Tag: Valentine’s

Holiday Candy Hacks

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Creative Holiday Candy hack!

Catch the after Christmas sales for red and green mixed chocolates like M&M’s and Hershey Kisses.

Sort the candies by color and store them away (so you won’t be tempted to eat them!).

Now you have both Valentine’s Day AND St. Patrick’s day covered! 

You are covering two holidays at once, and your holiday chocolate needs through mid-March while getting deep discounts from after Christmas Sales.








‘True Love Kisses’ and red M&M’s for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day.









‘Kiss-Me-I’m-Irish Kisses’ and green M&M’s for the leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day.

Valentines Day Pancakes

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What better way to start your Valentine’s Day than with some pink chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream on top and fresh strawberry hearts on the side?

We actually made these Valentine’s Day Pancakes – ON Valentines Day! 

Trust me, this is a small miracle, as we tend to PLAN a lot of things that never really make it into reality, or make it on their own unique time table, usually after the holiday,  but this time  – voila! Pink Pancakes!

I’d be lying if I said that this blog and the need for content and quality pictures wasn’t a HUGE motivator for getting these plans into action. But when you think about it, the whole point of this blog is to celebrate and appreciate more. I actually AM doing that.

I’ve always said that having little ones in your life makes you appreciate and celebrate more. Even if you don’t really feel like coloring eggs or putting up the tree or all the other traditional holiday activities, you will do it for them  – to create those lifetime memories and traditions. But what about when there are no little ones in your life? Do you stop celebrating and appreciating?

When a family is at that awkward in-between stage where there are no little ones, sometimes it feels like all holidays are on hold – which to me feels like all of life is on hold. For now, this blog is my baby, and I am devoting myself to giving it everything I can – creating beautiful and memorable holidays and a home full of love.

So, kids or no kids we are going to celebrate like we’re in kindergarten! Starting with PINK PANCAKES!

We bought this festive Valentines pancake mix at Aldi.  

It’s pink and has chocolate chips – what more could I possibly ask for?

We tried, oh how we tried, oh so hard to make these pancakes heart shaped. 

We used our little silicone heart shape specially designed for this, but it was bent out of shape from being in storage, so the batter was leaking out the edges. 

So we ended up making traditional round pancakes instead – well, sort of round…..round-ish.

 

In the end we had a lovely holiday pancake breakfast and a sense of accomplishment that we went that extra mile to celebrate not for any actual children, but for the sake of each of our own inner children. You could almost hear the magical giggles as we served these.  
 
Valentine’s Day breakfast checked off the to-do list!
 
Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
 
Quick and easy Strawberry Hearts how-to HERE!

Valentine’s Day decorating HERE!
Charlie Brown Valentine’s Special Party HERE!

Strawberry Valentine Hearts – Quick and Easy!

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Are you looking for a last minute idea for a Valentines Day treat? 

Well here is an idea that is great for Valentines Day, or any day you want to show your loved ones that you love them. 

It gets better – this idea is super quick, easy and healthy!

Your strawberries are all just 3 simple slices away from being the perfect Valentines Day breakfast, dessert or healthy snack.

Step by Step Guide to creating quick and easy
strawberry hearts below.

Have you ever seen a sweeter way to serve fresh strawberries?


Step 1: Start with a nice fresh strawberry.
 
Step 2: You’re going to remove the stem and 
leaves with a “V” cut at the top. 
This is the first diagonal cut.
 
Step 3: Make the second cut of the “V” the 
same as the first and meeting in the middle.
Step 4: Remove greens along with the wedge shaped cut out.
 
 
Step 5: Cut straight down the middle.
 
Step 6: You’ll now have two perfect little flat backed 
strawberry hearts to put on your plate.
 

 

Step 7: Serve them;
 
 -on a little cloud of whipped cream, or
-a circle around a dollop of Greek yogurt, or
-as a festive garnish, or
 
Let your heart decide!
Enjoy!


Valentine’s Day decorating HERE!
Valentine’s Day Pancake Breakfast HERE!

Valentine’s Charlie Brown Party HERE!

Valentines Day Celebration

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Wow, these winter holidays seem to be one after another with very little time between!

We get to enjoy the Valentines decorations until the 14th but then Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year are right after – only days apart on February 17th and 19th!

So little time to plan, prepare and decorate!

Anyway, back to Valentines Day – the decorations are up and the house is looking a bit like a cupid sanctuary.



We went with a white Battenburg lace tablecloth over a red tablecloth, so the red peeks through all the openwork in the lace.

There are red roses and various other sparkling red baubles scattered through the center of the table. 





We chose white China and red cloth napkins with silver charger plates and flatware.

Hearts and roses are all standard Valentine’s decor, but in honor of this blustery winter that just won’t quit, we’ve incorporated some frosty accents. It is a February holiday after all. It lands squarely in the middle of winter, despite what any groundhogs say!

My love for snowflakes is no secret, so I am happy to pull them into any design. This one really tickles me pink.



Sure, Valentines decorations can easily go from elegant and romantic, to gaudy and garish, but – it’s Valentines Day! 

It is supposed to be over the top and flashy and as far as it can go without crossing the line into hopelessly and irrevocably tacky.

So bring on the fancy froo-froo design and let your Valentine’s Day spirit show with sparkly shiny heart, flowers and cupids! 

Especially in a cold and snowy winter, the bright cheery red and sparkle of Valentine decorations really warms the heart.





We haven’t figured out what to serve for the perfect Valentines Day dinner yet, so that plan is still being worked out, (will update blog when we figure it out) but we’ve got breakfast covered with our super-simple heart shaped strawberry’s for breakfast.

Check out how to make them HERE.

We’ve also got some PINK chocolate chip pancakes planned – YUM!





And lets not forget Dessert. Though I certainly wish I had baked these myself, we actually found these delicious cookies at Aldi.  
Shortbread Cookies with Strawberry Fruit Filling and a milk chocolate Base. 

The Strawberry and Cherry versions of this cookie both somehow ended up in our cart and we don’t even have a toddler with grabby hands to blame!







In my dreams, I also have one of these gorgeous baroque silver heart candy dishes at each place setting filled with chocolates and those little pastel candy conversation hearts.

For now that fantasy only exists in my mind and my amazon wish list.




Let’s not forget the tradition of watching the Charlie Brown Holiday Specials. This year, Valentine’s Day Eve, we’ve got a movie date with Snoopy!

Hot buttered popcorn, hot cocoa with whipped cream on top, Hershey’s Kisses in Valentine red foil and the big comfy couch with the fluffy warm blankets! Cuddle party!!



Until next time, Happy Valentines Day! 

May your day be filled with Love and Abundance!