Easy Valentine's Day Handprint Card

It's February 13th! Do you have something for that special someone? My son and I made a couple of these today. Took less than fifteen minutes, and you know Grandma will love it no matter what!

Thumb-body Loves You

When I was young my parents would always make us send thank you cards or say "thank you" in person when someone did something kind for us. Birthday presents, attending events, and more were all in need of gratitude. And it's something that has always stuck with me.

Plus, it's easier to send a card than have an awkward conversation on the phone. 

Nowadays I just love sending out cards for any reason but especially during holidays. What is more exciting that getting a little bit of love in the mail?

For this Valentine's we tweaked this idea into a card that my kids could make for their grandparents!


Instructions:

1. Cut colored card stock in half (the short way) so you'll have two pieces that are 8.5 x 5.5 inches. Those two pieces can now be folded in half for two cards.

2. Cut white card stock into rectangles that measure 5 x 4 inches. Place on top of the card to see if the colored border is evenly showing. You might need to trim the white card stock a bit.

3. Next choose paint colors (or you could use colored ink pads) and help the kids use their thumbs to make prints in a row on the white card stock.

4. Let dry and add text "Thumb-body Loves You" under the thumb prints.

5. Write a message inside and send off with love!

M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I have a thing for M&M's.

Like a buy-those-huge-bags-from-Costco-and-hoard-them-all-to-myself thing.

Yep.

And this is an easy recipe to whip together, throw in a pan, and lick the bowl until they're done baking. Not that I support eating raw egg or salmonella…but I still do it anyways.



M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup M&M's
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Combine flour, soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

3. In an electric mixer, blend sugars. Add butter and mix until a grainy paste. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until light and fluffy.

4. Add flour mixture, M&M's, and chocolate chips at low speed.

5. Place in greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. Check with a toothpick.



Enjoy the warm chocolate gooeyness!

12 Valentine Printables

I love Valentine's Day because it celebrates the people who are most important in my life!

And it gives me a good excuse to spoil them with love!

Of course the holiday also lets us spread that love into our homes so that everyone 

can be reminded of how much they are cared for. 

So enjoy this round-up of 12 Valentine Printables that I am head over heels about!

(the links are below each picture)

Love You by My Fabuless Life

Love by Jileen Harkins

XOXO by Less Cake More Frosting

Love by Moritz Fine Designs 

Love Always by Insightful Living

Valentine Alphabet by Love, Pomegranate House

Be Mine by Kamilla Bell

A Bushel & A Peck by Positively Splendid

Mustache by Glued To My Crafts

My Heart Is Set On You by Living On Love

Love Was Made For Me & You by The Diary of Dave's Wife

All You Need Is Love by Love From The Oven

3 Ways to Organize on the Cheap

Do you ever flip through the IKEA catalog and lust after bedrooms with entire walls lined with hidden storage? Or bookcases with so much leftover space you could finally display that vase your great-aunt gave you for your wedding? Me too. But just as I begin envisioning a home so organized Martha Stewart would weep with approval, I look at the price and remember that I don't have enough money to buy even cheap particle board shelves.

I do, however, create lots of garbage, and some of that trash can go to better use. Here are three ways I've reinvented items headed for the dumpster, so that my home is better organized. And we all know that better organization leads to less stress and less time wasted searching for the match to those darn little baby socks.

1. Cereal Boxes. We recycle at least one a week, so there's always thin cardboard handy when I need it. That did just the trick when I tired of rummaging through my sock drawer to find the right pair of socks. I divided the drawer up into unequal thirds: long socks, ankle socks, and those little booties worn with flats or heels. I didn't even have to tape or glue anything, just left the little folded flap at the bottom to hug the corners. The socks hold the cardboard in place, and the cardboard keeps me from dumping the entire drawer every time I open it.
2. Food Containers. Especially the tall, plastic yogurt ones. These are great in the kitchen as backup tupperware, but I use them all over the house. In my baby's drawer I used three for the small items that get lost easily: hats, socks, and baby legs (sweater leggings). I've also used them to organize my tights, sports bras, and slips.
3. Cardboard Boxes. This might seem like a no-brainer, because everyone uses these for storage. I like to cut off the top flaps and make them open topped. This is great for toddlers first learning to clean-up, especially since you don't mind if they destroy the box while playing (because they will try, I guarantee it). To make it more sturdy I added gorilla tape to the top edge. I've also pasted non-holiday wrapping paper on the outside of other boxes to make them pretty enough for display on a bookshelf.

10 Children's Books for February

Looking for the perfect book to read with your little Valentine? Here is a list of our 10 favorite children's books for this special month!

