Busy Bee Lifestyle » Holidays and Occasions

The Sweetest Valentine’s Day Gifts!

Host Bee — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:22:21 +0000

The Sweetest Valentine’s Day Gifts!

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! (The Baby Bunch, Cupcake Onesies, box of 6, $49.95)

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. (Learning Resources, Hide ‘n Peek Chocolates, $17.99, ages 2+)

Candy Construction

This building kit will not only encourage creativity, but will do so in the sweetest possible way! An activity guide is included for inspiration with step by step directions. (Learning Resources, Candy Construction, on sale for $34.99)

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 Kids, Garden Cake, $59, Hearts Icing, $12.95)

(Twinkle Brands, Cut-out Icing Hearts, on sale for $12.95)

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! (Prissy Poofs, 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! (The Cat’s Pajamas, Cupcake Sprinkles Flannel Pajama, $88.00)

Wish Cupcake Necklace

This too cute necklace features a gold tone cupcake with faceted glass pave and a pink glass cherry detail!! (Neiman Marcus, Wish Cupcake Necklace, $36.00)

A Candy Bar Bag

This is the perfect way to give a special woman the gift of chocolate: in a fabulous evening bag! I love this candy box inspired clutch from Kate Spade, right down to its bon bon clasp! (Kate Spade, Candy Bar Clutch, on sale for $187.00)

Sprinkle Necklace

Colorful and fun, women of all ages will love this quirky and sweet necklace! (Girlz Lyfe, Candy Heart Necklace, on sale for $16.00)

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 $10.00! (Two Poodles and Me, Chocolate Cake Dog Toy, on sale for $10.00)

Candy Dog Bed

Who could resist this adorable dog bed! Shaped just like a piece of candy and offered in pink and blue, this bed is as cute as it gets for your best friend! (Funny Fur, Candy Dog Bed, starting at $50)

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! (The Sophisticated Cat, 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!

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Looking for some sweet treats for your sweetheart? Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets has a wide selection of romantic Valentine Gifts for adults. Also check out our Valentine Day Gift Baskets that incorporate chocolates, candy, and fresh-baked cookies for your sweetie!

Valentine Crafts for Kids – Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids

Host Bee — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:55:33 +0000

Easy Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids!

As seen on The 10! Show on Monday, February 8th, here are some easy and fun craft projects that you can do with your children!

Thumb Print Hearts

Supplies

Small inexpensive frames – red or pink if possible!
White paper
Red and/or pink (non-toxic) stamp pads

Directions

Have your child make two, overlapping thumb prints in the shape of a heart.
Add your child’s name and the year and put into frames!

Valentine Decoupage Plates

Supplies

Clear glass plates
Mod Podge (easily available at craft stores)
Colored tissue paper
Plain white paper
Markers
Scissors

Directions

Cut out a circle from plain white paper that is the same size as the bottom of the plate.
Have children decorate the circle using markers.
Apply mod podge to the bottom of the plate and adhere the decorated circle.
Use cut scraps of tissue to fill in around the white circle, working only on the bottom of the plate, leaving no glass showing through.
Allow to dry and trim any pieces of tissue larger than the plate.
For decorative use only!

Felt Fortune Cookies

Supplies

Red and/or pink felt
Floral wire
Thin ribbon – red, pink or other valentine pattern
Paper for writing fortunes
Treats to put inside
Scissors and glue

Directions

Cut felt into circles approximately 4 ½ “ in diameter.
For each circle, cut a piece of ribbon and a piece of wire, slightly shorter than 4 ½ “ long.
Glue the wire across the diameter of the felt circle and then glue the ribbon over the wire. Allow to dry.
Fold the circle in half, so that the wire is in the fold. Bend each side inward, making a fortune cookie shape.
Fill with a fortune and small treats! You can use candy, but even more fun, my daughter decided to fill the fortune cookies with a Japanese eraser – a favorite with her classmates!

