valentines day Archives - Darling Darleen

Simple Valentine Bar Cart

Simple Valentine Bar Cart

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! Valentine’s Day, for me, is a celebration of LOVE. Love for each other, love for your spouse, love for your friends, love for your neighbors, love for your children. I really don’t think of Valentine’s Day as a romantic holiday, but more of a holiday for the love of mankind. So the giving of valentine cards and giving flowers is such a wonderful way to show a small gesture of love. Another reason why I love Valentine’s Day is because it was the day that my husband first took me out on a date. We were friends prior and hung out a lot on the ski slopes together, but Valentine’s Day was the first time he took me out on a real date. So the day holds a special place in my heart.

Well, you may know by now that I usually go all out on decorations for holidays, but not really for Valentine’s. Although I do like to decorate on the day of Valentines Day like when we have our morning breakfast or have fun desserts in the evening. So the decorations are more on the day of or a few days prior, not all month long. I thought a good way to decorate by keeping it minimal is with a simple valentine bar cart that you can scoot around the house but keep all the red and pink hearts all in one spot. If you don’t have a bar cart and do a lot of entertaining, then I would suggest get yourself a bar cart! I use mine all the time and it’s so nice to have an area for drink mixing near a serving table or a lounge area.

To style the bar cart, put all the drink mixers on the top shelf and use pie pedestals, pretty sturdy gift boxes and stands (or flip over a pretty plant pot) to create varying height. Place a vase of flowers or dessert yummies on those stands. Include on the top shelf drink stirrers and napkins. On the bottom shelf of a simple valentine bar cart, include more dessert valentine cookies or chocolates (whatever your sweet tooth wants). Place additional drink mixers on the bottom, if you are limited on top shelf space. You can also add a vase of flowers on the bottom if you weren’t able too on the top shelf. Then throw in a few random decorations around the items. Hang a garland if you’d like on your simple valentine bar cart. If the bar cart is up against a wall, I like to hang something above it to continue the visual height. I am still loving the modern wire wreaths (get the DIY), so I created one as a heart shape and added roses. So simple, yet elegant.

Happy Valentines Day!

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Heart Shape Flower Box

DIY Heart-Shape Flower Box

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you know roses are the way to a girl’s heart and a sign of love and friendship. I’m such a sucker for flowers and always love receiving and giving them! So I was looking for something extra special to make to give to my love ones for Valentine’s Day. This DIY heart-shape flower box is just the one that I know my girls will love or even a friend who needs a little cheering up over the love holiday. If you are planning a Galentine’s breakfast or even just a romantic evening with your lover, these heart-shape flower box would also make a perfect centerpiece. So many fun ideas.

Supplies:

Heart Shape Box or Paper Mache box (spray paint for desired color)

floral wet foam

wax paper

fresh flowers

scissors

knife

Take your foam block, using your knife cut it about 1.5″ thick. Then use the bottom of the heart box to cut the foam in the shape of the heart. I had to use two 1.5″ foam blocks to get the entire shape of the heart. Don’t worry if it is not perfect. You just need a general heart shape.

2. Put your foam blocks in water and let it soak for a bit. While it is soaking, take wax paper and cut the width of the box. Gradually push it down to fully cover the bottom and the sides of the heart shape box, while making sure the paper doesn’t tear or rip. You may have some extra paper hanging over the sides. I just cut the paper with scissors around the shape.

3. Gently place the wet floral foam blocks in the heart-shape box, making sure the bottom is fully covered. You can add additional water in the box at this time.

4. Next is the fun part, adding the flowers. Simply trim and push the stems in the wet foam block. Start on the edge and work your way to the middle of the box. My boxes used about 10 stem roses. If you’d like put the top on the box, then make sure to cut the stems short so the flower heads are below the top of the box. I kept my longer because I am using them more for display and wanted the flower heads peeking out. If you are planning to give them away, add a ribbon around the box and flowers!

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Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards

Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards

There was this little grocery store near my house growing up that sold the cutest pop-up Victorian Valentine cards. They were so beautiful and intricate, and they had the honeycomb pom pom somewhere in the design. A small memory, but a happy lasting one. These Valentine’s printable honeycomb pop-up cards may not be as intricate and completely 3-D, but they have a happy pop that will bring a smile to a friend or classmate. I teamed up again with my girl Melissa, who is amazing at graphic design, and we came up with this cute design. Remember last year’s Valentine’s cards? One of my favorites, so we really had to up it this year with another fun concept. These Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-up cards are so easy to put together and perfect for your child to hand out at school or to give to a friend. The designs are fun even for older children. My teenage daughter is excited to give them to her friends. Using honeycomb balls to achieve the effect is so easy and time effective that you won’t have to spend a lot of time making these striking Valentines. In fact, I’m sure your child would want to get involved too.

Get the instructions and FREE printable after the jump.

