Saint Patrick’s Day is near and there is no better time to start planning a little festive fun for your family! This year is the perfect time to spend a little time together to create a few crafts. I have rounded up 20 fantastic St. Patrick’s Day crafts to share with you and inspire your holiday crafting sessions.
20 Crafts for Saint Patrick’s Day
This craft list has something for everyone on it! From a St.Patrick’s Day Surprise to a Little Leprechaun Hat craft, and everything in between! I can’t wait to hear which is your favourite. Be sure to click thru the links to visit the tutorials.
St. Patrick’s Day Fun
After such a long winter, I always get a little excited about Saint Patrick’s Day. It breaks things up and gives an excuse to let loose and have fun. There are always some fun St. Paddy’s food options to partake in, and with so much green to be seen, it serves as a good reminder that spring is near!
This collection of projects has so many cute craft ideas to compliment the tasty food and good cheer that comes with the holiday! I think my favourite is the Pot of Gold Wreath. I know it would be so cute on my front door! I am going to make the green roses with my daughter; I know she will love this science project with pretty results.
Brief History Of St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is a jolly day filled with pots of gold, shamrocks, and leprechauns! But did you know the holiday initially began as a religious feast day for the Irish patron saint, Saint Patrick? Saint Patrick is wildly recognized for ministering Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. Today, it’s become an international festival held on March 17th celebrating the Irish culture, primarily consisting of wearing green, parades, and drinking (for adults!).
Why not spend this upcoming St. Patty’s Day crafting your very own leprechaun hat with a pot of gold to go with it? Or even turning an ordinary glass of water green! These 20 Saint Patrick’s Day crafts are guaranteed to be fun for both children and adults alike!
Which of these ideas is your favourite? Make sure you leave a comment and let me know about any special traditions your family might have for celebrating!
Canadian Turkey makes meal planning easier by sharing recipes such as the Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan that are geared towards feeding groups large and small!
Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
With spring just around the corner, the change to this season of renewal often inspires us to want to create fresh dishes for our families. This is especially the case when it comes to preparing festive meals for occasions such as Easter and March Break. Has adding turkey as a protein in your family meal plans ever come to mind? It is not just for the holidays and can provide so many different options for meals your family will enjoy eating.
Add Versatility to Your Spring Meals with Canadian Turkey
Isn’t turkey a heavy meat to eat?
Not at all! Turkey is a light, lean source of protein full of vitamins and minerals. It is a healthy choice for your family to eat. Turkey is also simple to prepare with the variety of cuts available at your local grocer or butcher. It can be used in dishes for family get-togethers, weekend brunches or for a weekday meal.
Planning a large family meal this spring?
Canadian turkey is a great protein to use for a large family gathering or a special family meal. Cooking a whole Canadian turkey is an amazing solution for feeding a big group and for creating a show-stopping meal. It is easy to prepare and it can be flavoured with your favourite combinations of seasonings or spice blends.
Whole roasted turkey with stuffing, gravy and seasonings on a cutting board photo
But how can a Canadian turkey fit into a weekday meal?
Have you thought about using Canadian turkey parts? They are a fabulous and easy protein to add to your weekly meal plans. Cuts such as turkey thighs, turkey drumsticks and turkey breasts can be found at your grocery store or butcher. Try roasting a variety of these cuts in the oven then carve them to create a gorgeous plating. Preparing Canadian turkey this way also cuts the cooking time in half of that of a whole turkey. Choosing turkey cuts versus a whole turkey also allows for your family to have more pieces of Canadian turkey they enjoy eating!
Is Canadian turkey economical?
Whether enjoying it whole or a selection of its parts, choosing Canadian turkey for your meals can also be good for your wallet! With a whole bird, you will be keeping the costs for your celebration low because one Canadian turkey can feed a large number of people. Choosing to buy parts of the turkey for a meal or a smaller gathering is an economical choice as you are buying enough to feed those you are cooking for.
New to the Canadian turkey prep game?
Never prepared a whole turkey before? Want some suggestions on how to shake up your turkey prep game? Canadian Turkey can help to inspire you to create impressive dishes to wow family, friends and guests alike! The Canadian Turkey website shares recipes from appetizers to entrees to cook for any occasion.
Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan Recipe
A great recipe to try with your family is this Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan dish!
Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan
A great recipe to try with your family is this Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan dish! It can easily be made ahead and freeze to cook when needed!
Slice the eggplant into medium-thick (1 cm) slices.
Lightly salt both sides of the eggplant and place on a paper towel to absorb moisture. Let sit for 15 minutes per side.
To make tomato sauce, heat olive oil and onions in a medium sized frying pan over medium heat.
Sauté until onions are lightly browned, 6 minutes.
Add crushed garlic and cook another 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, Italian seasoning and sugar, and reduce heat to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes.
Season scallopini with salt and pepper.
Dip scallopini in flour, then egg and finally Panko.
Repeat with eggplant.
Broil both scallopini and eggplant on the middle rack of the oven until cooked and browned, 5-8 minutes per side. (time will vary depending on your oven)
Layer in an ovenproof dish. Start with some tomato sauce, then follow with eggplant, tomato sauce, turkey, tomato sauce again, then finally eggplant. Sprinkle each layer lightly with Parmesan cheese.
Top with mozzarella.
Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.
Cool slightly and serve.
Notes
Here’s a money saving tip: You can easily make your own scallopini by buying a whole turkey breast and thinly slicing and pounding the meat flat.
See how imaginative you can be with Canadian turkey?! It is an easy and economical choice for any occasion. Since Canadian turkey is so versatile, there are a variety of delicious meals and dishes to create! So what are you waiting for? Start planning your large family gatherings or your weekly meals with Canadian turkey today!
Oven Baked Turkey Eggplant Parmesan
Excited to see other fantastic fare you can prepare using Canadian Turkey? Take a look the Canadian Turkey website, or connect with them on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest pages!
Children don’t come with guidebooks and since every child is unique, it can be difficult to know how to connect with your child. While there are books, videos, experts, classes, and more to tell you how to do it, no one can tell you exactly what will work for your child. This is why good communication is the most important thing you can do for your relationship with your child. When you have good communication, you can work through most any other issues that come along.
Here is how you can communicate better with your child:
Remember what it’s like – Sometimes you need to remember what it’s like to be a child. Put yourself in their shoes and try to remember how much bigger the world seemed. How differently did you view the world when you were your child’s age?
Listen without talking – This one takes some practice if you’re not used to it. Even if you consider yourself a good listener normally, you might find when it comes to your child, you’re too quick to want to give opinions and advice instead of just listening. So listen without talking. Hear all that your child has to say to you.
Make time for fun – If you’re all serious all the time, you child will never see the side of you that can cut up and be silly or have fun. You should make time to dance and sing with your child, play games together, tell jokes, and have fun. It will strengthen the bond and build your communication skills.
With these tips, you can boost the communication between you and your child. This will strengthen the bond as well as help you with any other obstacles that should come along throughout the years.
Do you have any tips to better communicate with your child? Please share them in the comment below!
If you’ve considered getting hair extensions, you probably already know all about the price, pros, and cons. Canadian hair extensions have become so popular that nearly all the salons in the country now offer them.
