DIY Valentine's Day Candy Heart Lip Treatment

Valentine’s Day lip balm? This candy-covered holiday is sweet with all kinds of goodie-filled concoctions. I figured, “Why not make a glossy balm from those cute little candy conversation hearts?” Sounds yummy – right?

 

And, then I got to the first step: Breaking all of those hearts. I tried cutting them (totally not advisable in any way), I tried melting them (it doesn’t work well, and again it is in no way advisable), I tried the cheese grater (nope) and I tried smashing them with the back of a spoon (ok, this one kind of, sort of worked). Even though the spoon smash broke the candy into bits, it was still way too chunky to make a light lip balm out of. You really need more of a very fine powder to make this DIY work.

I had spent more time than I care to admit smashing the hearts, and wasn’t ready to give up just yet. That said, it was entirely clear that a straight out glossy pink heart-made balm wasn’t going to happen. What’s the next best thing? An exfoliating lip treatment! No, you can leave it on your lips – but, it softens, gets the rough skin off and leaves behind a slight sweet scent. And what better for kissing your sweetie on Valentine's Day than super-smooth lips?

Indulge yourself with this beauty treat or pamper a special someone with it. This is a super-easy Valentine’s Day gift for kids to make and give. They can even decorate the container, making it sparkle with holiday love!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Petroleum jelly

·        Candy conversation hearts

·        A small-sized container or mint tin

·        Optional: Sequins and clear-drying school glue

If you want to make the lip treatment tin extra-fancy, glue sequins to the outside. Do not drip any of the glue inside of the tin and do not allow it to touch the exfoliant itself. Another option is to cover the top of the tin with a homemade label that reads, “Happy Valentine’s Day” or, “A Treat for My Sweet.”

Here’s What to Do:

1. Break the hearts. I found the easiest way to do this (again, after trying many, many, many different techniques) was to sandwich the hearts in a paper towel and smash them with the back of a spoon. You don’t need to grind the hearts into powder (and, you probably won’t anyway). Make small bits, similar to exfoliating beads.

2. Mix the hearts in a bowl with the petroleum jelly. I used five hearts per two tablespoons of jelly.

3. Spoon the mix into the tin. Make sure to wash the tin out before adding the lip treatment. If you want a slightly minty tingle to it, use a mint tin and skip the washing step.

Even though this is a lip beauty treat, you can also get some smooth hands mileage out of it. While mixing I got plenty of the candy-jelly mix on my fingers. The result? Baby soft hands!

Are you looking for more Valentine’s Day ideas? Follow my Pinterest board for activities!

 

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Chocolate-Covered Berry Valentine's Day Gelatin Dessert

Valentine’s Day treats are all about the chocolate. Ok, so the candy hearts also make an appearance too. But, really – drenching just about anything in chocolate just seems to make it better. And I’ve done just that, making a holiday gelatin dessert.

With some creative use of fruit juice, a generous addition of sweets and some heart-shaped sprinkles, you (and your kids) make a Valentine’s dessert that’s perfect for a party or any other time.

I got the idea for this recipe when I bought a way-too-big box of berry flavored sparkling water. I wanted to use it in something… I just wasn’t sure what. When I paired it with white cran-strawberry juice, the idea for turning it into a gelatin dessert jumped into my mind (I have no idea why, maybe it was fond early childhood memories). This holiday recipe is super-simple, meaning you don’t have to be Top Chef-worthy to quickly whip it up. It’s also a great way to involve the kiddos in cooking. Let them do the measuring and mixing as you talk about how the gelatin gels and why.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        4 packets of unflavored gelatin (with each packet measuring 2 ½ teaspoons)

·        1 cup of berry flavored sparkling water or seltzer

·        2 cups of a pink or red (for the Valentine’s Day theme) juice

·        8 oz. dark chocolate (honestly, I used chocolate candy kisses that I got on Christmas clearance – for $1 a bag!)

·        Heart-shaped or red, pink and white sprinkles

Here’s What to Do:

1. Bring the juice to a boil on the stove.

2. Stir in the gelatin.

3. Add one cup of the berry water, and stir. The gelatin should be completely dissolved by now.

4. Pour the mix into a cake pan (or something similarly sized) and refrigerate until set (this may take several hours). The gelatin will be the consistency of gummy candy when it’s ready.

