Valentine's Gifts from Kids to Mom and Dad

Looking for some great Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your parents? Some kids write captions like “We treasure you”, ”We scored big with you” or “We love you” on a chart paper. Others prepare a photo frame, carrying the words “You are the Best Mom/Dad in the world”. Let’s look some more gift ideas.

Valentine’s Gift Ideas

A green ‘Valentine’ tree with heart-shaped ornaments and topped with an “I love you” note and can make a festive gift for your parents. So does a magnet boasting tiny photos of family members that are pasted on magnetic paper to stick on the refrigerator.

Children of all ages, even adult children, can collect recent photographs of the family members and prepare a mini scrapbook. A ‘Kiss Jar’ is a fun gift, too, prepared by painting the outside of a jar with hearts and kisses and adding Hershey’s candy kisses inside. Another neat gift is a puzzle pin is prepared by arranging old jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Mother and children statues are an apt Valentine’s Day gift. So are themed gifts like giving a small box that represents a room where inside the box the recipient will find stuffed teddy bears sitting on a sofa with “We Love our Parents” written on a tiny picture hanging over the sofa, and a ‘bears family’ with the family names written on each bear drawn on an accompanying card.

To go along with the gift, or as a gift in itself, a cake that is shaped like the word DAD or MOM can be prepared at home.

Don’t forget that greeting cards and flowers are traditional gifts, always good for recipients of any age. And fingerprint cards can be prepared at home if you’re looking for more unique gift cards.

Valentine’s Gifts for Mom

Kids can present the following Valentine’s gifts for mom – House Helper Card, I Love You Card, Photo House Card, Thumb Bunny Card, Pop-Up Bouquet Card, Wheel of Affection, ABC Book of Mom, Bagel portraits, Brooches to Brag About, Cameo Necklace, Handprint Apron, Handprint Towels, Kitchen Angel, Button Bracelet, Paper Blossoms, Spa Door Hanger, Sparkling Sun Catcher, Treasure Box, You and Me Book. A necklace or bracelet or earring will evoke memories everyday. Diner style mug is good for daily use. Three cubical candles that together spell MOM, which have a 46-hour burning time is ideal for celebration. A Pacific Revolution Waist Bag can also fit within the budget.

Valentine’s Gifts for Dad

Kids can present the following Valentine’s gifts for dad – A Pup for Pop, Computer Frame, Daddy Duct Dollars, Funny faced refrigerator Magnets, Family Key Keeper, Golf Ball Mobile, Family Key Keeper, 5 Fab Crafts for Dad, Formal Greetings, Me and You Book, Painted Pebbles, Personalized Hobby Boxes, Treasure Box, Chore Card, Collage Card, Photo House Card, Thumb Bunny Card, Picture Puzzle, Memo pads & Paperweights and Best Dad Certificate. The Hairy Daddy Longlegs Cupcakes can be prepared at home. Kids may make a dessert or bake a cake at home. Kids can honor their dad, a breakfast of Omelet, Cheese Tart or Baked French Toast.

Natalie Aranda writes about holidays. Looking for some great Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your parents? Kids can present the following Valentine’s gifts for mom – House Helper Card, I Love You Card, Photo House Card, Thumb Bunny Card and Pop-Up Bouquet Card. For Valentine’s gifts for dad, kids can present: A Pup for Pop, Computer Frame, Daddy Duct Dollars, Funny faced refrigerator Magnets, Family Key Keeper, or Golf Ball Mobile.

A New Years Resolution You'll Actually Enjoy

Many people around the world make new years resolutions but how many actually keep them? A very small percentage I'm sure; I won't bore you with a bunch of statistics but if you speak with your friends & family who make resolutions, you are apt to see exactly how many keep their resolutions and how many break them within a matter of weeks or months. I'm going to help you come up with a great New Years Resolution you will actually WANT TO KEEP & that is making a resolution to get involved in some way in an artistic endeavor in the new year!

Let's face it, many people are stuck day to day sitting behind a desk, working in stores, and other places they'd really rather not be at because they need to pay the bills. They have responsibilities and I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all; being responsible is very important but many of these jobs also don't let your creativity come out in any way, shape or fashion or at least in minimal amounts. I know this because before I began my business I also was in this sort of position. Naturally, running a business also involves sitting behind a desk but at least most of my business involves letting the creative side show and express itself. How many of you when you were children loved to finger paint, draw or water color? How many of you enjoyed building things with blocks or going to the beach and building a sand castle? I see you raising your hands don't be shy!

As you got older, these sorts of things began to fade from your life little by little didn't they? Slowly you began to draw less, you began to paint fewer pictures and the trips to the beach involved suntanning rather than building a sandcastle. Unfortunately, these sorts of things happen all too often to many of us as we grow up and in the process we lose a part of ourselves, the part that loves to create, to express yourself, to let your ideas flow freely in whatever creative endeavor you chose to express yourself. This happens all too often yes but it's not something you have to live with for the rest of your life; you can choose to change your habits and these changes can start right now!