10 Things You Need To Know Before You Get Hair Extensions
A good hairstylist will tell you everything you need to know about these magical appendages, but here are some things they probably won’t mention about hair extensions.
1. It’s not all about length
Most women associate hair extensions with longer hair, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, these extensions can be used to cleverly add volume instead of length to your head. A combination of fun colours and an expert hand will make your hair look exactly the way you want.
2. Extensions come in different forms
Not all extensions are created equal. Consider the ones that fit your budget best, but don’t be afraid to splurge on quality. The more premium extensions tend to look a lot more natural and are generally easier to maintain.
3. TLC is a must
Speaking of maintenance, some TLC is a must if you’re going to get extensions. Ask your stylist to teach you how to take care of your hair extensions so they don’t get knotted or fall out suddenly.
4. Testing is possible
Fortunately, there’s a simple way to test hair extensions before you get them – high-quality wigs. An expensive wig can sometimes be nearly indistinguishable from a range of hair extensions.
5. You may have to change hair products
Hair extensions are not part of your body, so they’ll tend to behave differently. This means the hair products you’ve always used may have unexpected reactions with your hair extensions. Be aware that you may have to swap out some hair products if you get extensions.
6. Colour match
It’s easy to spot hair extensions if the shade of the extensions is a slight mismatch with your hair. Take the time to consider all your options and only go for extensions that are an exact match.
hair extensions
7. Lifestyle
Most hair extensions come in one of three types – clip-ins, tape extensions, and keratin. The key difference between them is the way they’re applied to your hair, so pick the one that suits your lifestyle and past experience with hair extensions.
8. Quality
Unnatural hair extensions are easy to spot, but they’re also cheaper. Don’t be tempted by the low price alone. Go for a high-quality hair extension that really adds to your natural beauty.
9. Maintenance
Hair extensions, much like your natural hair, need regular washing and conditioning. Use a gentle shampoo once a week to wash them thoroughly and remove all the water with a thick towel.
10. Letting go
The only way hair extensions can end up damaging your hair is if they’re pulled out unprofessionally. With hair extensions timing is everything. You need to ask your stylist how long you can wear your hair extensions around for. If you wear extensions for longer than their design allows, you could do some serious damage to your mane.
With the amount of options available to you, choosing the right hair extensions is never easy, however if you follow these 10 top tips you will be well on your way to selecting the perfect hair extensions for you.
As mentioned in a previous post, remaining active both pre- and post- baby has been a priority for me. I enjoy a variety of activities such as strength training, yoga, running, swimming and hiking. Finding appropriate fitness apparel that is also nursing-friendly has been a challenge, however. I was really excited to try Hotmilk’s Activate Sports Flexiwire Nursing Bra, and I’m happy to say it was a hit. It checked all the boxes that I look for in a good sports bra: comfortable, supportive, and attractive!
Hotmilk Sports Nursing Bra
The band on Hotmilk’s Activate Sports Bra is wide and stretchy and moves easily with the body during activity. The cups and back of the bra are made of mesh and a cotton blend which help wick sweat away from the body. This keeps you cool and comfortable, which is especially great during serious sweat sessions. Unlike other nursing bras I’ve tried, there weren’t any straps digging in or squeezing me. I found the bra so comfortable that I could even sleep with it on!
The fit and shape of Hotmilk’s sports bra, including underwire in the cups, means complete support, even during high impact sports like running. The straps stayed firmly in place without me ever having to hike them up or make adjustments during my workout.
Hotmilk Sports Nursing Bra
I absolutely love the bright royal blue colour and lime green accent on the Activate Sports Nursing Bra, which looks really modern and fashion forward. It also comes in black with fuschia and tangerine accents. The shaping of the cups is also extremely flattering. No “uni-boob” here, which most sports bras are guilty of!
All of this combined with the fact that I could easily un-clip the nursing bra one-handed to nurse my baby before or after exercising makes Hotmilk’s Activate my new favourite bra. Being comfortable, supported and looking good while exercising makes this bra well-worth investing in.
“Mom/Dad! What’s for dinner?” This is not the question we want to tackle after a busy day. There are times my other half and I have no idea what to make and end up settling for a Junk Food Night that is easy to prepare or ordering out. HelloFresh asked us if they could lend us a hand by giving a week’s worth of meals (3 meals in total) to see if their subscription boxes service would be a good fit for our family.
HelloFresh wants is to take the planning, shopping and hassle out of making wholesome home-cooked meals families can enjoy! Everything needed to put a meal together is included in each box and can be found on their helpful app. All of the instructions are laid out with the meal ordered, and the ingredients are locally sourced. HelloFresh has three different plans to choose from to suit the needs of a family: Family Plan, Pronto Plan and Veggie Plan.
I had the pleasure to meet Irene Ngo, Head of Culinary for HelloFresh while she was in Ottawa. She spoke about HelloFresh and I had the chance to taste one of the meals available for families to make and enjoy. We were served their Glazed Chicken Teriyaki meal and it was fabulous! I could not wait for my package to arrive.
Irene Ngo of HelloFresh with Family Plan Meals; Kung Pao Mushroom dish plated; HelloFresh meal boxes and recipe instruction cards
HelloFresh Meals Review
I received the following three meals from HelloFresh from their Family Plan of meals to review:
Gremolata-Crusted Cod
Smoky Sloppy Joes
Glazed Teriyaki Chicken
The shipping packaging was impressive. The exterior box was thick and was lined with aluminum to keep the ingredients for my meals cool while being transported. There was also a divider that separated the meat and fish from the other item to prevent contamination. The inner boxes on the upper level were stocked well with seasonal produce. The meat and fish were in sealed packages and surrounded with ice packs. These touches made it easy to put away in the fridge or around the kitchen. The packaging folded up easily for recycling.
HelloFresh Meal Plan box with produce and recipe instruction card
Our HelloFresh meals could not have come a better time. My family became sick, so it was hard for us to have to go out to get what we needed for all of our meals and prepare it every night. Each of the meals we received promised that it would take about 30 minutes from the first chop to the plate.
When making each of these meals, I prepared them using both the provided instruction cards and the directions found in the HelloFresh App to see how helpful each method was to use. I also wanted to see if there were any discrepancies between each of these methods.
Top: HelloFresh app with recipe instructions and recipe instruction card; Bottom: HelloFresh app timer for recipe
All three of these meals were easy to prepare. The instructions were really easy to follow and I like that there were photos showing the steps so you have a visual to reference while cooking. I also like that some of the meals allowed for some substitutions to be made to put your own fresh or spicy spin on a dish. I also enjoyed using the timer on the HelloFresh app to help me keep an eye on the time during certain steps of each meal. Making these meals also allowed for our family to have some fun in the kitchen.
Top: Child separating baby bok choi; Bottom Left: Chopped potatoes; Bottom right: Ingredients in a bowl
Don’t be fooled by the size of the meat packages! We thought we were going to be in a bit of hot water when we saw them. They were small, and we were scratching our heads about how to add to these meals if they did not yield enough to feed our family. Once they were opened and in the pan, we were surprised to see that there was more than enough meat to fill our tummies!
Once each meal was complete, we were excited to taste them, then delighted with the flavours we were experiencing. Each dish we had had its own characteristic so we were not eating the same kind of meal every time. The Gremolata-Crusted Cod was a clean and classic meal , and the dipping sauce made this dish sing.
