Heartwarming Party

Share your heart this Valentine’s Day by throwing a party with a purpose!  Extend an invitation to friends and family to help you do good deeds by giving to charity.  Have everyone bring new or gently used winter items such as hats, mittens, and coats as their ticket into your party.  Then, donate the items to charity.  Choose the charity that means the most to you; a few other great charities are your local animal shelter or pantry.

Invitations - This party will make everyone feel warm and fuzzy – and so will the card!  Cut a heart shape from a piece of fun, fuzzy fabric and glue to a blank card.  Let dry and write the party details inside the card.

Décor – Don’t go overboard with too much pink, but have fun and string some cut out hearts in various colors around your party area.  Welcome guests with a fun party favor... a red carnation for the ladies is always nice.  Or hand out something fun, like heart shaped glasses, a red or pink plastic lei, or wax lips.  Decorate with red and white heart shaped doilies. They would look very cute on the walls with a photo of your charity in the center. Add a few balloons for the perfect touch.

Ambience –  For extra atmosphere,  buy several packs of those cheesy Valentines that kids swap in class.  Use a hole punch and some red ribbon to make a garland. It will look festive hanging over the party entrance or above the buffet.  Make sure to have a decorated donation box as your centerpiece so that partygoers can sporadically donate during the event.

Menu – Hearts will melt with this simple and easy dessert.  Warm up your guests with a Hug in a Mug – this delicious chocolate cake is served in a mug (recipe below). Serve with ice cream and red cocoa.

Favors – Normally favors are a great way to send guests home remembering your get together.  After this gathering, guests will already feel wonderful that they had a delightful time and did something to help out others in need.

This heart warming party is sure to make hearts swell.  Have an ever-so-sweet Valentine’s Day!

Hug in a Mug

Ingredients:

·         ½ cup flour

·         ½ cup sugar

·         ¼ cup baking cocoa

·         2 eggs

·         ¼ cup milk

·         ¼ cup oil

·         1 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional)

·         Whipped cream

·         4 microwavable coffee mugs

Directions:

1.       Mix flour, sugar, and baking cocoa in a bowl.  Stir together.

2.       Add eggs.  Stir well.

3.       Add the milk, oil, and peppermint.  Stir again. 

4.       Spoon mixture into 4 microwave safe mugs.  Fill halfway. 

5.       Microwave individually for 2 minutes or until firm.

6.       Top with whipped cream.  Enjoy!

Double recipe for 8 mugs.

Let Me Count The Ways!

By Poppie

As I pondered blog ideas for February, of course, the subject of love came to mind.  I am not normally a sappy person (I didn’t even cry during Steel Magnolias), but I did want to focus on that all too powerful emotion that intertwines our family life, acting as a glue that holds us all together through thick and thin.  Love, amore, affection, adoration.  No matter how you say it, this one word says so much about our passions.

There are so many ways to express how we feel about those we love, but I thought I’d list a few of my simple, inexpensive favorites here.

1)     Stamp out the love – Add a spot of cheer to your letters with a stamp featuring your child’s smiling face.  Take a picture of your child holding her Valentine message and either edit yourself or have a professional do it.  Make stamps, postcards, whatever you desire to send your message of love.

2)      A girl’s best friend - Jewelry is always a big hit, but who can afford it?  Make red and pink macaroni necklaces for your little sweeties.  Hey, it works when they give them to you.

3)      Letter of love – Write a special note to your sweetheart or child and put in a tiny bottle.  Have them discover it in various places – in the bathroom cabinet by the toothpaste, in the mailbox (make sure they get the mail), or by their favorite electronic device.  A fun twist on this is to use pre-messaged sticky notes with amusing, loving messages. 

4)      A rosy outlook - Red roses are perfect for Valentine's Day but they are so pricy at this time of year! Fluffy carnations make great substitutes. Or make your own flowers with bunches of tissue paper.

5)      Extended love - Get trendy and add some fun hair extensions or feathers in red and pink to your child’s hair so they will look extra fashionable at their school party.  Bonus points if you show up with extensions in as well.

Use these ideas to help set the mood, and your loved ones will soon be delighted at your expression of love.  Here’s to an oh-so-sweet Valentine’s Day!