safesplash blog

1. Make a special dinner
   I love spending time with my little man in the kitchen. Kids love to get messy and create. Here's a fun recipe to celebrate Valentine's day together:

Heart Shaped Calzones

• 2 cans Pillsbury Classic Pizza Crust Dough
• 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese (shredded or freshly sliced)
• Sliced pepperoni
• Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• Salt & pepper

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Unroll the cans of dough onto a work surface. Take a heart shaped cookie cutter and cut out several hearts (3-5 per roll). Take some of the dough hearts and layer with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, leave room around the edges to seal later. Take the remaining dough hearts and place on top of the layered ones. Crimp the edges of dough together with a fork. Set the hearts on the cookie sheet. Brush dough with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese, salt & pepper. Bake 10-15 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Serve with warm marinara.

2. Family movie night

What kid doesn't love a movie night in? Rent a movie and snuggle on the couch with some fresh popcorn and hot chocolate! Some great movie ideas:

• Lady and the Tramp
• The Princess Bride
• Beauty and the Beast
• Enchanted
• Shrek
• Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

3. Mommy and me spa day

Take your little girl and spend some quality time getting manis & pedis

4. Make homemade Valentine's day cards and show a little love

Let their imagination run wild. Grab some construction paper, markers, glue, glitter and stickers and make cards from the heart. You can set a goal of 20 cards (or however many you choose) and deliver to your local Senior Center or hospital to help make others feel loved and thought of on this special day.

5. Decorate their bedroom door with affection

Get some pink, purple and white construction paper and cut out several hearts. On each heart write a reason why you love them and why they are so special. Tape all the hearts on your child's bedroom door early in the morning so when they wake up they get a sweet surprise.

6. Make DIY gifts for family and friends

Make some cookies, flavored popcorn or candied pecans with your kids and place them in canning jars. Tie pretty ribbons around the top and attach a homemade card to each jar. Deliver them to neighbors, family and friends.

7. Have an indoor picnic

It's too cold to go outside for lunch so build a fort inside and make a special lunch to share (heart shaped sandwiches anyone?).

8. Hide and Seek love notes

Write special notes that say why you love your little ones and hide them throughout the house. Make it a scavenger hunt by creating clues to help them find each note.

9. Make a kiddie coupon book

We've all done this for our significant others but what about our kids too? Create a coupon book for them with a "get out of a chore for free" card or "good for one day at the park". Other examples include:

• Movie of your choice
• Good for one family game night
• Get to stay up 15 minutes late
• Lunch at a place you choose
• One free ice cream cone
• 30 extra minutes of television

10. Make a Valentine's day milkshake

What you'll need:

• Strawberry ice cream
• Milk
• Red food coloring
• Frozen strawberries
• Red sprinkles

Put a large scoop of ice cream and about a cup of milk with one drop of food coloring and some frozen strawberries in a blender. Blend until it's thick and creamy. Serve in a milkshake glass and top whipped cream and red sprinkles.