Valentine Fun

With Valentine's Day only a few weeks away,I thought I'd share some ideas for classroom treats for your children to share with friends as well as some Valentine decor for their rooms. Allowing the kids to help decorate and  put together classroom treats lets their creativity flow.

When my boys were in elementary school, every holiday was a big deal. One year for Valentine's Day, I put together these treats for their classmates. You can read the original post .here. Simply fill candy bags with whatever goodies you like and  secure them to the shovels with a little ribbon. I found these shovels that come with "I dig you " stickers. This is a different, fun idea for class parties.

Need a quick favor for classroom parties? These are ready to hand out as is.

If you are like me, you love to place Valentine decorations around the house. One of my favorite things to do is grab some seasonal garland at the Target dollar spot and use it for the mantle and drape it along the tops of the windows in the kids' rooms. It's a quick,inexpensive way to add just a touch of the holiday into your home. If you can't get to Target, this one is very similar to what they sell.

If you want to convey a message rather than just have plain hearts, these are a fun too.

Another  idea that kids enjoy are these hanging hearts. I used to make my own,which was tedious and time consuming, but you can buy them at any party supply store. After my kids would go to sleep,I'd hang them in front of their doors so when they opened them in the morning,they'd have a fun surprise. Little things to start their day off on a positive note.

Speaking of positive notes, another  thing I did with my boys was to write something positive about them on paper hearts and tape them on their walls each day. These make life easier because they are stickers. I always enjoyed telling them how special they were or how much I liked certain things about them like their ability to make us laugh, their compassion, their determination,etc. It's a great idea for boosting self -esteem. Just write a little something special to them and hang these on their wall or wherever you like.

You can also pick up some really cute signs at any Target or craft store to place around their rooms, but I also find some cute ones online like this .

  With every passing season, we'd always display books that helped get the kids excited about the holiday and about reading. Children are more likely to grab a book when it is highly visible ,so we always made a point of having many of them out as part of their room decor. Placing a few hard covered favorites around is a great way to add some Valentine fun to a room as well as encourage a love of reading. Here are a few that we love and bring out every year. If you don't have any, borrow a few from your local library .

A Cranberry Valentine

Comic Valentine

Who's Your Valentine,Charlie Brown?

Leaving Valentine activity books in their rooms is a great way to get their minds going.

Word Searches

Mazes and Puzzles

There are so many inexpensive,fun ways to make Valentine's Day about more than just chocolate, though a little chocolate thrown into the mix is never a bad thing.  Allowing your kids to get creative, explore books and different activities while sharing all the things you love about them with them, creates memories that last forever. Get them involved, have fun and savor the special moments.

**This post contains affiliate links.

Reese's Chocolate-Filled Bars

I recently spotted Reese's Baking Cups and Candy Pieces while shopping and thought I'd make some cookies with them. Once I got them home.I saw a recipe on the back of the bag for these bars so I made them instead. If you do make these, follow the instructions and use a 15-1/2 x 10-1/2 x 1 inch jellyroll pan...I did not, and while they were delicious, mine were definitely much bigger than they should have been. I also used old fashioned oats simply because that is what I had on hand, but I'm sure the quick oats are the better choice.If you cannot find the baking pieces,  use a small bag of Reese's Pieces and chop up some peanut butter cups. You can also adjust this recipe by using M&M's,peanuts or any other candy you enjoy. A sprinkle of powdered sugar on top would  add a nice finishing touch, or perhaps even a drizzle of melted chocolate. Next time,I think I will reserve a few of the baking bits to sprinkle on top after the bars come out of the oven  to make them more visible.If you love gooey,chocolate peanut butter treats, this one is for you.

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter,softened & divided
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract,divided
2-1/2 c. quick oats
2-1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. cocoa
1/4 c. sugar
1-14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1-1/4 c. Reese's baking cups & candy pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of your mixer, mix 1 stick of butter,peanut butter and brown sugar.

Add in the eggs and 1 tsp. of the vanilla. Mix until creamy.

Add in the oats, flour baking soda and salt. Mixture will be very thick. Remove and reserve approximately 2 cups of the dough.

Press the remaining dough into the sheet pan.(see the measurements for the pan above).

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining stick of butter.
Add the cocoa and sugar.

Add the sweetened condensed milk. Stir until combined ,smooth and thick.

Stir in the remaining 1-1/2 tsp. of vanilla.

