Valentine’s Day is all about spreading love, but let’s be real—when you’re juggling school parties, class lists, and last-minute prep, it can feel more like a mission impossible than a celebration. I’ve definitely set myself up now, beacuse the girls expect that we do a “from scratch” valentine for their classes every year. My burder is your win…introducing our free Superhero Valentine’s Day printable, designed to make your life easier and your kiddo the coolest cupid in class.

These ended up being a huge hit with Evelyn’s class. When I came to pick her up from school that day, we saw several of the kiddos wearing their masks already!
I sized these printables so that the mask will fit perfectly around them and I secured the back of them with a piece of washi tape on the back.
I ordered these masks from Amazon here, and luckily for me, it arrived next day.

This week in Hazel’s class, they are learning about kindness and friendship. We know how much effort goes into making Valentine’s Day special for your kids, and we’re here to help you shine. These printables aren’t just cute; they’re a way to celebrate creativity, friendship, and the joy of giving. And let’s be honest—anything that makes your life a little easier deserves a superhero-sized thank you.

So it just seems fitting that I make this printable available to any one who wants it! Just sign up below (full disclosure, you’ll also be added to my newsletter list but who doesn’t want to get updates on new products and sales?!) and I’ll email you this downloadable printable for your own use! I recommend printing on thick cardstock, there is one per page.

Click here to download your free Superhero Valentine’s Day printables! And don’t forget to grab these adorable superhero masks from Amazon to complete the look. (Affiliate link included—thank you for supporting small businesses like ours!)"

Make sure you tag us in your pictures if you use our printable so we can share them!

My eldest daughter has blossomed into a voracious reader—she devours books faster than I can keep our library holds and bookstore visits stocked. It’s a beautiful thing to watch, though I’ll admit, it’s a world far removed from my own childhood experience. Back then, reading felt like a chore, tied to school assignments and deadlines. Honestly, it made me downright loathe books. But seeing her love for stories? It’s like rediscovering the magic of reading through her eyes.

Enter the whirlwind of the Bridgerton phenomenon, and suddenly, I found myself giving reading another shot. I dove into Colin and Penelope’s story—it wasn’t the easiest reentry into the world of books, but it was satisfying to compare the pages to the drama of the latest season with other friends who also read the book. From there, I stumbled upon the Practical Magic series, and those were so fun and enchanting. Each page felt like a mini getaway, a daily escape into a world that was both captivating and comforting.

Since 2024 turned me into a bit of a bookworm (who saw that coming?), I’ve decided to embrace the vibe and map out a reading list for 2025. Nothing too wild—just 12 books. It feels like a goal that’s ambitious but doable for me right now. And hey, if I manage to read more than 12? You better believe I’ll be patting myself on the back!

While I don’t have my entire year of reading planned out, I do think I have my first six books settled on.

6 Books on My 2025 Reading List

1. All I Want Is You by Falon Ballard
   A heartwarming, feel-good romance perfect for cozy evenings and escaping into a love story.

2. The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon
   A deep dive into the lives of often-overlooked figures who shaped pivotal moments in American history.

3. Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives by Sami Sage and Emily Amick
   A timely exploration of actionable steps we can take to strengthen democracy and inspire change, both nationally and personally.

4. To Sir Phillip, With Love: Bridgerton: Eloise's Story by Julia Quinn
   Bridgerton fans rejoice! Eloise’s story promises wit, charm, and all the romance we’ve come to love from this series.

5. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
   A thought-provoking guide to embracing life’s uncertainties and letting go of what we can’t control—because sometimes, you just have to let them.

6. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
   A must-read for small business owners, this book offers a fresh approach to managing finances and achieving sustainable growth.

In additional to these 6 books, I’ve also added Catching Whimsy: 365 Days of Possibility by Bob Goff. I was gifted this book and I think it may be exactly what I need. Obviously I won’t finish that book till the end of the year.

I’m feeling hopeful that I can tackle these six books by midyear—fingers crossed! But let’s be real, I’m already dreaming about what could fill the next chapter of my 2025 reading journey. If you’ve got any must-reads, hidden gems, or personal favorites, I’m all ears—send them my way!

Recently, I managed to score tickets to a JPL tour, which, let me tell you, is no easy feat—these tickets are harder to get than Taylor Swift tickets! For those who might not be familiar, JPL, or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is a NASA research and development center that focuses on the construction and operation of planetary robotic spacecraft. It's basically where some of the coolest space exploration projects come to life.

As a mom with a family that’s super into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), this tour was a dream come true. My older daughter, Evelyn, who was turning 7 that weekend, was especially thrilled. She’s got a keen interest in all things science and technology, and I knew this experience would be something she'd remember forever. We were all buzzing with excitement as we prepared for our big day at JPL!

