Last Minute Valentine's Day Gift Ideas For Adults & Kids

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Happy Monday!  Valentine's Day totally got the drop on me this year.  Usually I have gifts already purchased and hidden by the end of January.  Unfortunately it's looking like I'm going to be out here in these streets with the rest of the procrastinators and forgetters doing last minute shopping.

Thank goodness stores like Target and Walmart offer same day pickup and/or delivery.  Anyways, if you're like me and will be last minute shopping, check out some of the gift ideas below.  There's a mixture of traditional and non-traditional suggestions.

Adult Gift Ideas

Jewelry | We've been using jewelry as a way to show our for centuries now.  It's hard to go wrong with earrings, a ring, or maybe a watch in your loved one's favorite color.

Books | Did you know more people visited the library last year than the movies? So it's safe to say that a book by your loved one's favorite author will be right up their alley.  Also, another fun concept would be get a book that you can buddy read together.  Reading always even more fun when you have someone to talk about all the juicy bits with as you read.

Treats | They say food is the way to a man's heart and I'm here to say that food is the way to EVERYONE's heart.

Beauty & Grooming | Listen I have never turned down gifts of lipstick, hair care products, or skincare stuff. I love it when my loved ones want to help me look and feel my best by investing in me via beauty product gifts.

For The Home | I wish other adults understood how much their peers appreciate simple gifts like a new set of coffee mugs, towel sets, candles, and other home goods.

Flowers | I know flowers seem like a cliché gift to give but studies have shown that having fresh flowers in a home reduces stress.  So get the flowers.

Entrepreneurship | There's more than one way to support your loved one's business.  Something as simple as a planner can go a long ways to helping them get organized by giving them a central place to jot down business meetings, lunch dates, and more.

Kids Gift Ideas

Toys & DIY | I don't know a kid alive who turns down the gift of toys after Christmas.  My little guy loves getting toys for all the holidays.  And Moo, my tween, is all about DIYs.

Treats | Remember food is the way to everyone's heart including kids!

Clothes | In case you didn't get the memo, kids love clothes too.  Moo has hit the tween age and she's all about clothes and shoes.

Books | Don't let these kids fool you, they love reading too!

What is your favorite Valentine's Day gift?

Give Books, Not Roses Valentine's Day Giveaway

Disclosure:  This giveaway is sponsored by Hachette Book Group.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Happy Monday YUMMs!  Reading is one of my favorite pastimes.  In fact, I read over 150 books last year alone!  I can't explain exactly what it is, but there's just something about being transported from reality or reading something that inspires me to action that fuels my love of the written word.  My love for books and reading in general started when I was two years old and has only gotten stronger over the years.  With Valentine's Day coming up the end of this week, I thought it would be great to divert a little from the usual flowers, cards and stuffed animals by teaming up with the lovely folks from Faith Words and Hachette Book Group to bring you the Give Books, Not Roses Valentine's Day Reads Giveaway!  

Hachette Book Group editor, Christina Boys said, "Valentine's Day is an internationally celebrated day of romance, dating back to the 5th Century.  But today, love touches our lives in so many different ways.  Whether you are dedicating the day to your good friends or your life partner, treat them to these wonderful stories of courage, kindness and love."  So, today I dedicate this giveaway to you guys for being so supportive on YUMMommy and showing me love.  Many of you have definitely touched my life in a special way and I hope that you will accept this token of my appreciation.

The Prize Pack

Love Gently Falling is a romantic novella about the power of Valentine's Day and how one woman discovers love while trying to save her mother's business.  Rita Jensen, Beverly Hills hairstylist to the stars, returns to her hometown of Chicago after learning that her mother suffered a stroke.  Once back home, she soon discovers that's not all her mother's suffered when she finds out that her mother's hair salon is failing.  So, she comes up with a plan to help turn things around, but after being reunited with an old classmate, feelings grow.  Will she be distracted by the sparking of a new flame and oncoming of Valentine's Day to execute her plan?

In case you missed it, I posted a review of this book a few weeks ago.  You can check it out here.  And I can't tell you guys how awesome Melody Carlson is.  Valentine's Day romances are definitely her specialty!

Buy Links

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ Christian Book

Also, part of the prize pack is second book from Adina Senft's Healing Grace trilogy, Keys of Heaven.  Sarah Yoder, an Amish widow, grows herbs to make teas and tinctures to assist her community.  And while Sarah enjoys giving to her Amish community, she's misses having someone to love and hasn't had any luck with any of the Amish men in her community.  Instead, she finds herself conflicted over her attraction to Henry Byler, her friend who no longer shares her beliefs.  Will he be her happily ever after?

