Monday, January 23, 2012

RE-joicing: Romancing Your Spouse for Under $5

My husband and I have been married for 16 years so it has been a long time since we've been in that honeymoon, everything you do is wonderful stage.  People say marriages sometimes goes thru "bumpy roads", well, I assure you I have had my share of white knuckles from holding on to the safety bar on our ride.  As an experienced married woman, I have accepted as a profound truth that "Happily Ever After" takes a lot of effort.  So as a New Year's resolution, I asked my husband to agree to an exercise.  We are going to give each other 14 small gifts ($5 and under) for 14 days to celebrate St. Valentine's Day.  We need an infusion of sweetness and romance to get out of the rut we've fallen into.  Honestly, I think he needs it more than I do.  We normally buy each other one nice gift for St. Valentine's Day, but I think we'd be better off  this year showing each other sweet smaller tokens of affection like we use to when we were first married and doing that over a longer period of time rather than spending money on one nice gift for one day.  I thought I would share what I am thinking about in case other folks might enjoy the inspiration. 
BREAKFAST IN BED.  Saturday I made my husband breakfast in bed.  I may do it again on St. Valentine's  Day, but I thought it would be more meaningful on a Saturday when he could really sleep in so I didn't even wait for February.  Monday -Friday is work and Sundays we teach Sunday School early  so Saturday is his one day to sleep in.   It got a big THUMBS UP from my husband.
HEART SHAPED TOASTED BREAD.  We normally have eggs and bacon for breakfast on Saturday mornings because my husband LOVES bacon.  But, Saturday I thought I would add toast to the meal because it'd be so easy to cut it out in a heart shape. After making the toast, I am thinking I may send my husband a couple heart shaped sandwiches to work as one of my gifts. It is easy and costs nothing extra but a minute of time.  

HEART SHAPED STRAWBERRIES.  I buy strawberries and blue berries most weeks because they are Super Foods and my husband and daughter enjoy them a lot.  For breakfast today, I cut off the tops of a few strawberries and then sliced down the middle with a knife a bit more to create the dip of the heart top shape.   I also sliced one of the strawberries on the bottom to place it on the lip of the champagne flute.
CLOSE UP OF THE CUT STRAWBERRY.

CHEESECAKE, MY HUSBAND'S FAVORITE. On Friday, I was invited to a ladies dinner party and they served cheesecake.  That happens to be my husband's favorite dessert, so I brought home a slice to show him that I was thinking about him. 

PINTEREST PROJECT.  I saw on Pinterest someone doing cheesecake inside strawberries.  I had no intention of making a cheesecake, but since I had one from the party, I cut out the middle of the strawberries I was going to put on his plate and scooped some cheesecake in there. He really liked this.  If you want the Pinterest recipe, it is HERE

HEART SHAPED EGG.  The big design element for breakfast was a heart shaped egg.  We happen to have a heart shaped pancake mold thingie so I used it for the egg.  Here's a tip, make sure the pan is already hot when you pour the egg on it or the yolk will escape/bleed under the edge of the mold ruining the shape.  I lost my first egg figuring that out. Once the sauce pan is hot, the egg immediately starts forming when it hits the surface allowing time to sorta coax the egg around until it hits the edge of the heart shape mold.

SQUEE!! It came out perfectly and it was SOOOO easy and fast. 



Now, if you don't have a metal heart mold to use, I also saw this on Pinterest. They cut out the heart shape from a piece of toast and pour the egg inside of the bread to use that as the mold like the mom in Moonstruck did.   Pinterest  Image Source http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/

HEART SHAPED TURKEY BACON.  When the bacon was done, I folded the sides together and pinched the middle to make it look a bit like a heart shape.
3 ITEMS UNDER $5.  For this special breakfast in bed I bought 3 items: OJ, Champagne and a picture frame. The prices are above. I know a lot of people drink OJ for breakfast, but we don't so I included it in the price total.  The champagne is a mini bottle that comes in a pack of 4 for $10.  The other bottles will be part of presents on other days.  I also think I will recycle the bottles, spray paint them white and use a red marker to put XOXO on them.  The dollar store frame was purchased for something else actually, but I decided to go ahead and include it in the total. If you already have a small frame, all you would do is insert a note in it.  My note says "Good morning Handsome, I LOVE YOU, from your lucky wife"  Is it Shakespeare? No. But, the sentiment is what counts most I think. 

A DECORATED BROWN SACK WITH A SNACK LEFT INSIDE HIS CAR.  It doesn't matter what is inside. The medium is the message.  I use to leave my husband notes in his car when we first dated all the time.  It put him in a good mood. Need to remember to do this more.
HEALTHY SNACKS.  I know people normally give candy for St. Valentine's Day, but it would be so unhealthy for me to give my husband candy for 14 days.  We eat unsalted nuts for snacks often anyway, so this seems like a practical and healthier alternative to candy.  
MOVIE NIGHT.   You can watch something on Netflix or rent a $1 movie.  Print out a coupon allowing your husband to pick the movie.  I made the one above easily. A large Hershey bar is between 80 cents to $1 where I live.  They sell microwave popcorn at the Dollar Store.  Popcorn is less than $1 for a packet.   Target and the Dollar Store both sell 2 single serving plastic old style popcorn containers like the ones above for $1.  You could spend $1 on those *OR*right now Target is selling heart shaped plastic containers like the red one above for $2.50. 

CLOSE UP OF TWO PRESENTATION OPTIONS.