5. Melt the chocolate. I did this in the microwave (keep in mind, microwaves vary in intensity – so you may need to adjust the time). Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds. Stir. If it’s not melted all of the way, heat for increments of 15 seconds until it is.

6. Cut the gelatin into blocks.

7. Drizzle the heated chocolate over top to get a choco-topped berry flavor. Be careful, it will be very hot.

8. Sprinkle the hearts on top.

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Wiggle Eye Painted Canvas Wall Art

What do massive googley eyes, a pre-stretched canvas, glitter and tempera paint have in common? If you put them all together they make some pretty stellar wall art (and, bonus – it’s all kid-created)!

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When I spied the giant wiggle eyes I really couldn’t stop myself from buying them. I (very proudly) revealed my crafty purchase when I got home. And, surprise, surprise – my 14-year-old was actually impressed. I may have even heard a, “Mom, those are pretty cool” too! Really?

Now that I had these gigantor eyes, what should I do with them? It occurred to me that they could make some fairly fabulous wall art. This activity is super-easy, totally customizable and let’s your little one put his decorative touch on your home.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        A pre-stretched canvas

·        A pencil

·        A permanent marker – in a dark color

·        Giant googley eyes – You can buy these online or at lost craft stores

·        Clear drying school glue

·        Red glitter

·        A paintbrush

·        Tempera paint

·        Cotton balls

·        Scissors

·        Cardboard tubes – Reuse paper towel rolls

Here’s What to Do (to make the basic version):

1. Glue the googley eyes to the canvas, near the top.

2. Sketch a nose and mouth with a pencil.

3. Trace the nose and mouth with the marker.

4. Paint the mouth.

5. Sprinkle the glitter over the still-wet paint. Shake off the excess.

You can hang the smiley face art as is, or…

Add some color and a frame. Turn the smiley face into a friendly ‘monster’ to chase away the scary bedtime ‘monsters’ in your child’s room, make a furry friend or an imaginary character. Getting back to the friendly ‘monster’ idea, this is an artsy way to help your child take control over some of her fears and put bedtime woes – well, to bed. Come up with a special bedtime friend who keeps everything spooky and scary away. After your child paints his ‘friend’, hang it on the wall to keep the monsters at bay.

Here’s What to Do (to make a colorful version):

1. Follow the above instructions.

2. Pour a few pools of paint onto a paper plate or piece of wax paper.

3. Dip a cotton ball (or a crumpled piece of paper towel) into the paint and press it onto the canvas.

4. Do a bit of finger painting around the eyes and the mouth to fill in the gaps.

If you want to add a frame…

1. Line the outside of the canvas with the paper towel tubes, you will need to cut them. Think of it like a puzzle that your child needs to solve.

2. Paint the tubes. Here’s an easy trick to paint the whole tube quickly – pour a line of paint into a piece of paper. Roll the tube through the paint. Now it’s covered!

3. Add some decorative touches, such as polka dots or lines.

4. After the paint dries, glue the tubes to the outside of the canvas.

Now you’re ready to hang the painting!

Are you looking for more kids’ art activities? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

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Snack Stadium How-To for the Big Game Day

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GameDayGlory #Collective Bias

The ‘big game’ is coming up, and football fans across the country are prepping for their parties. I live in a somewhat (maybe that’s an understatement) fanatical football town. So, big game day parties are major events. With that in mind, this year I’m not just putting out a table filled with super snacks. Why not? I’m building a snack stadium.

 

When I told my son that I planned to build one of these party food displays he was, let’s just say – skeptical (he’s a teenager, so he’s pretty sure that everything I do is uncool). That said, he was totally into the actual stadium after it was built.

So, I went out to Walmart and got all of my snack stadium game day essentials. With a few foil pans, some stellar snacks and a little crafting magic, the stadium really took shape. I know, I know – we all have our own personal favorite teams. That’s why I’m not describing a this team vs. that team stadium. Instead, I went with a sweet vs. salty theme. I’m a sweet-loving type of gal, but some of my party guests are more into the salty flavors. With this stadium both types of snack fans are satisfied!

Before ever breaking ground, I started with a few peg people. Peg dolls are incredibly easy to make and you can get the whole family in on the creative action. Make mini fans that look like your family, friends or even celebs who might be at the big game.

