Little Love Letter Cookies

I have decided that children having money is a horrible idea.

You know how sometimes you have to go to a birthday party but you’re short on time or don’t know the kid very well, so you grab a gift card at the checkout while you’re picking up milk or throw a $20 in a card and call it a day?

Don’t ever do that.  Just don’t.

The only people that are allowed to give kids money are grandparents.  It’s like a rule that grandparents send money, because grandparents are allowed to do things that are inconvenient for parents and fun for kids.  Trust me, I would know…I’ve been training to be a grandma since I was five.

I understand that people think that giving a kid money is a good thing because “then they can pick out what they want”.  But kids don’t know what they want.  What they DO know, is that they THINK they want everything.  And with a little bit of cash, the world is their oyster.

Except they can’t drive, carry their own money, figure sales tax, or reach toys on high shelves.

So.  If your instinct is to give a child money as a gift because you think you’re making it easier on the parent by letting their kid pick out what they want or need, I’ve compiled a list of things kids actually do need.   Just choose from the list and mothers everywhere will thank you.

Socks — I buy my son socks constantly, but due to a time/space continuum, they disappear any time we are in a hurry and need to leave the house quickly.  The birthday child may not appreciate this gift, but hey…all they had to do for this birthday was BE BORN.  Who should this time REALLY be about, hmmm??

Rulers –  Yes, the kind you measure with.  Kids sometimes need to draw straight lines/measure things and when that happens, a ruler is never handy.  After tearing the junk drawer apart and losing your sanity, you inform your child that you cannot find a ruler, and they will want you to drop everything and go to the store to buy one.  You will buy one, use it once, and two months later the cycle will repeat itself.  No, I am not kidding.  Show up at a birthday party with 10 rulers of assorted colors and moms everywhere will thank you forever.

Pencil Sharpeners –  See above

Cartoon Character Band Aids –  Kids always want them, but no mom wants to spend her money on that.  We all know that the box will be gone in a day.  Seriously, do you know how many times my son “gets hurt” the day we buy a new box of cool Band-Aids?

Batteries — And don’t even think of bringing a dinky box of AAs.  C Cells or AAA is where it’s at.

Of course, if you want to forgo all of those suggestions and bring a toy, that is perfectly fine.  Because even if the toy is no good, a kid really doesn’t mind.  However — if a kid buys a toy with their OWN money and it is no good…

Those are the days I hide in the closet with a box of Twinkies.

If you’re thinking that asking for socks and batteries for my kid instead of money makes me a bad mom, you’re wrong.  It only makes me HALF bad.  But then I make fun treats like this, which cancels it out and I’m back to being 100% awesome.

True Story.

These Valentines Day cookies are so cute and fun, and are completely no bake.  No fancy decorating skills required!!

You’ll need:

Square cookies (I used Lorna Doone Shortbread), white candy coating (I love CandiQuik–it melts easily and can be found in the baking section of the grocery store), jumbo heart sprinkles and a black food writer.

Just dip the cookies in the almond bark, tapping off the excess.  Place on wax paper until set.  Using the food writer, outline and draw the triangle envelope flap.  Attach a heart sprinkle with a dab of melted candy.

That’s it!!

You can put a bunch of these in a glass jar with a bow, nestle them in a cute basket filled with raffia…

…or bag them up to pass out to friends or classmates.

I just used a snack size Ziploc bag, cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit, and folded and stapled it over the top of the bag.  Really simple and cute.

It’s definitely a fun way to add a homemade spin to your Valentines treats if you’re short on time.

Enjoy and have a happy Tuesday!!