I recently received an email from a friend requesting help in supporting Pediplace, a local non-profit organization that provides health care to children from low-income families.

Pediplace needed volunteers to create little Valentine Treat Bags to provide to the hundreds of children they would treat over the coming week.  This project brought back memories of a sweet care package we received from the Junior League of Plano when Baby Tad was in the NICU following his birth.  It was a draining time, and the thoughtfulness of unseen angel volunteers was touching.  Seeing this as an opportunity to pay-it-forward, I signed up to make 30 little goody bags.

I am not a fan of store-bought Valentines … especially not for this type of project … so I set out to design my own. I created the file in Adobe Illustrator and then cut it out of cardstock on my new Xyron Wishblade (a GREAT find at http://www.tuesdaymorning.com).  The scalloped heart is “sewn” with red and white baker’s twine, a new favorite of mine. The white scalloped heart is then layered on top of a larger red scalloped heart and attached to the top of a small treat bag containing a few pieces of wrapped candy.

And now in the spirit of full disclosure, here’s the rest of the story …

It’s past lunchtime.

Baby Tad is awake from his nap upstairs and wants to be rescued.

Cold cereal is scattered all over the kitchen floor.

I am still in my pajamas.

I haven’t brushed my teeth.

Vivi has reminded me that I “don’t look pretty.”

Speaking of Vivi, she is running around in her underwear.

Speaking of underwear, if I want to wear clean underwear today (assuming that I actually get a shower) here’s what my next project needs to be: