Valentine's Day and Food Storage 2011...aka Jodi's HOT DATE!

Valentines day is kind of a funny/touchy subject around Julie’s house. Julie and her husband celebrate Christmas, New Years (the day they met…aww how sweet), BOTH birthdays, their wedding anniversary, AND then Valentine’s Day, all within 6-7 weeks. Needless to say by the time Valentines day rolls around, Julie and her husband are STARVED for creative ideas. Some years Valentine’s Day goes uncelebrated due to sheer celebration exhaustion. Jodi had a great idea for this year that Julie might just modify a little …

JODI’S HOT DATE PLAN

This year Jodi decided that instead of “encouraging” her husband to buy her chocolate and flowers … and to bring her to a restaurant (where the line up will be entirely too long), she would suggest something a little different. Jodi’s husband really likes camping, and Jodi has been eyeing some Emergency Preparedness supplies that could double as camping gear (i.e. Dutch ovens, cooking fuels, etc.).

So her plan is for them to get a babysitter, make a shopping list together, and spend the evening at a local camping store stocking up. You know you’ve really gone off the deep-end when this sounds romantic – but hey – it is what it is. They’ll be able to spend some quality time together, spend money on useful items instead of fluff, and become more prepared all at the same time. Needless to say, her husband was excited that he “got off the hook” on gift-giving, AND he gets new camping supplies. It’s a win-win 🙂

FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE DATE PLANS

In case you already have reservations at your favorite restaurant, or a date already planned, here are a couple gift ideas that could be really thoughtful, and wont stick to your hips – the way chocolate and candy tend to.

	OFFICE KIT: Here’s a fun little idea you can make for a loved one that works in an office. We forget that we may not be in our homes when disaster strikes- and it’s a good idea to be prepared at the office. Click here for instructions on building an Office Disaster Kit (it includes cute little tags).
	CAR KIT: You never know when you could be stranded in a car and need a car kit. How sweet would it be, if you checked out your loved one’s car, and made sure they were completely prepared. For more info on what you can store in your car, visit this page.
	MORE IDEAS: Although we realize it’s not Christmas, the 12 Days of Christmas is full of fun gift ideas that fit any budget (even NO budget). Make sure you check it out for some great ideas.

We encourage you to remember Food Storage and Preparedness when it comes to gifts. It’s such an important thing to remember, and while it might not seem all that glamorous – it’s definitely among the most thoughtful things you can give.