this year.

And then I woke up sick on Saturday morning, so any sort of shopping, baking, or decorating quickly disappeared from my agenda.


Sunday morning the kids woke us up by bringing us breakfast in bed, complete with this decorated tray and decorated cups (Whitney had decorated our door the day before).


I've never had a heart taped to a glass before, or started out the day with a grape soda, but I was happy to make an exception for Shmalentine's Day (though it was risky move considering my rumbling guts).


Randy (and the kids--though they had no idea) gave me a Target gift card and all these chocolates. Lindor milk chocolate truffles are my favorite, so I love having a stash of those on hand.

Fortunately the kids had a present from my mom for each of them--she gave them a huge heart sucker, a pair of Valentine socks and some chocolates.


I ended up going out today and got Randy and the kids a little box of chocolates and some bubble gum, even though they didn't expect anything from me.


Lori stopped by tonight to bring me this bedazzled mug full of candy. I think it's cute, and I appreciated her thoughtfulness for sure.

I think being sick over this weekend ended up being a good thing for me because it absolved me of any Valentine's Day duties and expectations and made me appreciate how Randy takes care of me when I'm sick. He ended up making the frosting for the Denver Sheet Cake I had signed up to take to a funeral on Saturday. I had made the cake on Friday, but planned to make the frosting on Saturday but then was too sick to do it. He not only made it for me, but he frosted the cake, delivered it, helped take down chairs and tables from the funeral luncheon, and retrieved my pan...good man. He also ended up frosting the 2 dozen cookies I had to bring to primary on Sunday (luckily I'd made them earlier in the week and frozen them) and delivered those as well. So really, it's kind of Shmalentine's Day miracle!

**How was your weekend?
Did you go all out?
Ever had grape soda for breakfast?**

Comment Window Tidbit: I lost 5 pounds by being sick this weekend!

Deliveries & 5 Prizes

I have gotten behind on documenting my good mail lately, which is evidenced by the multiple Shmalentine's offerings I have today, oops.


Kacey sent me this cute, glittery "Be Mine" sign which I love. Thanks Kacey!


Lori sent me this thank you note awhile ago for helping her rearrange her apartment when she got her cozy, new couch.


Natasha (who gave up blogging for Lent, wow!) sent me this holographic postcard when she went on a business trip to the Hard Rock Hotel in Mississippi. Thanks Natasha!


Heather always has cool stationery and postcards and sent me this one for Shmalentine's. Thanks Heather!


Michelle did a good mail express delivery on Shmalentine's Day while we were at Landon's basketball game (she has a key to the house). She made some of these cute candy-looking cupcakes inspired by these made by Janae but posted on Patsy's blog. Phew. Thanks Michelle!


Claudia sent me this nice quote card for Shmalentine's Day in one of her lovely vellum envelopes. I'm always amazed when those make it through the mail. Thanks Missy!


Carlo sent me this darling Shmalentine that included postage stamps because I'm "First
Class". How cute is that? I love anything that involves postage! Thanks Carlo!


Michelle sent me this thank you note for watching Eva the day she accompanied Max at his cello competition. She writes very nice thank you notes that make me think I'm a nice person. Thanks Michelle!


Amie sent me this eyelash curler the day after mine broke! I had emailed her to ask where she'd gotten the one she gave me last July for my birthday so I could replace it, and she said she'd look into it. What the? Instead it was delivered to my house, along with a Windex coupon, the very next day. Thanks Amie!! My heinous period is a little less so thanks to you.


I was the winner of one of the 5 homemade prizes Hannah was offering to her first five commenters one day. I had no idea what the prize would be and had actually forgotten about it, but then came home to find an envelope with this inside waiting on my porch. She made this great canvas of art based on my word for the year. She also included an envelope attached to the back of the canvas with a print out of my post about my word for the year. How cool is that? I need it too, because things aren't going so well with my word so far. Thanks Hannah!


Nikki sent me an incredibly nice note letting me know that she read my blog every day while she was on vacation, even though she couldn't comment. It was very kind of her to let me know that. Thanks Nikki! (By the way, Nikki's post yesterday was excellent, check it out.)


Laurie M. sent me this nice note along with a cut out of the word Shmalentine! I have no idea where she got it, but I love it. Thanks Laurie!


Michelle also sent me (that's 3 items in this post alone) a cd, some cute "J" stationery and some tasty Dove Chocolates. Clearly she knows what I like. Thanks Michelle!