Gremolata-Crusted Cod meal plated
The Smoky Sloppy Joes meal got rave reviews from my younger children.
Smoky Sloppy Joe and salad meal plated
The Glazed Teriyaki Chicken was a hit with the older members of our family.
Glazed Teriyaki Chicken meal plated
There was one issue I found when preparing these packaged meals from Hello Fresh. I found there were differences in the instructions given on the menu cards versus those shared on the app. On their own, the directions were easy to follow, but when put together, some of the steps are not in order, so it could be a bit confusing. I also found that making the meals took a little longer to complete. All of my meals had an average time of 30 minutes to complete. All of my meals took an average of 45 minutes to prepare. It may be due to my slow chopping skills, but it took longer for me to complete.
My family became huge fans of HelloFresh! Our package shipped quickly and kept our food cool and fresh. The directions were easy to follow. I had a lot of fun using the HelloFresh app to look at recipes and to assist in timing parts of my dishes. The best part had to be tucking in to savour each of these wholesome meals without having to plan it! Each dish was a delight to taste.
One of the biggest challenges both my clients and I face is taking care of ourselves!We want to be fit, energetic, and confident in our own skin, but who has the time (and often the money)?
Gyms, trainers, recovery, meal prep, grocery shopping, family-friendly meals, and actually cooking! It can make you want to book a one-way ticket to “forget it”.
woman playing with her two children
Here’s the thing though momma.. We all have those days when you eat your kid’s cereal, skip lunch then devour a pasta salad, get too caught up for groceries – so pizza – and by 10:00pm, think, “Well, that cheesecake has to get eaten sometime.” But with each meal you feel consecutively worse, right? The full tummy, the dragging after-feeling, and the spiral of really negative thoughts compounding throughout the day. If this sounds more typical than the exception, that compounding only gets worse each month and year.
It feels way more like surviving than it does really living.
I know you are exhausted and adding in something new is truly daunting, but I want to challenge you not to justify your self-care away. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be a 24/7, full-time gig. You’ve already got that. All it requires is some daily attention. Not just thinking about it, but taking a step every day that serves your health and fitness goals.
Here are three things to consider when Taking Care of Ourselves
1. Exercise should not take hours
If you can commit 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week of the right kind of exercise, that’s all you need. Which leads to..
2. There is an exercise hierarchy
When it comes to optimal body composition, aiding hormonal balances, and helping out our bones, there are things to prioritize:
Strength Train
Lift heavy things. [NOTE: 5 lbs dumbbells are not heavy things] All exercise is stressful to the body, but when you strength train, you force your body to adapt to the stress you are putting it through. You tear muscle, but you rebuild it so that the next time you do those exercises your body is ready and capable. This kind of stimulus means more lean muscle and a faster metabolism, which means fat loss momma!
Intervals
Intervals are a short period of really hard work (like sprinting) followed by a rest period (like walking), repeated over and over for short cycles. I like to use 8 to 20 minutes of intervals because you want the ‘work’ to be fast and hard. If you start doing intervals for an hour, you’ll notice the work gets slower and less intense as the minutes pass. Doing less at a higher capacity forces your body to need to adapt (think: strong muscles and fat loss) in a way you wouldn’t get from just going for an easy run (more on this below).
Cardio
Now, this is a bit controversial, because cardio lovers REALLY love their cardio, but if your goals are for better body composition, strength, healthier bones, and less stress, cardio is the last thing I would do in your week. That means, if you have done three strength sessions and an interval day, then it’s not so bad to lace up your sneakers and go for a run. The problem is that the stress on your body from long bouts of cardio has the opposite effect of strength training. It actually can break down your muscle instead of help to grow it.
Picture a marathoner’s body versus a sprinter, weight lifter, or pilates instructor. That means that while you do burn calories during your run, it stops there and you can ultimately lower your resting metabolism from muscle breakdown. So just remember, if you love to run then do it – something is better than nothing – but if you can, try and stick to the exercise hierarchy.
Strength Train Intervals Cardio
3. Nutrition always comes down to preparation
Being a nutrition coach, I’d say I’m pretty savvy when it comes to the whats/whys/hows of nutrition for a hot and strong bod. But even I will fall victim to a muffin for breakfast or a grilled cheese for lunch if there are no groceries or meat cooked in the fridge. We either set ourselves up for success, or we don’t. It’s always about preparation.
So now we know what we need to do – how do we find the time? Here’s the big, mind-blowing thing you’ve been waiting for: If you want it, you’ll find the time.
I hope you were sitting down. Because that was a huge bomb I just dropped. Wasn’t it?But lets really think about this! Understanding that your health and fitness has very little to do with how much you can bench press or how exact you count your calories, and everything to do with your mind is a really big deal!
We find time to go on Pinterest, to read blogs on Ottawa Mommy Club (awesome choice by the way), to watch Grey’s, to cook pasta, and every other thing we have to do. The thing is, it’s your decision what HAS to get done in a day. If you’ve already decided that a 20 minute workout is an essential part of your day, then it is, and it gets done. If you’ve decided that a 20 minute workout can get done after you’ve finished the rest of your to-do list, then it will not get done. Because our to-do lists are never finished, are they momma..?
Here’s how we make it actionable:
1. The Do, Delegate, Delete.
List out all of the ‘stuff’ you have to do: daily, weekly, monthly, big picture – we’re talking everything you can think of. What are the things you just need to DO to get them out of the way? Those menial things hanging over you? Do those things. Look at the things you could easily delegate. You don’t have to DO everything to be superwoman, but you do have to get really good at delegating the stuff you either don’t want to do or that you are terrible at. Lastly, delete. Look at the things you are doing that you just don’t have to. Things you maybe feel pressured to do or that you do because ‘you’ve always done’ but are obsolete. In order to make space, some things have to go. Delete and forget.
2. Remember that your kids are little sponges
It seems impossible at first to do a workout at home with the kiddos in tow – but they get used to it really quickly and can end up being your best accountability partners. They learn from you that strength and health are worth prioritizingand while it takes a couple of workouts to get them to stop crawling all over your face, they learn and become the ones to say, “Mommy are we working out today?”
3. Kids love to help
I think we sometimes think that we have to do all of the menial stuff – like food prep – when the kids aren’t around. Why? Because they are crazy and make a mess of everything. This is true, things take a lot longer with the kids. But, would you rather be investing time into teaching your kids about cooking, washing and prepping vegetables for the week, spicing up chicken to cook, or making homemade protein bars, or would you rather spend that time sitting down to watch the same Paw Patrol episode for the 80th time?
Not that I’m saying that’s all we do, more that we spend time with them ‘doing’ things anyway so why not instil amazing habits that will serve them for the rest of their lives? Just think – when they are away at college they could be practicing a ‘Sunday Ritual’ of chopping all their veg and cooking off all their meat for the week! #WIN
4. Deciding what your ‘normal’ is
It’s noisy out there. From the habits – good or bad – that we have from our early caregivers, to the marketing we see everywhere, to the judgements we perceive from others it can be a lot to take. But in the end what you do for yourself and your family – ‘your normal’ – is up to you. I often hear concerns about missing out on things or what other people will think of them for taking the time for self-care. Lets consider what we are missing out on if we don’t care for ourselves.
Here’s what I mean – say you are going skiing with a few friends and the kids, and at lunch you (gasp!) don’t have a poutine. Are you missing out? Or are you SKIING in the first place because you have made a healthy and active lifestyle your normal. You will never look back at a ripe old age and think, “I can’t believe I was healthy and fit! I wish I’d ate more chips.” Decide what your normal is, hold yourself to it, and never apologize for doing YOU momma.
The take-away on taking care of ourselves?
It’s about deciding that you are the person you want to be right now. Today. Because once you do that, all of your actions begin to align with who that person is and there is always time for what you want – because it’s just ‘what you do’.
Ok. Go do YOU momma and lets start taking care of ourselves!
Do you dare to be bold and expand your horizons when it comes to your sex life? Let’s face it – sex is something to celebrate! It helps reduce stress and lets us feel more connected to our partner. Increasing intimacy often comes down to feeling loved and appreciated. Simple love gestures can boost the romance in your relationship such as doing something spontaneous or unexpected for your parter. Holding hands while watching a movie and whispering in her/his ear how much you love that person or tidying up the bedroom and leaving a rose on the bed can definitely show your partner how much you care and more likely you are interested in having sex.
Tips to Enhance Intimacy in your Relationship
Robin Milhausen, sexual health and relationship expert, reveals the following tips to kick it up a notch and add a little spice to your routine, while enhancing pleasure and intimacy in your relationship.
1. Dirty talk, clean space
There’s nothing like hotel or vacation sex. Having sex in a new environment can help us feel more spontaneous or adventuresome. A few times a year, my husband and I book a hotel room for a getaway trip to enhance our sex life, but also to spend quality time with each other away from the kids. Date nights are also on our monthly agenda. But time and money for a holiday aren’t always available. Recreate vacation sex by making your bedroom your sexual sanctuary. Remove clutter, invest in good sheets and set the mood. Research suggests women, in particular, have a hard time getting aroused in a dirty and messy place. If you want to make the night extra memorable, introduce a vibrator for her like the Trojan™ Power Wand Vibrations Massager. Let the talk be dirty, and the room be clean – your sex life will thank you.
2. Focus on the sensations
One of the latest trends in sex therapy is mindfulness. Often during a sexual encounter our minds wander to tasks at work, issues with the kids, and more. And when you aren’t attuned to the pleasurable sensations of sex, it’s more difficult to feel connected to your partner and to experience orgasm. When you feel a distracting thought come on, notice it and let it go. Purposefully focus on the sensations you are experiencing all over your body. To amplify the sensation and experience further pleasure, try Trojan™ Groove™ Condoms. With extra lubrication and textured channels, these condoms will provide continued satisfaction.
3. Add lube! Always add lube!
Lube makes everything better! In a recent midlife study by SIECCAN and Trojan™, participants who manually stimulated their partners with lube were more likely to rate the act as very pleasurable than if lube was not used. Sex of all kinds is better when slippery – plus it’s fun. The new Trojan™ Chain Reaction™ Lubricant uses a special blend of intensifiers that release a variety of sensations during use for a unique experience every time! Spontaneity at its finest.
Whenever the month of February comes to mind, it’s easy to associate it as the month of looooove. Stores everywhere are filled with sweet decorations, cupids, plush bears saying “I love you”, and the list carries on! Oh, but who could forget the best part of it all? Chocolate-shaped candies! Chocolate hearts, cinnamon hearts, heart-shaped boxes filled with an assortments of chocolates… Ah, love! What a beautiful little treat it can be, especially if it’s made of chocolate! But while you spoil your loved ones, it’s also important to remember to take care of your blood-pumping organ this month. In Canada, February is also Heart Month!
To celebrate the momentous work our hearts do for us every single day, why not take the time to learn and understand a little more about your own hard-working heart? As a Nursing Student, I personally know you’re never finished learning about it! In fact, did you know the human heart is approximately the size of your two hands clasped together? A mighty job for such a small organ!
Your heart, however, has many notable functions that involve more than just pumping and creating a pleasant heartbeat to listen to. Simply put, the human heart is what allows the constant transport of oxygen throughout our body, which is possible because of our red blood cells. The oxygen will travel by attaching itself to a red blood cell until it reaches a cell in our body that requires oxygen. Once the oxygen is given, your blood will travel back to your heart to be pumped into the lungs to receive brand new oxygen as you breathe, and will then travel back to your heart again to be pumped back into your system. Thus, the cycle carries on endlessly!
You may not think about this much when it works the way it should, but what happens when it doesn’t? It’s important to be able to effectively recognize a heart attack and have a basic understanding of what it is. A heart attack is produced when a coronary artery, the arteries responsible to bring nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle, are either damaged or blocked by plaque build up. When the human heart muscle does not have enough nutrients and oxygen to fulfill an increasing demand, it has to work even harder with diminishing supplies, hence why, in some cases, symptoms are often felt during exercise. During hard activity, your body requires more oxygen than it does when it is at rest.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from one individual to another, and may not always be sudden and severe. A common list of symptoms to look out for are:
Chest discomfort (pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness)
Sweating
Upper body discomfort (in the neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, back)
Light-headedness
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Red sports bag with a grey running shoe and a box of Aspirin on a wooden floor
If you begin to feel any of these symptoms, even if they alleviate after you stop exercising and lay down, call 9-1-1 immediately and either crush or chew two ASPIRIN®81 mg tablets – it could save your life. ASPIRIN 81mg is approved in Canada for emergency use during a heart attack. If you have questions about your heart, talk to a doctor or trusted health care professional. Remember: the longer you wait to consult and seek immediate treatment, you’re at risk to create further damage to your heart. Some that might even become permanent.
This Heart Month, how do you plan on taking extra-special care of your heart?
Disclaimer: To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label. I was generously compensated to write this post. Disclaimer: Ottawa Mommy Club has partnered with Bayer Canada in order to share this article with you!.
Watching movies is one of the most popular ways to spend Valentine’s Day. Cuddle up with your love and watch a romantic movie that brings you closer together. If you have kids, gather everyone around the TV and watch great family movies. It’s something everyone can enjoy and below are ten great Valentine’s Day Movies to choose from.
Popcorn and treats
Five of the best Valentine’s Day movies for couples are:
Love Story – starring, Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal
Pretty Woman – starring, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere
Romeo & Juliet – starring, Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio
Choose one or more of the movies above to watch with the special people in your life this holiday. It’s a great way to make Valentine’s Day extra special for the ones you love.
Valentine’s Day is not just for couples; it’s for everyone. Kids especially enjoy this holiday because it gives them a chance to say how much they love you in fun ways. Kids love sharing cards with friends but they also enjoy doing something special with their parents and siblings.
Here are a few good ideas to spend Valentine’s Day with your kids:
Make cooking a family event. Kids love baking heart-shaped cookies, cake pops, brownies and other treats so spend a little time in the kitchen creating wonderful snacks together.
Make fun crafts together. Most kids love arts and crafts and what better way is there to spend Valentine’s Day than making homemade cards for the whole family?
Have movie night. Pop some popcorn and watch one or two of your favorite movies together or visit your local theater to watch the newest family movie to be released.
Read a good book with your kids. Reading is a lot of fun for everyone and it’s a great way to make this holiday special for little kids.