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton
We love the silly cat Splat, especially when he makes a sweet Valentine for a girl in his class named Kitten. (On Amazon)









Letters from Felix: A Little Rabbit on a World Tour by Annette Langen
One of my favorites book ever! It is not a Valentine's book, but has adorable letters that Felix the Rabbit sends to his friend while he's seeing the world. My kids love opening the letters and reading about his adventures. (On Amazon)








Pete the Cat: Valentine's Day Is Cool by James Dean
For some reason I like this cat. At first I thought he was cheesy, but now I can't get enough of this "groovy" cat! My kids love these clever books and this Valentine's one is no exception! (On Amazon)









Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
I'm pretty sure this book is more for me than my children, since I'm usually the one crying by the end. A special story about the love between a mother and her son. Get the tissues!!! (On Amazon)








Old Bear by Jane Hissey
This is a classic picture book that I remember my mother reading to me. Old Bear is trapped in the attic and his friends on a mission to save him. A great story about friendship! (On Amazon)










There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose by Lucille Colandro
My kids love these "old lady" books and can't wait to see what else she puts in her belly! Of course this one is all about Valentine's and the old lady is making something special for the big day! (On Amazon)









Baby's First Valentine by Hinkler Books
This is part of the Baby's First series that I love for my little ones. They have bright, simple pictures that my babies and toddlers love to look at! And since it's also a board book it can take a lot of wear and tear from an excited early reader. (On Amazon)








Love Monster by Rachel Bright
Cutest little monster - and book - ever! And perfect my little boy that actually does love monsters more that cute, fluffy things!! (On Amazon)










Secret Valentine by Laura Damon
Another book that I remember my mom reading to me. I'm pretty sure my copy came from a book order when I was in elementary school! A cute little story about Molly the mouse who is given a secret Valentine! (Out of print, you can find used ones on Amazon)







Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
A cute little story about Mouse making Valentine's for each of his friends. My favorite thing about this book is that Mouse finds a talent or trait that he loves about each friend, a good little reminder to look for the good in those around us. (On Amazon)

Our Family's Five Valentine Traditions

Happy February! And with February comes the holiday of love!!

I know some of you are grumbling about it right?

Well, don't stress. I'm sure we've all had our share of ups and downs with Valentine's Day. :)

When I was a little girl, my mom would always try and make this a special day. We would get chocolates and a bouquet of Valentine balloons…it was something exciting on Valentine's morning.

As I got older and caught on that Valentine's had another side - you know, the boyfriend-who-sends-you-flowers side - I wasn't as fond of it. Let's just say that I repelled boys and didn't really ever have a chance of someone sending me flowers. I even remember in junior high and high school, students could send little flowers to someone and the student body officers would deliver them to the classrooms. I was always so disheartened when it felt like every girl around me was getting a flower.

A funny side note, my mom knew my change of feelings around this time and my balloon bouquet was filled with black balloons for a few years. Haha!

But never fear! Fast forward a few years and Valentine's became something I was excited about again. And now, with my little family we've started some little traditions that I hope will help my children to have happy memories and to know that they are loved.

So here are my Five Favorite Valentine Traditions that I'd like to share with you!

1. Love Notes

Every year we do this a little differently, but it's always there. I think it's so important to tell those around you how much you care for them all year long, but Valentine's Day offers an opportunity to make it extra special.

Each year we adapt this to our family's ages and stages, but here are some of the things we have done in the past:

* Thumbprint Heart Cards
Just grab some paper, ink, and whatever else you'd like to decorate your cards with! Younger kids will need more help with this (to make the card, decorate it, put their little thumbprints on) but older kids can let their creativity loose on this one!


* Love Note Mail Box
This is a little mail box from the dollar section at Target…we added some scrapbook paper and ribbons to spice it up!! We've used it to send secret notes to each other and also for me to put fun countdown activities each day for the kids to do.


* Heart Attack
You've seen this done, I know. But it's an easy thing that kids just get a thrill out of! We usually end up putting hearts all over my husbands closet or car but it would be a fun thing to extend to the home of a grandparent, friend, or neighbor as well.

Another variation we've done is everyone in the family writes something they love about each person in the family and then we put the hearts all over our home so we can be reminded of the good we see in each other.


* "I Love…"
This is one that I really enjoy sitting down to do with each of my kids. It's not something they actually give to someone, but it's a special little keepsake that shows what is important to them right now.

First, make a little poster that says "I Love." You could use construction paper, poster board, printer paper, really anything. And then have them write everything they love on it, or help them write it if they are younger. You could use markers, pictures, stickers, etc. as well to change it up a bit!




2. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Every Christmas my kids get a "candy cane" full of Hershey Kisses - you know what I'm referring to, right? I never let them open the candy because we always use it for one of my favorite cookies and now it's become a tradition to make those cookies in February for Valentine's.

You can find our recipe here.

3. Countdown activities

Let's be honest, some years I'm just not organized or sane enough to do this. But we usually try to. I use the little mail box (pictured above) and each day put a little slip of paper that says something fun we'll do that day! It's something the kids look forward to finding each day.

Some activities that my kids have enjoyed for our countdown:

* Put out Valentine's decorations

* Valentine's Bingo - here's a cute, free one by Simply Fresh Designs

* Sugar Cookies

* Heart Chain - could do as a decoration or as a countdown chain

* Secret Messages - here's a sample from Better Homes and Gardens

* Potato Heart Stamp (kids loved this!)

* Heart Twister

* Candy Heart games - one from PreKinders

* Make Valentine Mail Pockets for everyone's bedroom door and then...

* Put love notes in everyone's Mail Pockets

* Peanut Butter Blossoms - you could do it with cute hearts like here

* Send Valentine cards to grandparents

4. Making Valentines

There are SO many fun ideas for Valentine's out there! I always look forward to going through the options with my kids and letting pick out something they'd like to make for the friends and classmates. And the bonus is that many of the ideas are very dentist-friendly…no candy! Haha!

Image from Simply Modern Mom

Last year we made the most adorable bubble valentine's (shown above) using the free printable at Simple Modern Mom. We just printed out the cards, bought the little bubble packs at Walmart, and we were good to go!!

You can find ideas for more clever and fun Valentine Cards on my Valentine Pinterest Board.



5. Valentine's Dinner

Our meals are rarely extravagant or "pretty"…we simply just try to shove as much food in our children's faces in as little time as possible. Phew.

I'm not alone there, right?

We do, however, try to make Valentine's dinner special.

We always decorate the table with candles and fresh flowers. I make special treats like cake balls or chocolate dipped strawberries…something besides the usual cookies or brownies. For the main dish I try to cater to my husband's favorites because we all know that a man's stomach is the way to his heart! Or so they say...

I also have a little gift for each person that I set on their plate. Just a little Valentine's love to pass their way.



What traditions does your family have for Valentine's Day?
We'd love to hear about them!



(For TONS of Valentine ideas, check out my Valentine Pinterest Board!)

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

On cold and cloudy days, I seem to get cravings for pumpkin. And this pumpkin bread is my all-time favorite, slightly adapted from the ladies at Our Best Bites. It's warm spice flavor is perfect for chasing away the winter blues.

And I love that I can use whole wheat flour, greek yogurt, and applesauce to make it yummy and healthy…well, sort of healthy :)

Just try not to eat the whole loaf in one sitting…believe me, you'll want to!


Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
(Makes 2 loaves)

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/4 teaspoons ground clove
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon baking power
1 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup white sugar
6 ounce container greek yogurt, vanilla
3 eggs, slightly beaten
15 ounce can pumpkin puree
1/2 cup canola oil (or 1/2 cup applesauce)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9x5 loaf pans with nonstick spray and then lightly cover with flour. Set aside.

2. Combine flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gently combine and set aside.

3. In separate mixing bowl combine the sugars, mixing well with a wooden spoon. Add yogurt, eggs, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

4. Slowly add the dry ingredients until wet. Gently stir in chocolate chips. (The batter will seem a little dry, but don't worry it will still be yummy!) Divide the batter between the two loaf pans and sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips on top if you'd like. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes and then remove loaves and place on wire rack.


*Time Saving Tip: When completely cooled, wrap the second loaf in layers of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Place in the freezer and you'll have a delicious treat for the future! Just place the loaf in the fridge or on the counter to thaw when you're ready to enjoy!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

While growing up, I can remember a few staple cookie recipes that my mom would make. Peanut Butter Blossoms were one of them. And if you could snatch some right after they came out of the oven…Oh the melted chocolate goodness!

I've also seen fun variations online using caramel kisses or other flavors! I have yet to try them because I'm such a fanatic of straight chocolate…but it would be fun to do!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

48 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Beat shortening and peanut butter. Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla.

2. In separate bowl, stir together flour, soda, and salt. Gradually add to peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. When finished, immediately place Hershey Kiss on top of each cookie, pressing down so the cookie cracks around the edges. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

FROZEN Birthday Party

Ok. Have you seen Disney's new movie Frozen yet?

If not…GO GO GO!

