TWENTY DAYS of LOVE....Day Fourteen

February 7th....‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

     Day Fourteen

Lollipops tied up with a red ribbon was what I found this morning.  My husband found six cherry and six chocolate Tootsie Roll Pops in a vase with a red ribbon around the top.  He is a fan of that lollipop so I went with his choice.  As for my heart shape ones, I’ll have one or two then give the rest to a friend for her grandchild.  Remember it’s the thought that counts.  Throughout the past thirteen days I’ve enjoyed the small gifts.  Each day I am surprised on what it will be even though I know I made the original list.  I never know if it’ll be an IOU for that day, something I stated as gift or a tweak of the gift item.  It’s fun to receive things I can share like the lollipops, cookies or cinnamon hearts.  Those with whom I share enjoy being recipients of my little gifts.  I’ve always been taught to share with others.  Why receive a one pound box of chocolates you know you’ll never eat? Why have a dozen heart shaped cookies or donuts that will eventually go stale?  Yesterday I picked up a box of kiddie Valentine’s cards. I taped a small box of candy hearts to some, small size candy bars to others and a silk red rose to others. I plan to pass them out on Valentine’s Day at my veteran’s club to the patrons.  A small little gesture gets everyone in the spirit of the day.  Perhaps you are unable to find heart shaped lollipops; that’s not a problem you can use any type.  Just be creative with the presentation.  

Until tomorrow....have a great day. 

Gift Idea Day Fifteen....Handmade card

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE....Day Thirteen

February 6th...‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

      Day Thirteen 

Jewelry is the gift idea for today.  Yes men also wear it.  I received an interesting item which was an IOU for something I’d want down the line.  I’m difficult where jewelry is concerned.  I’ve given up wearing earrings awhile ago due to having longer hair.  I gave my husband an IOU also to have a one of a kind item made by our friend.  We have a friend who creates her own pieces.  She has made a lot of what I’m wearing these days.  She also has made pieces for men and my husband wears his proudly.  Recently she made him a necklace on a leather band with the emblem of his favorite baseball team.  Now that spring training will be here in a few weeks, he will be sporting the piece.  The reason we gave each other IOUs is that at the moment neither of us have any idea what we want next.  After all why get something for the sake of the gift for the day.  No doubt we will find the perfect idea for a necklace eventually and matching bracelet.  There was a reason for items to wear the past few days. It will be revealed on day nineteen.  Until tomorrow...the following piece can ring very true at times.  Ponder what it says. 

Gift Idea Day Fourteen....Bouquet of hearts shaped lollipops 

TREATMENT OF LOVE

        © Scottie-ann Murphy

Very often we take for granted the person       

                 we truly love

  And we sometimes ignore their thoughts, 

                  needs and feelings

    Like yesterday’s unread newspaper....at     

              times we treat them

       Easily put aside when our presence is  

                   required elsewhere 

          Never considering our actions 

                 towards them at that moment

             Time and time again we say 

                   “nothing else matters but you”

                It seems....those are only words to 

                        make us feel better inside

                  Neglecting that one person like 

                        the newspaper left by the  

                                 door

                       Expecting when we 

                        return....they will be waiting

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE....Day Twelve

February 5th....‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

      Day Twelve

We continue our twenty days of love with day three of wearing apparel.  Today it’s something to wear on the head.  I gave my husband a red baseball cap.  This one was plain with no insignia on it.  I actually had it hidden away from a year ago when I found it.  I knew it’d be perfect for Christmas or Valentine’s Day, but I decided to keep it till now.  On the hat I tacked a heart shape pin.  

I also gave him a pair of Valentine’s Day socks.  Not certain if he’ll wear them as he rather white socks, but it’s the thought. I received also a pair of Valentine’s socks and a headband.  The headband has hearts sticking up in the air; they move around when you walk.  I do know I’ll be wearing it on February the fourteenth.  The one I received last year got damaged in the storage box.  Dollar mart stores sell a few varieties of head pieces; picking one was a big decision according to my husband.  All in all he picked a really nice one this year. 

