The Non-Candy Valentine

Every year, people spend $1.6 Billion dollars on Valentine's candy.  JUST THE CANDY, folks.  And I always feel like most of that ends up in my candy jar at home.

My kids are "special treat" fanatics.  I finished my dinner, special treat!  I stayed on the green apple today at daycare, special treat!  It's Thursday, special treat!  They are starting to reach the age where I can no longer pretend that apricots are candy, and of course their favorite treats are chocolate. (Pretty smart boys.)  So I do keep the obligatory special treat jar for occasions that I and I alone deem special.

But on Valentine's Day, they come home from daycare with 30 bags of candy each that I end up throwing away, because a. they will never eat it all and b. they are 3 and 1, come on people, they can't eat gum or Jolly Ranchers!

So I always end up being "that" mom, the one who sends her kids with other-than-candy treats.  And hopefully, it will be something parents can actually say yes to when their kids beg for another "treat" from the candy jar.  I just print and cut some free Valentines from my kids' favorite shows and attach a fun "treat."

So here is a list of my Top 10 fun non-candy treats that most kids (and parents) are happy to receive on their Valentine's cards.

1. Honey Spoons

The easiest thing on earth to make, and a great alternative for the kids who love suckers.  (Or for you to sneak for your tea!) You can buy them pre-made if you're strapped for time like me!

2. Chocolate or Yogurt Covered Raisins

My kids adore these, and they are really cheap too!

3. Freeze Dried Strawberries

These are such a yummy treat, and who doesn't love strawberries for Valentine's Day?  I like getting the quart sized containers and putting them in cute bags and reusing the big plastic tub as pantry storage for open bags of pretzels and crackers.  You could even get really fancy with these and dip them in chocolate!

4. Fruit Leather

This is a fun alternative to those artificially flavored roll-up gummy fruit snacks.

5. Nut-free trail mix

Nuts are a big no-no in most schools and daycares now, so here's a great recipe for a 5-ingredient nut free trail mix.  Or you can buy some here.

6. DIY kid-safe lip balm kit

Little ones seem to always have chapped lips during the winter.  They lick them constantly until they are raw.  I won't even tell you about the time my husband thought it would be good to put Carmex on my toddler, suffice to say he will never do that again.  So kid-safe lip balm is a must for the kids and makes the mommies happy too.  You can add anything to this kit, but the kids especially love flavored Kool-aid to add flavor and fun color to this DIY lip balm.  They even come with printable labels.  It's a really fun activity too!

7. Light Up My Life Valentine

I love these DIY glow stick Valentines.  I don't have a die cutter, but the same could be done with some heart stickers and glitter glue.  Don't forget the glowsticks!

8. Have a Ball Valentine

These are adorable, and my kids LOVE bouncy balls.  I love these Glow In The Dark Bouncing Balls because they are easy to find under the couch!

9. Valentine's Day Coloring Pages

What kid doesn't love coloring?  You could even include a couple crayons with each Valentine.

10. Awesome Sauce Valentines

These strawberry applesauce Valentines are so friggin cute I can't even stand it.  And I won't keep my kids out of them for longer than 5 minutes.

What ideas do you have for some Non-Candy Valentines?

30 DIY Gifts for Kids

Homemade gifts can be cool and fun.  And many are more special to the recipient than a store-bought gift.  I've scoured the internet for my 30 favorite DIY gifts for kids.  Check them out, I think you'll find something for every kid on your list!

1. This latches board is beautiful and would stand the test of time.

Via Domesticesq

2. Doesn't every baby need a taggies pillow?

Via Chez Beeper Bebe

3. And these sock sheep are so sweet.

Via Craft Passion

4. But this octopus (via Red Ted Art) made from kids tights is even sweeter.

5. This dress-up doll looks like a great car toy.

Via Cut, Craft, Create

6. This is a tutorial for a beautiful cloth doll.

Via Wagner

7. My kids adore their play food, it's so much fun.  Here's a whole garden full!

Via A Beautiful Mess

8. These dino tails look like so much fun.

Via Running with Scissors

9. I absolutely adore this DIY fishing game.

Via Make It-Love It

10. I always wonder what to do with all those mismatched sheets...forts!

11. There's no need to spend $150 on that particleboard dollhouse when you have an old dresser.  And if you're using it for Barbies just take out a shelf or two.

