Busy Bee’s Valentine’s Day Round Up:

Your Guide to a Fabulous Valentine’s Day!

From Gift Guides to Fun Tips to Party Plans, you’ll find it all at Busy Bee Lifestyle!  Take a look now and get inspired! -

• The Sweetest Valentine’s Day Gifts
• Clever Valentine’s Gifts for Kids
• Valentines Day Tips and Ideas
• Valentine’s Day Treats for School Parties
• Treat Your Kids to the Sweetest Valentine’s Day Party
• Coffee and Conversation:  Host a Valentine’s Day Coffee for Your Friends!
• Host a Valentine’s Day Cocktail Party
• The Cutest 5 Minute Valentine’s Day Craft
• Have Fun with a High School Musical Valentine’s Party!
• A Letter Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift

Sending Our Best Wishes for a Truly Sweet Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re headed to a casual dinner, spending the weekend at a friend’s vacation home or attending a cocktail party, it’s nice to bring along a gift that’s a bit more imaginative than a bottle of wine!  Here are some of the fabulous selections that I’ve found recently!

For the Chef

The Chef Set Page Flags

The Chef Set Page Flags – this clever set of post-it style page flags allows the cook to identify recipes to be prepared with a specialty label including:  vegetables, seafood, appetizers, meats and dessert!

Designer Dish Gloves

Designer Dish Gloves – turn a boring chore into a fashion event with these pink rubber dish gloves that are embellished with black and white striped cuffs, black organza bows and a “diamond” ring!

Eiffel Tower Cheese Graters

Eiffel Tower Cheese Graters – practical, attractive and of course, perfect for grating fromage, these graters shaped like the Eiffel Tower are unique hostess gift!

Adorable Bakeware

Adorable Bakeware - I just love every one of these baking pans!  Colorful stripes, polka dots and gingham checks make traditional baking pans a treat even before the food is added!  Pan styles include:  brioche, loaf, round and rectangular cakes pans and a tart pan!

Cookbooks

Cookbooks – cookbooks always make a welcome gift and here are a few that I would recommend:

• Mastering the Art of French Cooking – this classic has received renewed attention following the release of the movie Julie and Julia and will always be a classic!
• Silver Palate Cookbook 25th Anniversary Edition -  I received this cookbook as a bridal shower gift in 1990 and it’s still one of my favorites!*
• I Like You – Hospitality Under the Influence – in this funny book, Amy Sedaris offers a witty, tongue in cheek approach to entertaining that will keep your hostess laughing and picking up some tips and recipes!

For the Entertainer

Tote Along Utensil Caddy

Tote Along Caddy Utensil Caddy – this gift is so useful and so cute!  The tin caddy features crisp white utensils against a bright green background!

Lacquered River Rocks

Lacquered River Rocks – these are actual river rocks that have been harvested from a valley in Vietnam.  Each rock is hand lacquered eight times for a lustrous finish in 17 beautiful colors!  Hosts can use these rocks as place cards, paper weights, party favors and can be written on to identify dishes on a buffet!

Monogrammed Glass Cutting Boards

Monogrammed Glass Cutting Boards – this personalized, glass cutting board has many uses including the expected cheese display, but also works well as a trivet or kitchen decoration!  The fact that you thought ahead to have this gift monogrammed will not be missed by your host!  Color combinations and monogram styles will make it hard to choose!

Monogrammed Lucite Tray

Monogrammed Lucite Tray – stylish and versatile describe this beautiful square tray!  Sized at 12” x 12”, this tray is perfect for cocktails and snacks, but also for a foyer table or bureau as a chic catch all!  And perhaps the best part about this tray is the array of fabulous choices that you have to personalize the tray’s liner!  Background patterns range from floral to nautical to textile to graphic to organic and once that’s chosen, you can then select a monogram style and background color for it.  I love this tray and may need it myself!

Entertaining Books – there’s no end to the beautiful books that will inspire future entertaining and look terrific on any one’s coffee table!