Dollar marts are great places for inexpensive whimsical gifts.  I’ve found you can create a nice gift for under twenty dollars.  I found a cute tub shaped container in the area where Valentine’s items were being sold. You can fill it with candy, stuff animal, perhaps some bath items or even small bottles of alcohol for a miniature basket of cheer.  

Today I’m sharing a poem about love from my book of love poetry. 

Until tomorrow....have a nice Wednesday.  

Gift Idea Day Thirteen....jewelry 

          ALL OR NOTHING 

              © Scottie-ann Murphy

Materialistic things are insignificant to me

  You lavish me with flowers and candy; 

    diamonds and rubies;

           satin and silks;

                silver and gold.

Share with me,

      every sunrise.......       

           as a new day begins;

hand in hand......

      view the sunset at twilight.

Be with me;

    in autumn......

       as leaves turn

           red

                 gold

                       orange

                         and brown;

spring.....

   as the first robin

         sits outside my window.

Give me yourself

     or

        nothing at all 

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE....Day Eleven

February 4th....‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

    Day Eleven

    Unfortunately it was hard to find a cheap tie for my husband.  I ended up getting a red bow tie at a thrift store. I did find glasses with heart shaped lenses.  Now he can put the tie around the collar of his red golf shirt if he so wants.  I received two (yes two) Valentine’s Day scarves.  One I can use as belt on my black shorts and other I can wear around my neck.  I liked the funny eye glasses I received.  It’s a shame I did not decide to run a Valentine’s Day dress up event at my veterans club as I’ve done for other holidays.  It would have been fun to see what type of outfit people would wear or create for the day. Perhaps next year.  There are quite a few cute and funny costume ideas one can find for Valentine’s Day. I did an internet search and the results surprised me.  It would be interesting concept to dress up in costume for the holiday.  As many are not into the traditional Valentine’s Day ritual, it could be almost like Halloween except dressing up in theme of the day.  I could just picture some guys dressed like Cupid.  But one cute dressing up idea I notice during my research online was a doctor.  Doctor Love costume would be so simple; red scrubs, stethoscope, hearts on the scrub top, name tag stating Dr. Love and small containers of candy hearts (as pills).  How about a chocolate kiss Queen?  One idea I thought of is messenger of love; carry messenger bag and pass out Valentine’s. What fun that could be. 

As for today’s gifts these could become part of the Valentine’s costume.  I’m now thinking about doing some type of costume for that day.  I’ll keep you all posted.  Ideas are whirling around in my head at the moment. 

As I said not everyone is fan of Valentine’s Day.  For those who are why is it we need a day set aside to tell and shove that special person how much we care? Shouldn’t we show it and tell them everyday? 

Until tomorrow....enjoy the day.  

Gift Idea Day Twelve.....Valentine’s headpiece for female; red cap for guy. A pair of either red socks or Valentine’s Day socks. 

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE....Day Ten

February 3rd...‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

     Day Ten

Did you watch the Super Bowl? Did you enjoy the outcome?  Did yesterday’s gift idea go over big with the recipient?

Today we’re beginning the four days of gift items to wear.  This morning my husband found a new red golf shirt to wear.  No he does not play golf, but thought a plain red shirt would be perfect.  We wear red shirts every Friday and the ones he had are staring to fade.  I found a new red tee shirt also (plain).  It was fine as sometimes I like a plain shirt as opposed to one with a design. There are a few possibilities I can do with the plain shirt.  Wear it under a vest or blazer.  Add a nice scarf with it or piece of jewelry.  Also it can be worn all year not just during Valentine’s Day month (as no hearts or Cupid on it).  Many stores where you find clothing will have shirts for holidays and you may want to give one of those.  Besides the plain red shirt I found a long sleeve pull over piece with a hood that had the word LOVE printed on the sleeves and front.  It sure is a different item and will come in handy on chilly Florida days.  Another idea you can go with is to give few inexpensive tee shirts in the colors used for Valentine’s such as red, white and different pink shades. As I stated plain shirts can be worn all year. Today I’m sharing another verse composed by Murph.  

