DIY Life

If you have a family, you're probably in a state of constant chaos, and romancing your man might not rank high on your list of things to do. You've spent hours coordinating your children, and helping them make monogrammed cuff links and hand print crafts. They'll present these to Daddy first thing Sunday morning, and you'll all enjoy a family day, celebrating Dad.

When the day comes to a close, and the kids are tucked in, don't retire to your separate laptops... instead, turn up the heat, and spend a little time letting him know how appreciated he is. This isn't about modeling sexy lingerie (though I'm sure that would be a welcomed surprise!) or buying him expensive concert tickets. It's Father's Day, so spend some time reflecting on the wonderful ways that he contributes to the family, and thanking him for being such a great parenting partner.

So, what does a dad find romantic? I surveyed some of the men in my life, and it turns out they are pretty easy to please. So many dads are busy balancing work and family that all they really want is a little break.

After the jump, I'll share some husband-certified ways to spoil him this Father's Day.

Attention, husbands: If you're just planning Mother's Day now, I won't scold you, but I will save you from the wrath you're about to experience if you don't get things together quickly.

Before you move on to showing her your personal appreciation, you'll want to make sure you've arranged something special from your children. If you're in a hurry, here are some quick and easy Mother's Day projects. You can also help them make this precious card, telling Mom just how much they love her.

Some suggest giving Mom a day without the kids, but personally that isn't what I would want. Mother's Day should be celebrated as a family, but once they've served her breakfast in bed, and spent the day honoring her in clever ways, the two of you can tuck in those sweet little ones and get on with some romantic appreciation.

If you're looking for a way to spoil her, follow me through the break, and we'll discuss how you can shower her with appreciation for little or no cost, and with little preparation (yes, you can pull all of these off before Sunday!).

Keep the romance going past Valentine's day by creating a sensual setting in the bedroom. There is nothing quite as dreamy as a beautifully adorned bed, draped with a sheer canopy. Buying one at a bedroom boutique can be costly. That's OK, because you're not into that anyway, you're DIY-savvy and you'll make you're own. It really is a simple project that you can easily take on, even if you're a novice when it comes to sewing.

Now that you're feeling motivated, here's how to sew a bed canopy. According to sewing.org, you'll need the following:

• 18" wooden embroidery hoop
• 10-1/4 yards 45" - to 60" -wide sheer fabric
• 3-1/2 yards white seam binding
• White sewing thread
• 2 yards x 3/4" white self-adhesive Velcro
• 2-1/2 yards white cord
• 1" wooden bead (?" hole)
• 3/8" metal pot hook
• 1/2" double-side tape
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Sewing sheers
• Tape measure
• Fabric marker
• Safety pin
• Iron

Read the instructions before getting started. They'll give you material and assembly instructions specific to the type of atmosphere you're looking to create. They even offer detailed diagrams to help you along the way. This project is a great way to bring luxury into the bedroom.

Got no romantic plans for Valentine's Day? How about staying home for a pamper-yourself evening? In the realm of DIY beauty, we have already tackled some haircare basics. (Check out our posts on cutting your own hair and cutting your baby's hair, for example.) Now let's move onto something equally tricky: plucking your own eyebrows.

According to NZGirl ("NZ" stands for New Zealand, but the site has no connection to this Kiwi), the key to brows that are shapely, yet natural-looking, is to have them echo the shape of your eyes. How, you ask? Here are some tips:
1. Check out photos in magazines and use your favorite examples as your guide.

Check out this de-lightful Valentine's Day idea: lovebird votive holders. Is this not an adorable idea? Discovered on the site Ready Made (homepage of the magazine Ready Made), they are cleverly constructed from two aluminum beer cans. Yes, beer cans. Wait! The final result is classier than it sounds. You simply cut the cans open, flatten them, then trace on the lovebird design. Cut out the lovebird shapes and fasten 'em to a couple silver metal ashtrays or votive holders. Voila! When the lights are out and the candles are lit, your lovebirds (placed so they face each other, of course) will cast romantic shadows on the wall. Perfect for canoodling.