12. Lip balm is so easy with this DIY kit.  Flavor or color it with your recipient's favorites.

Via Rogue Naturals

13. Gotta love old dressers, here's a super easy sweet little dress up closet.

Via A Turtle's Life for Me

14. I was shocked when I saw how long stick horses kept my kids entertained at Grandma's house!

Via A Beautiful Mess

15. This gorgeous puppet theater is great for a bit more advanced project...

Via Adventure In A Box

16. I love these DIY superhero dress-up outfits.

Via Chiot's Run

17. And more cute felt dress-up items...

18. I might just learn to crochet so I can make this ADORABLE hooded cowl.

Via The Velvet Acorn

19. What kid doesn't love a bean bag?

Via 2 Little Superheroes

20. This mom made a Lego table out of an Ikea Trofast.  I think I'm going to flip over the top piece of my kids' train table and glue Lego baseplates to it.  *Smh how have I not already thought of this?!*

Via Dude Mom

21. These paper alphabet blocks are darling, or you could paint your own with some plain wood letters.

Via Digitprop

22. Do you have a skateboarder, surfer, or snowboarder in the family?  Here's a board cool sling.

Via Kojo Designs

23. And the always useful pillow-fight sheild.

Via Busily Spinning Momma

24. Put together this easy doctor playset with a few things you have around the house and a real stethoscope.

Via My Poppet

25. They will think you're the coolest person ever if you make these fun monster mittens, no knitting required.

Via Martha Stewart

26. Those 18" doll accessories can be pricey.  Build this gorgeous doll bunk bed with this really simple tutorial.

Via Ana White

27. I don't know a tween who wouldn't love this awesome hammock chair.

A Beautiful Mess

28. Here are 10 fun DIY gifts for young girls...

29. This Lego belt is very cool.

Via Delia Creates

30. Teenage boys would love these DIY paracord bracelets, you could even hide "survival" items in them like this one.

Via A Girl and a Gluegun

Like this list?  Check out my 10 easy tips for having a simpler, less expensive, less commercialized, but just as fun Christmas!

Breast Pumps That Don't Suck

See what these kids at MIT are doing to revolutionize the breast pump. I am posting this as I sit here in a locked storage room in my office listening to the not-so-silent hum of my $300 Medela Pump-not-so-In-Style.  So when can I get one?  I'll take the prototype!

http://breastpump.media.mit.edu/#suckiness

The CHEAPEST diapers...and why I don't buy them.

I'm on my second baby.  Two under 2 means two babies in two different size diapers and about 20 diaper changes a day.  I guess you could say I'm a diaper buying pro.  I have shopped around, checked out couponing websites, and done some serious calculations.  And we have a winner.

Target Up&Up diapers are BY FAR the cheapest good quality diapers.  Between 5% off on Cartwheel (they're almost always on there), 5% off for using my RedCard, and the sale price plus a $5 to $10 gift card you get when you buy two packs?  We're talking $0.11-$0.14 per diaper.  About half the price of Huggies or Pampers after coupons.  So, from the title of the blog, you have gathered that I don't buy them.  Why?

Because it's a scam!  Moms beware!  Target has a "target" (hehe) customer, and it's you!  Think about it.  The Starbucks in the front of the store.  The alluring clearance end-caps.  The "Dollar Spot" right inside the front door.  They even have cupholders for your cart so you can carry your coffee around.  It's like Disneyland for moms.  They take a small hit on the cheap diapers so they can lure you in, then BAM!  You walk out of the store with $100 in "great deals" and pretty things that you don't need.  I'm sure you've seen this e-card floating around on Facebook.

My husband summed it up wisely one day.

Me: "I'm going to Target to hang out with Melissa after work."
Hubs: "Why would you hang out at Target?"
Me: "Because we're female?  You know, we get a Frappucino and window shop."
Hubs: "Yeah right!  You're definetely buying something."

And I thought I was saving money on diapers.  He knows me better than I know myself...

So, if you can walk in with your blinders on, walk past Starbucks, past the Dollar spot, past the women's clothing department, jewelery, and handbags, to the very back of the store, fill your cart with diapers, walk back to the register, buy your diapers and scan your Cartwheel, then leave the store, you can save money on diapers.  Or you can send your husband.  Haha.

Me, I don't have that kind of willpower, so I'm back to Amazon Mom.