I don't want to give too much away because I'm doing a full review of this book soon, but it's good.  This was both my first time reading Amish fiction and a book written by Adina Senft.  I'm actually looking forward to checking out the first book from this series.

Buy Links

Amazon ~ Barnes & Nobles ~ Books-A-Million

And to round out this Give Books, Not Roses Prize Pack is this yummy bar of chocolate!  There's nothing like having a delicious snack to munch on while you enjoy a good book.

How To Enter

This giveaway is super easy to enter.  Just use the Rafflecopter widget below.  Giveaway ends on Friday, February 13th at 11:59 PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love Gently Falling

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate this review.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

"We know that for those who love God all things work together for good . . ."

~Romans 8:28

It's no secret that I love reading.  There's just something about being able to escape reality for a little while.  For a year now I've been a fan of author Melody Carlson.  Last year I read Once Upon a Winter's Heart, a great Valentine's Day read, and loved it.  So, when I was asked if I'd like to review her latest Christian fiction, Love Gently Falling, I was thrilled. 

In Love Gently Falling, Rita Jensen, the main character, has been enjoying her life as a Beverly Hills hairstylist and living with her two roommates, Margot and Aubrey.  Then, her world shaken when her dad, Richard, calls her with the bad news that her mom, Donna, has suffered a stroke and that her brother, Ricky, isn't taking it very well.  She hops a plane from sunny California  to her hometown, Chicago, in a rush to be by family's side during this difficult time.  Once in Chicago, she's immediately reunited her former classmate, Johnny Hollister.

Johnny is tall, handsome and the perfect gentleman in almost every sense of the word.  Although, Rita is instantly attracted him, she's involuntarily hesitant to let herself even think about him a romantic way after being put off by his profession.  (You'll have to read the book to find out what it is.)  Planning only to stay for two weeks, Rita is soon finds herself reuniting with other people from her past- some friends, some foe.  Also, she comes to realize that her mom needs her help and support with than just recovering from her stroke.

Donna's salon, Hair and Now, is nearly on its last leg.  Rita soon discovers that she's going to have put in more than a little elbow grease to make the salon profitable again.  And while her brother points out that the odds seem to be against their family, Rita reminds him of Romans 8:28, their mom's favorite scripture and life's motto, that everything will work in their favor if they just keep the faith in God.

But will it?  And as Rita sets her plans to rescue her mom's salon in motion, she finds herself more drawn to Johnny.  However, there's just one glitch, her teenage nemesis, Zinnia, has had her sights set on Johnny for years and is not the least bit fond of the attraction that she sees blooming between the two.  Combine that Zinnia's jealously over Rita's family dynamics and the fact that Rita is fixing up her mom's salon and things soon come to a head.

Will Rita end up with Johnny? Can she overlook his less than appealing profession or has Zinnia already charmed Johnny for her own?  Are Rita's efforts enough to her reinvent her mom's salon by Valentine's Day?  I won't give away any spoilers.  You'll have to pick up the book to find out for yourself.

What I will say is that this book really hit home for me in more ways than one.  If you've been reading my blog from the beginning then you already know that almost five years ago I loss my Ma (my aunt) due to complications from a stroke that she never recovered from.  Definitely, reading about Rita's mom and all of the issues she faced after her stroked reminded me of that dark time in her life.  Couple that with the fact that the time periods during which Rita's mom suffers her stroke is the same time that my Ma suffered hers and this book definitely stirred up some emotional wounds for me.

In addition, my aunt's stroke was what helped to reunite me and my husband.  It was a very dark and difficult time for me after her passing.  We put aside our differences and ended rediscovering our love for one another.  

I loved the message of Romans 8:28 that was implied and embedded throughout the book.  Like Donna, it's also one of my favorite scriptures and a motto that I try to live by and teach my children to live by.  As long as we love and remain faithful to God, no matter what storms come our way, He will work things out our favor the way they are meant to be.

Melody Carlson, author

Love Gently Falling is definitely a book worth reading.  Melody Carlson knows how to Christian fiction that is relatable, inspiring, and romantic without pushing the envelope or being too preachy.  Her characters are real people who will remind you of yourself or loved ones.  And her messages are subtle but clear and motivational.

For more information on Melody Carlson and her books feel free to check her out on Facebook and Amazon as well as on her official website. 

3 Valentine's Day And Date Night Outfits That Wow

Disclosure: Please note this is not a sponsored post.  However, it does contain affiliate links.

Valentine's Day and the 9 anniversary of when the Mr and I started going steady are both right around the corner.  So, I decided to put together three inspiration boards for Valentine's Day and date night outfits that I'm sure will wow.  I'm definitely one of those women who likes to seize every special occasion as an opportunity to dress up or put on 'adult clothes' as Moo calls it. LOL.