Ann sent me this French hot chocolate mix, which looks and smells rather fancy. I need Michelle to translate the instructions for me though since they're in French. Thanks Ann!


Shannon sent me this container of Headache Soothing Balm to rub on my temples when I get a headache. It smells wonderful so I've been taking hits off it even though I don't have a headache. Thanks Shannon!

I'm going to Pay It Forward and send something to my first five commenters!

**Have you been documenting your good mail?
Do the notes you receive remind you that you're a nice person?
Have you won anything lately?**

Happy Shmalentine's Day

Jen posted this picture on her blog the other day and it totally cracked me up. It pretty much sums up how I feel about stereotypical Valentine's Day gift giving. In general, I think I'm okay about this day, but I do insist on calling it Shmalentine's Day. This picture still makes me laugh though.

**How do you feel about today?**

Creative Friday--Valentine Edition

Michelle and I got together for Creative "Friday" today because I'm in charge of Whitney's class party on Friday. Michelle and I enjoy these make-up sessions, but they kind of mess up our mental reckoning of the days of the week. She even asked me if we were having game night tonight...um no.


Michelle's mom Susan (check out her blog) sent her a fabulous Valentine's Day package (she sends the best packages!) and included these items for me, woohoo! These are the only cute mugs I own now. We only have 4 other mugs in our house and none of them are cute, what's up with that?


Michelle apologized for providing this "dumb lunch" (her words), but I think she forgot who she was talking to because I forage for lunch each day and if I don't have leftovers or a microwaveable Smart Ones to eat that means I'm eating Pringles or cereal...not good. This was a great lunch to me.


We both worked on Valentines today (hers are pretty deluxe), and I managed to write a thank you note, finish an Etsy order and write 4 Valentines. It felt a little forced though because I'm not feeling too Valentiney! I could use more shmoopsy feelings in my life.


I made cookies yesterday in a rare act of holiday domesticity, so we had them for our treat today. I'm addicted to these, so it's a good thing I don't make them very often. Though when I do I make a double batch and then freeze half of the dough to have on hand.

Julia's Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla.
Add the sifted dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.
Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour, then roll out on a floured surface.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Makes 4 dozen medium sized cookies

**Does your mom send you Valentine packages?
Do you have cute mugs?
Do you usually scrounge to come up with lunch?
Are you sending any Valentines?
Have you made these cookies before?**

Happy Shmalentine's Day

Today feels like a regular, ole Thursday to me. I had to remember to put the trash can out and did so while on the phone with Kristi, wearing my pajamas and my polka-dotted boots, I must have been a sight to see.


Randy went to the gym this morning (gotta love being unemployed) and then to Walgreens to pick up my prescription (alleluiah), so I should be back to normal in a couple of days. I had to prep the Valentine Craft for Whitney's class party today and poor Michelle ended up coming over to deliver some cookies right when I needed to start working on it, so she helped. It made it much more enjoyable and fun, thanks Michelle!


Randy and I headed over to the school for the party at 2:00. He did the game rotation and ended up using the huge dry erase board to play a game he plays with Whitney all the time. He would start to draw something, then have the kids guess what it was. It's pretty hard to guess though because he usually starts by drawing a really random part of the picture. The kids loved it and were calling him "Whitney's artist dad". I don't know if that implies that Whitney has other dads or not, but I couldn't help but wish that Whitney's Brad-Pitt look-a-like dad would be waiting for me when I got home.


I was handling the crazy Valentine craft we were making. I got the idea from the Family Fun website and was quite smitten with the idea. I'm not sure why, but it seemed so funny to me, and like something 1st graders would really like to do. They thought it was funny too and came up with all kinds of different ways to decorate them.

{Isn't it wrong that her tongue matches her shirt?}

We haven't done anything Shmalentine-like at home today. Whitney went over to her friend's house to frost Valentine cupcakes, and I suggested that Randy and Landon go to the movies to see The Spiderwick Chronicles. That means I finally get some time to myself today; having Randy home is seriously messing my mojo.

My one official Valentine today arrived in the mailbox from Michelle. She worked her magic on this one (as she does every year) and really made it cute. I had planned to send some cards, but abandoned the idea after my earlier breakdowns this week. The good news is I wore mascara today and have not shed a tear!


This cute Valentine from Carlo arrived a couple days ago, and definitely made me wish I'd been more on top of things this year. Thanks Carlo!

**How has your Shmalentine's Day been?
On a scale of 1-10 what's your mood today?
Did you go to any class parties?
Have you eaten way too many sugar cookies?
Can you draw?**