Put on some good music and have a dance party. Dancing is a great way to celebrate any holiday, but especially Valentine’s Day.
Play games together. Going treasure hunting is always a lot of fun especially when there is a box of chocolates stashed away in the treasure chest.
Host a special tea party for their favourite friends, dolls and plush toys are welcome. A tea party is perfect for snack time and don’t forget to serve finger foods like sandwiches with cookies and tea.
boy outside in the snow holding a heart box
Use these ideals to make Valentine’s Day a special time for the whole family. Once the kids are all worn out and in bed, you can spend a few hours romancing your spouse and drinking wine!
Giving candy, flowers and Valentine cards to loved ones is just one way to spend this special holiday. If you’re searching for a way to make things a little more exciting, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy throughout the holiday.
Here are five great ideas for Valentine’s Day activities:
Invite a few close friends over for a couple’s party. Enjoy some good food and beverages while playing trivia games, Cupid’s Challenge, Lover’s Line Up and similar games designed for couples.
Go out to a karaoke bar and sing the night away. Invite a few friends to go with you to make things even more fun and interesting. Of course, if you have your own karaoke machine, just invite your friends over a fun night at home.
Go on a family hike or snowshoeing together. It’s a great way to get outside, get some exercise and have some fun exploring nature.
Go ice skating. It’s a fun and exciting way to spend your Valentine’s Day and it’s great for couples or families.
Make a video together. Read love poems or talk about how much you mean to each other and put everything on video. It will be a lot of fun and something that you’ll always cherish.
Valentine’s Day is all about spending time with the ones you love. Choose an activity to do with your special someone or with the family and make this holiday one to remember.
“Me Time?” This is a rare occasion in my home. Chasing after a teenager and two young children makes it a bit difficult to block off a chunk of time to be able to relax and recharge. When I am able to get a stretch of time to myself, I like to spoil myself a bit. I love doing yoga, soaking in the tub, or cracking open a book. I then let out a sigh of relief because I feel more relaxed.
Woman reading book
But what about those nights when ‘Me Time’ is not possible (which is most of them)? I am always looking for ways to have that ‘ahhhhhhh’ feeling after a tough day. I stumbled upon the Garnier Whole Blends line of hair care products and was really happy with the wholesome ingredients and amazing scents. Each blend is focused on a unique hair action for a specific result. These products help me wind down to begin a more peaceful evening. Whole Blends is launching their newest blends to this line of hair care products: Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils and Legendary Olive. I tried the Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils blend and I was really excited!
The three products from this New Blend I tried included:
Each product is a fabulous blend of two precious oils. Argan Oil from Morocco helps to nourish hair. Camellia Oil from Japan gives hair strength and scents it with a light, fragrant perfume. This dynamic duo works together to heal and protect hair while restoring its silky shine.
This trio of products helps to play a role in the overall look and strength of hair.
The formula of the Marvelous Shampoo uses fine micro emulsion to cleanse hair out perfectly.
Shampoo with beauty aid products
The Marvelous Balm Conditioner has a delicate gel texture that transforms the fiber of hair. It quickly smooths hair that reveals shine without weighing it down.
Conditioner with beauty aid products
Using the Marvelous Oil gives seven benefits to hair: nourishment, illumination, softness, relaxation, scent, protection and prefects. It can be used before shampooing to help nourish hair, before brushing to protect and detangle hair, and before blow-drying to protect against the damage heat can cause.
Hair oil with beauty aid products
I loved using Whole Blends Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils hair care products! I tried it one evening after putting our younger children to bed. The Marvelous Shampoo really felt as though it rinsed my hair well. It also lathered well and was easy to remove from my hair.
Shampoo being poured into hand
Using the Marvelous Balm Conditioner was a dream! It felt so luxurious and creamy in my hands. When put to work on my hair, I did not have to use too much to work it through my tresses. My hair felt soft and healthier once it was dry.
Conditioner being poured into hand
I was impressed with the Marvelous Oil. I used this product after using the Marvelous Balm Conditioner and it made my hair look and feel stronger and nourished. Wearing braids does put a strain on my hair, and after using this oil, I am going to use it to maintain the strength and health of my strands.
Hair oil being poured into hand
Applying hair oil into hair
One of the best reasons why I love using all three of these products is the scent. It is so warm and inviting. The aroma of Camellia Oil in these products just puts me at ease. The fragrance helps me clear my head from all of the clatter of a busy day and let out a sigh of relief.
Another great reason why hair care products from Whole Blends are not only just great for me, but for the whole family, is because of how it is formulated. All of these products are Paraben Free, contain Natural Extracts and use gentle sulfates. The wholesome ingredients of Whole Blends are the perfect addition to my ‘Me Time’ rituals.
Woman in bathroom with haor care products
Want to find a blend from Whole Blends for your hair? Check out the Garnier Whole Blends site to learn all about them and find the perfect one for you!
Which of the Moroccan Argan & Camellia Oils products from Garnier Whole Blends would you want to try first?
Although this post has been generously sponsored by Garnier Whole Blends, the opinions and language are my own.
One great way to show the special person in your life how much you love them is with a love poem you wrote yourself. Of course, not everyone is a writer so you might think that you don’t have the skills to create the perfect poem for your love. However, it’s not as hard as it sounds. With a few quick tips to help you write a poem for Valentine’s Day, you’re sure to come up with the perfect love poem for your partner.
Use these tips to help you write a poem for Valentine’s Day:
Don’t worry about making your poem rhyme. Most love poems concentrate more on the details than trying to make words rhyme. As long as the sentences flow smoothly and it’s easy to read, that’s all you need to worry about.
Talk about specific things that you love about the person in your poem. Do they charm you with their smile or do you love the way they laugh? Talk about how you met and how that one event changed your whole life for the better.
This is the one time when you do want to let your emotions take over and dictate what you say. That’s how you write from the heart and it’s the best way to write a love poem for Valentine’s Day.
If you have a hard time expressing your feelings to the one you love, writing a poem especially for them is a great way to do it. They will be thrilled that you took the time to sit down and create something beautiful just for them. It’s the best Valentine’s present you could ever give.
Have you ever written a Valentine’s Day poem to a special someone?
spoon, coffee beans and coffee mug spell I love you
Top 10 Things to Do on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a great time to show the special people in your life how much they mean to you. In addition to or in place of buying candy and flowers, get out of the house and go somewhere special. There are many ways for couples and families to spend this holiday together.
Here are 10 things to do on Valentine’s Day:
Plan a spa getaway together with the works. Leave the kids at home and go get a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure together. You’ll both find it relaxing and rejuvenating.
Take the family to an indoor amusement park for the day. It’s a fun and exciting way to spend Valentine’s Day.
Stay home and make a romantic dinner. A special meal could include making your own fondue and, of course, going back to the traditional chocolate fondue for dessert.
Take your sweetheart or the whole family somewhere special. Some ideas include your favourite restaurant, the movies, an art gallery or a museum.
Bring the family to an indoor water park or the community pool. It’s fun and it’s something that everyone can enjoy.
If you’re searching for a causal night out, go bowling or shoot some pool with friends.
Take your sweetheart out to a romantic dinner and then dancing. It’s always a big hit on Valentine’s Day.
