My oldest is now in first grade, and I asked him why we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

His answer (emphasis his): To celebrate CANDY!!!

Well…maybe some of these cute printables will help him wrap his head around the real meaning of the day.

1. Craft Paper Goodie Bag Labels

{Download yours via: Shanty-2-Chic}

2. “Wheely” Cute Car Cards

{Download your via: Paloma Paper Designs}

3. Bring it Gangnam Style

{Download yours via:Just Married with Coupons}

4. A Valentine that’s just write

{Download yours via: Positively Splendid}

5. Popcorn Valentine

{Download yours via: Our Best Bites}

6. 100% boy notes

{Download yours via: One Charming Party}

7. Notes for best girlfriends

{Download yours via: One Charming Party}

8. Stylishly sweet notes

{Download yours via: Andres Ruff}

9. Aaarrrrgh-guably the cutest cards ever

{Download yours via: c2marcano}

10. And, of course, don’t forget our very own Hollie’s lovely creations!

{Download yours via: GetButtonedUp.com}

My two guys have picked their favorites from the set and I’ve sent them to our local Staples to be printed. We plan to spend some quality time this weekend putting thoughtful Valentine’s Day packages together for their classmates (after sledding through the snow Nemo dumps on our area, of course).

What do your little ones think Valentine’s Day is all about?

Next week is Valentine’s Day. If you’ve got kids, that means it’s time to get ahead of the last-minute sprint to the store to search through picked-over card sets!

We’ve got adorable free printables for you here – and we’ve put together a little tutorial to show you how to dress them up if you’re so inclined. Whatever you do, download and print them today. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Trust us, next week, you’ll be so glad you did.

These Valentine’s Day Cards are cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them.

How? By gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching some candy, or punching 2 holes in the card and slipping in a lollipop. You can even tape or glue the cards onto candy heart boxes. See below for some inspiration!

Click here to download the first set of cards seen below.

Click here to download the second set of cards seen below.

Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

The start of a year is a powerful time to assess what we have achieved and make resolutions as to what we want for our lives in the year that is about to begin. New years are like fresh, white sheets with nothing written on them: we have the chance, yet again, to imagine what we want and make plans towards achieving what we dream of.

However, it is easier to make resolutions than to stick to them. Depressing stat: 25% of people give up after only a few days. More than half throw in the towel within a few months…and fewer than 8% ever cross the finish line.

We usually begin the year with a great deal of energy and self-discipline, both of which tend to fade around March and are entirely forgotten when June begins. And then, when the end of the year is approaching, we get angry with ourselves and promise we’ll try harder next year. Does it sound familiar? If so, don’t beat yourself up. It happens to everyone. But it doesn’t have to.

This year you could be one of the individuals who actually sticks to her resolutions and ends the year feeling enthusiastic about how much you achieved. How? By using one or more of these ten, time-tested secrets for making good intentions stick.

1. Keep Things Real

Look, if your goals are not grounded in any kind of reality, they are just wishes, pure and simple. For example, if you are not used to exercise, your chances of winning a marathon within the next year are pretty much slim to none. But if your resolution is to finish a marathon, the probability is much, much higher. Stretch yourself, but don’t untether your goal from reality.

2. Own it

Make sure that achieving your resolutions depends only on you. You can get as much help as you need along the way from coaches and buddies, but in the end, you are the sole person responsible for your own success.

3. Motivate Yourself Every Day

Keep a list of your resolutions on a visible place. Create a Pinterest pinboard. Write your top goals at the top of every to-do list. You need to keep your long-term objectives visible on an every day basis to ensure your daily to-do list actually includes the steps required to reach them.

4. Break Your Big Goal Down Into Smaller Milestones

If you plan to achieve something by the end of the year, think of milestones that will help you keep tabs on your success. Outline monthly goals or even weekly targets, so you know exactly where you are regarding your final goal.

5. Track Your Progress

Keeping a journal is a fantastic way to assess what you achieve and to help you get organized. It also helps when you need to change your strategy. You are less likely to forget your resolutions if they are written, and documenting the process will help you learn about your own experiences and build for the future.

6. Enlist Supporters

Get a “resolution buddy” or two and encourage each other to stick to your resolutions. Talk about what you have already achieved and what you still need and listen to other points of view about your experience. In our experience running Buttoned Up Boot Camps (www.ButtonedUpBootcamp.com), this has proved invaluable – when people feel accountable to another person, they will usually jump through hoops to ensure they follow through on time.

