This year I started Valentines a little early because I had a great idea. My husband Loves KrispyKreme doughnuts, and they have heart shaped doughnuts so I thought I would do something with them for valentines, but the closest KrispyKreme is in Orem. I was going to drive down to Orem to get them for a surpise, but Craig took me down to Provo yesterday for my birthday, so I really had a hard time justifying driving down when I was just down there yesterday, so I started early.

I gave them to him and I used the doughnuts to spell love, I just printed off the "L" and the "E" on my printer and cut them out. I told him, "I Do-nut know what I would do without your love."

You're my Sweetie Pie

This is my contribution to our annual neighborhood Valentine exchange. I bought Hostess Pies and put notes with it that say, "You're the apple of my eye. I'm so glad you're my Sweetie Pie" or "I love you berry much. I'm so glad you're my sweetie pie". I think when I give it to my husband I will give him a real pie. It's a lot of fun to see all the ideas that other people come up with. Thank you, thank you for all your ideas.

Chocolate Puzzle Heart

Baker's Cash & Carry has a cute chocolate mold for a Heart Puzzle. You can put a note with it that says, "You hold a piece of my heart", or, "You complete me", or, "I fall to pieces without you" or "I love you to pieces". If you would rather just buy it ready made, it is available here complete with a gift tag. She has other cute Valentine candy, as well.

Personalized M&M's

A couple of weeks ago, we went to the wedding reception of some friends of ours. They had a candy bar at their reception. One of the candies at the bar was M&M's with their picture on them. They were so cute. Last week, my daughters took their families to Las Vegas. While they were there, they visited the M&M store. Their kids were able to pick out the color of M&M's and choose what they wanted printed on them. Then they got to watch as they were printed. They brought a cup of M&M's personalized just for me and my husband. How sweet was that?! These would be really cute as a gift for your honey or even your kids. This is a movie of my grandkids choosing the M&M's for me.

The people on the M&M's in the picture above are our friends who got married. The rest of the M&M's are the ones my kids got for me. You can order your own M&M's here.

Heart Shaped Boiled Egg

What could be more fun for breakfast than a heart shaped egg. I found these molds at Amazon. It comes with a heart mold and a star mold. When I bought mine last week, they cost $3.75. My grandkids love these just to eat. But I think they would be great as a garnish on a salad. I slice square eggs all the time to put on my potatoe salad. But I think this summer, I will start to use the star. The instructions for these are in Japanese. You boil the egg and peel it. While it is still hot, put it in the mold and refrigerate it for 20 minutes. I had to experiment to find the right size egg. Extra large eggs work best in the heart mold. Jumbo eggs work best in the star mold (if you use large eggs in the star mold they look like flowers). There are also instructions on how to make a heart shaped egg without a mold here. I tied it and it works but the plastic molds are much easier.

Old Fashioned Valentine Garland

I have a lot of Victorian calling cards that belonged to my grandmother. They would make really cute valentines, if I only knew how to make them into computer images. (I don't want to use the originals). But, I found this website, The Graphics Fairy, this morning. It has tons of vintage printables, including this cute Valentine Garland. All her stuff is free. She has a lot for Valentines Day as well as other stuff. Go over and check it out.

Valentine Candy Wrappers

Now that the holidays are over it is time to get serious about Valentine's Day. I found these cute candy wrappers over at U Create (the button is on my side bar). They are free through January, then they go on sale at her etsy store.

Halloween Is A Great Time To Prepare For Valentine's Day

I know that it seems wierd to be thinking about Valentine's Day when Halloween is just around the corner. But there are a lot of things in the stores now that are great for Valentine's Day, that won't be on the shelves in February. There are lots of miniture size candy that can be used for classroom valentines. But the greatest things out now are the many somewhat odd things that you can make into valentines. I found a heart shaped Jello mold the other day (not a valentine heart, but a real heart). I am going to make a Jello for dinner with a sign that says "You make my heart quiver". I know it is a little gross but it is still funny. I've also seen jello molds for hands and brains. You could make notes that said something like, "I want to hold your hand", or I can't get you off my mind". There are candy Eyeballs available that you can put a note with that says, "Can't take my eyes off of you". Or there is bone candy that you could with a note that says, "You really rattle my bones", or, "No bones about it, I want you for my Valentine".

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

Did you know that you can use the Tupperware funnel as a mold for large candy kisses? I made mine out of Rice Krispie treats. But you can use molding chocolate and make real chocolate kisses, too. Just make sure if you mold something that is runny (like melted chocolate) that you put plastic wrap over the small opening of the funnel before you fill it.

