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Tag: valentines day


care in a package

4
February

Care Package supplies

Do you remember the best Valentine gift you ever got?  Mine was from the first man I ever loved – my Dad. 

It was a heart-shaped sugar cookie frosted in red.  I can’t remember what the white icing on top spelled out, but I do remember that my mom thought the message made the gift totally inappropriate for a dad to give his daughter.

Maybe it said “lover” or something similar…but it didn’t matter…any sense of inappropriateness went over his head – and mine.  I was just thrilled to get a Valentine…and, I was thrilled my Dad thought to give me one.

Even now, with my Dad gone over twenty five years, his cookie Valentine to me remains my favorite Valentine’s Day gift of all time.

Maybe it is because of the significance of that gift from my Dad that I always show my kids some love on Valentine’s Day.  It isn’t ever anything grand – a card…a favorite treat…something to show I am thinking of them with love – like my Dad did for me so long ago.

For a daughter in college, this is always a care package to arrive on the 14th. 

As I assemble my daughter’s Valentine, I am sharing three easy ways to give your care packages some special ‘care’ this Valentine’s Day…and help create a lasting memory.

Think personal, not expensive.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to send some great gifts.

Any favorite baked items that can survive the trip serve as great gifts!   Whether you are sending a package to your child in college or to a special someone – you know which items you bake that the recipient likes best – make their favorite!   Maybe there is a specific food item in your area that is not available in the area the recipient lives – a perfect item to include!

If your package is going to a college student, there are some things every college student appreciates.  Socks or underwear help delay the dreaded laundry run and are always appreciated – fun patterns for Valentine’s Day are available in all the stores.  Find a pattern that relates to the recipient of the gift.  Coffee or k-cups are always welcome for the apartment coffee maker and are sure to be available in the gift recipient’s favorite blend.  (I found that Target sells a two-pack so it is not necessary to buy a large box.)  Flash drives are used by all students and can be found shaped as items to reflect the recipient’s personality – I have found ones shaped as surf boards and sushi!  Fun!

Add humor.  Adding humor is always required when creating a care package.  Find something fun to tuck into the package.  After a long, hard day of studying (or work), anything that can bring on a little smile is a great addition.  For my package, I found some chip clips in the dollar store that were shaped like lips – so fun, so perfect for Valentine’s Day, and so practical!

lip clips

Chip clips shaped like lips, found in the dollar store, add some humor to a Valentine’s Day care package.

Create some packaging flair.  Decorating your package – both inside and out – makes it special for the recipient.

For my package, I painted a 69 cent unassembled brown box with messy pink stripes.  Then I found a decorative packing tape – packaging tape now comes in many different colors and patterns and adds so much more flair than using something traditional!  For a sports fan, this can be school colors or colors of a favorite team…be creative…the large selection at the hardware or craft store is sure to spark your imagination.   I chose a pink polka dot packaging tape to seal my daughter’s care package.

adding flair to a care package

Messages can be written on both the inside and/or outside of the box to make it personal.  When my son was in college,  it became a tradition that I would always write the address for a cool new website on the inside flap of his care packages.  If the gift is for one of your children, write a favorite saying or song lyrics from a song you both enjoy…or write something you always say before bedtime. :)

My daughter is a nursing student and I once decorated the outside of a care package, to arrive before a big anatomy test, with body part stickers.  Hey, it must keep the delivery person amused!

Create flair with your packaging material as well.  For my Valentine’s Day care package, I purchased some inexpensive neon pink tissue paper and put it through my home shredder…so easy and inexpensive.  Try using old book pages, newspapers, sports or fashion magazines, etc.  There are so many options…and, so many ways to make the gift personal…the stock pages from the Wall Street Journal for a finance major recipient, for example.

paper shredding

Add flair to a care package by using a home shredder to create packing material. Use tissue paper, newspaper, old book pages, fashion or sports magazine pages, etc. to personalize the gift.

I won’t show you the gifts I included in the care package I created, since I don’t want to spoil the surprises!  ;)  Just remember that the gifts you select should be unique to your recipient…a sure way to make the package personal and memorable.  My kids have exceptional senses of humor, so anything related to an inside joke is always a perfect choice!