Until tomorrow....enjoy your Monday.  

Gift Idea Day Eleven....Valentine’s scarf and heart shaped eye glasses; for man red tie or Valentine’s Day tie. 

       GIVE ME A REASON 

       © Murph (Jimmy Murphy)

Love is more or less then 

    It should be

        Or

          I want

But it is not easily said 

        Or

           Implied

Without saying I love you

     Where can I go

          And stay

            Not believing in the words I say

One more chance is all I wanted

   To see a new tomorrow with you

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE.... Day Nine

February 2nd....‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

     Day Nine

It’s Ground Hog Day and Super Bowl Sunday.  We all wonder if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow and which team will win the big game. As for myself it does not matter if the ground hog sees his shadow or not; and as for the Super Bowl I don’t care who wins.  But today’s gift idea can be useful for watching the game.  Today we give a gift bag of snacks.  This was an easy gift to put together.  I took a gift bag (red in color) and inside put my husbands favorite snack foods; chips, pretzels, gold fish crackers, cashews and chocolate covered raisins as well as package of fig cookies.   This gift will last awhile that’s for sure.  My gift was a bit smaller.  It contained two bags of cheddar and horseradish chips and two small bags of jalapeño chips.  It’s the thought that counts not the size of the gift. The best thing about this gift is you pick treats the recipient enjoys.  This is also a great idea for anyone to whom you want to give a gift.  Sometimes it’s not easy thinking what to give someone and you just don’t want to give cash or a gift card.  Over the years I’ve made treat gift bags.  You can get as creative as you want. Add an inexpensive snack bowl to the bag or two. How about a cute drinking cup or glass.  Perhaps add a place mat and cute napkin. Think outside the box with this idea.   

Until tomorrow....have a super Super Bowl Sunday.  Enjoy the game if you watch it. 

Gift Idea Day Ten....Tee shirt, sweatshirt or sweater in red or Valentine’s Day theme. 

TWENTY DAYS of LOVE...Day Eight

February 1st....‘TWENTY DAYS of LOVE’

       Day Eight

Day eight’s gift was a tweaked a bit today. 

This morning I found pink and white iced cookies waiting for me.  They weren’t heart shaped but were iced in Valentine’s Day colors.  I gave my husband two pink and white frosted cupcakes.  During this time of year, you can find bakery delights frosted in pink and white, red or just pink; some cookies sprinkled with red sugar.  You can find cookies shaped like a heart, cakes and  donuts heart shaped. Last year I received a rather nice container of heart cookies with red sugar sprinkled on top.  Treats such as this is nice gift as they can be shared.  I recall after I took out two I put the remaining on a red disposal plate, covered it with plastic wrap and placed a red bow on top.  They were given to my neighbor to make her day brighter.  You also put some candy hearts or chocolate kisses around the cookies to make it more festive.  Sometimes doing a small gesture such as this can brighten a person’s day.  The cupcakes I gave to my husband came in a container of a dozen.  Since he’s not much of a heavy frosting lover that’s why I only gave him two.  The remaining I divided between two others.  I had red disposal plates available at home; put five on a plate and gave to neighbors.  

Today I’m sharing a poem my husband composed years ago.  I always think about the meaning behind this.  He had written this after witnessing a scene between a couple.  Personally I don’t recall the incident, but he took my notebook from my purse and wrote down the words.  

Until tomorrow....enjoy the daily gift. 

Gift Idea Day Nine....bag of treats

  NOT A GAME

    ©Murph (Jimmy Murphy)

Love is not a game 

If I could only explain 

     the love that I feel

I want to tell you how much I love you 

But the words don’t come easy 

It’s not a game we play 

Please love me as I have always loved you 

Tonight give me joy if only 

      for a few short hours 

Be mine tonight 

Just be mine tonight