To create stadium fans, you’ll need:

·        Wooden peg dolls (I used small dolls and even smaller pegs – you can also swap in thick popsicle sticks)

·        Pipe cleaners (in team colors)

·        Scissors

·        Markers

·        Modeling clay

Here’s What to Do:

1. Cut the pipe cleaners in half.

2. Starting at the neck, coil the pipe cleaner around the peg to make a warm winter coat.

3. Draw a face onto the head.

4. Model the hair out of clay. We even made one peg fan who apparently dyed his hair to match his team’s colors.

 

Now on to the snack stadium…

Here’s What You’ll Need:

For the frame—

·        1 large-sized rectangle foil  roaster pan

·        2 flat foil broiler pans

·        4 foil loaf pans

·        Labels from the snacks (these will make up the stadium signage)

·        Paper shopping bags (I used these to make a base)

·        Card stock paper and chalk/a pen (for the goals posts and the parking lot – the snack people need parking, right?)

·        Clear tape

Note: Yes, you should use the disposable type of foil pan. You need to bend the pans, so they need to have flexibility.

Now for the snacks:

·        12 12 oz. cans of Pepsi™

·        2 20 oz. bottles of Pepsi™

·        SNICKERS®FUN SIZE®

·        SNICKERS® Minis 40 oz.

·        Skittles® XL 41 oz.

·        TOSTITOS® Scoops

·        TOSTITOS® Original

·        TOSTITOS® Chunky Salsa

·        Chopped fruit of your choice

·        Broccoli florets

·        Sliced cheese of your choice

·        Yogurt – I blended three tablespoons of dark cocoa powder with two cups of plain yogurt to make a candy and fruit dip.

·        Hoagie rolls and/or buns

Here’s What to Do:

1. Cut the paper shopping bags, making them flat. Live your dining table with the bags.

2. Place the foil roaster pan in the center of the table, this will become the football field.

3. Surround the pan with the Pepsi™ cans, spacing them evenly around the outside.

4. Position the broiler pans horizontally and fold the top quarter over to make a shelf. Place one broiler pan on each side of the roaster pan, diagonally. The bottom should touch the outside bottom of the roaster pan and the top should rest on two or three cans of Pepsi™.

5. Positon two of the loaf pans on the ends of the roaster pan. The pans should sit diagonally, with the bottom of the loaf pan touch the top of the roaster one. The other side can rest on the Pepsi™ cans. Add the other two loaf pans to the tops of the Pepsi™ cans.

6. Cut the labels off of the snack products. Line the top sides of the roaster pan with them. Use double-sided tape or make tape looks to make them stick.

7. Cut out a goal post shape from two pieces of card stock paper. Use some of your leftover pipe cleaners to attach one to each bottle of Pepsi™. Place the ‘goal posts’ in the broiler pan, with one on each side.

8. Fill half of the broiler pan with salsa (for the salty side) and have with the yogurt dip (for the sweet side). If you find the two mixing in the middle, fold a pieces of foil into a barrier.

9. Coat the slanted parts of the broiler pans with cheese. Add another layer on top (on the shelf). Make chip seats on one pan and sweet seats (with fruit) on the other. Add your peg people to the seats.

10. Fill the loaf pans on the salsa side with the chips. Add the SNICKERS® Minis to one of the loaf pans on the other side and Skittles® to the top pan.

11. Cut a parking lot from a piece of card stock paper. Draw parking spaces on it. Create candy cars. Press four Skittles® wheels into the sides of SNICKERS® FUN SIZE® bars. Park the cars. Add in a few broccoli trees.

12. Fill in the gaps underneath the stadium (between the cans) with the rolls and add a few rolls to the tops of the remaining cans.

 

That’s it! Now you’re ready for your big game day party with plenty of super snack ideas!

 

10 Minute Mom Makeover Video Tutorial

Here’s a little artistry (makeup artistry, that is) for the mommies out there. Yes, I typically bring you all kinds of crafty things for the kiddos. But, sometimes you just need a few minutes (like ten) for yourself. And that’s where this super-quick ‘makeover’ comes in.

 

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Ok, so it’s not exactly a total makeover. It’s more of a freshening up of your face. Let’s start here – I’m not promising to make you into a supermodel. If I had the choice to wake up, look in the mirror and see Chrissy Teigen’s face looking back I would. No amount of makeup is going to get me that. Even so, I really don’t feel that I need to look like I maybe stayed up until 2 a.m. working, got up at 5:30 to feed the dogs and spent the rest of the day chauffeuring my son back and forth to wherever he needs to go.