If your sweetie is a music lover, take them to see a concert, musical or to the opera, depending on what style of music they enjoy most.
Take your valentine ice skating. It is so much fun and can be a very romantic way for couples to spend a few hours together.
Go to local events. Check the newspapers or do an online search to find carnivals, live music bands or other events taking place in your community on Valentine’s Day or over the weekend before and after the holiday.
When choosing what to do on Valentine’s Day, think about what the other person would enjoy the most. Your goal is to choose something to do that is fun and exciting for everyone.
What do you have planned for that special someone in your life on Valentine’s Day? Do you already know what you’re going to give them or are you still searching for some great gift ideas? Sometimes it can be difficult figuring out what to give that shows how much you really care. However, with a few good ideas to help get you started, you’re sure to come up with the perfect gift for your sweetheart.
Here are five great gifts for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day:
Give your sweetheart a sentimental mug. Write a poem that expresses your love for them or simply say “I love you”.
Give your valentine some great smelling cologne or perfume. Be sure to find out what they wear first if you haven’t been together very long in case they are allergic to certain scents.
Buy matching t-shirts that advertise your love for each other or if they’re a serious sports fan, matching team jerseys may be a better fit.
Surprise your sweetie with his or her new favourite video game, book or DVD movie and watch the gleam in his/her eyes when he/she opens it up.
Buy your valentine jewelry. Nothing says I love you like a pair of gold earrings or a gold watch.
This holiday is all about showing the one you love most how much you really care. A box of candy and bouquet of flowers is nice but it’s not for everyone. Look for something a little more personal that shows your sweetie you really have been paying attention and know what they like best.
What to you give your sweetheart on Valentines’ Day? Do you spend a lot of money or stick to budget?
Valentine’s Day may have started out as a day for couples to celebrate their love for each other but that doesn’t mean you should feel sad or lonely if you happen to be single. The right person just hasn’t come along yet but eventually they will. In the meantime, enjoy the holiday and have a little fun doing things that you like to do. Check out these tips on how singles can celebrate Valentine’s Day!
Here are five ways for singles to celebrate Valentine’s Day:
1. Spend the day visiting family.
If your parents are older, they will surely love seeing you this holiday. Make their day even more special by presenting them with a special gift to show just how much you really do appreciate them.
2. Plan a singles party and invite all of your single friends.
Who knows, you may even meet someone new that you’ll be spending next Valentine’s Day with. Be sure to have plenty of food, drinks and music on hand to keep the party going strong.
3. Spend the day at home doing the things you enjoy.
This is the perfect time to pull out the snacks and binge watch your favorite shows on Netflix or level up your character on that video game you haven’t had much time for lately.
4. Valentine’s Day is also a day of friendship.
Take the time to send Valentine’s Day greetings to all your friends and let them know how much you care for them, how important they are in your life and mean to you.
5. If you’re single, don’t sit back and wait for the holiday to be over.
Just because you don’t have a significant other to spend the day with doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great time. Get out there and do some celebrating of your own or spend the day at home doing something you love.
Start a new hobby, a fitness or cooking class or simply do an activity you haven’t done before or seldom get to do and totally fall in love with doing something new.
Do you have any tips to share with our readers? Leave a comment below!
We typically think that in order to get into fabulous shape we have to bang out extraordinary workouts daily and sacrifice all things yummy for boiled chicken and broccoli.
But here’s another perspective.
When we exercise it’s pretty taxing on the body – it’s stressful. Especially if you are doing longer runs or other long bouts of cardio, but also when we do shorter workouts like lifting weights or body weight movements. These shorter bouts of exercise are generally a good thing, but what happens when we are already stressed out from babies who don’t sleep, finances, keeping up with the day-to-day stuff that would other wise pile up, etc?
We have a ‘general’ stress load we carry around that comes from living our lives, and sometimes, when you add really strenuous exercise to this mix, it can lead to a crash and make you feel awful instead of feeling amazing like exercise should.
Here are a few things that may tell you to slow down a bit momma:
It takes forever for your body to heal: Yes, we can be a bit creaky here and there, but if it’s taking your body an extended period of time to recover from a workout, it may be a sign that your body is just too stressed to train the way you are.
You just can’t turn your mind off: There’s a lot going on and your brain is in over drive keeping you anxious and making it even more difficult to sleep.
No control over what you are consuming: It’s hard enough when we are feeling 100%, but cravings and feeling like your blood sugar is on a rollercoaster can make you feel completely powerless when it comes to food.
Any of this sound familiar?
I am a fitness and wellness coach, but even I had to recognize that for almost seven months while my youngest simply would not sleep – I couldn’t workout and train the way I wanted to. My body was completely exhausted and the few times I did push it? I was sometimes sore for weeks after. When it really came to a head, I felt so depleted that I couldn’t control any aspect of my behaviour, not just the food I was eating. Let me tell you – that was not a fun place to be! The reality is that if we are living at a go go go pace, counting on adrenaline and our stress hormones to get us by, it actually compromises our ability to produce the happy hormones that make us feel good. So even in a situation that would typically bring you happiness, you may simply not feel it.
Our stress is real and even though we want desperately to remain healthy or up our fitness levels, we have to assess what’s really happening in our bodies. The key is being honest about where we are at and find BALANCE.
Here are some really amazing things to consider if you want to stay fit (or become more fit), but know you are stressed out beyond your limit:
Moving more in general can sometimes be more beneficial to you than doing daily workouts that stress out your body too much. This really doesn’t have to be fancy. I tell my clients all the time to try little things, like always using a washroom on another level, doing push ups against the counter while you’re waiting for coffee to brew, leaning back slightly and rocking back and forth while nursing.. and fidgeting!
Try to discover what is driving you to want to push yourself beyond your limits. Having a passion and a drive is an amazing thing – unless it’s covering up another aspect of yourself you just don’t want to really look at. Sometimes we use exercise to pump up our output of happy hormones – not a bad thing, right? But when we are burnt out we simply can’t afford to use intense exercise as a daily happiness booster. You can, however, still find active ways to seek rest and recovery. Simple things like walking, gentle yoga, getting out in the sun, and trying different therapies like massage, acupuncture, or cupping. Ultimately, breaking down that emotional ‘need’ for exercise might be a little painful and certainly uncomfortable, but it can also be incredibly freeing and take a lot of pressure off. Exercise is meant to increase our ability to have fun. If it becomes too much of a chore or an addiction, it starts to take away from our happiness instead of contributing to it.
Turning to food can be powerful when a few things are taken into consideration. We want to feel good, and eating well and exercising can certainly make us feel that way. But at a chemical level, our happiness hormone, serotonin, can be pumped up by increasing our intake of tryptophan at lunch time and B vitamins and fermented foods at dinner. Here’s why it’s helpful to separate them: tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, vitamin B is a co-factor, and fermented foods make vitamin B inside your body. But tryptophan needs time to reach your brain without a lot of competition from other things. So poultry and pumpkin seeds for lunch, then high B vitamin seeds like quinoa and amaranth mixed with fermented vegetables or sea vegetables at dinner makes for an awesome environment for lots of happiness hormones.