Have fun with it!  I would love to hear some ideas inspired by this post and also some memories about your favorite Valentine’s Day gift! 

Send me an email if you need some help with ideas for your personalized care package.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

1 comment » | diy, gift ideas, holiday

sweet nothings

28
January

 Valentine teabag diy

Do you ever write personal notes?

A few well- placed words can make anyone smile.  And, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, a corny pun is definitely in order!

Valentine teabags

A note slipped into a lunch box or a jacket pocket can let someone you care about know you are thinking of them.

Valentines Day pun

You can type a message or use stamps to create one, but I prefer a hand written one – nothing beats it on Valentine’s Day!

Diy valentine teabags

Here, I am using tea bags as a spot to include a Valentine’s Day message.  I love to ‘personalize’ mine using paint chips.  An easy DIY – just sandwich two heart shaped pieces over the tag and add a message.

personalize teabags with paint chips

Where can you place an unexpected pun on Valentine’s Day?

Thanks for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at City Farmhouse and  Coastal Living. 

1 comment » | diy, holiday

a valentine’s day playlist

12
February

felt fortune cookies 014

No one can deny that many great events in life are marked by music.  Whether it be a song that marks a wedding, a sporting event, or a formal dance.  Songs can transport us back to our first school dance or remind us of a favorite movie.

There is definitely a special bond between music and romance, so in honor of Valentine’s Day, I compiled a list of 20 (in no particular order) of the most memorable of all-time (in my estimation anyway).

You should be able to find one or two to set the mood for the day ;)   Just click on the song title to bring you to the YouTube link.  Turn your volume down first…I don’t want to cause a commotion in your office!  To start you off, the first is sung by my favorite musical artist… It Had to be You ~ Harry Connick, Jr….enjoy!

20 Best ‘Set the Mood” Songs of All Time

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What a Wonderful World ~ Louis Armstrong

I Will Always Love You ~ Whitney Houston

At Last ~ Etta James

Unforgettable ~ Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole

I’ve Got You Under My Skin ~ Frank Sinatra

Sway ~ Dean Martin

Reasons ~ Earth, Wind & Fire

Over the Rainbow ~ Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole

Lover Man ~ Billie Holiday

Chances Are ~ Johnny Mathis

Moonlight Serenade ~ Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

Can’t Help Falling In Love ~ Elvis Presley

Always and Forever ~ Heatwave

Got to Give it Up ~ Marvin Gaye

Your Song ~ Elton John

Crazy for You ~ Madonna

My Everything ~ Barry White

Just in Time ~ Tony Bennett & Michael Buble

Fever ~ Peggy Lee

I hope you enjoyed my list of the 20 best ‘set the mood’ songs of all time – compiled for you in honor of Valentine’s Day.

xxheart022

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day…I hope you find some music to bring back some great memories and also to create some new ones!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie xoxo

 P.S.  I made the felt fortune cookie to slip into my daughter’s Valentine’s Day care package :)

4 comments » | holiday, nostalgia

valentine coconut lime truffles

5
February

Valentine truffles

There is a certain amount of class in going ‘against the grain’…like wearing white in winter.

To me, this element of surprise adds a certain elegance…the same holds true in creating food…

This is the feeling that is captured in the coconut lime truffles made from white chocolate that I am creating for Valentine’s Day giving.  Although my Valentine’s Day confections may look like little snowballs, the flavor is more reminiscient of a tropical locale.  The white chocolate is a refreshing departure from the typical Valentine’s Day choice.

