Happy Uncommercialized Valentine's Day

I love celebrating life. Holidays are maid to break everyday monotony, and make something special of fleeting minutes, hours, day of our lives.

So why so many of us are standing in lines and traffic to get to the chocolate store, to buy suddely expensive flowers, to get something red, pink and tacky? 

Celebration turns into one of many mandaine tasks, a chore, an additional line in your to-do list.

Spend a morning in bed (I leave it to your imagination). Or take a long bath. Brew yourself a cup of tea. Take as much time as you want reading a book. 

Make a card with your child. Bake a batch of cookies. Play in snow or BBQ outside (depends on your local weather conditions).

For guys and gals who are prone to more adventurous Valentine Day, check out this book:

SEX: How To Do Everything . Great illustrations, interesting discriptions, detailed information on everyhthing, from arousal techniques to toys and sexual health.

For a fun craft project with your kids, go to Kristina Verner Design Blog, and make a Button Heart Valentine Card.

And check out this delicious Sugar Cookie recipe!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Nothing To Eat

Yesterday, I stopped at Safeway to pick up some milk and sprinkles for Valentine's Day cookies we are baking tomorrow. Strangely, but the though about cookies suddenly developed into a strong desire to have a cup of tea  with toast and jam. 

In a minute I have found myself absent-mindedly scanning through numerous jars, looking for apricot jam or some red currant jelly (peaky, are we? ;0)  Guess what? There is not a single jar without high-fructose corn syrup in it. And if I would not even care about its breaking down funny and leading to considerable weight gain, the latest buzz about mercury found in HFCS is not making my choice easier. So, I have my tea with honey instead, until I make it to the local farmers market, and stock up on good organic locally grown apricot jam. As to organic being much more expensive, let me offer some prices:

Smakers Jam - $3.69

Hero (European brand) - $4.69

Local Organic Jam (apricots, sugar, pectin) - $4.00

P.S. Upon my arrival home, my husband was looking at a petite jar of pink sprinkles:

 - Wow! I did not know you can eat carnauba wax! I use it to polish knife handles!

I guess my nutritionists' duties were not done with yet. I bought Cake Mate Decors Pink Crystals with the least ingredients: sugar, carnauba wax, confectioner's glaze, red #3.

Apparently,  wax in this instance is pretty safe, if you compare it to red#3!

This means we will have cookies dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with pale in comparison, but naturally dyed with vegetable juice Sprinkelz from one of the health stores. 

Again, for budget concsious, a price comparison:

Sprinkelz, 1oz - $1.89-$2.00

Cake Mate Decors Pink Crystals - $2.69