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valentine’s day

On Point Care Package Tips

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Since I have lived in the Midwest my whole life, I have noticed that this is about the time I am over Winter. I like the hot beverages, and snuggling, and snow days. However, I start longing for some outdoor time. I am aching to put away the boots, get my garden going, go for a walk that doesn’t require me to put on a dozen layers of clothing, or just sit outside and soak in some rays.

I want to take a deep breath of fresh air and not feel my lungs freeze and my eyes sting.
Then, I thought if I am sick of Winter, I cannot imagine how my niece (god-daughter) away at college feels. Walking to class is just the worst in weather like this.
So, I decided to send her a care package.
Here are some tips for sending an on point care package.
Food: Send a little treat or something you know will last a few days. Perhaps some cookies, a favorite nut butter, or even some candy. You can even try and send something homemade. However, keep in mind the weather. If it the weather is extremely cold, or very warm it might not hold up, so make sure to keep that in mind.
Thoughtful: Try and send something that you know the person will especially like or need. Perhaps a favorite movie on DVD to watch for a study break, a good book, a few photos, some fancy pens for school work, or their favorite brand of coffee.
Small but Sturdy: Whatever you send make sure it is small, light, and sturdy. Remember you had to send these things through the mail so make sure it can hold up through the mail, isn’t too fragile, and  make sure it is light enough so that if it has to be carried to a class or two before headed back to the dorms it isn’t a burden. Items like snuggly socks, a favorite lip balm, new gloves would do nicely.
Note: A note is always a perfect way to tell someone you’re thinking of them and hope things are going well. Also, a few kid drawings to brighten someone’s day are nice too.
Packaging: A small box packed tightly and stuffed with tissue is perfect. Make sure to slip a piece of paper with the recipients address inside the box too. Seal it up with packing tape, label it and ship it off.
What would be in your ideal care package?If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

7 Awesome Food Free Valentines {FREE PRINTABLES}

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Valentine’s Day is almost here! This typically means flowers and candy, but for those who suffer from allergies, it can mean trouble.  With schools becoming more supportive of kids with allergies and other food related illnesses such as diabetes by keep parties FOOD FREE, it can be hard to know what to bring to a class Valentine’s Day Party.

As a Mom of kids who have several food allergies, I thought I would share some ideas (7 of them) for some cute and clever Valentines that are FOOD FREE, but not free of fun.

With the help of Canva (for the printable cards) and my favorite store Target (for the little goodies), I came up with a few ideas to share some FOOD FREE FUN this Valentine’s Day. I hope you enjoy it as much as my little ones have.

1.) Pencil Valentines are adorable (and handy for when you need an extra one for homework.)

 

Print out this card HERE and attach a cute pencil.

2.) When you’ve got it you’ve got it, and with these little notebooks

 

you can tell your friend they have the “write stuff.”

Print out this card HERE and add a small notebook.

3.) Erasers are always easily found in bulk for big class parties, and are nice to have on hand for mistakes. My kids have started an “eraser collection” from all the cool ones they have collected over the years. These cute erasers

 

and a card make a great Valentine.

 

Print out this card HERE, then add a cute eraser.

4.) Bubbles will never go out of style for kids. They are easily found this time of year, but can also be found around Easter time and in the wedding sections.

 

Tell your friends how you feel with a card.

 

Print out this card HERE, then attach bubbles.

And voila.

 

5.) Small action figures or toys are always a fun gift, and when you’re telling your friends they are DINO-MITE they can’t be beat.

 

 

Print out this card HERE, then add a dinosaur figure or eraser.

6.) These small heart shaped slinkies I found at Target (but regular ones would work just fine too), are an adorable way to tell your pal how you feel.

 

 

You can find the spring card HERE!

7.) Small mazes are awesome for traveling or on the go. It is fun to remember your friend when you play it too.

 

The maze card can be found HERE!

For a complete list of the printable cards you can CLICK HERE!

 

Happy Valentine’s Day, Readers!