Sometimes, even the thought of veering off our parental ‘survival schedules’ can be daunting. I think in our hearts though, we’re desperate to find that balance that affords us healthier, happier moods and bodies and the ability to manage the stress that comes with kids so that we can also experience the fun that comes so innately from them.
Slow down momma, before your body’s survival instincts force you to. Part of being healthy and fit is making space for recovery. This is your time, always exchange it for the things that will bring you closer to HAPPY.
My family just loves a good Whoopie Pie. In case you did not know what a whoopie pie is, it is a delicious dessert!! It is not a pie, as the name suggest. The “pie” is actually two pieces of cookies (I have also seen people use cake) that is usually made out of chocolate and has a sweet and creamy filling between them. Pretty much like a sandwich, but a whole lot sweeter and more delicious. There are so many different variations to this sweet treat that the possibilities are endless.
Recently, I have been on a tropical spree and loving everything with a Caribbean taste or exotic taste. At the store the other week I picked up some lemons to make my homemade lemonade. While snacking on a whoopie pie I picked up at the store, it hit me. I wanted to try my hand at making Lemon Whoopie Pies. I am very happy with the end results and I could not wait to share them with my readers. If you prefer, you can also choose other flavours of cake mix such as chocolate and make Chocolate Whoopie Pies!
They are really easy to make. You will need the following ingredients:
Ingredients
1 lemon cake mix
3/4 C water
1/2 C oil
3 Eggs
1 bag white chocolate melting chips
Frosting ingredients
1/2 C unsalted sweet cream butter
1 TBSP coconut extract
2 C Powder Sugar
1 TSP vanilla
3-5 TBSP heavy whipping cream.
Lemon Whoopie Pies
Let’s get these made and enjoy a delicious treat:
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine all ingredients into a standing mixture or large mixing bowl with hand mixer.
Mix until all is combined
Place a piece of parchment paper onto a cookie sheet.
Scoop some batter with an ice cream scooper onto the cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Pull out and let cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes.
Using a metal spatula, transfers the pies onto a plate to cool more while you prep the frosting.
while frosting is being made, in a double broiler, melt some white chocolate melting chips and set aside.
Frosting Directions
Combine all ingredients, except heavy cream, into a standing mixture.
If the frosting looks like powdery pebbles, add the heavy cream.
Once stiff peaks are formed, scoop frosting into a piping bag with a round tip.
Pipe icing onto one side of the whoopie pie and place the other side on top.
Using the melted white chocolate, drizzle onto the whoopie pies
Grab a glass of milk or water and enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed my Lemon Whoopie Pies as much as my family did. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes.
laptop, coffee, breakfast food on top of sheets in bed
5 Valentine’s Day Gifts on a Budget
Are you searching for the perfect gift for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Are you having trouble finding something nice that fits into your budget? Instead of searching for a specific item to buy, spend a little time coming up with something creative that shows them just how much they really mean to you.
Here are five Valentine’s Day gifts on a budget that truly say “I love you!”:
Go somewhere that’s special to your Valentine. Take your sweetheart to the movies, a museum, the art gallery or somewhere you know they would love to go, even if it’s just for a walk in the park with the one they love.
Serve breakfast in bed. Cook your Valentine a special breakfast to help get the day off to a wonderful start.
Give your special someone a unique house plant. Money trees, miniature roses and aloe plants make great Valentine’s Day gifts that will last long after the holiday is over. Decorate the pot to make the gift extra special.
Arrange a romantic get-a-way, at home. Make arrangements for the kids to spend the night with family and plan your evening together. Listen to music, have a romantic dinner and just enjoy each other’s company for the evening.
Put together a homemade gift basket. Fill your basket with candies, cookies and a Valentine’s bear or fill it with personal items such as beauty products for her or cologne and aftershave for him.
aloe vera plant on a wooden table
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to give a great Valentine’s Day gift. Simply think about what really makes your special someone happy and choose a gift from the heart you know they will love. Having you by their side for the day is one of the best gifts you can give the one you love and it will fit into any budget.
When you make your own valentines, it allows you to tell the person you love how you feel about them in your own words. It will mean so much more when you take the time to create a beautiful DIY Valentine’s Day card and it’s so easy to do. Let’s see how you can easily make your own Valentine’s Day Card!
Hand crafted Valentines Day card from recycled paper.
Supplies Needed
You’ll need these items, all of which you can pick up at most any craft store or dollar store:
construction paper, photos or magazines
sequins
glue
markers
spool of lace
glitter or glitter paint
stickers and
paper scissors
Others supplies of your choice
Use these 5 easy steps to make your own homemade Valentine’s Day card!
Choose the colour construction paper, magazine or photos you want to use for your card and fold it in half. Leave it in the rectangle shape or cut it into the shape of a heart.
On the inside of your valentine, write a poem for your sweetheart or just speak from the heart and tell them all the wonderful things you love about him or her.
Decorate the blank spaces on the inside with pictures of hearts and flowers. If your artwork isn’t that great, use stickers instead of drawing.
Decorate the front of your card however you want. Some ideas include drawing hearts, putting your names inside of a heart or decorate with stickers, sequins or glitter paint.
You can even glue a small strip of lace around the edges of the valentine to dress it up even more or, to make the card a gift, add a string to hang around a door handle or to used as a necklace and you’re all done.
These are simply a few craft ideas! Making your own Valentine’s Day cards is fun for the whole family. Kids can make their friends and family cool Valentines to celebrate this exciting holiday and you can give your Valentine a special homemade card that describes exactly what they mean to you.
I hope you enjoyed my tips on How to Make Your Own Valentine’s DayCard! If you make it, please share your photos with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other crafts!
How to Make Your Own Valentine's Day Card
Yield: 1 Card
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Estimated Cost: Under $5
It will mean so much more when you take the time to make a beautiful DIY Valentine’s Day card for your loved ones and it’s so easy to do too!
No Ratings
Materials
construction paper, photos or magazines
sequins
markers
spool of lace
glitter or glitter paint
stickers
glue
Others supplies of your choice
Tools
Scissors
Instructions
1. Choose the colour construction paper, magazine or photos you want to use for your card and fold it in half. Leave it in the rectangle shape or cut it into the shape of a heart.
2. On the inside of your valentine, write a poem for your sweetheart or just speak from the heart and tell them all the wonderful things you love about him or her.
3. Decorate the blank spaces on the inside with pictures of hearts and flowers. If your artwork isn’t that great, use stickers instead of drawing.
4. Decorate the front of your card however you want. Some ideas include drawing hearts, putting your names inside of a heart or decorate with stickers, sequins or glitter paint.
5. You can even glue a small strip of lace around the edges of the valentine to dress it up even more or, to make the card a gift, add a string to hang around a door handle or to used as a necklace and you’re all done.
There is nothing like a homemade cookie to share with someone special on Valentine’s Day! I have the perfect recipe to share with you; it is completely fuss free and creates a delicious cookie that is baked with love; and a cake mix! Whip up a batch of these Valentine’s Day crinkle cookies with white chocolate drizzle and share a smile!
The Valentine’s Day holiday itself is often so focused on relationships between couples, or the thereof lack of relationships in a person’s life, that we forget to appreciate the true meaning behind the holiday: spreading love around and reminding the special people in your life how much you care and love them. Whether it be your spouse, boyfriend, parents, children, siblings, pets, etc., everyone deserves a little love!
Crinkle Cookies Recipe Uses A Boxed Cake Mix
I love to make sweets and treats to share, but sometimes, after a long week at work, I don’t want to spend a whole afternoon baking. I have the perfect recipe for times like that. It makes use of a boxed cake mix and only a few other common pantry items. In only about 15 minutes you can have a batch of these ready to enjoy. They taste so good that no one would believe they are so easy to make.
Variations of the Crinkle Cookies
The white chocolate drizzle on top of these cookies really steals the show. It sets the light texture of the cookies off perfectly! While I used a white cake mix with food colour, you could use any flavour of cake mix you desire. Red Velvet works especially well with this recipe for the holiday. I have also used a dark chocolate cake mix in this recipe for a nothing short of decadent result!
Give Cookies As Valentine’s Day Gifts
This upcoming Valentine’s Day, why bother purchasing a regular box of prepackaged chocolates when you can give the untraditional gift of homemade treats and create special memories while making them?
Sometimes, the best gifts are the ones that were made from the heart. Or, in this case, baked! These delectable cookies are bound to earn a thumbs up from even the pickiest sweet tooth in your life!
These cookies are perfect for sending to a classroom party, or sharing with coworkers in honour of the special day; but rest assured that these cookies are great year round and also for other holidays such as for Christmas, Mother’s Day, or even Easter! Don’t limit yourself to only making these in February!
Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle Recipe
You will only need a few simple ingredients to get these going:
They are very simple, but follow these directions closely:
How To Make The Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Blend your white cake mix, whipped topping, butter and your egg in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until blended.
Put your powdered sugar in small bowl. and set to the side
Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out your cookie dough and roll into a small ball.
Place the cookie ball into powdered sugar to coat generously. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and tops are crackled.
Remove immediately to wire rack to cool completely.
In a small bowl add your white chocolate melting chips and melt as directed
Use a spoon and drizzle your chocolate over your cookies
Set to the side to allow the chocolate to set
Enjoy
Ah, t’is the season for candy hearts, assorted chocolates, bouquets of various coloured roses…and Valentine’s Day treats! Of course, nothing quite says “I love you” to those special people more than a homemade batch of Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies with a White Chocolate Drizzle!
I hope you enjoyed the Valentine’s Day Crinkle Cookies recipe. If you make it, make sure to share with us on Facebook or Twitter! Also, check out all of our other Recipes.
VALENTINE’S DAY RECIPE IDEAS
If you are looking for more ways to bake up something sweet this Valentine’s Day you might enjoy these:
Have a Romantic Valentine’s Day without Breaking the Bank
Spending a romantic Valentine’s Day with the love of your life doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. You just need to get a little creative and think outside the box. For example, a dozen red roses is a great gift but it’s also very expensive. Giving your love a single red rose with a personal note telling them how much they mean to you will mean much more to them and cost a lot less.
Here are a few more ways to have a romantic Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank:
Cook a special Valentine’s Day breakfast or dinner for your love. Make their favorite food and take care of everything for them, including the dishes so they can just sit back and enjoy the meal.
Have movie night at home where you can relax and cuddle up together or if you’re both into gaming, play video games.
Write your sweetheart a love poem expressing how much you love them and why. They’ll love it more than any Valentine’s card you’ll find at the store.
Dress warmly, sit outside with a hot beverage and watch the sun set or the stars twinkling in the night sky.
Have a romantic picnic with candles in your own living room, family room or master bedroom.
Check to see if there are any free events in your area that your partner would enjoy going to.
You can have a romantic day with the one you love without having to spend a lot of money when you plan ahead and look for simple ways to express your love.
Do you have any romantics ideas for that special someone you would like to share with our readers? Please comment below, we would love to hear them!
Rain, snow, and freezing temperatures – it’s all part of winter in Ottawa. You can bundle yourself up or stay nice and toasty inside, but the frigid weather is taking its toll on your lawn and garden. What lawn and garden you say? Well, they’re out there, even if they’re covered in white stuff right now. Even after you’re done being preoccupied with the holidays, there are still things you can do to protect your lawn and garden through the winter. It will help your outdoor space to survive until spring and reward you with a beautiful and healthy display through the summer.
House during the winter.
Start With What You Can
First, even if everything is covered with snow, check out the area and remove anything that’s on the lawn, like tree branches, hoses, or furniture. If there’s a thaw, rake up all the autumn leaves you didn’t get around to clearing.
And if it’s possible, mow cool season grasses like bentgrass, ryegrass, fine fescue, and bluegrass so they don’t harbor snow mold. If you are able to mow, leave the lawn and leaf clippings in place as mulch that will feed nutrients back into the soil.
There’s not much other Ottawa lawn care to do in winter except to keep an eye on the weather and water when necessary so that the root zone has the necessary moisture to maintain itself, especially just before a freeze. And do your best to stay off the grass because repeated walking or driving (you’d never do that, would you?) over frozen lawns can kill turfgrass crowns and leave you with bare spots in the spring. Then just make plans for what to do once everything thaws.
As for the rest of your garden, there are other tasks you can take care of when the weather permits.
red berries on a branch
Prune Perennials, Shrubs, and Trees
The cold months of dormancy are perfect for trimming perennial plants and pruning shrubs, hedges, and trees. Trees in particular pose a danger in winter storms, because snow-laden dead branches can snap off and harm people and property.
Large trees are best trimmed by professionals who are experienced in climbing and using heavy equipment. Trying to save a few dollars by pruning large or high branches yourself can come at the price of spending the rest of the winter with a cast on your leg.
If you’re going to trim a smaller tree by yourself, follow these guidelines:
Decide on a plan. Are you trimming only to remove diseased, damaged or dead branches or are you shaping the whole tree to a more pleasing shape? Whatever you’re planning to do, identify the major branches that form the tree’s “skeleton” and avoid removing them.
First remove broken branches. Then move along to those that are diseased or damaged.
Thin out branches that cross or grow inward. For a tree to grow well, it needs light and air circulation. Branches that cross can do damage to each other, and any branches that are too close together can promote the growth of fungus and attract insects.
Prune branches that are growing in odd directions. When the leaves are gone from deciduous trees, you can see if any branches are heading off by themselves.
Remember that pruning is stressful. All trimming increases a tree’s vulnerability to disease and insects, so prune off just what’s necessary for the job at hand. In no case remove more than 25 percent of a tree’s branches, and make sure you leave living branches on at least two-thirds the height of the tree.
Mulch
If you didn’t lay in a good cover of mulch around your trees and in your planting beds, it’s not too late. There’s plenty of winter weather to come, and mulch protects roots from harsh temperatures. Just be careful not to cover the trunks of shrubs and trees because mulch holds moisture and can cause rot.
Protect Your Lawn and Garden Through the Winter
Plant Bulbs
Ottawa is in gardening hardiness Zone 5, and bulbs for spring blooming should have been planted by December, but if you missed the window, go ahead and plant them anyway because they’re not going to be as hardy if you save them until next year.
As long as you can get a shovel in the ground, plant the bulbs a little deeper than usual, and top with straw for insulation. If the ground is frozen hard, plant the bulbs in pots and water them just enough so that the soil doesn’t dry out. In spring, you can let them bloom in the pots or transplant them into the garden.
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