Well, another Valentine's Day has come and gone, another 3 boxes of cartoon smiley faced Valentine's with treats attached. I didn't plan ahead to consider a more "green" valentine - any favorites you used this season for your kids to share with their classmates? I'd love to hear ideas - thanks!

my daughter is in preschool, so we had over 40 valentines to make. this year, i went to half price books and bought a few old calendars with big pictures of kittens. we cut the kittens out and wrote each kid's name on the front - they were big and funny, the kids liked them and they cost us $2! i like the idea of making valentines using recycled materials. Now, if I can only get organized enough to make them earlier than 11pm the night before the party . . .

I don't have any school age kids, but for lots of the traditional gift giving holidays, my husband and I set a $5 spending limit. Or, we give each other something that can't be purchased. I know this doesn't always work, but we've found it's a neat way to check in with one another instead of consuming another "thing". Plus you're not driving to the store (less carbon spent), not buying something cheap (and likely toxic), and it's a choice not a pressured high stress event.

On the kid front, I welcome any and ALL advice! I have t minus 3.5 years before I have to tackle this same topic and would love to get a head start!