Make Me Blush

Dress: EShakti Colorblock Bonded Lace Dress Lingerie: Cantina Push Up Bra, Thong & Hipster Panty Set

  Earrings:  Celestine Rose by House of KL  Shoes: Steve Madden Blush Leather Deeny Platform Pump

So, I titled this look Make Me Blush because the shoes, dress and earrings are all similar shades of the color blush.  The dress is made EShakti and you all know how much I love them.  I've reviewed three of their dresses here on the blog already and have nothing but great things to say about them.  With that said, I love the detailed lace overlay and the faux sweetheart bodice

When it comes to shoes, you can never go wrong with a pair of Steve Madden.  I got hooked on Maddens when I was in college and did an internship at a local mall.  And how cute are the earrings and lingerie?!

Lady In Red

Dress: J.TOMSON Short Sleeve Chiffon Long Pants Jumper With Matching Belt
 Lingerie: G2 Chic Bra & Panty Set  Earrings:  Elegant Black & Gold Set by House of KL  Shoes: Calvin Klein Vivian Platform Sandal

Red has always been a color that I've been fond of wearing.  I like to refer to it as my power color.  Also, as much as I've started to enjoy dresses and skirts, I'm still very much a pants kind of girl.  So, a jumper is the perfect choice for a night date or Valentine's day.  I love that this one comes with a matching belt.

I chose the G2 lingerie set because it's more grown up and mature.  And it's very affordable.  I like Victoria's Secret just as much as the next gal, but shopping Vicki S all the time can do a number on your wallet.  I like to explore and check out more affordable brands.  The jewelry adds a little more hint of chic and the shoes add a pop of animal print.  Plus, Calvin Klein makes great everything.

I've never regretted anything I've invested in from CK.  They have  really good quality and if you're like me and keep an eye out for sales are purchase CK from eBay or Amazon, you don't have to worry about breaking the bank on designer shoes.

Egyptian Orange

Dress: Miusol Egypt Gold Foil Print Long Sleeve Bodycon Dress

 Lingerie: Heidi Lace & Stretch Slip by Yummie Tummie  Earrings:  Bree Earrings by Emerge  Shoes: Ollio Fuax-Suede Platform Stilettos

I mentioned a while back that orange has been named the It color for this Spring.  And of course, there's no denying that this Egyptian inspired fitted dress is amazing.  It will fit your body like a glove.  Who says shapewear has to be boring and unattractive.  The lace detail on the cups of the Yummie Tummie slip makes feel a little less like shapewear   After all, feeling confident and sexy in what we have under our clothing is just as important as feeling sexy and confident the pieces people see from the outside.

What are your inspirations for date night and/or Valentine's Day outfits? Do you keep it simple or go all out?

$25 Amazon Gift Card Valentine's Day DIY Sweepstake

Disclosure:  This sweepstake is sponsored and hosted by Guidecentral.  I am being compensated for each entrant who enters using my affiliate link.

Valentine's Day is almost here and what better way to get in the mood than with a Valentine's Day DIY Sweepstake sponsored and hosted by Guidecentral?!  After all, who couldn't use one of these 6 $25 gift cards to Amazon?  I know I could.  Although, I filled up my Kindle over Christmas, I've spotted two really cool tripods-one for my camera and one for me phone.  The best part is that there aren't a ton of hoops to jump through for this giveaway.  Check out the steps in the picture below.

So, there you have it folks, three easy steps and then you're in the running to win the $25 Amazon gift card. The sweepstake ends on February 23rd and the winner will notified via email by Guidecentral. You do have to be 21 or older to enter this giveaway.  Furthermore, I just wanted to throw it out there that any monies I do receive from this opp goes towards my BlogHer'14 or Be Blogalicious fund!  Moo, JJ and I would love catch up with you ladies (and gentleman) in person at one of these conferences later on this year.   So, be sure to pin on Pinterest, tweet on Twitter and share this post on Facebook!

Celebrate Your Love: Leap Frog

Valentine's Day is not just about celebrating your love for your spouse or significant other but for your kids as well.  For as long as I can remember my mom made sure to get us Valentine's Day cards and the small box of chocolates when we were kids.  Now that we're adults and she is more financially stable, she's stepped up the chocolates to jewelry.  However, the point is that she used Valentine's Day as a day to tell and show us how much she appreciated us and noticed the small things we'd do around the house without her asking.

And if you all know anything about me by now it's that I am anything but traditional.  Since, Moo has taken an interest in learning and reading and can now count to 5 by herself, I have been looking at some LeapFrog stuff to get her.  Jay and I don't want her to feel left out on Valentine's Day and will probably be scooping up one of these cute little items for her to go with her card.