Instructions for Valentine’s Honeycomb Pop-Up Cards:

Valentine’s Printable (DOWNLOAD PDF PAGE 1 and DOWNLOAD PDF PAGE 2)

2″ Honeycomb Balls

Glue or adhesive dots (I prefer the dots)

Download the Valentine Honeycomb Pop-Up card printable (link above). Print on heavy cardstock paper. I printed mine at my local print shop so the color was bright. Cut down and then fold over with the words on the outside. The honeycomb balls will arrive flat. Unfold the ball and secure the honeycomb balls with glue or adhesive dots on the circle graphic on the printable. When delivering your card, use washi tape to secure the card to stay down and attach a fun lollipop or toy to it.

Stay tune for next week! I’ll be posting another similar Valentine’s for boys! Also head to the sidebar to see other FREE Valentine’s Printables.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Easy Valentine’s Breakfast for Kids

Easy Valentine’s Breakfast for Kids

When my children were little toddlers, and our daily schedule revolved around nap time, I would make an effort every Valentine morning to prepare a big breakfast with yummy homemade crepes, dutch babies, fresh fruit and a whole lot of yumminess all in the shape of hearts. Today we are a slave to the school schedule, so I’m lucky if my children eat any food in the morning. This Valentine’s, I’m planning to put a little effort in the morning of love day, because I (or more like my kids) miss all the fun we used to have. But I thought I’d share some easy Valentine’s Breakfast for Kids ideas for the busy mom (and child) morning schedule. These are easy breakfast ideas that take little planning.

Easy Valentine’s Breakfast for Kids:

A little sprinkles goes a long way. Sprinkles just makes everything more prettier and happier. Right?! My kids love sprinkles and don’t usually have sprinkles in the morning! That is so against the house rules…but not on Valentine’s Day! Add little sprinkles to your child’s pancakes, waffles or morning cereal. They will love it! Next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a few pink or red sprinkles.
Add a little pink or red food coloring. If you forgot to grab strawberry milk at the grocery store (I always forget to grab it), then Valentine’s Day morning drop a few red food coloring in your child’s morning milk. Or drop some in water and squeeze fresh lemon juice,add a little sugar and you’ve got instant pink lemonade. Your kids will love it!
Pull out that Heart-shape cookie cutter. Heart-shaped food items are the best on Valentine’s Day. Cut hearts out of pancakes, waffles, toast, eggs and even sandwiches for an instant easy Valentine’s breakfast for kids.
Serve strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. They are the colors for Valentine’s Day and are easy to throw on your plate and the best thing is they are healthy…and sweet.
Prepare the night before. Make overnight french toast or overnight oatmeal or muffins. Pick up some doughnuts and just heat up to serve Valentine’s Day morning. Set the table the night before with your pretty china and tablecloth. Your kids will be so excited!

During Valentine’s week, or really the month of February, I set up a little note-making station in the house where my kids can write notes of thanks, love to another family member or service they have done that month to another. We open them up on Valentine’s Day during breakfast and read them. My children love it and is a great way to bring love into the home! My children don’t get any gifts on Valentine’s day and really we don’t give gifts to each other, but instead we give the gift of love through serving each other or through expression. It’s fun to hold onto the notes and read them a year later. So, grab some pretty scrapbook paper, or notecards, markers and stickers and if you have the time this Valentine’s Day have your kids write one kind thing they have done for another or just a kind note to give to a friend or family member. It’s the perfect way to begin and end Valentine’s Day!

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Casual but Sexy Outfit for Valentine’s Day

I’ve seen so many cute fancy Valentine date outfits with full dresses and skirt. For those who are looking for a casual but sexy outfit to wear on Valentine’s Day, I say just throw on a pair of heels and nice pair of black pants and you are good to go. Date night with my man is just that. Casual but sexy outfit. So, for Valentine’s Day, I’m taking it up a notch and adding some fringe and putting on my favorite leather pants. A blazer or bomber jacket is a good way to keep it casual. Red lips and hair down, and I’m ready to go out on the town.

The red fringe heels are so sexy and but don’t look out of place with pants. These will be great to wear in the spring and summer. The leather pants I got at Banana Republic last winter and have been wearing quite a bit this year. The black sunnies are my current obsession. They are a huge style trend and easy on the wallet, which is a huge plus. The black fringe pouch I picked up at TJMAX, but I linked a similar style. So for Valentine’s day wear a casual but sexy outfit! Have fun!

Here are some other similar casual but sexy outfit to wear this Valentine’s Day!

DIY Confetti Skewers

I’m obsessed with these DIY Confetti Skewers! I’ve been making so many different DIY confetti skewer designs, since my girlfriend made “2016” number confetti skewers for my NYE party. I made a bunch of number “5” confetti skewers for Chloe’s unicorn party (posting the party this week) and a bunch of “heart” skewers for Valentine’s Day. The idea and tutorial was originally found on Aunt Peaches (check it out). The DIY is so easy and fast to make. Aunt Peaches also has a lot of cute DIY crafting ideas.

