Valentine’s Day is going to be here before we know it, so I’m taking a little break from all the healthy habits today to talk V-Day.
From the time I was in elementary school, I’ve kind of loved Valentine’s Day. Back then, there was always the Valentine’s card swap and then at my school, we had a Valentine’s Tea, where all the girls permed their hair and wore their finest Jessica McClintock large-collared dresses and the boys dressed up in collared shirts and ties and we had punch and cookies in the library and most of the girls lovedlovedloved it and now that I have an 11-year-old boy, I’m pretty sure most of the boys really dreaded Valentine’s Day.
Then I got to middle school and there was all the exhilaration/devastation of the secret sucker distribution–you know, where you pay a dollar to the Spanish club and write cryptic messages to your secret crush and then the Spanish club delivered the cryptic message and a heart-shaped sucker to said secret crush. The day usually ended in “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. or “The Power of Love” by Celine Dion. Or both. Because emotions.
Then I got to high school and, for the most part, I was beyond the whole “Everybody Hurts” phase of life (it was more of a “My Heart Will Go On” phase…apparently Celine really spoke to me back in the day.) Gone were the days of Peanuts Valentine cards and conversation hearts–it was more of a let’s-go-on-all-the-elaborate-group-dates time in my life.
College led to Valentine’s Days hanging out with roommates, and then I got married and things were cute and romantic for awhile, and then we had kids now I just hope my husband doesn’t blow money on Valentine’s Day-priced flowers and I’m just glad to have Chinese food and Netflix at home after the kids were in bed.
But now I find myself missing swapping Valentines with my friends. So if you find yourself, say, longing for a Galentine’s Day with your girlfriends, today is for you.
That’s right. I have all your Parks and Recreation-themed Valentines right here.
Turns out I’m highly motivated to exercise and fold laundry if I can watch TV while doing so. Right now, I’ve been re-watching Parks and Recreation while I sweat it out at the gym and my only regret is that I’m not sitting there with a pen and paper, writing down all the best lines. But I have collected a few of my favorites that I would love to give (and receive) as valentines. Tied onto cookies (or on a take-out container of waffles from JJ’s Diner.) Attached to a package of peanut butter cups (or a can of whipped cream). For your Chris Traeger-loving friend, you could give them a bag of kale chips with this…
Or for your long-distance friend/sister/lover, there’s always the wisdom of Andy Dwyer.
Is your significant other not a big talker? Ron Swanson to the rescue.
Trying to land that prize you’ve had your eye on for awhile? Donna would want you to treat yo’ self.
And really, this just sums up my relationship with those I love the most. April, you beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk-ox…
I’ve put all of them together in a printable PDF–just print them out, cut the ones you want to use, and attach them to your Valentine’s/Galentine’s favorite candy, snack, or coupon for a couple’s massage. Get the printable here!
No Tom Haverford??!!
I ran out of space. Maybe round 2??
Yes, round 2 please!!! These made my day!
I agree! Round 2, please! I love these!!
YES, yes, yes! 🙂
These are SO funny… and I don’t even get most of the real references since I have never seen the show. Thanks for sharing!
I was just decorating some Valentine care package boxes last night for my two kids who are away at college. We all watch parks and rec. I will tape a couple of these to the outside of the boxes. Cute idea. Thank you!
These are awesome!! That Ron Swanson one is gonna rock my hubby’s world!! He’s his true heroe! Ha! Thank you!!
This is the best, best, best! I can’t wait to give these out! Thanks for making valentine’s day fun again!
So awesome. And we are clearly the same age, because all those references were so accurate. Oh, the memories of laying on the floor of a friend’s room listening to Celine on repeat feeling all sorts of teenage angst!
These. Are. Amazing.
Just when I didn’t think I could love you any more. This is amazing. I am going to be in hawaii over valentine’s, but I will find a way to utilize these! And I agree about valentine’s day gifts now. I don’t even like flowers. However, a shirt or outfit as a gift? Now we are talking. Cause, as Tom would say, ‘love fades. But things? Things last forever!’
Hey, these are HILARIOUS, and I don’t even watch Parks and
Rec! Well done. 🙂
YES! That was the goal, haha!
So funny! Love them!
These. are. amazing. Can’t wait to give them out to all my loved ones! The Ron Swanson one is perfect for my husband.
We love parks and rec! Theses are so fun! I love you guys and your website and cookbooks which is why I am so shocked and disappointed to see the ads on this post. The one from fredricks of Hollywood is terrible and there was two of them. I often open your recipes on my iPad and leave it sitting on my counter while I cook. My kids and husband are always around and looking to see what I am making and I would be so unhappy if one of them were to see those ads. I really thought your website was a safe one to have open and unattended on my counter.
Thanks for the heads up, Briana! We’ll make sure they come down ASAP–we’ve set our ad preferences and stuff like that isn’t supposed to come through, but sometimes it does.
thank you! I use your recipes all the time and love them! I am glad this won’t be an issue I have to worry about.
I had a bunch of super sketchy ads popping up around Christmas time, on EVERY website I went to- Target, Amazon, Walmart. Ends up if you use google they have something called Adblock, turn that on and you will not see any of those sketchy ads again! YEAH! Hope that helps!
These make me sooo happy! I think the Andy one is my favorite. Love!!