Essential Lilly:  A Guide to Entertaining

Essential Lilly:  A Guide to Colorful Entertaining! This gorgeous book is a perfect resource for Palm Beach style parties of all kinds!*

Styles, Occasions and Manners by Kate Spade

Styles, Occasions and Manners by Kate Spade – this set of three books draw upon Kate Spade’s stylish, modern and chic approach to life and make it accessible to all!*

Entertaining is Fun

Entertaining is Fun – How to be a Popular Hostess:  Authored by Dorothy Draper in 1941, this iconic book has been recently reprinted and is a timeless and classic on entertaining!  With a vivacious and inspiring approach, this book will amuse all!

In Style Parties

In Style Parties (The Complete Guide to Easy, Elegant Entertaining) – this richly photographed book promised to create A-list parties without an over abundance of time or money!  Entertaining at home will be fabulous, easy and fun!*

Any of these gifts will make you a stand out guest at your next soiree and a sought after guest in the future!  Enjoy!

*Books that I own and love!

With the recent announcement of the Color of the Year for 2010, a fabulous shade of turquoise, I thought that I’d take a look at some of the fun gifts inspired by these classic color charts!

Mugs

Choose your favorite shade from this assortment of ten colors!  Or, an entire set of ten!  (individual mugs, $14.99)

Travel Accessories

Each one of these items is really practical, but pack a punch of color with creative flair!

• Laptop/Messenger Bag, $88
• Passport Cover, $23.99
• Coin Purse, $16.99
• Luggage Tags, $14.99
• Wallet, $39.99
• Book Bag, $44.99

Playing Cards

Bring a touch of class to your card games with this colorful card set by Roger La Borde. (Playing Cards, $13.99*)

T-Shirts

Match your preferred strength to the relevant Pantone colour and get that perfect cup every time!  (Pantone 4 Coffee T-Shirt, from $25.14)

Cufflinks and Key Rings

Designed to resemble the iconic Pantone chip, these cufflinks and key rings are made of stainless steel and feature coloured enamel in seasonal colors. (Cufflinks, $67; Key Rings, $45)

Each one of these items would make a fabulous gift for the creative people in your life – both those who create art and those who are inspired by it!   What Pantone color are you?

You may also enjoy:

• Color Trends for 2010
  

* It’s serendipity when the products we love are from the sponsors we love

There’s a noticeable trend in the fun Valentine’s Day gifts that I found this year!  Each one is “sweeter” than the last and sure to please women of all ages!

For Babies

Cupcake Onesies

Practical onesies look adorable when packaged in cupcake papers, trimmed with a decorative fruit or flower and sold in a bakery box! (Cupcake Onesies, starting at $19.80)

For Little Ones

Hide n’ Peek Chocolates

Shapes and colors are just waiting to be matched inside this sweetheart box of chocolate truffles!  The twelve chocolates can be used to enhance fine motor skills or play a memory game.  (Hide ‘n Peek Chocolates, $16.99, ages 2+)

Sweet Heart Sayings

Oversized, plastic conversation hearts with cute messages can be strung together to make simple sentences!  Twenty eight hearts are packaged in a candy jar with three laces and candy scoop! (Sweet Heart Sayings, $18.99, ages 2+)

Twinkle Hearts Felt Cake

This is a deliciously fun three layer cake crafted from wool felt in either “chocolate” or “vanilla.”  The cake arrives in a white cake box, tied with bakery twine and includes a variety of Valentine themed cut outs for decorating, again and again.  Additional decoration packs are available for other special occasions! (Twinkle Hearts Felt Cake, $59)

Sweetheart Prissy Poof

A white tulle tutu, embellished with pink and red hearts will be a fabulous surprise for any little girl!  A matching tulle bag is also included! (Sweetheart Poof, $49.95)

For Teens and Women

Cupcake Flannel PJ’s

Sweet and cozy, these chocolate brown pajamas with colorful cupcakes are 100% cotton flannel and available for women and girls! (Flannel PJ’s, $49 for women, $50 for kids)

Wish Cupcake Necklace

This too cute necklace features a gold tone cupcake with faceted glass pave and a pink glass cherry detail!! (Wish Cupcake Necklace, $48)

