Shortcuts to a Romantic Valentine’s Day
Saturday, February 9th, 2008Easy ways to spice up your holiday
Make Valentines from Household Supplies
Paint samples, playing cards, sponges, sugar packets, matches…
Original Purpose: Taking up space in your kitchen and desk drawers.
Aha! Use: It’s all there, and now you know why you’ve never gotten around to throwing it out: a private, inexhaustible stock of Valentine-card-making props. Dead AAA batteries ("I get a charge out of you"), old lollipops ("I’m a sucker for you"), stray keys ("the key to my heart"). Sit yourself down and grab a pile of craft supplies — construction paper, scissors, markers, tape, X-Acto blade, large-eyed needle and strong thread (or dental floss!), doilies, ribbon saved from the last party. Don’t worry about getting the edges straight. It’s the message that counts.
Reward: Recycling with heart.
Candy Canes as Valentine’s Day Treats
Original Purpose: Adorning Christmas trees and stuffing stockings.
Aha! Use: Valentine candy. With some minor melting, they can decorate cupcakes and gift boxes, or cards that will be hand delivered.
How to Do It: Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350º F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Reward: Leftovers that say "love."
Greeting Cards as Gift Tags
Original Purpose: Mantelpiece clutter, proof of popularity.
Aha! Use: Gift tags. Last year’s holiday and birthday cards may be too pretty to throw away, but they’re probably not meaningful enough to keep. Cut out hearts, flowers, or any other whimsical illustration from the card’s cover, avoiding handwritten notes on the opposite side, and stash them with your ribbons and wrapping paper.
Reward: It’s not regifting; it’s recycling.
Quick Valentine’s Day Treat
In between dropping the kids off, picking up the dry cleaning, and making your to-do list for the week, you’re supposed to fit in romance? Try this easy trick: Melt a Hershey’s bar in a saucepan over low heat and dip some fresh strawberries in it to make a treat for your sweetheart. Let them cool on wax paper. Candles and canoodling optional.
DVDs for an Instant Holiday-Theme Party
Struck by a mad urge to play Cupid, you’re throwing a Valentine’s party. First head over to Blockbuster and pick up an appropriately themed DVD—preferably a romantic favorite like When Harry Met Sally, Casablanca, or An Affair to Remember. Come party time, pop it in the machine, press Play, then mute the sound so the film can serve as a quiet but not-too-subtle backdrop for the evening. Bonus: If a partygoer gets tired of small talk, he can zone out and tune in to the on-screen romance until he makes his own love connection with bachelorette number three.
Wrap Presents with Newspaper
Original Purpose: Looking up words, getting the news, finding your way.
Aha! Use: One-of-a-kind wrapping paper. Leftover paper of all kinds — wallpaper, old maps, last week’s Sunday comics — begs to be recycled as gift wrap. You’ll see: Almost any mundane printed matter is transformed by a big, shiny ribbon. Use a copying machine’s enlarger function to make much of small things. Choose a dictionary definition to suit the occasion: love for Valentine’s Day, shamrock for Saint Patrick’s Day, ageless for an anxious friend’s birthday. Photocopy the page onto an 11-by-17-inch sheet of paper (if possible) at the highest magnification, repeat as needed to increase the word size, and squeeze in the choice part of the definition. When the boss catches you wasting paper and toner, offer to run off a set for her wedding anniversary.
Reward: Oohs and ahs from the impressed recipient.
Other Use: Lining a birdcage.
Decorate Plates with Ketchup Squeeze Bottle
Original Purpose: Dressing French fries.
Aha! Use: Decorating dishes like a professional. Run an empty plastic ketchup bottle through the dishwasher (or pick up a fresh one at the Container Store; $1, www.containerstore.com), then fill it with your favorite sauce or condiment. Drizzle some rosemary-scented olive oil across a bowl of white bean soup, a squiggle of fudge or raspberry sauce around the rim of your Valentine’s dessert plate. (If calligraphy is not your strong suit, practice on a paper plate or stick to abstract designs.)
Reward: Five-star-chef presentation in less than five minutes.
Other Use: Fill with a week’s worth of homemade salad dressing and squirt as needed.
Create the Perfect Setting
For a romantic and fragrant centerpiece, float a few small orchids and some tea lights in a glass bowl.