I printed, "KISS ME, I'M IRISH", in green on the computer and cut it in a 3/4 inch strip and wrapped the Rice Krispie treat along with the paper strip in gold aluminum foil (available at kitchen supply stores).

Rice Krispie Treats

1/4 cup margarine
1 10.5 oz. pkg marshmallows (about 40 regular size)*
5 cups Rice Krispies

1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Cook over low heat 3 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
2. Add Rice Krispies. Stir until well coated.
3. Press into buttered 9x13 pan, using wet fingers. Cut into squares. Or, press into mold sprayed with PAM.
*can substitute 2 cups marshmallow cream, but heat 5 minutes longer.

St. Patrick's Day Pillows

OK. I know Valentine's Day was last month. But I figure any excuse to say, "I love you", is a good one. Besides, St. Patrick's Day is kind of like Valentine's Day. They are both named after Saints. It's pretty close to Valentine's Day and Shamrocks have heart shaped leaves. So maybe Valentines celebrations should just last until St. Patrick's Day.

I now have these pillows on my bed. My daughter thinks that "Feelin' Lucky?" pillow is a little too suggestive for a family friendly blog. If you agree, let me know. I might take that pillow off. But, in my defense, it is in my bedroom, not the living room.

I chose the font I liked and printed the the words on paper, then traced them onto white fabric using disappearing ink. Then I embroided the words on the cloth and sewed the St. Patrick's fabric around the edges and made the pillows. I used premade pillow forms for the stuffing. My pillows are 14 inches by 14 inches and 12 inches by 16 inches.

Valentine Swag

I have this swag hanging in my kitchen window. To make one like it, using a disappearing ink marking pen, draw a variety of different sized hearts (2 to 4 inches in diameter) on the right side of different pieces of Valentine fabric. Sandwich a piece of "Warm and Natural" between the piece of fabric with the patterns drawn on it, and another piece of Valentine fabric. It can be the same or a contrasting fabric. Stitch on the outline of the hearts you drew. Cut around the stitching with pinking sheers. Attach a piece of ribbon 12 to 15 inches long to the top of the heart. Tie the other end in a little bow to another piece of ribbon. Repeat with the other hearts. It can be as long as you want your swag to be. Leave enough ribbon at the ends to attach the swag to the window frame or a banister or wherever you want to hang it.

Strawberry Ice Water

Tonight we had New Beginnings at church. We served ice water with the refreshments. But instead of putting lemons in the water, we sliced strawberries. It looked very pretty and the water had a slight strawberry flavor. It was really very good. We used pebbled ice, instead of cubes. Pebbled ice is often available in the meat department at the grocery store if they don't sell it with the regular ice. It's also available at Sonic drive ins.

Sorry the picture isn't the best. It really was pretty.

Sometimes You Just Need A Sense of Humor

The sentiment on this pillow isn't very romantic. It isn't even true. I really do care if my husband loves me. But when I saw it, it made me laugh. It made my husband laugh, too.

It says:

He loves me
He loves me not
It doesn't matter
I'm all he's got.

It was designed by Lindsey Ready for "Stars-n-Stitches". If you want to get the pattern, her her etsy store is here. She has several other really cute patterns as well. What a creative lady.

I Have To Say "I Love You" In A Song

Give your Valentine a CD with your favorite love songs. Or, make a playlist of them and put it on their iPod or mp3 player. Choose songs that mean something to both of you. Make sure you either own the original CD or that you download them from a legal website like ITunes, Walmart or Amazon. You can download songs from them for 99 cents to $1.29 each. Burn the collection onto a CD and make a cute label for it. Or if you don't have any favorites, just make a CD of songs that say I Love You. Here is a list of songs that have the words "I Love You" or some variation of them. It is a long list but I'm sure it is far from complete. Some of these songs are pretty recent. Some are really old. Some are kids songs and some are just plain dumb. Most of them are available on ITunes or Walmart. If you can think of any others, let me know in the comments.