Valentine truffle

A photo of a Valentine coconut lime truffle… sure to steal a heart :)

If you haven’t made candy before, don’t despair…even a novice candy maker can have excellent results with truffles…no candy thermometer is needed, and there is plenty of room for creativity.  Try substituting your own favorite flavors and coatings.  If you don’t like coconut, you can try crushed gingersnaps as a coating – I have tried them  also and the flavor combination with the lime is great.

coconut lime truffles

Valentine Coconut Lime Truffles Recipe (makes 12,  1  1/4″ truffles)

  • 7 oz. of good white chocolate (Ghiradelli or Lindt)
  • 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream
  • 2 Tablespoons of fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup flaked,  sweetened coconut (spread onto a plate for easy clean up)

Melt the chocolate, very slowly, in a double boiler.  Remove from heat and whisk in cream and lime juice.  Put into fridge until firm enough to roll into balls (about 2 hours).  Roll into 12 balls – then rolling each into coconut to cover.  Store in the fridge, but be sure to let sit a little before serving so they will melt in your mouth :)

Funny that I buy 4 oz. bars of chocolate and my recipe calls for 7 oz. ;)

valentine truffles

What better way to a heart than a homemade truffle?  Enjoy.

valentine coconut lime truffles

 Thanks so much for visiting.  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. I am sharing this recipe at Pinch of Joy, Blissful Whites WednesdayThe Well Crafted Home, and The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush.

4 comments » | food & festivities, holiday

fun valentine ideas

29
January

diy felt heart

Valentine’s Day is coming up and I want to share some of my ideas to make it a little more fun!  As I got going on this post, I realized I had gotten really carried away…I had so much I wanted to share!  I was afraid it was just too much to read in one post (since we are all so busy!) and I went back and edited it down to my favorite six ideas.  Check back the next two Tuesdays for additional Valentine’s Day posts!  Enjoy! 

NOSTALGIC     When I was growing up, there were some ‘given’ items my grandmother would always have on hand…like, fried potato sticks in a can or candy that looked like orange circus peanuts.   These were items she could purchase at the local discount store that was within her walking distance – since she never learned to drive.  Every year around Valentine’s Day, one item she was sure to have on hand was a big box of chocolate covered cherries…the kind with the super gooey centers.  As a tribute to my grandmother, I am serving my own version of chocolate covered cherries (minus the gooey center) – now a standard on Valentine’s Day.  Simply dip some fresh strawberries in melted chocolate…I added slivered almonds…yum :)

chocolate covered cherries

REFRESHING     Forget the sugary sodas or diet drinks this Valentine’s Day.  Try a refreshing glass of water lightly flavored with fruits and/or vegetables.  I like cucumber flavored water – adding a few raspberries to give some Valentine’s color!  Just let the water sit overnight for a wonderfully subtle flavored water in the morning…a refreshing change from soft drinks.

diy flavored water

SALUD    If a more potent drink is you or your sweetie’s preference on Valentine’s Day, shot glasses fashioned from ice are a ‘cool’ way to deliver it.  These were made from a shot glass mold sold by Fred Flare, but if you wanted to be inventive, you could make your own from two disposable cups  – one inside the other .  To make them a little more romantic, I floated a couple of flower petals in the water before freezing.  Salud!

photo of ice shot

CREATIVE      If champagne is your beverage of choice, be sure to save those cages!  I guess chairs fashioned from champagne cages are nothing new, but I only recently became aware of this activity.  There are even established competitions on the best designed chair!  Who knew?  You may want to start your own competition!  For my first creation, I designed a chair with a heart-shaped back in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.  To make a basic chair, all that is needed is a leftover champagne bottle cage and some pliers.  Fun!  This may have started a whole new interest in champagne drinking for me :)

champagne cage chair

SURPRISE     Don’t forget the kids.!  Valentine’s Day is on a weekday this year and a strategically placed note in a lunch box is sure to brighten a little one’s Valentine’s Day.  (Some of my best work has been slipped into a grammar school lunch box!)

Anything a little different from the usual can make your child’s lunchtime special.  It has been a long time (longer than I want to mention) since my kids have been in grammar school…but, one of my favorite things to do for them was to make surprise packets from brown paper.  I would cut two identical shapes from brown paper.  On one, I would use the sewing machine to make a decorative pattern.  (If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can hand stitch.)  I would then sew the two pieces together – leaving a small opening to insert treats.  After enclosing the candy, raisins, etc., I would sew up the opening – totally enclosing the items between the two hearts.

