A Healthy, Frugal, Creative Valentine's Day

Living a healthy, mindful, creative lifestyle should not exclude anyone from enjoying each holiday.  I'm on a mission to prove this.  We have enjoyed a healthy, happy Valentine's day for several years, and I'd like to share a few of our ideas with you.

Let's start with decorations.  We have made heart garland (pictured above) from this Martha Stewart tutorial and our children really enjoyed making it.  Just this morning, my daughter looked up at it and said, "I love looking at those hearts every day.  They remind me of how much I love my family."  Forever melt.  After the photo above was taken, we removed the picture frame and candles and added two little pink pots that hold "Little Jewels" pink flowers found at Home Depot for $2.

For breakfast, pink pancakes are on the menu and I have been reminded several times to be sure they are served on February the 14th.  It's true.  One can enjoy pink and red foods without artificial food coloring.

For gifts, my girls are making these braided cloth bracelets for their friends.  My son wants to make something sweet for his friends and his choice are gluten free coconut lace cookies.

These Paleo dark chocolate fruit hearts would be a very fun surprise at lunchtime, along with a heart-shaped sandwiches (these cutters were made specifically for sandwiches and they would work for quesadillas, too).

At dinnertime, we gather around a red dish piled high with gluten-free pink Alfredo pasta with hearts (also pictured above).  Even though there are no local ripe tomatoes around here this time of year, you can make this creamy tomato bisque with 4 jars of these strained tomatoes instead of fresh ones.  For dessert, we each dig our forks into a slice of grain-free red velvet cake with buttermilk frosting.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, creative Valentines Day.

Would you share your Valentine's ideas below in the comments box?

I'm sharing this at Pennywise Platter, Fight Back Friday.