Yesterday the weather here looked like this, see the snow flying? And it was cold outside, minus nine cold, plus the wind chill factor.

I was dreaming of being here.

So, we made some flip flops.

I started out with plain old navy, 2 for $6 flip flops, for my little girls. They were a little plain, but so much cheaper that the jewelled sandals I had my eye on for them. So we went to the dollar store, and bought a bag of assorted jewels. Then we did a little googling and discovered flip flop glue. I had visions of the jewels falling of the shoes, especially if they got wet, and wondered what the best glue to use would be. Flip flop glue promises to flex with the shoe, so here’s hoping

The girls each made a pattern, and I glued them on. Can’t wait until they get to wear them! And for:

• 2 pairs of flip flops $6
• 1 bag of jewels $1.25
• flip flop glue (with Michaels coupon) $3

Total: $7.25 plus tax -wow!

Life is a party, and let’s face it parties are better with sparkly footwear!

This post is linked up at Between Naps on the Porch, Miss Crafty Pants, Making the World Cutter, and The Girl Creative.

It’s muffin tin Monday again, and today’s theme was -Valentine’s Day!

On the special menu today: some mozzarella (or pizza cheese as my kids call it) cut out as hearts. Next row, turkey pepperoni bites, and some crackes. In the heart container is a caramel square, one of Maddie’s all time favourite treats. Top row, blueberries on Valentine’s day tooth pics, and a Kinder egg, sent from Grandma as a Valentine day treat. All eagerly eaten!

I hope you had a nice Valentine’s day lunch too. Check out lots of other ideas at Muffin Tin Mom.

Here’s a fun idea for a Valentine’s Day breakfast. Make your regular pancakes, and put a small amount in a squeeze bottle. Add a little red food colouring to dye the batter pink.

On your hot skillet, squeeze out a heart, or X and O’s or your loved ones initial.

Cook it until it starts to set, then pour your regular batter right on top. When you pancake begins to have small bubbles all over the surface, flip, just like you would normally. When you turn it over, your message will be revealed.

Remember, if you’re writing letters, you have to do them backwards so they’ll be right way round once they’re flipped.

Use some pink batter to make a few plain small hearts too.

I’m sure your loved ones will love them.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Friday night Grandma and friends came for a family Valentine’s Day celebration. Nothing too fancy, but it doesn’t really take much to make a kids day.

Maddie was very excited to eat in the dinning room, because in her mind that means a party!

I found some fun napkins at the dollar store, and these cute heart containers, which we filled with some candies. The girls decided to make little “place cards/Valentines” for everyone.

I used my pink table runner, and added some cute metal hearts to the white orchid.

I love these simple glass tea light holders, sitting amongst some Valentine confetti.

My girls LOVED these balloons from Dollarama, and played with them for a long, long time.

The menu was simple but delicious. We had some veggies and dip, homemade hummus and pita chips, “make your own pizza”, and opened a bottle of wine.

The cutest detail; I cut the pepperoni out with a mini heart cutter.

It looked so sweet.

For dessert we had fruit and cream cheese dip.

We also had a sweet little heart shaped ice cream cake from Diary Queen.

And if anyone had any room left, there were also some goodies from our favourite local bakery.

On second thought can we just skip the fruit? Just kidding.

This was a really simple party to put together, my guests cooked their own dinner, dessert was from the store. All we really did was chop up some fruit and veggies, and grate a little cheese. The decor was all stuff I had, or picked up that day at the dollar store. Sometimes over the top and months of planning is amazing, but sometimes all it takes is Mom to declare that it’s a party, and move the meal to the dinning room!

I hope you feel inspired to do something special, but simple for the ones you love this Valentine’s day, because life really is a party if you make it one!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This post is linked up at Under the Table and Dreaming, Between Naps on the Porch, and Tatertots and Jello.

Today our family did this great activity, and our kids LOVED it. We had a frozen Valentine hunt, with small, red, heart shaped ice cubes, in the snow. It was great fun, and free, and I know your kids would love it too! I think you still have time to make some ice before Valentine’s day.

I used my dollar store heart shaped muffin tin to make my ice cube valentines. I added a few drops of red food colouring to the water to make them red. You could also use a heart shaped ice cube tray, or even just a regular ice cube tray with red water, if that’s all you had.

This afternoon, we did the hunt in our backyard. My husband and I hid them while the girls played on the deck. The hearts looked so beautiful in the white snow, hidden all around the garden.

A Valentine to the birds?

After we had them all hidden, the girls went searching, with a pail each for collecting.

Where should we look next? How about the play structure?

Tricky.

They found them all.

And then took turns hiding and finding all over, again and again. It was a lot of fun. Who knew a few ice cubes could turn life into a party! Happy Valentine’s Day!

This post is linked up at Tatertots and Jello, WhipperBerry, and Under the Table and Dreaming.