OTHER IDEAS I HAVE:
-BUY SONGS ON OUR ITUNES ACCOUNT AS A SURPRISE
-MAKE A CD OF SONGS SPECIAL TO US
-EMAIL HIM AN ONLINE VALENTINE'S CARD
-LEAVE HIM CHAPSTICK WITH A NOTE TO GET READY FOR TONIGHT
- TEXT OR EMAIL A PICTURE HOLDING UP A SWEET MESSAGE
-A COUPON BOOK OF FAVORS
- A TRAVEL COFFEE MUG WITH HOT COFFEE IN IT


SOME IDEAS FROM PINTEREST I AM THINKING OF DOING

Idea and Image Source: http://www.pbfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/met-married-live.jpg

Another version I love with Yahoo Maps so you don't have to look for real maps. Idea and Image Source http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2011/11/diy-anniversary-gift.html
HEART SHAPED APPLE SLICES.

Already have the pencils left over from class gifts for my daughter last year.
Idea and Image Source: Family Fun Magazine



ANOTHER HEALTHY SNACK. Also from Pinterest, idea and image originally from http://icandyhandmade.blogspot.com

I bought a deck of cards for $1 at the Dollar Store. I am definitely doing this one.  Found it on Pinterest. Idea and Image Source: http://papervinenz.blogspot.com

NOT UNDER $5, but still a very cool idea from Pinterest.
A basket of 12 envelopes with pre-planned date nights.  Idea and Image Source: http://shannonbrown.typepad.com/_in_general
If you have some more ideas, please share them below, or if you've enjoyed mine, feedback is very much appreciated!

WRITTEN BY ELDAROSE
FYI, Reba's Red & White toile Table is HERE
MY RED, WHITE & HEARTS ST. VALENTINE'S DAY TABLE HERE

Another Valentine Table by Reba is HERE

LINK PARTIES THIS WEEK:
Sunday's Best Linky Party!

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See more Tablescapes HERE

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22 comments:

  1. This is simply an adorable and loving idea. I regret to tell you today is NOT my newbie party. I have been planning and announcing my MAGAZINE copy cat challenge. IF any of these ideas originally came from a magazine please source it out and re link with my copy cat button. Thank you, otherwise see you next week.

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  2. Debbie,

    Oh, I'm so sorry. I saw your project and didn't actually read the text. I didn't realize you were doing something special today for the link party. I will relink next week.

    Eldarose

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  3. Greetings Girlfriends, Thanks for coming to my blog and your delightful comments on my look alike Chinese/Middle Eastern meal. I tried to explain it but not very well. But you got it and thats all that mattered.

    I LOVE this post. I love each and every idea and I am going to use a couple of them. THANKYOU for sharing them. Even if you're not on the 'copycat' link this week it will still be GREAT next week. Sorry but I read Debbies comments to you. Aren't I terrible. I honestly don't read others comments but it was just kinda there when I was reading your post.

    By the way I had just gotten your email in my email box and didn't know it was there and I had already read your comments to me. Wow that was fast. And I sure appreciate it.

    Hugs to you both,

    Nann

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    Replies
    1. Nann,

      Your Middle Eastern meal looked amazing! And I think you explained it perfectly well.

      So glad you liked the ideas. I am so glad you are going to use some. I was hoping people would be encouraged to use them.

      Hugs to you, too!

      Eldarose

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  4. Beautiful idea!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

    Sanghamitra.

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    Replies
    1. Sanghamitra,

      Thank you so much for visiting and leaving an encouraging comment. I visited your blog and your photos are gorgeous.

      Eldarose

      Delete
  5. Great ideas. I love them all. Now the egg one really caught my attention. Love it. Thanks so much for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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    1. Marty,

      Thank you. So glad you liked the entry. I hope you try the egg one. It was SUPER easy and it came out really cute.

      Eldarose

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  6. Very sweet! I did the strawberry thing last week, thank goodness before your post, or you would have thought I copied. :)
    Hope you and your dh enjoy your 14 gifts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathleen,

      Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. How great that you did the strawberry thing, too. And don't be silly, I would have thought I had inspired you. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I hope everyone who inspires me feels that way.

      And thank you for your well wishes. BTW, dropped by your blog and it was fantastic!

      Eldarose

      Delete
  7. Pat@Back Porch MusingsJanuary 26, 2012 at 8:48 AM

    Love these great ideas for Valentines Day!

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  8. Wow, tons of great ideas here! I really love the map-related one. I have followed my husband all OVER the place!

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  9. Cute ideas for Valentine's Day or just any day you want to make a special breakfast!!! Happy Anniversary to you and your bacon lovin' husband!

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  10. Great ideas! Simple and fun expressions to let someone know they are special. Your ideas could be applied to any day of the week -- like you said a surprise decorated brown paper sack on the car seat!

    Visiting from The Charm of Home, Debra

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  11. Wow, what a really idea for Valentines and for your marriage. Love how simply special they are to show you love for each other. I love the heart shape egg, I will be doing this for the hubs. It's been a long time since we felt that "don't you just love everything about them" phase. Hopefully these ideas will bring back some of that spark. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best Party!

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  12. I just love all your ideas! So sweet and creative, I love the toast and the eggs especially! I'm a newlywed (well... we've been married for two and a half years, I don't know if that means we're still newlyweds haha!) and always looking for sweet, simple ways to show my husband that I love him! Thanks for all the tips!

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  13. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas at Potpourri Friday!

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  14. What a delightful post!!
    such awesome ideas!!
    gonna try a few of them myself!
    thanks for sharing!!
    hugs!
    Loui♥

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  15. I really like the idea of giving small gifts for 14 days. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. I hope you and your Husband have 14 loving days. The idea is always good to think of the one you love and have chosen to be with. The heart egg is precious and thanks for the tip about the skillet. My husband would be in heaven over the great breakfast treats. Thanks for sharing Valentine's ideas. Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Tablescaping! Pam

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  17. So many great ideas! I bet your husband really appreciates the effort you put into his gifts!

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