Chocolate Jewelry Box

This copper colored jewelry box is designed to look like a box of chocolates!  When you open it, there’s a removable tray holding four little cups, shaped like brown paper chocolate wrappers!  Underneath the tray is a divided compartment for additional storage.  (Chocolate Jewelry Box, $59.99)

Cupcake Towels

Enjoy this set of sugar free cherry and strawberry cupcakes!  The “strawberry” version features a fluffy vanilla washcloth rolled up to look like a cupcake with a strawberry magnet on top.  The “cherry” version features a chocolate washcloth with a pair of cherry magnets on top.  Each is wrapped with decorative bakery paper!  (Cupcake Towels, $9.95)

For Pets

Chocolate Cake Dog Toy

All dogs will love receiving their own Valentine treat:  a soft, plush “chocolate cake” toy!  From Two Poodles and Me, this toy, along with many other cute versions, retails for $8.00! (Two Poodles and Me)

Donut Dog Bed

Who could resist this adorable dog bed!  Shaped just like a cupcake, with a pink “cake” bottom,  chocolate “icing,” and colorful sprinkles, this is as cute as it gets for your best friend! (Cupcake Dog Bed, $70)

Catnip Candy Stix

Colorful, candy shaped sticks are filled with farm fresh catnip and hand tied at each end, to resemble its real candy equivalent! (Catnip Candy Stix, $5)

I just love every delightful gift on this list and hope that you’ll add some sweetness to someone special’s Valentine’s Day!

You may also enjoy:

• The Sweetest Valentine’s Gifts for Kids
• Valentine’s Day Tips and Ideas
• Valentine’s Treats for School
• Host a Valentine’s Day Coffee
• Have Fun With A High School Musical Valentine’s Day Party
• Cute and Easy Valentine’s Craft for Kids
• Valentine’s Day Cocktail Party Plan
  

The Sweetest Valentine’s Gifts for Kids!

When I was growing up (and still today!) every holiday was a special day complete with gift giving, thanks to my mother’s fabulous creativity.  And in fact, her gift giving was brilliant, especially when my sister and I were young.  My mom would shop for things that we needed, but jazzed up a notch!  Pajamas would appear in pink satin with a matching robe or bathing suits with matching sandals and cover up!

Retailers today make this idea even easier by offering lots of basic clothing items done up in seasonal patterns! Here are some of the best offerings I spotted on the internet, just in time for Valentine’s Day giving!

Adorable Sleepwear

The little girls in your life will love these Love Bug PJ’s from Pajama Gram !  Fitted long john style and made of 100% cotton, these pajamas will please long after February 14th! (Love Bugs Pajamas, $34.95, includes Pajama Gram’s fabulous hat box packaging!)

Sweetheart Sports Wear

From Gymboree, there’s an entire line of mix and match heart patterned clothing including jeans, dresses, t-shirts, socks, and more!  The Valentine’s Day Collection offers clothing for both boys and girls. (Gymboree’s Valentine’s Day Collection)

A Little Bit of Everything

Gap Kids has covered the gamut with their Valentine selection!  Choose from swimsuits, hoodies, graphic t’s, tights, pajamas and much more! (Valentine’s Clothing for Kids)

From Boden

This terrific kids’ clothing retailer offers some Valentine-worthy choices like a red fly away cardigan with a funky matching skirt for girls (cardigan, $27: skirt, $25) and for boys, a red long sleeved t-shirt with a snowmobiling applique, $18 or a zip up red college sweatshirt, $22!

Even if you don’t pick up one of my specific recommendations, any gift that you’d like to give your children can become a fabulous Valentine gift – just work with all things red, pink and white!

Wishing you and your family a very happy Valentine’s Day no matter how you celebrate it!

You  may also enjoy:

• High School Musical Valentine’s Party
• Host a fabulous Valentine’s Cocktail Party
• Have fun with a Valentine’s Coffee
• Send Your Loved One a Unique Valentine’s Floral Arrangement

Tags: valentine’s day gifts for kids, children, girls, boys, unique, fun, fabulous, best, top, clever, preppy, great