Al Green--I’m So In Love With You

All 4 One--I Can Love You Like That

All 4 One--I Swear

Anne Murray--You Are My Sunshine

The Archies--Sunshine

Back Street Boys--I Will Love You More

Barney--I Love You

The Beatles--I Love You

The Beatles--P.S. I Love You

Billy Joel--Just The Way You Are

Billy Joel--To Make You Feel My Love

Blackhawk--I’ll Always Love You

Brad Paisley--Then

Britney Spears--I Will Still Love You

Captain & Tennille--Love Will Keep Us Together

Chicago--Call On Me

Chicago--Color My World

Chicago--We Can Last Forever

Chicago--Will You Still Love Me

Celine Dion--I Love You

Dan Fogelberg--Longer

Delfonics--La La Means I Love You

Diamond Rio--One More Day

Dionne Warwick--I Say A Little Prayer

Dolly Parton--I Will Always Love You

Donna Lewis--I Love You Always and Forever

Doris Day--A Bushel and a Peck

Eddie Rabitt/Crystal Gayle--You and I

Elton John--Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

Elvis Presley--I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You

Elvis Presley--I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

Eric Clapton--Wonderful Tonight

Faith Hill--Please Say You Love Me To

Firefall--Just Remember I Love You

Frankie Valli--Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Harry Connick Jr.--All The Way

James Taylor--How Sweet It Is

James Taylor--You’re Smiling Face

Jason Mraz/Colbie Cailat--Lucky

Jeff Larson--Valentine Note

Jennifer Hudson--Love You, I Do

Jessica Simpson--I Think I’m In Love With You

Jim Brickman--You Are The Love Of My Life

Jim Croche--I Have To Say I Love You In A Song

John Lennon--Grow Old With Me

Keith Urban--Making Memories of Us

Landon Pigg--Falling In Love At a Coffee Shop

LeAnn Rimes--I Do Love You

Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville--Don't Know Much

Lionel Richie--Hello

Lionel Richie--Truly

Lobo--I Love You To Want Me

Lonestar--Amazed

Madonna--True Blue

Mandy Gledhill - All About Your Heart

Marc Anthony--I Need You

Marc Anthony/Tena Arena--I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You

Mariah Carey--I'll aBe Lovin You Long Time

Mark Wills--Because I Love You

Martina McBride--I Love You

Michael Bolton--Said I Loved You...But I Lied

Michael Franti--Say Hey (ILove You)

Minnie Ripperton--Lovin’ You Is Easy

Minnutes--More To Luv

Mostly Sunny--More Than Anyone Else

Nat King Cole--L.O.V.E.

Norm Wooster Singers--I’m Lovin’ You Lots and Lots

Olivia Newton John--I Honestly Love You

Partridge FamilyI Think I Love You

Paul McCartney--Silly Love Songs

Peter Cetera--Glory of Love

Peter Frampton--Ooo, Baby I Love Your Way

Phil Collins--True Colors

Phil Vassar--That’s When I Love You

Plain White T’s--1,2,3,4 Queen--You’re My Best Friend

Randy Newman--We Belong Together

Reo Speedwagon--Keep On Lovin' You

Restless Heart--I’ll Still Be Loving You

Roberta Flack--The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Rolling Stones--Honest I Do

Rod Stewart--Have I Told You Lately

Ronan Keating--When You Say Nothin’ At All

Savage Garden--I Knew I Loved You

Savage Garden--Truly Madly Deeply

Selena--I Could Fall In Love With You

Shania Twain--Don’t Be Stupid, You Know I Love You

Sharon, Lois & Bram--Skinnamarink

Spiral Staircase--More Today Than Yesterday

Steve Earle--Every Part of Me

Steve Poltz--Everything About You

Stevie Wonder--I Just Called To Say I Love You

Styx--Babe

Sugarland--All I Want To Do

T Minus 5--I Love You

Taylor Dayne--I’ll Always Love You

Tevye (Fiddler On The Roof)--Do You Love Me?

Train--Marry Me

Van Morrison--Have I Told You Lately

Whitney Houston--I Will Always Love You

10CC--The Thing We Do For Love

Valentine Mobile

I have this mobile hanging inside the front door of my house. I like it there because I see it often and am reminded that it is Valentine season. It helps me remember to be a little kinder to the people I love. It sort of drives my poor husband crazy though, because he is much taller than me and he bumps his head on it all the time. Oh well, at least it is soft so it doesn't hurt. (and, no, he doesn't need to be hit in the head to be reminded that Valentine's day is coming up).

Using a quilting pen (with disappearing ink), I traced different sized hearts on a variety valentine fabrics. I then stitched on the line, leaving a small space unstitched so I could stuff the hearts. Then I cut around the hearts, using pinking shears. I stuffed the hearts with fiberfill stuffing and stitched the opening closed. I attached the hearts to grosgrain ribbon and attached the top of the ribbon to an embroidery hoop. Then I wrapped the embroidery hoop with grosgrain ribbon, attached some more ribbon to hang it with and hung it up.