Hey everyone! Here we are about to turn the calendar page to the second month of the year.....February, the "Month of Love." I truly miss the Valentine's Day celebrations of years gone by. They were simple and not so commercial. Some of you are too young to remember the shoe boxes that were lovingly decorated with tissue paper, paper doilies, streamers and hand cut paper hearts; and, of course, you wouldn't dare forget to make an opening in the top of the box. Teachers always made a special place in the classroom for all the pretty boxes to sit on display for several days prior to the big Valentine's Day party.
Source: The Jenny Evolution
The packages of Valentines were all very simple and there was little variation or selection (they were VERY inexpensive, too), but each child would write their names on the card and each classmate's name on the little white envelopes, being careful not to forget anyone.
It was a time when the classroom was festooned with lots of paper hearts and streamers, giving renewed inspiration for learning and creating. "Room Mothers" (is that what they are called today?) would arrive on party day with jugs of punch and trays piled high with their child's favorite cookies.....Mom had those special recipes marked in her cookbook. Everyone was happy and excited to open their little boxes and look at each and every Valentine card. There was such joy in the hearts of each child.
Today we seem to be bombarded with TV ads, urging us to "buy" this or that to show how much we love each other. It makes some of us feel overwhelmed, especially falling so close on the heels of an "overly commercialized" Christmas. It's often difficult, but perhaps we just need to step back and see the inspiration and joy in simple creations.
Little cloth hearts, simply made with a well-worn kitchen towel that was destined for the rag box.....soft with faded stripes, sparked a creative idea.
Adding sweet fabric hearts enhances the beauty of nature's bountiful creations. Even simple grocery store flowers bring joy to your heart and can easily spark creativity.
Bits of lace that had been relegated to the scrap box, all of a sudden has new life and is a reminder of the many paper hearts decorated with paper doilies.
Simple flower arrangements in unexpected places can be a little sweet surprise each time you pass by.....even when you are the one who placed them there.
Simple treasures that have stood the test of time can truly bring smiles of joy. It's amazing how adding something sweet to look at while doing the mundane tasks of the day (like washing dishes), can bring such joy and love to fill your heart.
I hope each and every day is filled with inspiration, creativity and joy. Sometimes we have to open our eyes just a bit wider to see what's right in front of us. Look at today with your eyes wide-open!
Thank you so much for stopping by. I love hearing from each and everyone of you. You bring joy to my heart.
I often party with these lovely bloggers:
Monday
Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home
Tuesday
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home
Tuesday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Wednesday
Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop
Thursday
Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home
Simple treasures are the best, Carol, you are totally right. When I taught we made the sweetest heart "mailboxes". They were just a heart folded and cut out of construction paper. Each child bought...or made...valentines for their classmates. The joy was in "delivering" their valentines to friends. So simple, so sweet and no candy, teddy bears or over the top treats.
ReplyDeleteI not only remember the shoe boxes, we also decorated brown or white paper bags and taped them to the back of our chairs. Each student got a chance to get up and place their little card in each of the bags. So much fun, happy memories. Last year I made a few cloth hearts very similar to the ones you shared, red with white lace on top, I have them hanging here in the LR by the TV. Praying you are doing well, Carol! Blessings, Cindy xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour post brought back so many memories, especially those boxes we collected our valentines in.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I don't decorate for this. Some candy in the candy dishes and red and pink flowers---I feel I need a break somewhere. Oddball I guess. But I love seeing what everyone does.
Hoping all is well with you, Carol!
Jane
It's gorgeous dear!!
ReplyDeleteThis brings back so many memories of Valentine's Day parties in elementary school! I loved making those boxes and I'm pretty sure the first time I had an M&M cookie was at a Valentine party. :) I was room mother for many, many years and we always had an ice cream sundae party for the kids on Valentine's day because it was the only time of year we could transport ice cream to the school without it melting first. Ha!
ReplyDeleteNice post Carol. Yes, I remember those Valentine boxes. My kids still made them when they were in kindergarten too. Yes, I think the moms were "Room Moms" when I was a kid but are now known as "Class Moms". So nice when things were not so commercial.
ReplyDeleteShelley
Nice post Carol. Yes, I remember those Valentine boxes. My kids still made them when they were in kindergarten too. Yes, I think the moms were "Room Moms" when I was a kid but are now known as "Class Moms". So nice when things were not so commercial.
ReplyDeleteShelley
Carol, I love all your Valentine touches. Yes, I do remember all the Valentine celebrations at school. Great memories! :) Take care, Maria
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten all about those boxes. I remember doing it in grade 3 and 4. Valentines is so commercialized like Christmas. We seem to be bombarded with jewelry ads etc. Can't say I don't enjoy a box of chocolates though!
ReplyDeleteAmen Carol! What a lovely post and so full of V day inspiration!
ReplyDeleteCarol,
ReplyDeleteIt is so true, it is the simple pleasures that bring the greatest joy.
I also agree that little posies sitting here and there brighten days, and if it is only ourselves that notice them, that is fine too.
Embrace each moment of living!
Happy Friday,
Jemma
I agree with you, Carol! We seem to go from one over-commercialized holiday to the next, don't we? It's so easy to get swept away in all that. I like your sweet, lovely touches for Valentine's Day. You are most definitely loved!
ReplyDelete