As soon as the snow begins to fall, the holidays are top of mind—decorations go up, carols play on the radio and you hit the stores in a shopping frenzy, which tends to last straight through to the New Year, leaving you exhausted and your wallet empty. This year, save your sanity by preparing for the holidays now with our Top 10 list of ways to get ready. Once December rolls around you’ll be relaxed and ready to entertain!1. Card CoolMake your holiday card list—then make your holiday cards! Craft stores and dollar stores stock up holiday supplies in the fall, so now’s the time to pick up pretty card stock and accessories, from stamps to ribbon to decorative decals, to make your holiday cards unique.2. Present SenseMake your list and check it twice so you can give great gifts this year. Finding inspired gifts that your recipients will love takes time, which you’ve still got right now! Next time you’re at your sister-in-law’s house, take note: does her toaster take two hours to heat up? Are her wine glasses mismatched? Do her slippers have holes in the soles? Pay close attention each time you see a person on your gift list and once you start shopping you’ll have plenty of useful gift ideas for everyone on your list!3. Who’s to HostBy mid-December, you always seem to get burnt out travelling to three holiday parties in one night—at opposite ends of the city. To save your sanity this season, consider hosting your own party so that you’ll get to see all your family and friends in one night without leaving home! Whether you’re hoping to host Christmas dinner or a holiday open house, send your invites now. By December, invites will be fast and furious and if you want to make sure your loved ones can come to your fete, make sure your invitations are the first they receive. This way they have time to respond and plan, especially if travel and accommodations are involved. Want to escape the hoopla altogether? Book your getaway now, before prices soar.4. Show StoppersLooking for a way to spend time with your family without having to cook a huge meal or entertain? Buy tickets to a holiday show (try a ballet production of The Nutcracker or a choir performing Handel’s Messiah). Tickets for these type of performances will go on sale in early winter, and picking up a block of seats is not only a good way to spend time with relatives or friends you don’t see often, but can also make for great gifts—so you’ll be done before you even starting stressing about shopping!5. Make and BakeInstead of bringing another bottle of wine or chocolates to each holiday party you attend, create a unique gift that your host will remember. Try preserves such as strawberry-rhubarb jam or peach salsa. Place them in sealed jars and store in a cool dark place until it’s ready to be gifted. Love Christmas cookies? Try baking one recipe every weekend until the holidays. Store the dough (or the finished sweets) in airtight containers and freeze for a few months. For a twist on fruitcake (and great for a holiday brunch) try zucchini-raisin or cranberry-lemon loaf.6. A Decorative PlanYou don’t have to string the lights to your roof just yet, but early winter is the time to plan out how you’re going to decorate this year. Now is the time to plan your decor and start stocking up on supplies. Want to make your own wreath? Head out on a hike while the weather’s nice to collect pretty coloured leaves, nuts, twigs and berries you can dry before use. Want to sew a new tree skirt? Head to your local fabric store and choose your fabric, and ask a sales associate for help with a pattern—they’re happy to help you with a long-term project.7. Plant Your TreeInstead of chopping down another Christmas tree, only to have the needles fall off mid-December, plant your Christmas tree outdoors this year. Fall is the ideal time to head to the garden stores for end-of-summer sales, especially on a small fir, pine or spruce. Then, find an ideal spot in your yard where you can watch your Christmas tree grow for years. Or, pick up a large planter box and pot the tree, so that you can keep it right outside your window and enjoy it while you’re having breakfast. Add lights and secure shiny, weather-durable ornaments or red velvet bows with wire gauge. It sure beats hauling the old fake fir out of the basement.8. Class ActionSign up for a class that you can turn into a gift-giving idea. Try a pottery class (then make letter ornaments for each member of your family), a knitting class (try scarves or slippers), or a sewing class (yoga bags, tea cozies, shoe bags or wine bags are easy and popular gifts). Not only will you have a chance to not think about the stressful holidays for a few hours a week, you’ll have half your shopping done before others have even started.9. File HighHoliday issues of magazines are a great source of inspiration when it comes to hosting, cooking, baking, decorating and gift ideas. But by the time those magazines come out, and you rip those pages out, it’ll be far too late. Head to the library and look at back issues of December issues of your favourite magazines. Photocopy pages you like and then pick up a three-ring binder from your local office supply store. Hole-punch each of your inspiration pages and use dividers to create sections: Baking, Cooking, Crafts, Decorating, Gift ideas, etc. Use sticky notes to give yourself reminders (i.e. Gift for Susie, Bake for Office Party).10. Take NoteFor the ultimate way to be prepared, keep a holiday notebook with you at all times. Pick up a small book that comes with a pen loop, and slip it into your handbag. Always changing purses? Buy one for each. Then, make a heading at the top of each page (Gift ideas: Mom, Appetizers: Party). Whenever you get inspired, jot it down. Then, when you’re ready to start your shopping, you’ll have your lists ready to go!
Carve some fun into fall with a day of pumpkin picking, jack-o’-lanterns, and treats to get everyone in high spirits.Legends of the FallGrown on every continent but Antarctica, the pumpkin was once thought to be a cure-all for freckles and snakebites. But what this vine-grown fruit does best is symbolize everything magical and spooky about the season. If you don’t believe that, just ask Ichabod Crane.How to Select a Pumpkin to CarveWhen choosing a pumpkin for carving do, be sure to:Examine the rind. It should be firm, uniform in color, and free of cuts, bruises, and blemishes.Make sure that the stem doesn’t look brown and dry. And don’t use the stem as a handle, since even a healthy one can break off. Pick up a pumpkin by its base instead.Give the pumpkin a knock. A thumping sound means the pumpkin is solid, with no internal defects, rot, or soft spots.How to Carve a Jack-o’-Lantern1. With a serrated knife held at an angle, carefully cut an opening around the stem, making a small notch in the back (to guide you when replacing the lid).2. Use a large spoon to remove the pulp and scrape the sides clean of stringy bits.3. Draw on a face (washable markers allow kids to draw, rinse, and repeat).4. Carve, then add a tealight.*Pumpkin-Carving Tip*Don’t carve your jack-o’-lantern too early or it won’t survive until Halloween night. Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.Toasting Pumpkin SeedsGive kids the job of separating the seeds from the pumpkin innards while adults handle the carving. Put aside the seeds to be toasted later for a crowd-pleasing snack of roasted pumpkin seeds.