Category: Valentine’s Day

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Wee Knit Giveaway!!

If you know us at all–you’ll know that we–as a family–just aren’t into the noisy, flashy, spinny toys that seem to be all the thing these days. I swear, some of them seem kind of…possessed…ummm…I mean, a bit over the top. Which is why I love, love, LOVE these sweet little finger puppets from Wee Knit.

No, this is not a paid endorsement, I just really love them.

Years ago, I bought a little Gingerbread Man at Mormon Handicraft in Salt Lake City. He was so sweet and tiny and adorable that I couldn’t help myself. I soon found that he fit very nicely on top of a knitting needle that was poking out of my pencil cup. He has lived there ever since.

So then one day, I’m dinking around on Etsy (the online shop for all things Handmade) and I found the WeeKnit shop–where my little cookie man came from! Wahooo!

I contacted them to see if they could conjure up an Edward and Jacob finger puppet for our New Moon party. Jennifer was wonderful with my silly special order. As you can see–they did an incredible job!!

(Wait until you see what I’m going to order for Christmas! hee hee…)

You need to visit the shop–seriously. These gals–Tracy and Jennifer, a mom and daughter–have thought of everything. Movies, TV shows, Story books.

Recognize these little guys?

You need animals? Circus clowns? Ninja Turtles?

Pirates? Easter? Nativity?

Trust me…they’ve got them.

They even have a Valentine set—and it’s on SALE!

What a great gift for your little Valentines–hint, hint.  ;]

Now–since it’s been such a long, long time since we’ve had a giveaway AND because, again, I can’t help myself–we are giving one lucky reader this adorable “Little Red Riding Hood” Finger Puppet Set–from WeeKnit.

Sooo. Dang. CUTE!!

To enter, simply go to the WeeKnit site and tell me in the comment section below, which set is your very favorite. Oh, and it has to be one that I haven’t show here.

I’ll announce the winner Monday morning January 25, 2010–first thing.

Good luck my dah-lings!

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~A New Blog Swap~

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A few weeks ago, I told you all about the Blog Swaps that are going around in the Blogging world–you know, where you send a fellow blogger a treat and they send you one in return. Some of you may remember that Lyndi and I participated in the “Blog or Treat” and earlier this month the “Santa Swap,” both set up by cute little Shannon over at the Mommy Files.

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Well, Shannon–who is incredibly on the ball–is already setting up the Valentine Blog Swap. If you’d like to be part of the fun–just click on over to her site and leave a comment saying that you’d like to be included. You don’t have to do anything right now, except say you’re interested and she will email you the details in a week or so. Trust me–this is a good way to get into the holiday spirit–no matter which holiday you choose!

You know how fun it is to get a surprise in the mail, right? Of course you do.

So, come on–join us.

Let’s SWAP!

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have some cupcakes–on us~

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Whether you are headed off to a romantic evening with someone you love or are staying home to celebrate with a whole bunch of someones you love–kiss somebody and…

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

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Bear Hug Valentines

In light of the fact that Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, I thought it might be wise to give you tomorrow’s post…now. I’ll think of something else for tomorrow. Maybe something smushy and gushy and smoochie…

…maybe not.

Here you go…

Translation: Teddy Grahams and Hershey’s Hugs and Gummy Bears and Gopstopper Hearts tied in cellophane bags make a great, QUICKIE Valentine.

Note– If your child can only bring wrapped treats- pick up the snack packs of Teddy Grahams and Beary Fruit Snacks…that should help.

In the hopes of being helpful–here are the links to all the other “Valentines” we’ve posted…so far.

Valentine Cookie Packs

Valentine Buckeye Bars

Valentine Gift- Scrabble Tile Pendant

Tiny Cookie Valentines

Valentine Pancakes

Valentine Candy Ipod

Valentine Caramels

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Caramels

We have a nursing mommy here at our place who is making a valiant effort to avoid chocolate–for Baby Chomp’s sake, and at Valentine’s season too–poor thing.
So in an effort to be supportive, we’ve been on the lookout for sweetheart treats that don’t use the dreaded cocoa bean.
This did the trick…

Creamy Caramels

Ingredients

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C packed brown sugar

6 TBSP butter

1/2 C heavy cream

1/2 C corn syrup

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Mix all ingredients except vanilla in a saucepan. On low heat, stir constantly until butter is completely melted and sugar is dissolved. Don’t get impatient and up the heat, or stop stirring or the cream could scorch.

Once sugar is dissolved, increase heat to medium. Heat to boiling–keep stirring! Once it’s boiling, you can lay off on the stirring, just occasionally should do the trick. Let it boil (gently–again, don’t turn up the heat) until you can drip some in a cup of ice cold water and it firms up just a bit–not enough to pull your teeth out, just enough that you can eat it, and it stays intact and chewy. If it just dissolves in the water–it’s not ready.

It should take about 8-10 minutes. (I have used half-and-half when I didn’t have heavy cream, and it took more like 20 minutes cause of the extra water…they also weren’t as rich.) Remove from heat.

Update! Add the vanilla after the caramel has stopped bubbling and boiling. Just stir it in with a spoon. (Thanks Sue!)

When it’s ready, pour into a greased 8×8 pan or pie tin.

Let cool completely, then cut with a metal spatula. It works much better than a knife, trust me. Then, if you want, you can wrap individual pieces in wax paper or decorative cellophane.

Caramels
 
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Ingredients
  • ½ C sugar
  • ½ C packed brown sugar
  • 6 Tbsp butter
  • ½ C heavy cream
  • ½ C corn syrup
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla.
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients except vanilla in a saucepan.
  2. On low heat, stir constantly until butter is completely melted and sugar is dissolved.
  3. Once sugar is dissolved, increase heat to medium.
  4. Heat to boiling--keep stirring! Once it's boiling, you can lay off on the stirring, just occasionally should do the trick. Let it boil (gently--again, don't turn up the heat) until you can drip some in a cup of ice cold water and it firms up just a bit.
  5. It should take about 8-10 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat.
  7. Add the vanilla after the caramel has stopped bubbling and boiling. Just stir it in with a spoon.
  8. When it's ready, pour into a greased 8x8 pan or pie tin.
  9. Let cool completely, then cut with a metal spatula.
  10. Then, if you want, you can wrap individual pieces in wax paper or decorative cellophane.