Pour over the bottom layer of dough in the pan,spreading evenly over the dough.

Sprinkle with the Reese's baking bits.

Crumble the reserved dough over the baking bits.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

You can see how gooey the filling is...let it cool completely,cut into squares and enjoy.

**This is not my own recipe.

Children's Book Club Picks for January

If you know me or have followed along for a while, you know I am an avid reader and believe that reading to your children is one of the most important things you can do. In one of my posts last month, I suggested creating your own book club to encourage kids to read . If you missed it, you can see it here. Each month,I am going to suggest a handful of seasonal stories for those of you who would like to give them as book club gifts or want to share them with your own children ,grandchildren or any of the little ones in your life. Here are some of our favorite picks for January.

I'm a fan of anything by Jan Brett, but The Mitten is a classic. When a young child loses a mitten in the snow, it becomes a warm refuge for a variety of woodland animals. A wonderful story,with gorgeous illustrations, sure to warm the heart on a cold day.

  

The Snowy Day,by Ezra Jack Keats, was written decades ago, but still holds all the wonder of  that first snowfall each winter. This story brings back wonderful memories for me and I love sharing it with children. A must have for any child's library.

Steven Kroll's The Biggest Snowman Ever demonstrates how teamwork can help accomplish even the most daunting task. A sweet story filled with winter fun.

I loved these reading stories as a young girl and this one is a great introduction to the Little House Books for the new reader.Filled with family,chores,coziness and a look at life back in the day. A special winter tale.

Freddy is a fun character  with insecurities,determination and a love of sharks. Any of the books in this series will have the reader coming back for more. In this winter adventure, Freddy is facing his fears about competing in the class winter olympics. A great story about perseverance and believing in oneself.

  I hope this list makes your monthly Book Club for Kids choices a bit easier, and encourages you to continue to get your children excited about books and reading! Enjoy!

**This post contains affiliate links.

End of Year Round Up

The holiday season was a busy one at our house. We spent the month of December cooking,baking,shopping and enjoying all of  the holiday hustle & bustle. Here is a look at all of the holiday happenings around here.
   As always, cookies were being made. Here are a few of our favorites.

Peppermint Sticks

Nut Cups

Triple Chocolate Delights

Eggnog Kringla

Chocolate Rugelach

I then made a few platters,adorned with Lenox ornaments to give as gifts.

I also put together a cookie board for my family to enjoy.

One weekend in December,I had the opportunity to attend a fresh wreath making class at a local flower shop. It was a fun-filled afternoon  with a great instructor and good company! Here is my creation...
 

We also enjoyed a few walks around our neighborhood admiring all the decorations. This house was one of our favorites. The block it is on hosts a holiday block party each year to raise money for pediatric cancer and a wonderful special needs summer camp. They serve hot cocoa,snacks and Santa always stops by for a visit!
  

Every holiday season, I try to take a little time to spend with the boys engaging in some type of holiday fun. This year, I took my youngest son to see a holiday musical/cirque de soleil type show. We had a nice time enjoying the acrobats.

I also snuck in one of my favorite activities,which is the Magic Lights at Jones Beach. The boys really enjoyed it. Not only is it beautiful, but they have a pit stop along the way where you can get snacks, make s'mores at the fire pit and grab a cup of cocoa. This is always a nice treat.
   Another thing I like to do all year, but especially in December is to give back. I try to find a person or family that can use a little boost around the holidays and together with many generous friends, we try to spread a some seasonal joy. This year we were able to shower an old classmate with many gifts and also bring a large amount of  toys to the NYU Langone Hospital's pediatric oncology unit.  It is easy to get caught up in all the festivities and shopping, but it's so much more important to remember those who may not be enjoying this time of year for many different reasons. Being thoughtful can make all the difference in the world!
  

Naturally, we spent time shopping, but mostly for treats! We have a wonderful italian market a few towns over and they were filled to the roof with holiday goodness!
  

Our dog Gigi even got in on the holiday action. My boys were so surprised when this arrived from Solvang Bakery! Rather than eat it, we are going to shellac it and save it because it is so beautiful!
 

Always the plant lover, I was excited when one of my amaryllis bulbs bloomed in early December. I am still waiting for the other to bloom and it's January 12th!

It was a fun season and a quiet Christmas for us, which was wonderful. I hope you all had a great time spent with those you love and I wish you all the best in 2020!