7. Carve Out Time in Your Schedule

When you are dealing with million of things simultaneously, it is harder to make time for your personal resolutions. Organize your day in a detailed, daily schedule that will help you figure out how to make time for yourself. Get your free printable daily schedule tool at GetButtonedUp.com/Tools

8. Reward Yourself

Each time you complete one of your milestones, reward yourself with something you truly like. It may be as simple as a piece of chocolate or a manicure, but rewards are a marvelous way to incentivize yourself to stay the course.

9. Get Help

You do not have to do everything yourself. In fact, most people who successfully achieve their goals are quick to point to others who helped them along the way. Think about those aspects in which you may need some extra help and get it. If possible, hire people who are experts in what you don’t know instead of thinking you will be able to do it all.

10. Get Rest

Really! Tired people are not productive. If you want to do so much that you never have time to rest, your chances of achieving your goals are significantly reduced, and if you are constantly worn out, it will seem easier to forget about your resolutions.

Finally, when the end of the year approaches again, be sure to assess what you achieved and enjoy your success before making new plans.

What is on your resolution list?

It can be very hard for children to think about others during the holiday season.

We have to help children learn to give, not just receive. Use this child’s gift list form to help children record their gifts to others, as well as their Christmas list. In addition to asking “What do you want for Christmas?,” also ask “What are you giving this year for Christmas?” Download here.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house…was disastrous mess of wrapping paper, unfinished projects, shopping lists, reminder notes, and preparations for relatives coming for a visit.

Is it any wonder that eggnog is the drink of choice during this crazy time of year?

You might think that there is absolutely no way to make room in your crazy schedule for a little volunteer work. But you would be very wrong. For starters, researchers have just completed a study that shows the best time to give some of your precious time away is exactly when you don’t think you have enough. Why? Because it makes you more productive. In addition to that, volunteering connects you with a more profound and meaningful spirit of the season, which in turn increases your energy and joy for the entire season that much more.

How to Volunteer Without Leaving Your Desk

With all of the modern technology and new or improved gadgets we have at our fingertips, there isn’t much that’s impossible to accomplish over the Internet. Including volunteering. Here are just a few ways to brighten somebody’s holiday season via the Internet without breaking your schedule or your bank account.

Hop online and head on over to Global Giving.
Global Giving is a charity fundraising web site that gives social entrepreneurs and non-profits from anywhere in the world a chance to raise the money that they need to improve their communities. Since 2002, GlobalGiving has raised $73,790,813 from 291,956 donors who have supported 6,602 projects. All you have to do is find a project to support and pick an amount to give. Once you have made a tax-deductible contribution, and you’ll get email updates from the project so you can see how your gift is making a difference.

Send gifts and/or supplies to a family affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Various organizations are starting to collect blankets, batteries and other supplies to send to victims of Hurricane Sandy, but Staten Island assemblyman Matthew Titone and Brooklyn Relief (The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew) have actually set up Amazon wish lists for their areas. Staten Island is requesting things like heavy duty garbage bags, diapers, batteries, flashlights and underwear. These little things can make a big difference for those devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and if you want to donate big Brooklyn Relief is also requesting portable generators along with some of the smaller items.

Become an online tutor.
Many students are struggling with math, science, social studies, etc. Being an online mentor or tutor is a way to help out without stepping a foot outside your door.

Become an advocate for human rights through Amnesty International.

Do your holiday shopping through a venue that benefits charity, such as Give Back America.
It costs you no extra money or time to shop via this toolbar, but each time you make a purchase, you will be donating to a charitable cause.

Ways you can help in 15 minutes or less

If you are able to spare more than a few minutes, here are ways you can make a difference this season in as little as 15 minutes.

Donate, Donate, Donate.
Household items such as glasses, cell phones, computers, furniture, beds, and many more items you probably would not think of, can be refurbished for use for someone who would not have been able to afford purchasing the item new. If you know someone in your household is getting a shiny new tech gadget or phone, don’t throw the old one out. Check first to see if it can be put to good use via a charity.

Create your own drive for whatever cause is closest to your heart.
It only takes a few minutes to collaborate with local charities and discover what needs have yet to be met. Then research fundraisers or seek out those who can donate. Other than a few phone calls, most of this can be done online, as well.

Do you typically volunteer during the holiday time? What’s your favorite way to give back?

Wait…You Get Gifts?

As the wife of a UPS driver, I typically don’t see my husband too often during the Christmas season, nor the gifts he receives. Wait a second. Did I just say gifts?!?!? He receives gifts?!?!?

