Last Minute Lovers, Take Note

The sweet route: Get a pack of post-its or index cards and write a list of things you love about your significant other. If the kids are home, color-code them for each person. Leave a trail of them around the house and send your loved ones on a love note scavenger hunt. This plan B option might even become a plan A tradition. It is sure to leave your loves feeling special and appreciated.The snuggle route: Make it a family night with fun finger foods and a sappy movie. Or, make it an elegant night with a steamy romance and fancy hors d’oeuvres. Whether you are serving soda or champagne, pour it into a fancy glass and snuggle up to your love. Make it personal by selecting a film with a special memory for your family or loved one. Or, choose one with characters that remind you of your Valentine. As the old adage goes; it really is the thought that counts.The simple route: Pick up a couple of steaks for grilling at home, along with some ready-made sides from the deli and a bag of salad. This option offers both the convenience of take-out and the romance of home cooking. Toss the laundry you meant to fold four days ago into a basket, spread out a bed sheet, and light a few candles. If the kids are home, waiting until they are settled into bed to bring out the goods is always an option. If you eat dinner as a family, make it a dessert picnic. Most grocery store bakeries offer single slices of cake or pie. Pick up a couple of sweets and maybe a bottle of bubbly on your way home and pull out your stops when your sweetie settles in for Big Bang Theory reruns or their night time Facebook check.View the list »
Sweet gestures make up for lack of planning

Family newsletter

Valentine’s Day is upon us one again, and many busy blended moms and dads are groaning at their lack of planning. Whether you had the best laid plans, or forgot altogether, you might be scrambling to pull it together in time for your Valentine.

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If you happened to wait until the last minute to pick up a card or gift for your significant other, you are likely to encounter a grumbling crowd fighting over the last obnoxiously red stuffed animal and sentimental card to express your undying love. At the end of all the hustle and bustle, who really wants to cram into a crowded restaurant with hundreds of other hungry patrons to wait an hour and a half for a table? Nothing brews a fight faster than that sort of holiday blend! If you are one of the many who did NOT secure reservations in the city, schedule a babysitter, and plan your date months ago you might appreciate this list of Plan B Valentine’s Day gestures.

Express your love this Valentine’s day without the stress of making it perfect. However you choose to celebrate, every day is an opportunity to make a memory. Sometimes the best memories are made on the fly and without the planning. A little effort with a lot of thought is sure to make your Valentine feel special.

View the list
  • The simple route: Pick up a couple of steaks for grilling at home, along with some ready-made sides from the deli and a bag of salad. This option offers both the convenience of take-out and the romance of home cooking. Toss the laundry you meant to fold four days ago into a basket, spread out a bed sheet, and light a few candles. If the kids are home, waiting until they are settled into bed to bring out the goods is always an option. If you eat dinner as a family, make it a dessert picnic. Most grocery store bakeries offer single slices of cake or pie. Pick up a couple of sweets and maybe a bottle of bubbly on your way home and pull out your stops when your sweetie settles in for Big Bang Theory reruns or their night time Facebook check.
  • The snuggle route: Make it a family night with fun finger foods and a sappy movie. Or, make it an elegant night with a steamy romance and fancy hors d’oeuvres. Whether you are serving soda or champagne, pour it into a fancy glass and snuggle up to your love. Make it personal by selecting a film with a special memory for your family or loved one. Or, choose one with characters that remind you of your Valentine. As the old adage goes; it really is the thought that counts.
  • The sweet route: Get a pack of post-its or index cards and write a list of things you love about your significant other. If the kids are home, color-code them for each person. Leave a trail of them around the house and send your loved ones on a love note scavenger hunt. This plan B option might even become a plan A tradition. It is sure to leave your loves feeling special and appreciated.
  • The sentimental route: If you can’t find anything at the florist or flower section at the store, take the road less traveled and pick up a packet of seeds and a cute pot. If you get the standard clay pots and a sharpie, write a sweet note such as “my love for you grows” or other sappy sentiment on it. A scoop of dirt and some seeds of your love’s favorite variety will grow into gorgeous flowers in a few months. To show your love every day, take care of the plant yourself. This simple gesture is sure to get your sweetheart’s stamp of approval.
View the list

, Redlands Blended Families Examiner

Kari Winchester is a freelance writer and editor residing in Redlands, California. She is a passionate advocate for social justice, blended family success, and accessible education for all students. Kari obtained her undergraduate degree in sociology from the prestigious Chapman University, and...

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