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T-Shirt Craft: Make Your Own Valentine’s Day Clothing

February 13, 2012 By 8 Comments

By: Ashley

I’ve been on the look out for simple, fun, and easy crafts that anyone can do… and that anyone can do last minute. I know that I always have these daydreams of getting my Martha Stewart on and having cute, homemade décor for whatever holiday happens to be just around the corner. It never happens though. I’m a procrastinator. I’m also a planner. Odd combination, right? Nevertheless, I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across yet another awesome craft that anyone can do for Valentine’s Day… and that you can do at the last minute.

Stamping With Paint

How to Make a Valentine’s T-Shirt

You will need:

You Will Need

- One pre-washed t-shirt
- Fabric paint in a contrasting color
- Paper doilies (heart-shaped)
- Sponge paint dabbers
- Piece of poster or cardboard

Directions:

1. Lay the shirt out flat. Put the cardboard in between the layers of the shirt so that the paint will not bleed through.

2. Place the heart-shaped doily on the center of the shirt (or use this chance to express some artistic freedom if you’re brave).

3. Dip the sponge into the paint, dab off the excess, and begin stamping the dabber all around the doily. Use the doily as a stencil.

4. Once you have covered the entire doily area with paint, carefully remove the doily. Allow the paint to dry. Remove the cardboard and VOILA! You have a cute Valentine’s Day shirt to wear every year!

Finished ShirtThis was really easy to do and you could make shirts for you, your kids, even your dog if you wanted! If you decide to try it out, leave a comment (better yet a picture) and let us know!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

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Jewelry Craft: Ring Around the Kisses for Valentine’s Day!

February 10, 2012 By 13 Comments

By: Ashley

I have to say that one of my favorite things to do when I was a kindergarten teacher was allow students to decorate bags to hold their little Valentine cards. To be honest, I’m not that big on the store-bought chocolates, comic book character overpriced pieces of cheap cardstock, or the dozen roses that seem to be SUPER expensive during the month of February. What I DO like though, is celebrating love, friendship, and how much you value relationships. A day to tell someone “I love you” just because? YES! I’m in. You don’t need to buy a $5 greeting card or $50 bouquet of roses. In fact, all you need is 2 pipe cleaners and a chocolate kiss! Here is a super easy craft idea that you and your kids can have fun with. I saw this in Family Fun and had to give it a try!

You will need:

- Regular craft pipe cleaners (color of your choice)

- Chocolate drop candies (I used Hershey Kisses)

Instructions:

1. Cross the pipe cleaners and twist them in the center.

2. Bring the pipe cleaners around the tip of the candy and twist to secure them around the Hershey Kiss.

3. Mold the pipe cleaners into a ring. Wrap the excess around the base of the Hershey Kiss or snip off the ends.

4. If you want, you can add a little note to your ring and use them in a class Valentine exchange.

Let us know if you try this out. Feel free to leave a picture of your own “Ring Around the Kisses” experiments in the comments.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and active with our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

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Unique Home Made Chocolate & “Cutie” Valentine’s

February 8, 2012 By 5 Comments

By Summer:

Since there is a lot of Valentine’s stuff circling blogs and the internet and all other technological mediums, here is what is happening at our house……..

There are a lot of different Valentine’s cards out there. My husband and I have always thought it’s all commercial anyways; we’ve never done anything “special” for Valentine’s Day … and really, if he didn’t do it any time before now, why do it on February 14 over any other day? March 2 is a nice enough day too.

So when Valentine’s Day comes, I hit our printer. My preschool-aged son gets to make Valentine’s cards for each of his friends. This year he loved coloring a picture on each one and I got to make cute little saying for our “gift”. Since a card isn’t enough anymore, we give “Cutie” brand clementine oranges; they’re eco and dental-medical professional friendly.

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For the teachers I purchased chocolate (which I know they might get a lot of) but I didn’t buy the cheap stuff rather a bar I’d want to eat myself and is “good” chocolate.

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Remember your footprint when you can. Happy Valentine’s Day from me and my family! ~Summer

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

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Angie’s Kettle Corn Valentine’s Snack Pack: What’s Not to Love?

January 21, 2012 By 3 Comments

Review By Orshi:

All-natural treat makes classroom parties sweet

I hate to admit it, but I still have candies from last Valentine ’s Day. Having 3 children and 18 students, we were way overstocked after this especially sweet holiday. And then came Halloween and Christmas and that basket that usually has only a few pieces in it is overflowing now. I am not a big fan of candy and I certainly don’t feed it to my children. Eating candy is a special treat in our house and it is hard to control the little sugar loving minds when they know it is around (so as far as I know they are unaware of the location of that basket). I also have a son who is highly allergic to dairy, soy, and nuts – pretty much three ingredients that are in most common candies. You know, the feeling of grabbing a piece of candy out of your child’s hand to possibly save his life … hmm, not a good one. Needless to say, I am very happy to find a healthy and safe alternative to the Valentine sugar rush that will please all three of my children and their little Valentines. Angie’s Kettle Corn Valentine’s Snack Packs are a sweetheart of an all-natural treat, packaged in portable and convenient packs for classmate and friend treat exchange.