Because Josh’s office is his truck, he can take only a minimal amount of items with him daily. After work each day, he walks into our home with the same items that he uses – containers with which he packs his lunch. Last year, when he walked into our home with a mysterious large tin, my wheels started turning. It was the first I’d even given it an inkling that he had been receiving gifts during the Christmas season. When I realized the tin was full of chocolates, I thought two things, (1) “Sweet! Chocolate for me! Yummy!” and (2) “Bummer! Chocolate for me. I won’t be able to control myself and will eat the entire tin-full before the night is over. I won’t be able to function tomorrow because I will have a sugar hangover.”

Josh knows that I try diligently to stock our home with only nutritiously dense, whole foods. He also knows that I love me some processed foods and have an amazing sweet tooth. So when I questioned the appearance of the tin, he slapped a grin on his face and explained that one of the patrons on one of his stops gave it to him. I thought it was so sweet and went on and on about it. Then I began to think — hmmm… “Is it possible that he has been receiving gifts from others, and more importantly, what has he been holding out on me?”

Up to this point, it had never occurred to me that he had been receiving gifts all of these years, even though I did it for our delivery folks. Of course, once I “got it,” I became a detective, and pummeled him with questions regarding UPS driver gifts, and in particular, his gifts.

I was shocked when he told me he had received gifts of food…daily! At first, I couldn’t believe that he hadn’t been sharing with me. Then, I thought about it and put things into perspective. During peak season, this guy works a crazy amount of hours each day and, the majority of the time, does not have time to take a lunch break. (Oh! I also thought about how, if he did share the sweets with me, that I would have a constant sugar hangover! But that’s a story for a different time…)

Anyway, the reason for my sharing this story is to:

A.) Thank you for even thinking to give your delivery person a gift. As far as Josh and I are concerned, we would never expect anything, but we sure do think it’s a very thoughtful gesture and we certainly appreciate it.
B.) If you’re like me, you want to give the perfect gift to everyone, delivery persons included. However, you find it challenging to find the perfect gift for the delivery person(s) in your life, especially if budgets are very tight.

To help solve the gift-giving dilemma addressed, I sat down with Josh and asked him this important question, “What types of gifts do you like to receive while delivering during the Christmas season?” Josh’s favorite gift became extremely evident: Food! Food in various forms, that is!

1.Food!

As I mentioned, most of the time, these guys (or gals) don’t get time to take a lunch break, so anything that they can eat while on the run, or quickly in between deliveries, is perfect. This could include; cookies, candies, or anything creative! If it is something that requires utensils, including those is helpful. No matter the food choice, napkins are helpful too, so they look presentable at their next stop! {The pictured reindeer food gift tutorial is available at Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats}

2. Gas Station Gift Card

If you live where we live, restaurants are pretty much non-existent on most routes and gas stations are miles apart. This makes a gift card for the local gas station, to pick up a quick bite or something to drink, an appreciated gift.

3. Gift Card to a Local Food Shop

If a driver does have a restaurant on his route, a gift card for a restaurant that is passed while delivering is well received. If they can’t stop during peak season, they can always use the gift card once peak season is over. And it doesn’t have to be for a huge dollar amount – a $5 card is enough to cover lunch or a good snack.

4. Gift Certificate to a Local Restaurant

This is my favorite response of Josh’s, and I quote, “Since I don’t get to see my family much during peak season, a gift card to a restaurant would be nice, so that we could enjoy dinner together, once peak season is over.” Even a $5 contribution is appreciated. We love any excuse to go out to dinner and this is a perfect one!

5. A Homemade Sandwich

We had this discussion while he was eating lunch. As we were talking, he said, “This would be a perfect gift,” as he held up his lunch meat sandwich. Yes. He was serious! {Sandwich recipe pictured via: Cafe Zupas}

6. A Little Tip

He also mentioned money. Money for food, of course! {Adorable envelopes via: Unexpected 20}

An additional tidbit Josh mentioned is that he doesn’t like to receive anything that contains alcohol.

He feels uncomfortable driving while it is in the truck.

If you’re struggling with this delivery person gift-giving dilemma, I hope Josh’s answers help you. Again, we certainly do not expect anything, but we appreciate your kind gestures! Feel free to ask any specific questions below. I will be sure to ask the UPS driver who loves food, and get an answer to you right away! (Please keep in mind that UPS drivers do not have a policy regarding gifts they are allowed to receive. From what I gather, FedEx drivers are not allowed to receive cash, nor anything over $75. Mail delivery persons are allowed to receive non-cash gifts up to $20. An additional tidbit Josh mentioned is that he doesn’t like to receive anything that contains alcohol. He feels uncomfortable driving while it is in the truck.)