We’ve all been there. That time when your friend texts and says that she got a sitter, and wants to meet you at the new wine bar in town. You gleefully say. “Yes!” and then look in the mirror and shake your head “NO!!!!!!!!”

I love makeup, I could spend all day with it. That said, I rarely have the time do anything special. I’m not into the whole ‘glam’ look and I prefer to look like myself – just slightly enhanced. I’m not headed off to a red carpet event and I have better ways to spend an hour than in front of the mirror. With that in mind, my usual routine breaks down to less than 10 minutes. I'm pretty good to go with some powder foundation, blush, eye shadow and mascara. If you’re looking for something similar, check out my easy-to-follow video tutorial. No, you won’t wind up looking like you walked off the cover of Vogue. But, you’ll be good to go out of the house. Next we work on changing up the ponytail and finding something more stylish than yoga pants!

 

Valentine's Day Chocolate Bark Recipe

I’m a huge fan of chocolate peppermint bark. It’s a Christmas favorite of mine. But, now it’s heading towards Valentine’s Day, and I’m ready to make a sweetheart version.

This holiday treat recipe couldn’t be simpler. Well, technically it could. But, it’s certainly easy enough for pretty much anyone to make. You can keep a batch of it at home, bag small pieces up and hand them out as sweets for your child’s classmates or give a tin of it out as a Valentine’s gift.

As much as I adore the wintery fresh candy cane-esque peppermint variety, I don’t really feel like it matches up with Valentine’s Day. Instead, this holiday bark stays a bit sweeter, and sticks with chocolate (and some heart-y accents).

Along with my affinity for all things sugary, I also tend to be a bit of a penny pincher (my husband may have some other, more colorful, words to describe my relationship with spending money). With that in mind, I wasn’t really into buying loads of pricey choco-bars for this recipe. Figuring that Christmas is totally done, I hit the stores looking for some post-holiday bargains. And, wouldn’t you know it – those chocolate kisses with red and green foil wrappers were on clearance (I got four 11 oz. bags for $4). Given that I’m unwrapping the candy first, the Christmas-colored foil wasn’t an issue. If you can luck out with some out-of-season holiday candy, I highly suggest that you do so. And, save those wrappers. Your kids can use the colorful foil for a shiny new art project!

I choose to use dark chocolate. Firstly, that’s what the clearance candy came in, so I didn’t really have a choice. Secondly, I milk chocolate aggravates my migraines, while dark doesn’t seem to (I’m not a doctor and that’s not real medical advice, but it works for me).

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        11 oz. of dark chocolate (give or take – I have to admit, I ate a few pieces while unwrapping them)

·        7 oz. white chocolate (the top layer was thinner, meaning you don’t need as much)

·        Valentine’s Day sprinkles (I used little heart shapes, but you could go with regular sprinkles in red and pink)

·        Optional: Red or pink crystal sugar

·        Wax paper

Here’s What to Do:

1. Melt the dark chocolate. I did this in the microwave (it’s super-easy). Empty the chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and heat for increments of 30 seconds, stirring in between. Microwaves vary in terms of heat, so it may take more or less time. Mine took a total of one minute 30 seconds, with a good stir each 30 seconds. Be very careful, the bowl and the chocolate will be hot.

2. Cover a baking pan with wax paper. I used a 9-inch rounds pan, but you can use a square or rectangle shape as well.

3. Pour the melted chocolate into the pan. Smooth it out across the wax paper.

 

4. Put the pan in the freezer for 30 minutes.

5. Take the chilled chocolate (it should be hard by now) out of the freezer.

6. Melt the white chocolate in the same way that you did with the dark. You have less chocolate, so it will take less time. Mine took about one minute, with a good stir every 20 seconds.

 

7. Mix in the sprinkles (and sugar crystals, if you’re using them).

 

8. Spread the white chocolate over the frozen layer.

 

9. Put the pan back in the freezer for another 30 minutes.

10. Take the bark out and pop it out of the pan. It should cleanly come off of the wax paper.

 

11. Crack the Valentine’s Day chocolate bark into pieces.

Are you looking for more tasty desserts? Check out these tasty donut s'mores!

 

OR these frosted animal cookie no-bake heart treats

 

AND
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