Valentine's Day Gift Jars

Mason Jars decorated for Valentine's Day and filled with hot cocoa, marshmallows, and sprinkles. 

A fun, simple, and delicious gift idea!

If you ask my kids, they would probably tell you that I'm not a super "fun" mom. I don't love to get on the floor and play with them, I don't love dance parties or spa days or makeovers, I don't take them to McDonald's or Monkey Joe's or Helium....at least not often....and I don't let them get away with a whole lot. At least not as much as I could!

But. I do love reading with them, baking with them, playing games with them, talking with them....and most of all....doing arts and crafts with them! And I always have, ever since the time Ellia was little. But I must confess....I find myself doing fewer and fewer craft projects with them the older they get! I'm not sure what it is - that I have less energy for arts and crafts, that my time with them is more limited, that I'm tired of all the messes.....?

Whatever the reason, I've decided that we need to pull out the paints and the glue and the glitter! Poor Nora.....she's missing out! So, the other day, while the older girls were at school, I got out a big stack of paper and paintbrushes and paints for Nora.....and a box of mason jars and acrylics and ribbon for me! And we both got to work. Nora painted about eight pictures and loved every minute of it. And I painted these three mason jars!

I used the end of a paintbrush for the dots and free-handed some simple Valentine's Day designs. Then I filled each jar with hot cocoa, marshmallows, and sprinkles, glued some pretty ribbon around the top rim, and....voila! Fun, easy, delicious Valentine's Day gifts! And a fun afternoon with Nora.

Materials Needed:

• Mason jars or any glass jars with lids
• Acrylic paints
• Small paintbrushes
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun

Looking for more Valentine's Day craft ideas?

Or....looking for $400 PayPal cash?? Enter to win by clicking below!

Thanks for taking a peek inside my Lemon Tree Dwelling....

I hope you feel right at home!

Creamy Strawberry Dip

Creamy Strawberry Dip is perfect for dipping cookies, graham crackers, chocolate, or fresh strawberries! Deliciously sweet, and just right for Valentine's Day!

When I was growing up, dessert was NOT a given. It was never assumed that if we ate our whole dinner, we'd automatically get dessert. No....dessert was reserved for special nights, when my mom was in the right mood....or maybe when we hadn't already eaten our fair share of sweet treats throughout the day! To be honest, we could never quite figure out what would lead to a positive outcome for our dessert desires....but that didn't keep us from asking....nightly!

Easy No-Bake Petit Fours

Easy No-Bake Petit Fours made with shortbread cookies, Nutella, and Vanilla Candiquik. 

An adorably delicious Valentine's Day treat!

In case you haven't notice by now, I LOVE no-bake recipes. I think it's because I can start them one minute and finish them the next....and have a fun, delicious treat in the end! So in between phone calls and emails, diaper changes and sandwich making, coloring and Play-doh.....I often find myself day-dreaming in no-bakes! Ah.....the life of a stay at home mom blogger.

Conversation Heart Krispie Bark

Just 3 simple ingredients make a fun and tasty Valentine's Day treat....ready in 5 minutes or less!

Yesterday was a crazy day. Let's just say it made me happy that we decided to space our kids out the way we did....all 2-3 years apart so that we never had 2 kids in cribs, both needing sound machines and baby monitors, at the same time! Whew!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Muddy Buddies

 Muddy Buddies get a Valentine's Day makeover with creamy Nutella and dried cherries. 

A chocolate covered cherry lover's dream!

Good morning, friends! I hope you had a relaxing weekend! Ours was nice.....we had nothing going on, which is probably my very favorite kind of weekend.....so we spent lots of time together as a family. The girls and I had a mommy-daughter shopping trip (to Goodwill, of all places, which they LOVED!), we went out for a fun family dinner, we watched Rio, we played L-C-R, we read books, we shopped for birthday presents, and we enjoyed just being together!

Saturday Night Fever #16

Hey, Party People! Welcome back to Saturday Night Fever!! I hope you had a great week - the first week of normalcy we've had around here in a while! The kids are back in school, the hubby is back at work, and it is actually starting to warm up.....which is great because it means I can finally leave the house again! There were so many delicious recipes shared here last week - can't wait to see what you bring tonight! But first....I wanted to share this fabulous giveaway I have going on right now! I'd love for one of you to win!!

The Weary Chef $400 Anniversary Giveaway!

Help me celebrate The Weary Chef's 1 year birthday with a $400 PayPal Giveaway!

Happy Friday, my friends! I couldn't be more excited this morning.....because as you can see, I have another fabulous giveaway for you!! My blogger friend and Saturday Night Fever co-host, Andi from The Weary Chef, is turning ONE! And to help her celebrate, a bunch of us are getting together to offer you the chance to win $400 in PayPal Cash! It's a happy Friday, indeed!!

Cherry Amaretto Steamer

Rich, creamy Cherry Amaretto Steamers make a delicious cold weather treat.....or a perfect Valentine's Day surprise!

Well...it is finally starting to warm up around here...and by warm up, I mean that yesterday reached 8 degrees and today is supposed to make it up to 22! Woo hoo! It's sad when 22 degrees is cause for celebration....but after not leaving your house for 3 days, 22 doesn't sound so bad. At least I can get from the car to the door of the grocery store without feeling like my face is going to freeze off!!

Creamy Mac & (Beer) Cheese

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese flavored with beer, vegetables, spices, and plenty of extra cheese. 

A delicious blend between mac & cheese and beer cheese soup!

