My annual agita over Valentine's Day is well underway. I don't know why I put so much emphasis on creating something great for the kids to bring into school, but I do. It was easier during Clover's first year of preschool when I sent to school the little packs of candy with Dora on the bag, purchased at Target a few days before. I was pregnant and tired, and Dora saved me, but I wanted to do something more unique.
I love last year's candy boxes so much that I keep one on my desk. Just after school resumed this month following the holiday break, one of Rocket's teachers asked what I was going to give out for Valentine's this year, which upped the pressure a notch. Other than the gloriously easy Dora year, I like to give something homemade, but with candy. It has to have candy. Stickers or other trinkets may do, but we've received more pencils from Halloween and Valentine's Day than I could count. They either sit around unsharpened forever or they are used as a weapon by a certain little boy I know. So candy it is.
I've been kicking around ideas, and while I have some great ones, they quickly get rejected due to work load. Rocket goes to preschool five days a week, which means two parties (some kids only go MWF and some Tuesday, Thursday, so two parties ensures all kids get to participate), equalling nearly 50 Valentines for his classmates alone. Save me, Dora!
With a bag of Butterfinger Snackerz around, I kept coming back to the idea of a butterfly. It's easy, homemade and involves candy. Clover's only concern is that I give out candy better than conversation hearts. I love the cuteness of conversation hearts, but she said they taste gross. Enter the Butterfinger Snackerz, which would stand out among the heart-shaped hard candies. Valentine's Day and chocolate go hand-in-hand, and the Snackerz are lighter than a candy bar, which makes them a good fit.
With 70 Valentine's cards to make, I'm still up in the air. The good news is that I have a long list of more time consuming things to make next year, when Rocket only needs to take 16 Valentine's cards to school.
Disclosure: A bag of Butterfingers Snackerz were sent to me for free from Nestle.
