By Diana Saufley

I love all holidays!  It gives me an excuse to create foods, décor, and special things for my friends and family that let them know they are special to me.  I especially love Valentine’s Day.  What other day is more appropriate to tell the men in my life (including my teenaged boys) and all my friends that I love them?   I enjoy giving special tokens and decorating in January to live in the red and pink for a few weeks.

Already created items can be purchased in the stores and are currently on shelves.  However, I like creating something that offers a personal touch.  That doesn’t always mean things have to be made completely from "scratch."  Sometimes I buy things in the store and enhance or create something from a base décor or idea.  So let your heart run wild and express the love for those that are your sweethearts.

1. Place a red, pink, or a white table cloth on your dining table and accentuate with the other two colors for a fanciful and fun atmosphere. 
2. Place a Valentine wreath or other decor on your door so everyone will know there are sweethearts living in your house. 
3. Around the house, leave special notes that you know your loved ones will find, telling them how sweet your life is because they are in it. 
4. Kiss the mirror while wearing bright red lipstick and write a note for your loved one with a Dry Erase marker for a morning eye opener. This all easily wiped clean.
   
   Fill and cook red velvet cake mix in heart shaped cake pans or heart cupcake liners for a simple treat on Valentine’s Day.  Top the cakes with white cream cheese or buttercream icing then decorate and sprinkle with Red Hots, pink or red sugar crystals, or colored sprinkles.

Finally, have fun with a few friends or neighbors and sweeten their Valentines with a surprise. Purchase three small inexpensive bags in red, pink, white, or Valentine print (you can probably find these at a dollar store).  Fill the bag with Valentine’s candies, candles, socks, soaps, flower seeds, kitchen towel, or other useful and fun items.  Tie the bag with twine or ribbon but do NOT put your name anywhere.   Print three copies of the poem below and include one in each of the gift bags.  You can print your own bag here.

Below is a poem you can copy into Word and print. Be sure to tape your poem on the bottom of your door so everyone knows what a sweetie lives in your house.

I’VE BEEN SWEET!

It’s Valentine’s Day, and you are so sweet,

I had to send you a special treat.

To let you know you are special in my book,

And inside this bag, you should take a look.

Enjoy the gifts of sweetness in this bag,

Then pass along some sweetness to those you choose to tag.

Surprise three people with your own sweet gifts,

Then like a message in a bottle, the sweetness will drift.

Copy this note and include one in each bag you give,

Deliver it secretly where your “sweetie” lives.

Won’t we all be sweeter for having been so blessed?

Are you wondering who sent this or have you guessed?

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY