Caregivers Simple Valentine tips can actually ease strain on a busy caregiver.  Has your Caregiving Duties List replaced your Valentine’s Must Do List; are you left with shattered holiday plans?  Don’t give up! Let me encourage you with 3 caregivers simple Valentine tips to show love and a fun, simple recipe for family and friends.

Decorating does not mean dragging out boxes of “stuff”! Simple tip #1 shows you how.

#1 Holidays were always a time to decorate; I enjoyed celebrating the seasons. Now with no time for storing decorations (and no place to put them with all the equipment and such around), I still decorate—more simply. It’s amazing what a tiny red sticker heart will say on our glasses, cups and napkins. A cute flower or bear sticker on the mirror takes seconds and speaks volumes.

No time or money for cards or gifts? Not a problem.

#2 Plan to spread the love all over town. Cut a few sheets of heavy paper into 2” x 3” pieces, add stickers and a Scripture or simply write “have a blessed day”. Hand them out to the checkers, waiters, passersby; the list can be as long as you want. Can’t do that? Why not carry a little bag of hard candies to give away? Add a smile and you both will be lifted up.

My favorite tip; you can do this one!

#3 Write one name on each calendar day in February that you would like to contact. Just one. If that is too much, make it every other day, but determine to do this. Then follow through each day with a note or call and prayer. Five minutes of your time may be the world to someone else who needs to know they are loved.

The promised fun recipe.

I make this often; great dish to make ahead and take somewhere or have to snack on at home.  Hint at the end will dress it up for the holidays.

Sweets for the Sweet Salad  (original name was Coke Salad—yuk!)

2 pkg. cherry jello

1 lg can crushed pineapple

1 lg can pie cherries (see note below for great option)

1 10oz Coke

½ cup chopped pecans

Draw juice from fruits. Heat juice until almost boiling. Dissolve jello well. Add well-drained fruit and nuts. Pour into 9 x 13 pan or mold. (Rinse pan in cold water first.) Refrigerate. Serves 12 – 14

Great substitution ideas: use fruit punch jello; try sweet black cherries (my favorite); use Pepsi instead of coke (diet works well); try black walnuts.

Hint: Make it special by serving a few generous spoonfuls over angel food cake. Top with whipped cream and a cherry.

Happy February! May you have a great month filled with God’s amazing love and blessings.

Hugs,

Idea! Spread the love by encouraging a friend to sign up for my newsletter (see box to right of above photo)! There are some fantastic new ideas and helpful hints on the horizon!