Inspired

I had begun to slip into a funk. This happens to me from time to time. I don't really want to do anything, I can't find any music on the radio that I like, I even put down two different books and shelved them because I just didn't feel like finishing them. (For me, this is almost unheard of, even if I don't enjoy a book, I have this "thing" about closure. I have to know how something ends.)


But, then I came upon a few blogs, that led me to more blogs, that led me to more
blogs. All of which contained simple, easy crafts. I started to feel some excitement, I started to feel some interest. Then, one day, I actually took the time to complete a fabric flower clip that I had seen several girls wearing and had wanted to try. It was so easy! I loved it and wanted to try some more.

Voila! Just like that, I was out of my funk. I have discovered that I have a creative part of me that needs an outlet. If ignored, it clogs up other areas also. So, I now have a long list of new things to try. And, with Spring Break coming up, I might even have some time to complete them!

Here is an example of another type of hair clip I completed. These are the rage in the valley.

Valentine's Day Fun

The past few weeks Anna Cate and I have been hard at work preparing for Valentine's Day. We've laughed, we've argued and we've compromised. And here are our finished products...


The popcorn bowl we hand-painted for Matthew. We filled it with popcorn bags and the cheese seasoning that he loves. His card reads, "For the Best 'Pop"! Love, Anna Cate"
On the other side of the rim, it reads "Hands Off" and then inside the bowl "pop" is written several times. The "pop"s were Anna Cate's idea and I thought it was really clever.







The little jar of gold wrapped chocolates that we made for AC's teacher. We tied little strips around an elastic string to decorate the top of the jar, then attached a note that reads, "You're as good as gold!" I then used various sheets of scrapbook paper to complete the look at the top.

Then, of course, the little store bought valentines were not quite enough to give to her friends at school, so we made little goodies bags for them with the cards attached. Anna Cate was responsible for adding the pencil and blow pop while I was in charge of the Laffy Taffy. She also cut the ribbon and tied it around the bags once they were completed.



Finally, we could not forget AC's gym coaches, babysitter and music teacher. They all received little bottles of antibacterial lotion with cutouts of AC's hands on each side. I discovered this idea in FamilyFun magazine. It is always a hit and something she can do almost entirely by herself.



Whew! Who knew Valentine's Day could entail so much work! But, we did have fun creating these gifts and both enjoy watching the reactions of the people who receive them. It's our small way of sharing love with those people who teach, support and help AC grow in their own special way.

Three Little Words

Anna Cate and I sat down Tuesday night to begin the annual ritual of stuffing candy bags and signing valentines for her classmates. As we stuffed, she guessed which classmate would like what valentine and wondered if the boys in her class would mind getting a "girly" card from her. She really wanted to put names on each card, but I explained that to make it fair and equal, we would just label each one "my friend". Valentine's Day is another event that has changed significantly since I was a child and for the most part, I think that is a good thing.

Because, as we talked, I remembered a girl by the name of Mary Beth. She wasn't very well-liked in my 5th grade class. Looking back, I can't quite recall why, but I had just been added to the official social ladder the previous year and was really still focused primarily on staying there and in turn, did not have time to analyze why some children were still left out. But, I do remember the look on her face as she passed out all her handmade cards with such excitement. And, the sadness that replaced that look when she returned to her seat (of course by me, because the teachers always sat me by the outcasts because they knew I would be nice to them) to find only two valentines in her own little box. Oh, the cruelty of children.

But, then again, there is some merit in getting a valentine with your name on it, that contains a special message just for you. The only other significant memory of elementary Valentine's Day parties I remember is of receiving my first "true" valentine. It was from a little boy named, Adam, and I was in 3rd grade. All the valentines had been given and we all were sitting in little groups - boys on one side of the room and girls on the other. I was quietly opening the individual little envelopes and when I turned his over, I saw written in tiny little print three words, "I love you". I remember feeling embarrassed and turning it over again and again just to make sure it was really there.

So, in an effort to be fair to everyone, little moments like that one disappear from children's lives, which I find to be sort of sad. In a strange turn of events, Anna Cate's "valentine" had to withdraw from school last week and was able to give his valentines early. And guess what was written on the back of Anna Cate's card? Three little words..."I love you".