I love this candle holder concept for a bunch of reasons. It makes a nice alternative to candy, yet is doesn't involve shelling out lots of money, as you would for higher-end Valentine's Day gifts like jewelry. Yet its low-sheen metal look is hip. It's ideal for the budget-conscious couple, too -- just be absolutely certain your partner is on board with low cost romantic gestures, or you could end up sleeping on the couch! It's also a perfect little token for the very new, very casual relationship where something lighthearted is called for -- something that won't scream "let's shop for engagement rings!" Finally, you have to drink two beers in order to carry out this project. Sound like fun? Yes, it does! Do we have lots more DIY Valentine's Day ideas? Yes, we do!

Score points this Valentine's day with something truly romantic, original and best of all, homemade. Handmade gifts aren't always received with the excitement that we imagine. Sometimes they are a total flop. So, what differentiates the gift that she calls all her friends to brag about from the one that gets tucked away in the junk drawer?

I think that all romantic DIY gifts should pass a three-point check:

1. Is the gift personal?
   Even if beautiful, something that could have easily made it into a Secret Santa exchange probably isn't going to blow her away. It should be obvious that this gift was made just for your special someone. Personalizing it with a name or picture is the obvious choice. More subtle: try incorporating an inside joke, or choosing a theme using project elements that have significance for the two of you.
   
   
2. Did the gift take time to make?
   She said she'd like something homemade. You raided the kids craft cupboard and made a card. She's not impressed. Are you surprised? The more time and planning that goes into the gift the more you'll get out of it. People love knowing that they were thought of, and taking the time and energy to plan ahead for a handmade gift shows that you truly wanted it to be something special.
   
   
3. Is it really any good?
   We only make a big deal out of poorly painted, ceramic ashtrays when they come from our children. While some failed projects can still be appreciated for the romantic intention, there really isn't room for the ugly, the tasteless, and the poorly crafted ones. Don't knit him a toque out of leftover yarn in colors you know he'd find hideous and then expect him to wear it proudly because it was made with love. Think seriously about what your significant other would like. If you want it to go on display, consider how it would work with their current decorating scheme.

With these three guidelines, I've put together a list of romantic DIY Valentine's day gifts. Some are old favorites-- tried, tested, and true for generations of lovers. Others are new and inventive, but they are all incredibly romantic and sure to make him or her putty in your hands. Follow me through the break and I'll share them with you.

Many women have a fond place in their hearts for Victoria, the magazine that ceased publication in 2003 after a 16-year run. It was a lifestyle magazine, glancingly similar to Martha Stewart Living, with articles about anything that fit in with a romantic 19th century theme. It also showcased attempts to capture a similar vibe in modern life.

Some features were overtly historical, while others would simply be about wearing vintage-repro jewelry with modern clothing. There were always lots of recipes, all of which seemed to have something to do with country-house Christmases, garden parties, and afternoon tea.

If that sounds wonderful to you, I have good news: Victoria was recently relaunched with a new publisher, and is available on newsstands. Since that is not, however, news that is necessarily related to any sort of DIY topic, I have to add that they have some tips for you on their website. You can learn more about them after the break.

Last semester I sat in a painful economics class wishing I was home with my family. I thought it would be fun to write my husband a note. Here's is that note, in it's entirety:

Dear Jay,

I feel like chatting with you - but I don't have email or IM in this class. I guess I'll have to resort to a good old note. Funny - I don't think I've written a note in class in a very long time!

So... howz it going - damn! This is different than IM.

I so obviously failed at my attempt in writing him a note. I've decided to take it one step further and write a love letter (no, I won't post that in its entirety!). While there aren't really any rules, it's hard to know where to start. Follow me through the break and I'll share 5 important elements of a love letter.