Sweetheart Candy Frames

Supplies

Conversation hearts in boxes with cellophane openings on the front (Boxed Conversation Hearts)
A small photo
Magnetic tape

Directions

Open the box and remove the candy to enjoy later!
Cut out a photo that fits into the opening on the front of the box, taping it behind the cellophane “window.”
Seal the box and add magnetic tape to the back.

Conversation Heart Topiaries

Supplies

Styrofoam cone
Meringue powder (available in the baking section of craft stores)
Confectioner’s sugar
Candy hearts
Small terracotta pot
Ribbon trim

Directions

Make royal icing according to the recipe. (Royal Icing Recipe)
Starting from the bottom of the cone, use a spatula to apply royal icing and then press candy hearts into the icing.
Continue working in rows until the cone is completely covered. Allow to dry.
Trim the terracotta pot with ribbon and glue the cone to the pot.

Cupcake Candy Baskets

Supplies

Assorted valentine cupcake papers
Assorted card stock and paper doilies
Glitter
Ribbon
Decorative trims
Chenille pipe cleaners
Glue
Foil wrapped candies

Directions

This is a great craft for using up all sorts of left over craft supplies!

Gather scraps of wrapping paper and scrap booking paper, ribbons and decorations and let the kids use their imaginations!
I trimmed the cupcake papers with glue and then glitter and layered several papers to create the base.
A chenille pipe cleaner makes a sturdy handle and a ribbon will finish the look.
Fill with wrapped candies and spread some Valentine cheer!

I hope that you enjoyed the segment on The 10! Show and if you missed it, here’s the link! Happy Hearts Day!

Thanks to Nolia Chocolates for providing a fun give-away for our 10! Show audience! Visit their website for beautiful Valentine’s Day Chocolates Delivered to Your Door!

Valentine’s Party for Kids

Host Bee — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:03:28 +0000

Treat your Kids to the Sweetest Valentine’s Day Party!

A Planning Guide for the Perfect Candy Themed Celebration!

February is a great time of year to add a bit of warmth to those cold winter days and a Valentine’s Day party for your kids might be perfect to do just that. Whenever I think about Valentine’s Day, I inevitably end up picturing candy – candy of all sorts! From conversation hearts to chocolate truffles to red hots, it’s the candy that makes the holiday for me! Not only are the Valentine treats delicious, they also make a wonderful party theme that kids and adults will love!

Valentines Party Invitations

Conversation Heart Inspired – One of my favorite ways to invite Valentine guests is to attach a card, printed with the party details, to a box of conversation hearts!

Red Hots Inspired – Another DIY idea involving candy is to glue red hots in the shape of a heart onto a card, with the invitation inside. Attach a box of red hots to this invitation as well.

Personalized Candy Hearts

Adorable personalized invitations are also available if crafting is not for you! From Zazzle, these Valentine’s Day Party Invitations feature photographed candy hearts with room for personalization. (Zazzle, Candy Heart Invitation, on sale for $1.50)

Heart Lollipops - And if you’re ready for an “over the top” candy invitation, you just have to consider the die cut version from Fine Stationery! This unique card is a heart shaped red and white lollipop, on a stick, sprinkled with glitter and wrapped in cellophane with ribbon ties! (Fine Stationery, Heart Lollipop Invitation, 10 for $65.00)

Valentines Party Decorations

Of course, candy will take center stage at this party! Here are some different ways to incorporate candy into your tablescape!

Candy Heart Helium Balloons

Balloons always add a festive touch and these are perfectly thematic! (Oriental Trading, Latex Conversation Heart Balloons, on sale for $21.50 for 144pcs)

A Candy Buffet – this idea will not only be decorative but will also provide a delicious party favor! Fill a variety of differently sized glass containers with all of the Valentine candy favorites: candy hearts, red licorice in a tall, thin container, lollipops, pink and red jelly beans and more! At the end of the party, let each guest fill a cellophane bag with their favorite treats!

