Valentine Brownie Bites

How about some cute brownie bites for Valentine's Day?! Umm....yes, please!
These little bites of love were very easy to make and look darling, too. I simply made a boxed mix(you can make homemade if you'd like) and let them cool completely. Then I used my Pampered Chef 1 1/2" biscuit cutter to cut out the brownies. I melted about a Tbsp. of chocolate chips and used that as my "glue" to put on the heart icing decorations which are from Wilton. You could also top them with a conversation heart or various other V-day candies.
These would make adorable treats for a school party or just a V-day dessert! Enjoy!

Cute Candy Jar

Over the weekend my husband put some of our older, backed up pictures on the computer because I was missing them. Turns out their were lots of pics of older crafts, cards and paper crafts that I had done. Score! I had forgotten all about them!

I came across this little candy jar I embellished originally as part of a Christmas gift. I think?? It also had an embellished Altoid tin with little handmade cards in it to round out the gift(I'll have to show that some other time). I thought this jar could easily work as a quick and cute Valentine gift as well. Maybe for a friend or teacher. Just use some red, pink, purple,etc. ribbon and change out the tag. Add any type of candy you like to this cute jar I found at Hobby Lobby,such as conversation hearts, heart gum drops, Dove chocolates, etc. Cute and easy!

Valentine Marshmallow Pops

Yesterday my little assistant and I made some super cute valentine marshmallow pops. This treat is fast, simple and comes together with few ingredients. Ivy helped put the marshmallows on the sticks and dip them in chocolate. She loved it! She also loved sampling her sweet creation after it had time to dry.

To make marshmallow pops(for these I used the strawberry flavored marshmallows), melt almond bark in pot or double boiler, push marshmallows onto lollipop sticks, dip the marshmallows(about half way) and dust with sprinkles. Stick them into a piece of floral foam or styrofoam to dry. Yes, that's the easiest way, but I balanced mine just right in this little dish filled with chocolate chips because I didn't have any styrofoam. Let them dry and enjoy!

Ready to help!

Enjoying her marshmallow pop!

Sealed With A Kiss Centerpiece & Turtle Fudge Cake

Well, I said I would post some last minute Valentine ideas on Saturday, but it just didn't get done. So sorry if anyone came looking for those ideas. I know V-day is over, but I wanted to share this centerpiece I made for our Valentine table and a sweet dessert.

I made a special Valentine's dinner last night for our family and the missionaries from our church. Laci and I set a red and white themed table with this "sealed with a kiss" centerpiece. It's cute and easy. I just filled a vase with Hershey Kisses and then stuck some faux roses down in the center. It was a conversation piece for us, too.


For dinner we had homemade lasagna, salad, garlic bread and this little creation I call Turtle Fudge Cake for dessert. It's somewhat like Pampered Chef's Turtle Fudge Skillet cake, but it's not made in a skillet.... and it's bigger..... and fudgier. Okay, so maybe just a little like it.(I served it on my favorite red scalloped cake plate. It was so cute!) I thought we needed a decadent dessert since it was Valentine's day and this was definitely decadent. Very rich and chocolatey. I think this will have to be a special occasion cake.


To make this Turtle Fudge Cake, just bake a devil's food round cake, torte or cut each layer in half making four layers, and frost between each layer with chocolate icing. Melt 1/2 c. chocolate chips and 1/2 c. caramel ice cream topping in microwave for about 35 seconds, stirring until completely melted. Pour over top of cake. Sprinkle chopped pecans over fudge topping. Drizzle with warm caramel just before serving.

Be My Valentine

Today I'm sharing a couple of ways to say "Be My Valentine." First, with a box of homemade candies for your sweetie. Now my husband would prefer a steak over a sweet any day, which he'll probably get to have this weekend. But, he does love him some coconut. So I made him these Coconut Joys, which taste like an Almond Joy, and I packaged them up in an old Ferrero Rocher candy box. I put them in mini valentine cupcake liners and made a tag to cover the old label. Ca-ute!


These coconut joys are very good and simple to make. Give 'em a try!

Coconut Joys
1/2 c. butter or margarine
2 c. sifted powdered sugar (I did not sift)
3 c. flaked coconut
1/3 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat or in large bowl in the microwave; remove from heat. Stir in sugar and coconut until well blended. Shape into 3/4 inch balls. Chill until firm.
Melt chocolate morsels in a disposable decorating bag in microwave at 30 second intervals, kneading morsels after each time until melted. Snip off tip of bag and drizzle chocolate over balls.You can also melt chips in saucepan over low heat.



This next idea is a great way for kids to say "Be My Valentine." They are Valentine butterflies made with a Tootsie pop. My daughter and I made these for her class mates. I saw this idea on Skip To My Lou. Just checkout her Valentine section for these. She even has printouts for the butterfly . Sweet! Laci's class mates will have to wait until Monday to get their Valentine. We have a snow day today! Yep! It's snowing in sweet home Alabama.

Come back tomorrow for a couple of last minute V-day ideas!

