Since wallets are slim these days, I've been substituting money with time. I think the recession is making me more creative... necessity is the mother of invention, right? So instead of buying something for my boyfriend, for Valentine's Day, I made him a CD that chronicles all the concerts we have been to, in the past year. I titled it "Better than Ice Cream," for two reasons: 1. ice cream is good, and 2. my boyfriend hates Sarah McLachlan. 

I'm still surprised at how much more fulfilling it is to make something for someone, than to buy something for them. I guess it's been ingrained in us since kindergarten. "Class, today we're.... making macaroni self portraits for Mother's Day...  Pinching pots for grandmas.... writing a Haiku for Father's Day." 

(more pictures after the jump)