Grab your hot glue gun, confetti of choice, parchment paper and skewers! Use toothpicks if you want to make mini confetti cupcake toppers. That would be cute! Remember, you can always cut down your skewers. Before you start, figure out what you want at the end of your skewer. Any shape really would work. Heart, butterfly, circle, star, letters, numbers…to name a few.

Take your glue gun and squeeze the glue out making the design on the parchment paper. While the glue is still hot, stick your skewer into the glue. Then with your glue gun and retrace over the design adding more glue and fully covering the skewer. Then quickly dump a whole bunch of confetti over the hot glue. Let it cool. If you are using foil confetti, lightly push the confetti into the hot glue as it is cooling.

Then flip over and add more hot glue to the back, retracing over the design. While the glue is hot, dump a bunch of confetti of the design. As it cools, the glue becomes firm. Then gently peel off the parchment paper and it’s ready to be used!

So easy. So fun. And makes a cute statement. Thanks Aunt Peaches for the DIY confetti skewers idea. I’m obsessed.

Here are some other party decorations:

Valentine’s Party Ideas: Cheesecake and Doughnuts

Celebrating Valentine’s Day is all about LOVE. Spending it with the people you love. Expressing how much you love dears ones with love notes. Or decorating and eating heart-shape love cookies. And who can forget the Valentine candies?! My favorite. So I did a mock-up Valentine Party to show you some fun Valentines party ideas you can incorporate into your Valentine’s or Galentine’s day party. For the Valentine’s party ideas, a cheesecake bar and doughnut (donut) skewers are perfect. Go pull out all your pretty red, pink and white serving plates, bowls and serving trays. And lets get this party started with the Valentines party ideas! (resources below)

Valentine’s Party Ideas: For the doughnut holes, I made the confetti hearts on the end of the skewers. Simple but big statement! DIY coming soon. Get creative with your doughnut holes by covering them with pink or red sprinkles. Use glaze to make the sprinkles stick and create a pattern with the doughnuts. Ready to serve!

A cheesecake bar with toppings is a great way to even please the pickiest eater and right on our valentine’s party idea. What a great way to show love that goes straight to the tummy! I bought a store bought cheese cake and an assortment of toppings. Fruit, candies, sprinkles and syrups. Make a sign for your guests letting them know it’s a cheesecake bar and the fun topping options.

Here are some of the topping ideas we did, along with some other ones:

strawberries and marshmellow syrup
raspberry and white chocolate chips
vanilla wafer and sprinkles
blueberries and lemon curd
cherries and shredded coconut
pecan and caramel syrup
bananas and chocolate chips

Doesn’t that look yummy? I’m drooling as I write this. So good and quite fun personalizing your own dessert. For the Valentine’s party ideas, I stuck with red and pink and white to keep with the holiday theme.

Want to recreate the look?

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

What I love about You | Heart Necklace | Fuji Instax | Heart Balloon Kit

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas: Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. So much love and more love and of course chocolate and more chocolate! I’ve rounded up easy Valentine’s Day gift ideas that don’t cost much but a simple and sentimental. Like this What I love About You booklet that I’m going to fill out and give to my husband this V-day with instax pictures that I will tuck into the pages.

Here are some other fun, simple Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas:

Love Tokens | The Little Book of Love

Here are some other Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas:

Rubiks Cube Valentines

Rubiks Cube Valentines— Rubik’s cubes are so cool right now in 3rd grade. Every kid wants one. Every kid tries to solve one. And if you know how to solve the puzzle, you are totally on the popular list. So, we know these are going to be a huge hit at the Valentine’s exchange party. I bought mini Rubik’s cube at Party City (or you can buy with the link).

I did two printables for the Valentine: “Our friendship is like a Rubik’s cube. You don’t want to mess it up!” and the other is “All my problems are solved when I’m with you!” We just used tape to attach the cube to the print out.

Download is below.

Download Rubik’s Cube Valentine’s Printables

Attach a mini rubik’s cube to the valentines with a small glue dot.

Check out these other Valentines:

Burst My Balloon Valentine

Valentine Spin the Wheel

Valentine’s Baked Doughnuts {Donuts}

Since my babies were little, it’s been a tradition to have a Valentine’s breakfast on the 14th with everything pink and heart shaped–pancakes and bacon and strawberry milk and fresh fruit. My kids love it. Since Valentines is on Saturday this year and not a school night, I will be able to put a little more time into our Valentine’s breakfast, so baked doughnuts is on the menu. I followed Sally’s baked doughnuts recipe, and I let the kids decorate with pink and purple glaze and valentine-themed sprinkles. It’s best to put the sprinkles and glaze in small bowls and just dunk the doughnuts upside down to give it a full coverage and easy clean up.

We made enough to give as gifts that my kids are giving to their teachers. I just took a popcorn box, filled the bottom with cinnamon heart candy and topped with a couple of doughnuts. The heart balloon will be attached to the outside of the box with a note from my kids.

See more valentine’s day activities.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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