Candy Flower Pots

This idea came from Dylan Lauren, the owner of Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City! Using white ceramic pots, she filled each container with jelly beans, red hots and rock candy and then “planted” large and small lollipops in each pot. (Every Day With Rachael Ray, Candy Flower Pots Centerpiece – pictured)

Candy Resources

Paper Goods

Valentine’s Cupcake Themed

Another cute option from Plates and Napkins sports my favorite motif – a cupcake – decorated for Valentine’s Day and surrounded with a heart border! Plates, cups and napkins are available. (Plates and Napkins, Valentines Day Cupcake Paper Goods, on sale for $5.95 for set of

Not Paper Goods!

If you prefer dishes that can be used again and again, Kohl’s has a variety of cupcake themed serving ware, including platters, cupcake appetizer plates and adorable set of stacking bowls. (Kohls, Cupcake Themed Serving Ware, various prices)

Valentines Party Activities

Games

Candy Heart Charades – fill a bowl with candy hearts and take turns acting out the message on the candy!
Candy Heart Treasure Hunt- hide candy hearts around the house, give each guest a small bag and vie to see who can find the most hearts! Have a prize for the winner!
Find Your Heart Mate – cut out one red, paper heart for every two guests at the party. With scissors, cut each paper heart in half in a variety of patterns and angles. Give one half to each guest and play fun music while each one finds the “other half.”

Valentines Party Crafts

Here are some crafts with two levels of difficulty:

Super Easy Crafts

Conversation Heart Beads

Set out bowls of foam conversation hearts and varying lengths of cord and let the kids go to town making bracelets and necklaces! (Oriental Trading, Foam Conversation Heart Beads, 500 for $6.00)

Valentine Sticker Scenes

Purchase Design Your Own Giant Valentine Village Sticker Scenes! This set includes a background with a sweet village just waiting to be decorated with all sorts of candy stickers! (Oriental Trading, Valentine’s Sticker Village, on sale for $10.00)

Slightly More Challenging Crafts

Valentine Candy Magnet Craft Kit

This set includes three different magnet designs including an ice cream cone, gum ball machine and a milk shake! (Oriental Trading, Valentine Treat Candy Magnet Craft Kit, on sale for $4.50)

Sweetheart Candy Wreaths

For this cute craft you’ll need: a Styrofoam wreath (you can select the size), ribbon, candy conversation hearts and glue. Wrap the Styrofoam wreath with ribbon, securing each end with glue. Glue the candy hearts in overlapping layers around the wreath. Let dry and add a ribbon hanger. (Better Homes and Gardens, Sweetheart Candy Wreaths and see Create for Less for styrofoam wreaths.)

Heart Shaped Pizza – If it’s pizza that’s demanded, go ahead and cut it into heart shapes!
Pasta with Red or Pink Sauce – If pasta fits the bill, red or pink sauce will turn it into a terrific Valentine’s dinner!
Heart Shaped Sandwiches - Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to turn any type of sandwich into a sweet snack!
More Fun Ideas – For some additional ideas, take a look at Valentine Treats for School!

Valentines Day Party Favors

Party Favors for Girls

If you create craft projects during the party, the finished products can easily be your party favor, as well as gift bags filled from a candy buffet. Some other cute favors that suit this sweet theme include:

Cupcake Bath Bombs

(Amazon, Cupcake Bath Bomb, on sale for $5.99)

Candy Lip Gloss

(Amazon, Cupcake Lip Gloss, on sale for $12.00)

I Love Candy Bangle

(Dylans Candy Bar, I Love Candy Bangle, on sale for $5.00)

Party Favors for Boys

I know that the favors mentioned above are totally for girls, and so if you are inviting some young gentlemen to your Valentine soiree, just plan to send them home with all sorts of candy!