Seriously, it's the best. The main characters are sisters and have to help each other through an amazing adventure. The music is amazing. I cannot say this enough! I may or may not have leaked a few tears during the song "Let It Go" and I was just thrilled with the broadway feel of it all.

Of course my husband was next to me rolling his eyes and checking his watch. Musicals are not his thing, but he still enjoyed the characters and storyline :)

Well. Onto the party.

My daughter had a birthday in December and we always wait until after the holidays to celebrate with her friends. And that lucky duck! Since Frozen came out in November we had the perfect party theme just begging to be used! 

So here are a few ideas to get you started on your own Frozen birthday party!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ok. This is the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe E.V.E.R. 

At least to me, haha!

This recipe of goodness was passed along to me from a close friend a few years ago (Hi Kayse!) and it's one I just keep going back to. So whip up a batch and try not to snatch too much cookie dough before baking :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

1 bag of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Combine shortening and sugars in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth.

2. Add eggs, salt, soda, vanilla, and flour. When everything is mixed well add the chocolate chips.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Make 5 dozen cookies…or about 4 1/2 if you snatch some dough :)

*Time-Saving Tip: After the cookies have cooled, put half of the cookies into a ziploc freezer bag, remove the air, and close up tight for the freezer. This makes an easy dessert to grab on the go or quickly take to a neighbor or friend.

Mom's Brownies

Our mom makes some of the yummiest food around, especially desserts! When you visit her home you can always count on having cookies, brownies, or some other piece of sugary heaven.

This is her go-to brownie recipe that she uses solo or as a brownie base for other recipes.

Mom's Brownies

Ingredients:
2 squares butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour

Directions:
1. Melt butter in saucepan on medium heat. When melted, removed from heat and stir in cocoa following by the sugar.

2. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well. Then mix in flour.

3. Bake in a 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Check with a toothpick.

Owl-Themed Nursery: The Furniture Basics

Welcome back to our nursery makeover! If you missed the first installment called Getting Started, check it out!

…………………………………………………….

Next up on my list? Furniture.

We had an old birch crib that I wasn't loving. I really wanted white furniture and thought perhaps I could just repaint everything. But HOURS and HOURS and HOURS after sanding and painting and sanding and painting the changing table, I became disgusting with the thought of refinishing the crib.

And did I mention that I was 7 months pregnant when I did this? Ugh.

The changing table did turned out great though. I sanded, painted, and used a water-based sealant so that it won't "yellow" over time. Again, I used extra fabric from the quite to make a cover for the changing table (I modified this pattern from A Small Snippet) and threw on some storage bins we already had…and that happened to match perfectly, wahoo!

This made me happy, happy.

And yes my son is sitting in a stroller with an entire container of animal crackers :) Hey, don't judge! It kept him happy!

Apple Butter Banana Bread

If you're like me, bread is not my forte in the kitchen.

If you aren't like me…well kudos for being awesome.

But really. Knead-and-beat-and-rise-and-whatever bread never really turns out for me.

That's where banana bread comes in to save the day. (Or at least my day!)

Just mix it all together and pop it in the oven! Perfect.

So here's my favorite go-to banana bread recipe, slightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens.

Apple Butter Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 slightly beaten eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (2 small)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup applesauce

1/4 cup canola or cooking oil

Directions:

1. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.

3. In medium bowl combine eggs, sugar, banana, butter, applesauce, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir until just moistened (batter should be lumpy). Spoon into prepared pan.

3. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Makes 1 loaf.

*Time-Saving Tip: I like to double the recipe and freeze one loaf for later! Just let the second loaf completely cool, wrap in plastic wrap, followed by a layer or two of foil…you just need to keep the air out. Place it in the fridge or on the counter to thaw when you're ready for more banana bread goodness!

Owl-Themed Nursery: Getting Started

Ready for one of my deepest, darkest secrets? Something that always leaves me thinking, "Maybe I should have done that with my life instead"….

No, it's not being a Rock Star. Though that is another secret wish of mine, haha.

I'm a wanna-be interior designer, with my own HGTV show and all! I can just see it now…"Designing Fabulous with Marci" And yes, that will be the name of my series. Just you wait! 

Excuse me for a moment while I take a call from HGTV…ha!

Now, please let me assure you that I realistically know nothing about interior design. I pick up ideas from here and there…and then just sort of throw it together. I have no formal training and just do what my eye approves of :)

But really. I know a lot of you are like me. We see pretty homes on television or those gorgeous knick-knacks while roaming the isles of our favorite store. And we wonder how on earth we could ever incorporate an item into our home or even perhaps start from scratch!

How do you start? Where do you start?