Back in the days before kids.....(which I can hardly remember).....Jorden and I LOVED going out to eat! Big surprise, I know.....who doesn't love eating out!? We had our favorite spots, of course, one of which was Champps, and mostly for their amazing beer cheese soup!! We would typically go there on Saturdays, when we knew they would be serving it, and order a cup while we waited for our meals. There was something about it - so rich and creamy and delicious - that was absolutely to die for! It actually makes me hungry just thinking about it.

Chocolate Cherry Cordial Fudge

Easy 4-ingredient fudge that tastes just like a chocolate covered cherry cordial!

Some of my favorite memories from childhood have to do with my parents going out of their way to make things feel special. Like the time I was led on a long scavenger hunt Christmas morning to eventually find my brand new bright orange sled. Or the time we finished opening presents and had a huge breakfast waiting for us on the kitchen table. Or the time we thought we had finished opening presents....only to have my parents show up with one last (BIG) present for each of us!

iPad Air Giveaway

Hello, my friends! I'm so happy you stopped by this morning.....because, as you can see, I have something AMAZING for you today! Another fun giveaway!!

As you may know, every month I contribute a recipe to the fabulous blog The 36th Avenue.
And now....I've teamed up with the rest of The 36th Avenue contributor team to bring you this FABULOUS iPad Air giveaway!

Saturday Night Fever #15

Believe it or not, it's Saturday night! Did your week feel like it flew by?? Maybe it had something to do with New Year's Eve...or the huge Gender Reveal Party we hosted...but I can't believe the weekend is already here! Next week the kids will be back in school and we will resume life as usual....but for now.....let's party!!

Easy Mug Cozies

Simple mug cozies made from an old sweater! A cool, stylish way to drink your warm winter beverage!

Is it just me....or do you kind of forget about all beverages other than coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the winter time?? I usually go for coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and evening, and hot chocolate on special occasions. I must say, though, being pregnant really throws a wrench in my warm beverage obsession! I still have coffee in the morning (one cup...) and one cup of tea at some point in the day....but between the caffeine and the herbs and the extra acid, I'm really trying to limit myself! (I've even resorted to drinking hot water with a squirt of lemon juice just so I could have something warm!)

New Year's Eve Gender Reveal Party!

A New Year's Eve Gender Reveal Party - such a fun way to bring in the New Year!

It's a GIRL!!!

Yep....that's right! ANOTHER girl! After months of waiting and wondering, we had our ultrasound December 30th and our party on New Year's Eve. We had everyone cast their votes and share their best name ideas.....and then.....we cut the cake!

Top Posts of 2013: Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Well, this is IT! 2013 has come to an end.....and oh what a year it has been! One year ago, I had been blogging for just 3 months.....and I was just starting to figure things out. Of course, I still have a long way to go, but what a difference a year makes! 2013 has been a great year for me - I have discovered my voice as a blogger, developed some amazing relationships, and found my niche in the great big blogging world! I am so grateful to all of YOU, my readers, for your fabulous support.....and I can't wait to see what 2014 holds.

But before we move forward, let's take a moment to look back at my TOP POSTS of 2013! Ready for the countdown? Here goes! (Feel free to pin what you like....and then check out what else I have in store for you!!)

Saturday Night Fever #14

Welcome back to another night of Saturday Night Fever! I'm so glad you decided to join us tonight....and I'm so excited to introduce you to our newest co-host: Pamela from Brooklyn Farm Girl! Welcome, Pamela!! I can't wait to see what you bring to tonight's party....(hopefully some yummy ideas for New Year's Eve!)

Last Week's Most Clicked Link Was: 

Crock Pot Crab Dip

Deliciously creamy dip made with 2 different kinds of cheese, imitation crab, and a splash of white wine.

It's simple, it's delicious, and best of all.....it's made in a crock pot! So you can enjoy the party!

If there's one thing that's true about me, it's that I LOVE hosting! And not just in theory. I love having people over to my house, I love thinking about menus and drink options and party decor, I love it when people stay and linger long into the night. It has taken me well into adulthood to realize that hosting is not something most people necessarily enjoy. In fact, I would venture to say that most of my friends and family would prefer NOT to host whenever possible! Which works out well for me!

Baubles & Bows Necklace

A fun, festive necklace made from garland and ribbon....a little something to make for yourself after Christmas....
and perfect for New Year's Eve!

Well.....for better or for worse.....Christmas is over! After months of thinking about it and weeks of preparing for it, the day has come and gone. And now it's on to New Year's! To be honest, this is the first New Year's Eve in a while that we actually have plans...but plans or no plans, there's still always something about the night that seems to call for a little bling! Am I right???

Bailey's Mocha Cheesecake Cups

No-Bake cheesecake cups flavored with Bailey's Irish Cream and a coffee liqueur infused chocolate graham cracker crust.

The perfect dessert for a special occasion....or just because!

Good morning, friends! Well....Christmas is officially 2 days away....are you ready?? I am happy to report that I met my goal of being done with Christmas shopping by Friday. It is now Monday and I have yet to remember something (or someone!) I forgot to shop for. That's a good sign. So now it's on to wrapping and cleaning and making food to take places.....and, if possible, making some space among our overflowing piles of toys for all the new things the kids will bring home. Whew.....so much to think about before Christmas!

Saturday Night Fever #13: A Recipe Link Party!

Hey everyone.....it's Saturday night! And that can only mean one thing - time for Saturday Night Fever!! Today was our first official day of Christmas break...yours too? I hope it was a good one! We spent ours making cookies and celebrating my mom's birthday. And now the final countdown begins! Can't wait to see what you bring to tonight's party.....the last party before Christmas!
 

Last Week's Most Clicked Link Was: