I can be extremely random, but I want to explain the rationale behind posting this today. (There actually is some, I promise). This past week marked the mid-way point to Valentine’s Day. (Inset eye roll) I know, I’m not a huge Valentine’s Day fan either, but hear me out..
Six months ago, I was on the search for the perfect gift for Ben. If gift-giving was a contest, he crushed me at Christmas. (A surprise trip to Las Vegas with VIP seats for the Britney Spears show.) We both agreed that we wouldn’t spend any money on Valentine’s Day. We would go out for a nice dinner and exchange cards and/or homemade gifts.
Hours of searching Pinterest, I stumbled across “The Jar“. It was perfect. I decided to adapt it a bit. I loved the idea of writing short little notes that Ben could open everyday for the year. (Okay 365 notes was aggressive, but I set the bar high) I used four different-colors of paper and decided on three categories: 1) Memories 2) Favorite Quotes 3) What I Love About You. When all was said and done, I ended up with about 150 slips of paper containing words that would make Ben smile. Maybe next year I’ll be able to write out 365. I ended up sick with the flu and could barely sit up long enough to give it to him, but Ben loved the jar. It sits on his bedside table and he reads a note every few days before going to bed.
It isn’t Valentine’s Day, but that isn’t really what this post is about. Make a jar for someone you love, or maybe even yourself. I promise you, each note comes with a smile.
In other news, I picked up some great (on sale) tops for myself and Ben from J Crew Factory. There is an INCREDIBLE JCrew Factory store about a mile from Ben’s sister’s house in Pittsburgh. They are having a great sale. If you’re a teacher, they let you use your discount on top of sale items. In Connecticut, the next eight weeks can be a bit tricky weather-wise. Some days the temperature can vary by 20 degrees- talk about a challenge when it comes to dressing.
My picks:
For Ben:
The photos above are by Karen Morneau Photography from our family photo session in June,