Wrap Up

When the “sweetest” celebration is over, clean up a bit and then send your children to bed! Pour a glass of champagne for you and your sweetheart and toast to romance at any age!

* It’s serendipity when the products we love are from a sponsor we love!

Valentine’s Day Cocktail Party

Host Bee — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:56:07 +0000

Host a Sweethearts’ Cocktail Party!

Host a sweethearts’ Cocktail Party for your favorite couples! It doesn’t matter that February 14th falls on a weekday. Look toward the weekends before and after!

Valentine’s Cocktail Party Invitations

Invitation Jane offers a stylish cocktail invitation, featuring a pink border and cosmopolitan icon with a jewel for a cherry! (Invitation Jane, Jeweled Cosmopolitan Invitation, 30 for $65.00)

From Fine Stationery – At Fine Stationery, Chic partygoers top this cute invitation, along with the requisite cocktail glasses and wine bottle! (Valentine Party Invitation*, 30 for $70)

This fun invitation combines two of my favorite things – cupcakes and cocktails! On a pretty card with a pink border, you’ll find cosmopolitans and a cupcake – the perfect pair! (Polka Dot Design, Cupcakes and Cocktails, 30 for $52.20)

Valentine’s Party Decorations

Helpful Hints: Whether you choose “tricky,” “easier,” or “easiest,” let your invitations guide your color scheme for the party. For example, with Valentine’s Day it’s easy to go with one of two color ways – pink/white/silver or red/white/gold. This will give your party a cohesive feeling and your choices for food, table decorations, and serveware will make sense to your guests! They will admire the way your theme or color scheme is carried throughout your party!

Tricky

Arrange tiny rose buds (pink or red, according to your color scheme) densely in small, clear glass vases. Scatter the arrangements across your dinner table or buffet. Plan to send an arrangement home with each couple as a party favor! Try Michaels for very nice square vases at a nice price!

Easiest

Head to your local Dollar Store for as many clear, glass votive holders as you can carry out! Choose either red or pink votive candles, in keeping with your color scheme. Scatter the votives in groups everywhere!

Crazy

Do all three!

Valentine’s Party Cocktails and Drinks

Tricky -

Serve Valentinis, Cabochon Cocktails or Pink Passions.

Easier

Champagne poured into flutes and garnished with whole strawberries.

Easiest

Serve your own favorite wines and beers. If you like them, your guests will too!

Valentine’s Party Menu

Tricky

Fondue bars for all courses! Cheese, meat and chocolate! You’ll need to borrow or buy sufficient fondue pots to accommodate your crowd. Don’t forget bread cubes and apples for the cheese fondue, beef and chicken for the main course, and fruits, pound cake, and marshmallows for the dessert course.

Easier

Serve a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres, designed to appeal to all. Shrimp cocktail, baked brie, fresh crudites, mini crab cakes, sliced French bread and various toppings like tapenade, bruschetta, fresh mozzarella cheese, and roasted red peppers. Also consider store bought gourmet pate, assorted cheeses, olives, and hummus. All of these items go well with breads of all sorts like flat bread, bagel chips and bread sticks. Take a look at our appetizer recipes. For dessert try strawberries dipped in chocolate and heart shaped cookies.

Easiest

Get help! Order trays of Italian food from your favorite restaurant! Or order a spiral sliced ham your local market or butcher shop. Dress the ham up with country biscuits, sliced swiss cheese, and a wide assortment of mustards. For dessert fill a large clear glass trifle bowl or salad bowl with hulled and cleaned fresh strawberries and raspberries. Serve store bought pound cake or angel food cake on the side of the fruit, along with a bowl of freshly whipped cream.

Valentine’s Party Favors

Tricky

Burn CD’s with all of your favorite romantic songs (see Burn Your Own CDs). Personalize your CD label with your party colors and favorite romantic sentiment. Wrap in cellophane bags tied with coordinating ribbons. Gather the CD’s in a basket and keep them by the front door. This way you won’t forget to give your guests their favor as they leave!