What do I mean by "artistic endeavor"? Do I mean that you should go to the local art store and purchase hundreds of dollars worth of brushes, paints, palettes, canvases & so on? Do I mean you should spend a ton of money on a fancy camera so you can become a famous photographer? Do I mean you should take an acting course at a local college and get involved in the theatre? You'll be surprised that the answer is "Yes!"- That is if that is what you wish to do then go for it, I wouldn't discourage you from following your dream. But you can also start with something as simple as a plain sheet of paper, a pencil and a subject and start sketching whatever comes into your mind or whatever is in front of you. You can also start by taking the camera you already probably have, no matter how fancy or simple and start shooting things that matter to you like your garden, or perhaps your family & friends or why not go for a hike and take a few photos of your natural surroundings(yes there is a life outside the house lol). Do you enjoy singing? Why not grab a tape recorder or if you have it, a digital recorder or camcorder and set it up to tape yourself singing your favorite songs. Why not grab a few friends and make it a project and form your own band! Again, does this mean you have to go out and buy a bunch of fancy instruments? Only if you wish to do so; otherwise, why not just get the music for the background to whatever you want to sing and then you and your friends provide the singing?

As you've seen from a few of my suggestions, you don't have to get a bunch of fancy and expensive items to get involved in an artistic pursuit of any sort; all you need is an idea, inspiration & the passion to go through with it. It doesn't mean that if you make a recording of yourself singing that you need to submit it to a recording studio or show it to a bunch of people; it also doesn't mean that you need to sign up for expensive lessons to learn how to play a musical instrument or lessons for art. All of these things will make you much better at whatever you're trying to do but they're always something that is up to you to pursue. Art of any sort, whether it's music, painting, drawing, photography or any of the other myriad forms of art that are out there doesn't have to be perfect as long as you're enjoying yourself.

In closing, resolve to make at least one new years resolution that you'll actually want to keep and make art a part of your new year and all the years after. Don't let your creativity fade simply because your job doesn't allow you to show your creativity. Take a half hour to start, each day or if you're so busy you can barely find any time, start with half an hour a week to devote to something creative and then gradually expand that time and you'll find yourself being a much happier & fulfilled person!

Author: Mike "Birdman" Sexton
Visit http://www.birdmansart.com for all your paintings, art gifts & design needs
Copyright -2010

10th Wedding Anniversary Ideas

A tenth wedding anniversary is a special milestone for all couples. Traditionally, a tenth anniversary is considered the anniversary of "tin or aluminum," as these are the gifts that are given traditionally. Nevertheless, a decade of marriage calls for a celebration. Some couples prefer parties, whereas other enjoy a romantic evening alone. It doesn't really matter how you go about your celebration, as long as you have a good time.

If you decide to spend your tenth anniversary alone together, make the evening memorable. Do something fun together. If you've hung onto cards, letters, and preserved flowers, make a scrapbook together. Laugh over a glass of wine. Discuss pictures, memories, and things to come. After a cozy candlelit dinner for two, exchange gifts with one another as the sun sets.

However, if you decide to go out for your anniversary, do it with style. Choose a fancy restaurant which hold a special memory. Perhaps you can revisit the location of your first date, or the place you proposed ten years ago! It'll warm any woman's heart. Revisiting the past can bring up sentimental feelings you haven't felt for a long time. Even if you're relationship is perfectly healthy, an anniversary is a wonderful time to rekindle your love.

Perhaps you'll throw a party, or book a vacation for two somewhere exotic. You can't go wrong there! These occasion only come once in a lifetime. If you choose to have a party for your tenth anniversary, make a list of everyone you want to invite! Call everyone before hand and confirm their addresses. Youdon't want your invitations to get returned, do you? Once you have an updated list of addresses, you can purchase invitations for your guests.

The type of invitations you choose shouldn't be very difficult. You can purchase invitations at a gift shop, or you can order them from a printer. Many couples order their invitations from a printer, as they're completely customized with a RSVP return card. Nevertheless, if you choose store bought invitations, you should always put RSVP information on your invites.

Many couples choose to open a gift registry for their anniversary party. If you decide to do this, mail that information with your invitation. Don’t worry, it's not really presumptuous. It'll actually give your guests a better idea of what you may like to receive as a gift. It saves them a worrisome hassle and it keeps you from receiving duplicate gifts.

It's a good idea to purchase photo frame and decorations. Use the photo frames for pictures of you and your spouse throughout the years. Your guests will get tickled by the cute images. In addition, you'll want to make the atmosphere seem like a "party place." Hang streamers and banners from the ceiling. Put floral centerpieces and confetti on the tables. It'll really liven your evening up. Don't forget music! Hire a DJ or a band to entertain your guests.

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planning web site. You may find the above article in our wedding anniversary category. You may publish our articles on your website only if you do not edit the article in any way, and include the above html as a direct link to our site.