Valentine’s Day Crafts for Sitters

Now that parents have found something to do to celebrate their love, it’s time to let the kids in on the action! Help them share the love by setting up these Valentine’s Day crafts and games. Parents, these are great activities to let our sitters do with your kids while you’re out–just leave them the supplies and they’ll do the rest. 

Write Valentines for Mom and Dad

Use whatever you have lying around–construction paper, pipe cleaners, magazines–and let the kid’s express their love for their parents. Help them write a list of ten things they love about mom and dad or draw a picture of what they love doing together. 

Create a Paper Chain

Countdown to love day by creating a paper chain. Use red, pink, and white construction paper to create strips. Loop them together and secure them with glue or tape. Kids can take one chain off each day to create excitement–and it makes for a cute decoration in the meantime! 

Create a Valentine’s Day Treat

Who doesn’t love a little something sweet for the holidays? Try this cute ten-minute dessert from Six Clever Sisters which just takes a few ingredients: Hershey’s Hugs, pretzels and M&Ms! This a great “cooking” project for little hands. If you make enough, take a walk and share with your neighbors! 

Let’s Talk About Love

Do a little research on the history of Valentine’s Day and help kids come up with a “lesson” for Mom and Dad about love. Kids can create their own skit to act it out and even make a list of how we can spread love now–complimenting strangers, helping mom and dad around the house, sharing with siblings–the possibilities are endless! 

Chemistry is Real! 

We love any chance to incorporate a little STEM into our day! These salt hearts will get you talking about a different kind of love on this Valentine’s Day! What is nice about these is that they last forever so you can display them year after year as part of your decor. 

Hidden (love) Messages 

Create invisible ink using pure lemon juice! Simply squeeze a lemon into a bowl and use a q-tip to draw your secret messages on paper. Let them dry and when mom and dad come home from date night they can use a heat source (light bulb, low temp iron) to reveal the secret message. 

Geometric Hearts

Need an activity for older kids? This art project is great for talking about color theory, math and creativity. You likely have the supplies at home and the end result can be given as a gift or displayed for years to come.

Art Tutorial 

If you’re working with younger kids but still want to get artistic, this sweet tutorial would be a blast! The step by step directions make it easy for younger kids to create a masterpiece they are proud of. 

Heart Shaped Pizza

Our sitters are happy to make dinner for your kids while you’re out–so why not make it fun? Pre-made crusts make this homemade pizza easy to assemble and kids will love calling the shots for dinner. 

Love-Themed Movie Night

Grab some popcorn and candy and let the kids enjoy a movie night full of love-themed movies. Try “Lady and the Tramp”, “Beauty and the Beast” or “Up!”. Make it extra special with blankets and pillows on the floor!

8 Great Summer Reads

I am seeing a ton of talk around the best book to take to the beach this summer. I thought I would compile a list of books I have loved in the past that would make great reads when you are able to make some time for yourself. Any books you would add to the list?

Where the Crawdads Sing

I would argue that this is THE book of the year. I have seen so many people talking about it–and for good reason. I thought it was slow to start but about a quarter of the way in I could not put it down. I devoured the final third of the book over two nights and was genuinely sad it ended. Think: love story, beautiful writing about North Carolina landscapes, mystery. Image result for where the crawdad sings

This Will Only Hurt a Little

Busy Phillips has been a favorite Instagram follow of mine for awhile. She’s funny, refreshing and offers a unique glimpse into her celebrity life–all while seeming like a mom you would be glad to run into at school pickup. Her book is an extension of her instagram persona. Think: behind the scenes celebrity stuff, early 00’s nostalgia, parenting laughs.This Will Only Hurt a Little

The Middle Place

I devoured this book last summer at my parent’s place in Hilton Head. Sometimes being with family can drive you crazy and summer vacations are ripe for the opportunity to be annoyed–but this book gave me such great perspective. I laughed. I cried. I felt grateful. Think: great perspective on motherhood, camaraderie, memoir.Image result for the middle place

Seat Arrangements

Beach reads are supposed to be guilty pleasures: slightly dramatic, indulgent and full of love stories. This one checks all of those boxes. It’s set in New England and takes place as a wedding unfolds. It contains all of the romance, betrayal and family dynamics you need to keep turning the pages. Think: rich people, family dynamics, wedding drama.

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Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

I love this book. I have purchased and gifted it several times because its one you’ll want to share. Cheryl Strayed has such a way with words and her life experience offers such great perspective on a variety of situations. Think: advice, affirmations, quick read. Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give

If you’re married or thinking of getting married, this is a fantastic read. It is so real and raw–a telling of Ada Calhoun’s marriage without falling into the trap of being cliche or overly glossy. She tells the good, bad and ugly while somehow reminding how truly wonderful it is to be married. Think: marriage, humor, essays.

Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give

Hanna Who Fell From the Sky

I am a sucker for anything about cults and religions so I was drawn to this novel about a young girl coming of age in a polygamist community. I was rooting for her the entire time and couldn’t wait to find out what happened–and was truly shocked when I did. Think: page turner, coming-of-age, romance

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The Engagements

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It tells the story of a singular engagement ring as it travels through generations of couples. The perfect beach read because its romantic, fun, and engaging. Think: historical fiction, all of the reasons we fall in love. Image result for the engagements