Cake Mix Cups With Marshmallow Lollipops

Today I want to share a cute and different treat idea for your Valentine party. Cake mix cups with heart marshmallow lollipops. Let me just say this cake mix does NOT have eggs in it. So, you won't have to worry about getting any kind of food poisoning from eating the raw eggs. I saw this idea in a magazine a while back and they were suggesting it for a movie night, but I thought it would be good for any kind of party. Just mix up your favorite flavor of cake mix, leaving out the eggs, spoon or pipe it into small cups and enjoy. I also stuck one of those cute, pink heart marshmallows on a lollipop stick and put it in the cup. So cute!! And I mean who doesn't like cake mix. I know my kids...... and me too, love to lick the beaters after mixing up a cake. It is a very sweet treat so pace yourselves. BTW, I used a Valentine Funfetti cake mix that I found at Target. Enjoy!

The Music Of Love

Ahhh, the music of love. And what says love like chocolate? Well, there are lots of other things. A lot more important than chocolate. But most of us like to eat chocolate and receive it, so why not make your own this Valentine's day. I made these musical chocolates for Laci's piano teacher with a candy mold I purchased from a local store that sells candy and cake decorating supplies. I like to use Wilton's premium candy melts to make my chocolates. Just put a handful in a disposable cake decorating bag and microwave at 30 second intervals. Be sure to knead the chocolate around after each time until they are all melted, cut off the tip of the bag and fill each well. Pat the mold down on the counter to get out all of the air bubbles and to flatten out the chocolates. Then just pop them in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Super easy, but makes a big impression.

I packaged the chocolates in a candy box that you can usually find in the Wilton section at Michael's. A red and white polka dot ribbon added some Valentine cuteness. Laci's piano teacher was thankful to get them and opened them at class last night. She named all the notes and even quizzed Laci on some of them.


I also made some KISS chocolate suckers to give to my special Valentines. Again, these are so, so easy. Really. Go out and get you a cute candy mold (their pretty cheap) and start making some chocolates. It's so fun to make these for different holidays and occasions.

Valentine Fun

Okay, I know I said I would would be showing a Valentine idea each day, but the one I planned on showing today is still not finished, so I'm going to show you an idea from last year and give you a sneak peak of what is not finished. The little container above was Laci's Valentine for her teacher last year. I found the cute container at Hob Lob and filled it with strawberry milkshake whoppers. Then we punched out a scalloped tag, stamped it, and embellished it with a shiny brad and heart. Cute and her teacher liked it!!

Now for the sneak peak. It involves these foil cupcake liners and ribbon. Any ideas?? Hopefully it will turn out cute. I'll show you when it's done.


Also,last night was our family night, so for our activity we all decorated heart shaped sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles. The kids really get into this. Okay, um, the mom and dad do to. It was sprinkles galore!! We had fun decorating and eating our big heart cookies.

Sweetheart Hot Chocolate

All this week I will be sharing Valentine ideas with you. From sweets and treats, a centerpiece idea and more. Be sure to stop by each day and check out the Valentine fun!

How about some "sweetheart" hot chocolate today. Try dressing up your favorite homemade or instant hot chocolate with these adorable pink heart marshmallows for your Valentine party. Aren't they just so cute?! Lots of possibilities with these. Make some pink rice krispy treats, pile the whipped cream on your hot chocolate and stick in a heart marshmallow, or just serve them up in an apothecary jar as part of a dessert buffet. I'll be using these again this week,so come back and see how. The kids and kids at heart will love 'em.

Candy Bling!

It's Wednesday, so that means it's Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family. Today I'm sharing some candy bling that will work as a fun valentine.

I was strolling along in Hobby Lobby on one of my many visits there, and spotted this little plastic heart that opens up for $.99. Valentine immediately came to mind. I filled it with Valentine M&M's and tied on coordinating ribbon and added a bow for a cute and easy necklace. Fun and different. However, I would suggest maybe putting a couple pieces of clear tape so it won't pop open easily while little hands are touching it. My daughter thought the candy bling was super cute!

If you don't want to give it in as a necklace, you could always tie on a bow or embellish it however you like.

Valentine Teacher Gift-- Germ Free

If you're looking for a cute, different and useful Valentine for a teacher, try this embellished bottle of Germ-X. Teachers are always in need of this, so I'm sure it will be well received and the fact that it's super cute won't hurt either.

I've seen this idea all over blog land so I don't know who to give the credit to, but again, it's not my idea. All you do to is start with a bottle of Germ-X or Purell.(I like the Germ-X better because the bottle is clear and the Purell has a green tint to it)Peel off the labels as shown below. You'll be left with the sticky label stuff.


Use some Goo Gone to wipe off all of the sticky. You can find this in the paint section at Wally World. It will be with the wall paper remover and things like that.


Then embellish with some cute Valentine stickers and tie on some ribbons. Ca-uute!

A nice, clean Valentine!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you have a great weekend and a Happy Valentine's Day!

For A "Whopper" Of A Good Teacher

This is the little gift Laci will be taking to her teacher tomorrow. I found this container at Hobby Lobby and then we filled it with Strawberry Milkshake Whoppers(mmmm!these are so yummy), stamped and punched out a tag, and tied on some ribbon. It's perfect and different for a "Whopper" of a good teacher.
Trent will be taking homemade chocolate hearts packaged in red and white candy boxes tied with tuile to his teachers. (Don't have a picture of those yet)I hope they will all like their valentine!