Easier

Send guests home with splits of champagne. Package in cellophane bags tied with coordinating ribbons.

Easiest

Buy boxes of Red Hots, Hot Tamales, or Conversation Hearts (Conversation Hearts, 36 boxes for $22.99). Package in cellophane bags tied with coordinating ribbons. Your guests’ children will love these favors!

Valentine’s Party Hostess Gifts

Tricky

A Mariposa Cocktail Napkin Box from Silver Impressions. The napkin box comes with adorable heart patterned napkins and a XOXO weight to go on top. (Silver Impressions, Mariposa Cocktail Napkin Box, $44.00)

A Mariposa Heart Shape Canape Plate (Silver Impressions, Heart Shape Canape Plate, $29)

These gifts are really beautiful, but a little pricey for the average hostess gift. Consider giving a joint gift with another couple attending the party! Your hostess will be thrilled to receive one great gift rather than two bottles of wine!

Easier

Put together a “Morning After” gift bag or basket for your hosts. Include waffle/pancake mix, nice maple syrup, a bottle of Bloody Mary mix, and gourmet coffee. You can do this at your local supermarket or buy it on-line from Stonewall Kitchen. Includes amber maple syrup, waffle/pancake mix and a silicone spatula! (Stonewall Kitchen, Pancake Breakfast Grab & go, pictured, $29.95)

Easiest

Purchase a CD of romantic music. Amazon has an entire section devoted to Valentine music! Some nice choices include: “Amore” by Andrea Boccelli, “Favorite Love Songs” by Michael Crawford, “Greatest Love Songs” by Frank Sinatra, or “Michael Buble” by Michael Buble. If these titles don’t appeal to you or your hosts, there are many more to choose from on-line.

Out of Time

Swing by your local grocery store and pick up some potted flowers. Don’t bring a bouquet unless it is already in a vase – It’s asking a lot of your host to arrange flowers during a party. Nice choices are potted red tulips or pink or red Cyclamen.

For Your Valentine’s Day Cocktail Party or Any Special Gathering

Before your guests arrive:

If your kids haven’t gone to a neighbors, send them to bed or upstairs with a babysitter.
Turn on your outside lighting and make sure your walkway is clear of ice and snow.
Set up coffee service with coffee, hot water, tea, tea bags, sugar, artificial sweeteners, cream, and to-go cups.
Have bottles of water available for departing guests.
Dim the lights, turn on the romantic music, and light your candles.
Try to sit back, relax, and enjoy your own celebration!

Do you have an idea for a Valentine’s cocktail party you’d like to share? I’d love to hear!

Conversation Heart History

Host Bee — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:40:05 +0000

Tip of the Week – Conversation Heart History

Sweetheart’s Conversation Hearts candies are almost synonymous with Valentine’s Day! As for me, I’ve made refrigerator magnet frames out of the boxes, filled glass urns with hundreds of these colorful hearts to hold pillar candles and used the candies as invitations to a coffee party at my house!

While my uses are pretty modern, these candies date back to the 1860′s when one of the first printed sayings was a simple, “Be Mine!” In the years since, the phrases have kept up well with the changing times! Here’s a quick summary of expressions of love through the decades:

1920′s: The One I Love
1950′s: Hep Cat
1960′s: Far Out
1970′s:
1996: Fax Me
1998: You Go Girl
2000: 2000 Kisses
2001: U R A Star
2002: Te Amo
2003: Book Group
2004: I M Me
2005: #1 Fan
2006: ILU
2007: Top Dog
2008: Chill Out
2009: Top Chef
2010: Tweet Me
2011: Awesome
2012: www.love

I wonder what sayings we have to look forward to in the future? Conversation hearts are such a fun way to mark trends and social changes!

I’d love to hear your own ideas! Happy Valentine’s Day from Busy Bee!

And for more fun and quick tips, come follow me on Twitter!

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