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Angie’s Kettle Corn is created by Angie Bastian and her husband Dan. At 70 calories per .5-ounce snack-sized bag, Angie’s is a cholesterol-free treat made with whole grain and four simple—and simply irresistible—sweet-and-salty ingredients: popcorn, corn oil, sea salt and sugar. Now how simple is that? My children will love it, I already know.

Exclusively available at Target, the whimsically Valentine-themed snacks pack retails for $5.99 and includes 20 treat-sized bags and customizable message stickers for easy and fun gifting. “With no trans-fats, artificial flavors, preservatives or cholesterol, our snack packs are a naturally delicious treat that Cupids of all ages will love from the inside—out,” said Bastian.

By purchasing Angie’s Kettle Corn you can also be part of a great cause since the growing company’s packaging waste is now being donated to Misfit Acres Inc. in Amboy, Minn., a horse rescue and sanctuary. Misfit Acres sends the waste to Michigan where TerraCycle Inc. “upcycles” it by using every aspect of the waste for a variety of products such as notebook covers, pencil boxes, carry bags, and fencing. Recycling proceeds come back to Misfit Acres and help to defray the expense of caring for the formerly neglected horses.

Visit Angie’s Kettle Corn on Facebook at  or Twitter @AngiesKettle.

About Orshi:

Orshi is a teacher at UCIC where she works daily with children. She shows a great love for children as she has three of her own. She also loves Facebook, gardening and baking. She was born and grew up in Hungary and now lives across the street.

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Valentine’s Day Gifts at the Disney Store Giveaway

February 13, 2011 By 277 Comments

Last week, I really needed to get out of the house so I took Miles to the mall. The first store I saw had dresses on sale for 7.99 and lower and I wanted to go in and they them on, well Miles had another idea. He wanted nothing to do with the dress store so we went walking in the mall. We walked past the Teddy Bear store (aka Build-a-Bear) and he had to go in. So, we went in there and I was ready to go. He didn’t want to leave, so I enticed him with words like Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear and Cars 2. He said, ummm The Mickey Store?

Yes let’s go to the Disney Store…..

He jumped up so fast and said, let’s go mommy, come on!

We can’t have a family trip to the mall without visiting the Disney Store and what did we find, LOTS of cute stuff for Valentine’s Day.

Miles of course loved all of the Cars toys he found along with the new Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear plush. Can a kid have too many versions of Buzz and Jessie?

Valentine's Day Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Mickey and Minnie Mouse are as cute as can be with these soft pie-eyes gazing out at  you while holding a Valentine pouch that your loved one can put a special love note in for you to find. Valentine’s Day Mickey and Minnie Plush retail for 14.50. Dumbo can also be found in the Valentine’s Day plush set holding his own Valentine’s day pouch.

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I love to drink coffee and I’m always looking at coffee mugs. So I was excited to see this pair of mugs for Mom and Dad with these Valentine’s Day Minnie and Mickey Mouse Mugs. By placing them side by side they create a picture with Mickey taking aim with Cupid’s arrow on one and Minnie is love-struck on the other. These are ceramic mugs that retail for 14.50.

Also merchandised for Valentine’s Day are Sweetheart Minnie and Mickey Mouse PJ Pal sets for girls and toddler girls. Each PJ set retails for 14.50. They are all-cotton and Disney authentic as they feature a pretty scallop-edged neckline accented with a satin bow. The contrasting cuffs and heart print pants make for pretty cute little girls PJ sets.

To keep up with all things relating to the Disney store and fun new Disney products sold in Disney Store check out The Buzz, the Disney Store’s blog.

 

Enter to Win:

A Disney Store Goody Bag filled with: Mickey and Minnie Valentine’s Day plush, a mug set, a reusable tote bag and a Valentine’s PJ set for the little loved one in their life.

VD Mickey Mouse BagTo Enter:

Leave a comment telling me what your favorite product is at The Disney Store.

Extra Entries:

 

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

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This giveaway ends February 15th. The Disney Store provided me with a few samples to use in this post, My family does frequently enter and make purchases from the Disney store, all opinions are our own. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Mars Needs Moms Free Valentines for Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

Disney’s new movie Mars Needs Moms is coming to a theater near you in 3D March 11th, 2011.

Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” showcases nine-year-old Milo’s  (Seth Green) quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from Martians—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling).

To begin the Martian celebration, Disney has created these free Valentines for your kids to use, so feel free to take these and print them on your printer. These are free Valentines for your kids to use on Valentine’s Day, and yep, that’s tomorrow friends.

I’ve already screened this movie and I can’t tell you any of the details about it. Except there is a boy named Milo who’s played by Seth Green, and he reminded me of Miles my own little red headed boy.

Check out this Mars Needs Moms movie description from Disney:

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway?  Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” showcases Milo’s quest to save his mom—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one. 

Then be sure and print your free Mars Needs Moms Valentine’s Day cards!

Mars Needs Moms Valentines

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Due to Popular Demand Pinkberry Swirly Grams Ordering was Extended Giveaway

February 10, 2011 By 58 Comments

I’ve seen Pinkberry during my travels across the US and I’ve always been interested in checking one out but I’ve never had the time. Well they found me. Pinkberry is a frozen yogurt company that uses fresh and high quality ingredients and they add a signature tang. Their menu includes, the Original, Pomegranate, Chocolate, Mango, Coconut and Great tea frozen yogurt varieties. I’m really interested in what the green tea flavor yogurt would taste like. I love green tea and I love frozen yogurt. Yum!

With each flavor you can add fresh fruit toppings, dry toppings, or liquid toppings. More Yumm!

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Pinkberry decided to be creative. They created the Swirly gram. The Swirly Gram is your opportunity to share a swirly yogurt creation with a loved one and look how creative they are.

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Due to popular demand of these cute pink swirly grams, Pinkberry has now extended the deadline for ordering its new Valentine’s Swirly Gram. Online ordering has been extended to 12 p.m. PST, Friday February 11th with a one-day shipping fee. So hurry you have only hours left!

In store orders of Swirly Grams are also extended and are now available Friday, Feb. 11th through Monday Feb. 14th.  During this time, you can pick up a Swirly Gram to deliver to your sweetie (while supplies last).

Enter to Win:

2 10.00 Gift Cards to Pinkberry.

To Enter:

Visit Pinkberry and tell me what you would order.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Enter to win 2 (10.00 Gift Cards) To @Pinkberry via @MomStart #Giveaway http://bit.ly/ijTsQN 

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List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble (or any of the share options listed below)
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This giveaway ends February 21st. Pinkberry supplied the information and gift cards. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Keeping Green and Health in Schools this Valentine’s Day Green Gift Ideas

February 9, 2011 By 7 Comments

By Summer my in house green expert.

There is too much commercialism surrounded by sugar coated goodies, over scented flower s, expensive cards and lavishly crazy gifts. I’m going to help you keep your Valentine’s Day smart and simple with some red, pink, and green:

- Make some cards at home with simple 3×5 cards … I even cut mine in half to help save a tree. Another card idea to spread the eco-love is to use green construction paper cut into hearts. Let your kids decorate them as they wish. (Thi$ can al$o $ave $ome of that other green.)

Bowl of Oranges- Have your child hand out clementine “oranges”. If they’re Cuties brand leave the sticker on and write a cute play on words on the card: You’re such a CUTIE; Happy Valentine’s Day!

If your clementines are another brand or you buy full size oranges then try: ORANGE ya goin’ to be my Valentine?

- Instead of oranges you could also do apples. Find the small ones that kids can actually hold in their hands; these are the proper serving size any way. Have the note read: You’re the APPLE of my eye!

- Maybe you still need something a little softer on the wallet … bananas: I’m BANANAs over you!

- Grapes? “I like you a whole BUNCH?” or “I heard it through the GRAPE vine that you’ll be my Valentine.”

- Baby carrots: “Hey BABY, ORANGE ya goin’ to be my Valentine?

- For the teacher make a fruit basket and make a little story or poem out of the fruit names or colors.

- Want to purchase something for the whole classroom? Buy a rooted plant. I’ve read articles that say having live plants in the classroom have improved student learning. Isn’t that the gift that keeps on giving?

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Sure your dentist and nutritionists might think these are great ideas, but environmentalists will too.

- Fruit comes in its own biodegradable “wrapper”.

- You can find some type of local seasonal fruit to make a pun off of in your market. Search and think!

- Rooted plants are great for our air quality. (In my opinion our attitude too.)

- The cards will be easily recyclable if you keep decorations to eco-friendly products (nix the glitter, plus your kid’s classmates would look like pixies for a week).

If you have a group of parent advocates in your child’s class or school consider making a greener Valentine’s Day theme using these tips as a base.

I’d LOVE to hear what you have to say! Do you have some green ideas to spread the LOVE this Valentine’s Day?

