Be My Asda Valentine!

It’s nearly Valentine’s Day and love is in the air… Or it would be, IF!!!

IF we didn’t have 4 people in our bed… (but I wouldn’t change that)

IF we didn’t have to have my Mum staying in order for us to go out in the first place… (we love having her around)

IF we had any money to do anything majorly or vaguely romantic in the first place… (money doesn’t make the world go round but love and people so…)

Lots of ‘ifs’ there but you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. I used to get upset, or rather slightly miffed, at the lack of romance my husband musters up on Valentines Day. I wrote last week about the many unfunny things he has done or forgotten to do on Valentine’s Days gone by but I really don’t care about all that any more and can even giggle at them myself. The only important thing these days is making sure we tell each other we love each other, well, everyday for that one actually and giving each other a card. We have done the most romantic thing there is and created a family, now it’s about all of us being together and on Valentine’s Day I want it to be light-hearted and an excuse for Florence, Jimmy, Daddy and I to have some fun.

It just so happens that my Mum will be here and we are going out the night before as I have a play to review so we will get a night out but actually I just want to do things that Florence will really enjoy like making a card for Daddy from her and Jimmy and perhaps decorating some cakes. It also just so happens that Jonny is off work this week so there’s plenty of time to be spent together as a family which is wonderful. Shrove Tuesday and Valentine’s day have fallen in this week off for him by luck rather than design but because Jonny is off I’m sure we’ll make much of both. Florence will wear her new fleece with hearts on it to nursery and I’d like to make some red velvet cup cakes with her like last year… We will have a nice tea though and just as tomorrow when I will make pancakes, on Valentine’s Day we will decorate the table and just make it all a bit festively fun!

Last year’s Valentine’s Cupcakes!

I got some great bits from Asda’s Valentines range which haven’t broken the bank and Florence will think are brilliant! She’s going to love the chocolate rose I’m going to give her (my Mum always gave me something on Valentine’s Day when I was little and I know Jonny’s Mum was still sending him a card when we first got together)! There’s some great confectionery as well like a his and hers cupcake pack, some heart-shaped biscuits with jam in the middle and a ‘jar of hearts’ sweetie jar filled to the brim with heart-shaped jellies and the like! I’ve also got a bunting set which reads a loving message! Brilliant!

I love the fact that Asda prices mean I can afford to jazz things up with special Valentine’s related treats and Jonny loves a bath and bath products so I’ve got some special ‘girlie’ bits for that too! Well, saves him stealing all mine eh! I particularly love the rose petal soap. Each soap is shaped like a rose and the delicate petals can be sprinkled in the bath! Fab and I think Florence will enjoy them too (as will I)!

I might not get much of a romantic night but when the children are in bed we can (my Mum included) sit down and enjoy some Asda ‘Extra Special’ wine! I’m an absolute convert ever since I attended a ‘wine tasting’ night with Asda and met their fab Master of wine, Philippa Carr.

Florence will love this chocolate rose! She loves anything novelty but things like this are usually so over priced. This one at Asda is just £1 – amazing!

The most romantic thing ever, I think, is watching the boy you fell in love with, being in love with the children you’ve made together! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Romance or just in love with your family like me I hope it’s great one for you!xxxx

And just before I go, have you ever wondered who chooses what we can then in turn choose to buy for our loves? I found this information rather interesting on Liz Kindell who was the buyer for this year at Asda for the Valentine’s range… What did she choose and why and what an interesting job she has eh?!

Asda’s seasonal gifts buyer, Liz Kindell, is responsible for sourcing, shortlisting and buying the huge range of licensed and Asda branded gifts for Valentine’s Day

Liz joined Asda in 2004 after University

As one of the biggest gifting events of the year, Liz and her team begin searching for the perfect Valentine’s range a year in advance. This process includes taking recommendations from new suppliers, listening to customer feedback and conducting detailed market research

The most important part of Liz’s job is to ensure that the customer is happy. Insight shows that shoppers are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year, so Liz has added £1 decorations to the range to ensure couples can create a romantic love nest without spending a fortune

Due to popular demand, new lines for this year include pink champagne flutes, fabric petals, heart shaped tea light holders and a novelty toast stamp

As well as new additions to the range, there are popular favourites that never fail to sell out year after year including mugs, the fabric rose and confetti (all priced at £1)

Asda sees over 60,000 mugs and over 80,000 fabric roses fly off the shelves over the Valentine’s period every year

Liz is responsible for updating all artwork and designs that feature on the products each year to ensure everything is current and on trend.

The week running up to Valentine’s day is when Liz sees the biggest rush in gift sales, with the vast majority of these sales attributed to male shoppers in a last minute bid to find the perfect treat for their loved one

One of the most rewarding parts of Liz’s job is finally seeing the finished range displayed on the shelf, after months of hard work, ready for the customer to enjoy.