The fun part was that the packet had to be ripped open to reach the treats inside!  If your kids are new to this, you might want to stamp the words “open me” or “rip me open” on the outside so they aren’t hesitant to do so.  If you are a room mother (like I was), these make great party favors for the class Valentine’s Day celebration.

diy treat containers

If you would rather give something nonedible, another great little surprise are these really fun temporary tattoos I recently found online.  Key word here is temporary!  These are sure to put a smile on your littlest valentine’s face!

THOUGHTFUL     I originally made these cute felt hearts last year after I found easy directions to make them on Purl bee. I filled them with candy and slipped them into the packages I sent out to the college students for Valentine’s Day.

diy felt heart containers

Since then, these cute little items have found a much more valuable use.  When heading to the gym after work, earrings worn during the work day are tucked into these felt pouches as a way to protect them and to keep them from getting lost.  Now, I make them to give to others as jewelry cases.  They are also great to house odd buttons…a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.

diy felt hearts

I enjoyed sharing some of my fun Valentine’s Day ideas with you.  I am also sharing at The Inspiration Gallery & Craftionary.   I hope you will try one or two…or, be inspired to create something new.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jackie

11 comments » | diy, holiday

valentine raspberry stuffed french toast

8
January

Yes, I have already started thinking about Valentine’s Day…the sweet part anyway!  Valentine’s Day is about all things sweet.  Even those that shy away from sweets give it a shot on February 14th!  I always think of an indulgent breakfast or bunch as the ultimate way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  As a lover of all french toast, particularly the stuffed variety, I came up with a combo fit for a sweetheart…raspberry and mascarpone cheese make up the inside and combine perfectly with a hint of almond and some coconut on the outside. With the ingredients ready ahead of time, this decadent Valentine meal won’t take much longer to prepare than your standard breakfast, but will prove so much more appropriate!  If time is super short on the 14th,  you can always postpone preparing this dish until the weekend.  The recipe is for two, but it would be easy enough to increase the ingredients accordingly if you are making a family meal.

For an added show of affection, I cut a heart shape into the bread with a cookie cutter :)

Recipe for Valentine’s Day Raspberry Stuffed French Toast for Two

Ingredients

  • 4 slices challah bread, cut to ¾” thickness
  • ½ cup mascarpone cheese
  • ¼ cup seedless red raspberry jam
  • Approx.  ¼ cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1/8 tsp almond extract
  • Oil as needed
  • Butter
  • Sliced almonds for garnish
  • Fresh raspberries for garnish
  • Fresh mint for garnish
  • Confectioner’s sugar for garnish

Directions

  1. Mix cheese and jam in a small bowl.
  2. In a separate shallow dish, beat eggs and stir in milk and almond extract.
  3. Spread coconut on a plate.
  4. Lightly brown both sides of the bread in the oven.
  5. If desired, cut a heart shape with a cookie cutter in two slices of the bread, reserving the hearts.
  6. Spread the cheese filling thickly over the solid pieces of the bread and top with the heart cut piece.
  7. Heat oil at medium high heat in a frying pan large enough to accommodate the two sandwiches.
  8. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture (let sit in the mixture a few seconds to absorb), coating both sides.  Then coat both sides in the flaked coconut.
  9. When oil is hot, add a pat of butter to the pan and fry the sandwich, cooking till hot and lightly brown on both sides – flipping once.
  10. Put onto a serving plate and add the reserved heart cutouts, sift with confectioner’s sugar.
  11. Garnish as desired with fresh raspberries, sliced almonds, and sprigs of mint.

 

Serve with champagne and a chocolate?  Just as special served with juice in a ‘fancy’ glass if you are serving to the sweeties under 21!

A photo of valentine raspberry stuffed french toast. Challah bread is filled with mascarpone cheese and raspberries and a hint of almond and coconut is added in this creation fit for a sweetheart.

I hope you will enjoy this valentine raspberry stuffed french toast…on Valentine’s Day…or, any day!

Thank you so much for visiting.

Remember to enjoy the pleasure in simple things, Jackie

3 comments » | food & festivities

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