 

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

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Warner Brothers Valentine’s Day Live Giveaway

February 7, 2011 By 69 Comments

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Warner Brothers is one of the most iconic companies out there. I grew up going to Six Flags and everything there is Bugs Bunny, Taz, or some other fun Looney Tunes character. Now, I have no idea what the place is like now, but I grew a very large fondness for these characters, Taz mostly, Saturday morning cartoons probably helped a lot too. Of course, there are many other characters to reminisce about as well, like Scooby Do, Tweety Bird, Super Man the list goes on and on. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner Warner Brothers is offering a quick giveaway to on Mom Start reader.

Check out WBshop.com and look around. You’ll find photo frames, and mugs with some of your favorite characters on them. And that’s what we are giving away!

warner brothers prize

 

 

Enter to Win:

A Personalized Warner Brothers product for Valentine’s Day from the Warner Brothers Shop!

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me which item you would like!

Extra Entries:

Leave as many comments you want to as this is a live giveaway.

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Tweet:

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This giveaway ends February 8th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Love Crunch: It’s Natural To LOVE, Share It this February!

February 3, 2011 By 5 Comments

By Summer:

Can you believe it’s February? I can’t! Since the last month has just flown by I should mention that Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away! YIKES! Do you have plans for your sweetheart? How will you show your love?

clip_image001Nature’s Path, same company that has brought us Ancient Grains through Costco, is partnering with Whole Foods to offer Love Crunch cereal, but only for a limited time so you’ll want to run out and get yourself a couple boxes!

When I got my box of Nature’s Path Organic Love Crunch I had to open it and try the dark chocolate chunks, raspberry, strawberry, coconut, and flax granola cereal. YUM! Really; this is an eat-from-the-box cereal. Even my 4 year old chose to have it for his snack today. His quote, “You’re right; this is yummy!” I feel confident giving Love Crunch as a snack because all of Nature’s Path products are made of 100% pronounceable ingredients that are natural and/or organic. Love Crunch is USDA certified organic and contain NO artificial preservatives, NO additives, NO genetically modified organism (GMOs) and NO synthetic pesticides.

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Nature’s Path would love you to share your love at home and internationally. Love Crunch is not just for your family, but for each box your purchase $1 (up to $25,000; that’s 125 loans of $200) will be donated to the Whole Planet Foundation which lends microcredit — a small loan usually $200 or less, that requires no collateral or contract — to women in order to create or expand an at-home business in order to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. And for at home …

make Diane Henderik’s Strawberry Cheesecake for your sweetheart!

Diane Henderik is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Chef, Culinary Nutritionist, and blogger of Dietitian in the Kitchen.

Diane Henderik’s Strawberry Cheesecake

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CRUST
13/4 cup Nature’s Path Love Crunch cereal
1/2 cup Nature’s Path Smart Bran cereal
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
1/3 cup butter (melted)

CAKE
1/2 cup Lifeway Strawberry Greek Yogurt
4 oz. Lifeway Farmer’s cheese, room temperature
8 oz. low fat cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
11/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
2 cup pureed fresh strawberries

TOPPING
1 cup Nature’s Path Love Crunch cereal
12 fresh strawberries
fresh mint springs

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350o.
2. Combine cereals and cocoa in blender, process until blended to fine crumbs. Reserve 1/4 cup of crumbs.
3. Return reserved 1/4 cup of crumbs to blender and grind to fine powder. Set aside for garnish when cake is complete.
4. Make the crust: Combine all ingredients for crust in a large bowl. Press into bottom of 9” springform of cake pan and set aside.
5. Make the cake: Combine yogurt, farmer’s cheese and cream cheese in a large bowl. With electric mixer, completely beat in sugar. Beat in vanilla, spices and flour. Stir in pureed strawberries. Pour into pan.
6. Bake for about 11/2 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let stand 30 minutes.
8. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.
9. Dust entire top of cake with reserved finely ground cereal and sprinkle Nature Path’s Love Crunch cereal around the edges.
10. Fan slices strawberries in center of cake and place whole strawberry in the middle. Garnish with whole and sliced strawberries and mint sprigs.
11. ENJOY!

Serves 12

My changes (as you can see from the photo) were all about the final touches. I don’t use any mint to garnish and choose to use chocolate chips in between the strawberry slices as well as at the top of the middle, whole strawberry.

Be sure you keep in-the-know with Nature’s Path, Whole Foods Market and Diane Henderiks on their respective websites, Facebook and twitter:
Natures’s Path on Facebook and on Twitter @NaturesPath
Whole Foods Markets on Facebook and on Twitter @WholeFoods
Diane Henderiks on Facebook and on Twitter @dhenderiks

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

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