If you like this post and would like to read more about all things domestic with a touch of humor, become a Home Everyday follower! For blog updates or to see other places I write such as ChicagoNow or Chicago Parent follow Home Everyday on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Salted Carmel and Dark Chocolate Truffles

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It is Smart Cookie time! When Valentine’s Day is on its way, I of course think of chocolates so I thought instead of a cookies, it might be fun to make a chocolate candy treat. A few weekends ago, I had a salted carmel chocolate cake for dessert at a restaurant, and the combination of salted carmel and rich dark chocolate was so awesome that it inspired this recipe. Also, as my friend, Mary, pointed out dark chocolate is heart healthy. This is perfect for American Heart Association’s Heart Health Month.

 

 

This recipe seemed a little intimidating at first, but I found this great recipe as a base, and made a few small changes. They are a hit, as in they are gone.

Salted Carmel and Dark Chocolate Truffles

12 oz semisweet or dark baking chocolate chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
12 carmel candies cut in half
1-2 Tbs Fine Sea Salt

 

Place chopped chocolate in a large heat safe bowl, and place on top of a sauce pan filled with and inch or two of water to act as a double boiler. Turn on the heat to medium low. Next, in a second sauce pan over low heat add the cream. When the cream is heated through or when there are small bubbles around the edge of the pan, add the cream to the melting chocolate and gently whisk together. When the chocolate is thoroughly melted and incorporated with cream, add the mixture to a shallow baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for one hour.

While the chocolate is cooling, dredge carmel pieces in sea salt.

 

 

Remove chocolate from refrigerator.

 

Using a small cookie scoop (1 Tbs size) and scoop chocolate and insert salted carmel piece into the center of chocolate. Then gently roll into a ball and place on a refrigerator safe dish.

When all the truffles are made, sprinkle with the tiniest bit of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

I have to make more to mail out. I think these are my new favorite chocolate treat.

For more information about Smart Cookies click here. You can also see past Smart Cookie recipes below: Oatmeal Dark Chocolate and Dried Cherry Cookies, Lucy Cookies, White Chocolate and Cranberry Blondies, Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Biscotti, and Italian Butter Cookies with Lemon Glaze.

Flowers, Candy, and Books: Valentine’s Dining Table Decor

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I know everyone in the home blogosphere is decorating their houses for Winter, but to be honest, I’m a little lazy. I don’t like having to put things up and take things down all the time. Occasionally, I will skip a holiday or a whole season in this case. This year, I decided to skip the snowflakes and the winter white decor, and start on Valentine’s Day.

 

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of my parents bringing home little gift bags of flowers, candy, and the latest Ramona book as a treat. My siblings would get their favorite candies and magazines. It was just a small gesture, but it is one I want to continue with my kiddies.

Since I don’t know how to decorate with books, and my favorite flower (tulips for those who ever want to send me flowers) isn’t really in season right now, I thought it would be cute to decorate with some candy.

Valentine’s Candy is the best because it is in small amounts, doesn’t count toward your New Year’s Resolution eat healthy plan (at least that is what I am telling myself), and it is wrapped in pretty colors.

 

The first thing I did, was buy a few bags of conversation hearts and fill the glass hurricanes I keep on my dining room table with them. We are not conversation heart people, I actually think they taste chalky, so I stuck candles in the hurricanes and used the candy strictly for decorative purposes. I felt kind of weird using food for decoration, but there are people that use bags of lemons that go wasted, so I didn’t feel so bad after that.

 

The rest of the candy is for consumption though (trust me I keep sneaking dark chocolates). I bought all our favorites: Dove dark chocolates, Dum Dum suckers, and a bag of Valentine M&M’s and then put them in some glass vases at different heights.

 

I then found some leftover fabric from this curtain project, and Ta Da! I made a simple, easy, sweet, and edible tablescape for the cost of some candy, that let’s face it, I would have bought this time of year anyway. Plus, at the rate we are going, the vases will be empty in time for Valentine’s day for Brian to fill with flowers (hint, hint).

Happy Valentine’s Day!!