The best part about the JPL Visitor Day Tour? It’s free! The trick is that because it's free, spots vanish faster than you can say "rocket science." Currently, reservations open about two months in advance. So, if you’re eyeing a tour for September, be ready in July. But be quick—those slots get snatched up within hours, sometimes even minutes. You can book your tour here.

Our excitement soared as we pulled up to the enormous JPL campus, which turned out to be a whopping 168 acres—much bigger than we had imagined! Parking is free but limited, so we were glad we arrived a bit early. Check-in is conveniently located right across the street from the free parking. Remember to bring the government ID you used to get your tickets; you'll need it for check-in. Drew got us checked in, and we waited in an outdoor area with plenty of shade. Our tour guide was amazing! They handed out our lanyards and reminded us to keep them on for the entire tour. The tour lasts about 2.5 hours and involves a decent amount of walking, including some stairs. We were asked to stay close together and in a single-file line since it’s a working campus.

Our first stop was the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Visitor Center. We started with a 20-minute video that gave an overview of our solar system and seamlessly connected it to the exciting projects JPL is currently working on. Evelyn was absolutely captivated by the video, while Hazel, being only 4, wasn’t as curious. Thankfully, we packed some quiet toys for her, and she did fantastic. There were quite a few other kids there, so as long as she was quiet, no one seemed to mind her lack of interest in the film. After the video, we explored the visitor center, which showcased replicas and models of past missions. It was fascinating to see JPL’s incredible progress and their ambitious plans for the future.

Next, we got to see full-size models of the current rover, Perseverance, which is busy conducting its missions on Mars. There’s a fantastic documentary on Disney+ about Perseverance that I highly recommend to anyone who’s interested. We also got to see a model of Ingenuity. Ingenuity was a last-minute addition to the rover mission. Another team at JPL was researching flight on Mars and asked if they could send a helicopter with Perseverance to study. The Perseverance team welcomed the idea but it had to weigh only 4 lbs. They would have been happy if Ingenuity flew once, but they really hoped for 5 flights. It ended up flying over 72 times! My absolute favorite fact is that when the Smithsonian Institute found out about this helicopter being sent to Mars to achieve the first flight on the alien planet, they sent a small piece of the Wright Brothers' first plane to JPL. The JPL team incorporated that piece into the helicopter, so when it flew on Mars, it carried a piece of the Wright Brothers' plane with it. How amazing is that story?! I wonder what the Wright Brother’s would’ve thought about part of their plane, being flown around on Mars!

The Space Flight Operations Facility (SFOF) houses the control room, along with related computing and communications equipment areas at JPL. It’s also where NASA's Deep Space Network is operated from. We were thrilled to get a rare opportunity to actually sit in Mission Control. This room is almost always in use, so tours usually go through the viewing room above the control room. Because it wasn't in use, we were allowed to sit in the chairs! Even our tour guide was giddy since this doesn’t happen often. Drew and I have actually watched launches/landings that were conducted in this room so it was very cool to actually sit there. We got to see all the different missions out in space on a large board that showed the data being sent from and to the different satellites. That is why it is lovingly called “The center of the universe”. We got to hear the story about the Lucky Peanuts, which was hilarious. If you go on a tour, make sure you ask about it! If you are interested, I snapped this picture of a laminated copy of the story you can read. I really regret not grabbing a picture with one of the cans of peanuts scattered around the room. For me, this was the highlight of the trip!

Next, we had the incredible opportunity to visit the Spacecraft Assembly Facility, where we peered through a second-story glass window into High Bay 1. Inside, JPL staff were diligently working on preparations for their next mission. We had hoped to catch a glimpse of the Europa Clipper, but sadly, we missed it by just three weeks. The spacecraft had recently been shipped off to the Kennedy Space Center, where it will be launched in October on a mission to explore Jupiter's moon, Europa. These rooms are steeped in history, having housed the construction of some of humanity's most profound space missions. Witnessing the expansive clean room and the meticulous assembly process for space-bound instruments was truly awe-inspiring. Everywhere we looked, we saw badges commemorating past missions that were built, tested, disassembled, and rebuilt right there. Personnel working in these spaces don "bunny suits" to maintain cleanliness, with the air refreshed every five minutes—an essential precaution in the delicate environment. Evelyn particularly loved this part of the tour, captivated by the enormity of what was being accomplished right before her eyes.

Experiencing the JPL tour was nothing short of mesmerizing. From witnessing our tax dollars in action—totally worth it, in my opinion—to marveling at the meticulous care and precision that goes into every aspect of space exploration, this tour left an indelible mark. It was essential for my daughters to witness firsthand how the pursuit of knowledge benefits humanity. Evelyn, at 7 years old, absorbed everything with fascination, while Hazel, at 4, was a champ despite being a bit too young to really appreciate everything we saw. Personally, I'd do this tour again in a heartbeat. With our understanding of space and Earth continually evolving, each visit promises new discoveries and insights.