How You Can Celebrate Valentines On A Shoestring

If you are facing a situation that you may not have much money to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the love of your life. There are many ways you can still spoil your loved one and enjoy the day on a limited budget.

Valentine’s Day Flower

Outdoor Fun

Making up an inexpensive picnic basket and spending a day under the trees is a truly romantic gesture on your part. Another outdoor idea would be to take your bicycles out and ride along the waterfront. If you have access to some waterways, why not rent out a canoe and discover the sights of the surrounding city.

Even just a slow walk around one of your favorite parks or public garden areas is a relaxing and special way to spend some quality time with your valentine. You could even stop off at one of your local coffee or tea shops for a nice slice of cake and tea or coffee.

Even a trip to the zoo can be a great idea when Valentine’s Day falls in the winter months. The zoos are much quieter in the winter season and the animals will be more active opposed to summer where many animals hide in shaded areas.

Another inexpensive idea would be to check your local newspaper for any events that fall on Valentine’s Day. There are always a variety of film showings, festivals, musical events, street fairs or country fairs for you to spend a relaxing day out with your partner.

Indoor Activities

If it happens to be a rainy and wet day, consider taking a drive along the countryside, you may find some small and inexpensive cozy restaurants along the way to stop off and have a light meal. If you are the types that are interested in antique stores or museums, spend the day browsing at your leisure.

Ice skating is another inexpensive option for a really fun day out, the cold temperatures may be invigorating and holding hands and acting like children can really reignite the spark of romance.

Staying Home

One of the most romantic gestures you can do for your partner is to make them breakfast and serve it in bed. Be creative and maybe make waffles in the shapes of hearts. A tea party for two with all your favorite cakes, cookies and interesting teas along with a simple vase of flowers is wonderful way to spend Valentines together.

Something different would be to have a picnic in front of your fireplace in your own living room. Be romantic and light some candles, play soft music and maybe add in some strawberries and cream. Renting out a bunch of your favorite movies and spending the day cuddled under blankets is also a great way to spend some time together.

Valentine’s Day does not need to mean you have to spend lots of money to impress your partner. Most people love personal gestures with thoughts that really come from the heart that will make them feel really special on the day.

If you are still looking for Valentine’s Day gifts or accessories, please visit Meritline huge selection of love themed items here.

By Aria

Fun Activities Kids Can Do On Their Winter Break

There’s nothing kids look forward to more than the holidays and being out of school.  However, after a few days of winter break, they tend to get bored if they don’t have enough to do.  Or, they end up spending all their time growing sluggish in front of the television, video games or other electronic devices.  To prevent hearing “I’m bored” all winter break long, here are some fun activities to help keep the kids entertained over their winter break.

1.  Go on a field trip

Get everyone moving and out of the house.  A field trip can be the perfect fun outing that the entire family can enjoy.  Some good ideas include going to a children’s museum, a play, indoor fun center, the zoo or other local attractions.  Everyone loves a good field trip.

2.  Bake Treats For The Holidays

Most kids love to bake.  Keep them entertained with a day of making everyone’s favorite holiday candies, cookies and other treats.  You can make sugar cookies and decorate them, or gingerbread men or grandma’s famous chocolate fudge recipe.  Of course, there will need to be plenty of taste testing involved.

3.  Make Homemade Presents

The part of the winter break before the holidays can be put to good use.  Set up Santa’s workshop and make homemade gifts for family members and friends on your list.  You can make baked goods, homemade soaps and candles, frame family photos.  There are many arts and crafts projects that can lead to special gifts as well.  Everyone appreciates homemade gifts, and it will keep your kids entertained for hours.  Not to mention, it sure beats another trip to the mall to try to find last minute gifts.

4.  Go To Community Holiday Events
Almost every community will have plenty of winter and holiday events to attend.  There are usually lots of opportunities to meet with Santa in a variety of settings, holiday craft fairs and festivals, special musical performances and plays to attend as well as religious services.

5.  Have Fun With Arts And Crafts Projects
Kids of all ages love arts and crafts.  They are a great way to keep children entertained for hours on end.  All you need are some art and crafts supplies like crayons, paints, pens, markers, glitter, paper, tissue paper, glue, feathers, small cardboard containers and much more.  There is no limit to what the kids can make or the supplies they can use.  Let the kids come up with the ideas.  Part of the fun is scavenging for supplies or taking a quick trip to a local arts and crafts store.

6.  Enjoy The Great Outdoors
If the weather permits, get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.  Fun winter activities include ice skating, going for hikes, building snowmen, skiing and sledding, taking the dog for a walk or even going bike riding.  If the weather is bad, try moving around indoors instead to keep the boredom away and the blood flowing.

Use the above activity ideas to help keep the kids entertained on their winter break.  They can also help inspire you to come up with even more ideas.  Before you all know it, winter break will be over and you won’t have heard the phrase “I’m bored” one time.

About The Author

Laura Greening is a mom and a part time wedding planner. She loves to write about wedding planning and preparation. She is currently working as a consultant Wallao, a flower girl dress store, based in Los Angeles, CA.

Four Handmade Gift Ideas For Valentine’s Day 2014

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, one may be wondering what to get their significant other for the big day of love. If you’ve been in the romance game for long, then you know that we’re conditioned by marketing to only think of chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and maybe stuffed animals as appropriate gifts for Valentine’s Day. But if you’re looking for something a little more personal, why not consider a handmade gift this February? Below are our favorite handmade gift ideas for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Days

1. Homemade Valentines

Nothing says like you put a lot of thought into someone on this day like giving them a custom card you made yourself! If you’re kids at heart, bust out the construction paper, the glue and the glitter, and the magic markers and get really creative. If you’re more classy and artistic, you can create your own drawing or design based on what your partner loves most. Delicate decorations like lace and beads are a great way to class up a homemade Valentine.

2. Meal Just For Two

If you can’t afford to take your partner out to his or her favorite restaurant, then consider bringing the restaurant home to your partner! Get in the kitchen and make the greatest meal of your life. Pasta, salads, even barbecue can be romantic with the right person and the right setting. Send the kids away, put on some mood music, light the candles, and invite your loved one to a glamorous meal made just for them.

3. Vases With Flowers From The Garden

Many DIY craft shops have blank vases in many sizes for you to choose from. You can paint them, embellish them with beads, or whatever strikes your fancy. Evoke what makes your partner special and will make his or her eyes light up when you present your gift. If you have a garden together, fill the vase with fresh flowers. If you don’t, you can get even a single red rose from the local florist’s for fairly cheap. The flower doesn’t necessary matter: the fact that you created a beautiful vase it what counts!

4. Scrapbook Showcasing Your Relationship

For the really crafty and creative, you can create a small (or big) scrapbook showcasing your relationship. Get copies of photos from over the years. Get mementos. Find decals in craft shops that represent what you two love to do together. After you present your gift, you can make an event out of going through the scrapbook with your partner and going down the memory lane of romance.

Valentine’s Day Coffee

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive or impersonal. By taking into account your unique skills and what your partner loves, you can come up with a homemade gift this Valentine’s day that is sure to wow everyone who sees it! Who knows? Maybe this time next year your friends will be begging you for ideas on how to score big on the day of romance and the celebration of eternal love.

By Aria