Explore the outdoors, light lanterns, collect sun fuzzies, watch fireworks and celebrate with Kai-lan and friends!  Five festive activities light the way to learning Mandarin vocabulary, shapes, counting,  letters, colors and computer navigation skills.

Alphabet Pal has a silly giggle, flashing antennae and comical walk - he's sure to tickle your child's funny bone!  Four learning modes introduce letter names, letter sounds, colors and music.  Pull Alphabet Pal's string to hear the ABC song!  Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog?? Learning Path for customized learning insights and ideas to expand the learning.

When an unlikely encounter turns her into a frog, Tiana learns that dreams can come true in the most unexpected ways. Teaches about musical instruments, memory, sorting and classifying and New Orleans culture.  Learn about New Orleans music and instruments with Tiana. 

This Tag Junior board book springs to life when you touch the Tag Junior book pal to any part of any page.  Introduces animals and listening skills.  Learn about animals wild and free through the wonderful lens of Eric Carle.  More than 24 playful activities and 150 audio responses encourage little ones to explore while helping build confidence with books.

So, why not check out what LeapFrog has to offer for your little ones.  Instead of getting them a plain ol' stuffed animal for Valentine's Day why not get them something that can be put to good use and help them expand their love of learning.  Click on the banner below or any of the pics above to visit their website.

*I was not compensated for this post.  Simply expressing my opinion of what would make great Valentine's Day gifts for our little ones.*

Celebrate Your Love: Fossil

So, with Valentine's Day less than a week away, some of us may still be in search of that perfect gift to celebrate and show our love for our better half.  Well, no problem the good folks at Fossil are offering FREE overnight shipping on all purchases over $100 to help you get him/her something special.  I mean seriously do you want to get your spouse something from your local WalMart that everybody else in your neighborhood is going to be getting for their spouse as well.

I always like to hunt down specialty boutiques that carry one of kind or customizable merchandise to get something special for Jay.  Or if I can't do that then it's off to the internet.  I'm always sure to find something on there that nobody we know will have or be receiving.  That's why you should check out what Fossil has to offer on their website.  Here are a few selections for both men and women that caught my eye.

Men's  Decker Chronograph Black Dial Watch
$105

Women's 3 Hand Rose Gold Tone Silver Dial Watch

$85

Men's Grant 10 Piece Watch Box

$95

Women's Key-Per Frame Cosmetic

$25

Don't forget that Fossil also does clothing and shoes!!  Click on the banner below to see what other great finds you can locate on their website.  Who knows you might want to get a head start on your Christmas and birthday shopping as well.

*I was in no way compensated for this post.*

~Don't forget I'm giving away 25 FREE 4x5 stationery cards from Shutterfly.  Click here for details on how to enter.  Ends 2/9.

An Affirmation of My Love

I'm sure that by now we've all seen the mountains of Valentine's Day merchandise at the stores.  Our CVS started setting their merchandise during the Christmas holiday.  And of course, I've already asked the hubby if he wanted anything special.  He said no he didn't want, but that he'd treat me to a nice romantic dinner, a movie, a card and flowers (if I wanted them cuz I'm not really a flowers type girl).

His response got me to thinking a little bit.  Exactly what does Valentine's Day mean to me?  Judging from my husband's response, I have been putting out this message that it's all about the gifts and it's truly not.  He didn't say that but his rambling off all the stuff he was going to give me and him wanting nothing in return kind of implied that.

So, I'll ask again.  What does Valentine's Day mean to me?  Honestly, Valentine's Day for me is a day to reaffirm my love, passion and desire for my husband and my gratitude for all that he does.  I know that we should show the people in our lives that we love them all the time, but life gets busy.

There are days that I don't tell him how much I love him.  It's not because I don't want to but because I get sidetracked with the laundry, mommy duty or we've had a fight and I'm mad.  And with him being in law enforcement working around criminals who have stolen, molested and even killed people is the number one reason I should tell him everyday that I love him.  Each day he goes to work and puts himself in harm's way would be the last we see him (worst case scenario).  Just thinking about it gets me emotional.

Therefore, I'm thankful that we have a day like Valentine's Day to make up for all days I missed saying 'I Love You' to the love of my life.  The Valentine's cards, the keepsake boxes, the personalized gifts, etc are all just extras.  They show everything else that I can't put into words.  So of course rather than get him nothing like he suggested I am going to surprise with a card, breakfast in bed and a few other gifts.

It just wouldn't be right to receive and not give to the man who gives so much to me and the rest of this community.  I say to everyone reading this, Valentine's Day is not about the gifts, but who you spend it with and what they mean to you!  Cherish your loved ones while you can and try to remember to let them know that you love them everyday!

*This post is sponsored by Shutterfly.  All views and opinions expressed are strictly my own and not influenced in any way by said party above.*