More than half of my ideas come from necessity rather than creativity. Take last year's Valentine's day for instance. I had no presents, no plans, I was S.O.L. and I knew my two little oompa-loompas were expecting something. I hate holidays, Valentine's day included. Lord knows I love my kids, I tell them every day. But how did these holidays become so weighty? AS IF I NEED MORE CRAP to put on my unbearable teux-deux list. I resent being expected to buy my family a bunch of shizz. No one expects Dad to pull this crap out of his rear, it's always Mom. Go ahead and write your comments that say you're a great dad who organizes the holiday details and I'll kindly publish your comment and send you some tampons. 

So last year I threw this admittedly lame but easy breakfast together and the kids thought for just one morning that I was Mary Freakin' Poppins. I didn't plan a thing. I woke up in the morning desperately empty-handed and decided to make pancakes. When it was time to set the table I looked around for anything pink and I thanked my lucky stars I had cranberry juice and strawberries to keep my pink theme alive.

Last year I didn't know Fiona as well I do now so I was very impressed when she made Piper this little pillow. Clearly she was pandering to be my special friend or trying to show me up in the crafts department. Why it's not stuffed in this picture beats me, but it is now and Piper LOVES stuff like this. I could tell you how to make it but take a look and guess - it's pretty easy-breezy. Put on a good movie and you'll have it done before the credits. Now that I think of it, she didn't make ANYTHING for Skyler, I guess she didn't like him as much. And while we're on topic of how great Fiona, the good witch of the NorthWest is, I know that this gal is about 110% likely to get something really thoughtful from her husband for Valentine's day. Even though he deliberately told me tonight (on the way out he door to play pool with my husband) that he hasn't gotten her "anything." Alas these two know me TOO well and are trying to make me feel better about another empty handed holiday before it even happens! 

Another thing I used to sell out of at my Hello store were coupons (S-E-X coupons). These ran about ten bucks and I was always amazed that people bought them in lieu of making their own. If you really don't have any markers and paper, time, or imagination than it's likely you're bad in bed, but just for you I found a site where you can personalize and print your own. 

Below you will see that I have been leafing through my old Martha Stewart Kids magazines. These magazines are collectors items at this point. They are really well thought out and not totally unreasonable when it comes to crafting expectations and capability. I found my Valentines issue and narrowed down some of the cuter, easier crafts. 

Piper and I tried to make the flower lollipops last night but we ran out of steam and she just brought in normal lollipops today. This is heresy by my standards and I get three crafting demerits for my laziness but in my defense we did make a really cute container for her keepsake valentines from school.

from Martha Stewart Kids, Special Edition, WInter 2004