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Emerson Publications
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The Family First
Newsletter In this issue:
Fun Valentines Day Sweet Treats Good morning!
I am working on this newsletter as I
sit in the exit aisle of an airplane headed to
Aruba. We have the good fortune of having
friends who recently moved there, so we're taking
advantage of their hospitality and visiting.
I'm two hours away from Houston, and the passenger
beside me tells me that we're flying along the coast
of Cuba. The aqua blue water is absolutely
beautiful. Why can't we have water like that
surrounding the United States? Enjoy your week. Please forward this issue to someone who may benefit from it!
Do you know eight people who wash, brush and clean?
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Unique Ideas for Valentine's Day Decorations
Everyone thinks of chocolates and red roses for Valentine’s Day. Maybe even some fine jewelry or a lovely romantic getaway if the budget allows. But there are other ways to show your Valentine how much you care that will create wonderful memories for years to come without breaking the budget. Create a romantic atmosphere using LED lights and exquisite faux roses easily and economically. These unique Valentine’s Day decoration ideas will set the mood for the most romantic evening ever!
DECORATING WITH LIGHTS
The right lighting is an important part of a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner setting. Here are some different ways to create a romantic mood to enhance your evening.
Red Balloon Lights in Heart Shaped Balloons
Balloon lights are small LED lights that fit inside almost any type of balloon. They are battery operated and last an average of 12 hours. What better a way to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” than some heart shaped balloons with brilliant red lights shining from within. They can be set to blink or stay on a steady glow. How unforgettable is that? When the batteries are exhausted you can purchase more, so you can save them for a surprise party, birthday or other upcoming event.
Red LED Mini Lights
Get some unique garland (perhaps heart-themed or faux rose) and intertwine some red LED mini lights through it. Decorate the dining room with the LED accented garland and a romantic candle centerpiece for the table. The warm glow of the candles and the romantic red brilliance of the LED’s are the perfect way to set the mood for a special Valentine’s Day dinner.
Heart Shaped Rope Light Motifs
Surprise your Valentine by hanging one of these beautiful bright red heart shaped rope lights in the window or door. They’ll shine almost as brightly as the smile on your Valentine’s face and make for a truly memorable tradition for years to come.
FAUX ROSES vs. REAL ROSES
The cost of a dozen red roses seems to increase every year. Red roses are beautiful, but only last a limited time. How about a beautifully made faux rose table arrangement? They are so realistic and will grace any Valentine’s Day dinner table. With some carefully arranged candles you can easily make a gorgeous centerpiece.
You can also adorn your an interior wall with a heart shaped faux red rose wreath. Once again, red mini lights accenting the wreath would make a gorgeous Valentine’s Day decoration anywhere inside your home.
Either of these faux rose ideas will cost the same or maybe even less than real roses and your Valentine gets to treasure them for years to come.
Yes, chocolates and red roses are definitely the traditional way of Valentine’s Day gift giving and celebrating. This year, stand out from the rest and use unique lighting, a great new twist on balloons and some exquisite faux roses to give your Valentine a truly romantic Valentine’s Day they’ll remember. They’ll have keepsakes to cherish for years to come and you’ve made some wonderful memories without breaking your budget. Brenda Prevost is owner and founder of
http://www.allholidaytreasures.com which carries lights and decorations for Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and other special occasions. Brenda Prevost may be contacted at http://www.allholidaytreasures.com or bprevost@allholidaytreasures.com Fun Valentines Day Sweet Treats
Children love to decorate for all holidays and they love to help out in the kitchen and make crafts. The following cover all three of these areas for some special family fun!
Valentines Day Popcorn Cake
1 cup butter
Melt butter and marshmallows in a large heavy pan over low heat. Stir often. Put popcorn into large pan. Pour marshmallow mixture over top. Stir and mix well. Add peanuts and candy. Mix together.
Put mixture into a well greased angel food cake pan or cake pan. The deeper the pan the better the cake will look when you place it on your cake plate.
Valentines Day Candy House
Get your family together and make these adorable Valentines Day houses.
Each person will need the following:
Everyone will need easy access to the following:
Melted white chocolate to use for glue
How to Put the House Together: Simply paint the crackers and the box with the melted white chocolate and put the crackers where you want them on the house in order to cover it. For the roof it is easier to just lay the graham cracker down flat instead of trying to angle 2 together for the roof. Then use the melted chocolate to adhere the candies to the house. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a frosting of light snow.
Display your Valentines Day town for all to see. Don't forget to get some pictures of the cute houses and the fun time making them.
Angela Billings publishes a free online newsletter Home and Family Ezine.
http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com Angela Billings may be contacted at http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com or asb68@twlakes.net
Don't leave your loved
ones guessing...guide them now.
Valentine's Day - It's For Everyone
Valentine's Day - It's For Everyone By: Arleen M. Kaptur
When the time for Valentine's Day comes around, all thoughts turn to chocolate, candy, little hearts, and more chocolate. It seems that somewhere the name of Valentine's and Chocolate got a bit mixed together. The true meaning of this day was to give everyone an opportunity to express their feelings of love without being awkward, or shy. After all, it is Valentine's Day, and you can be as mushy as you want or cute, whichever you decide on.
Our ideas for this great day can begin with breakfast, and "toast" can be cut into any shape we want, whether into the all-time favorite of hearts, or into the letters of L-O-V-E. Kids, especially, get a kick out of this. Pancakes can be used if that is your family favorite. Come lunch time and you open your bagged lunch to heart-shaped sandwiches, or even a few "jiggly" jello treats. When dinner rolls around, then the big guns can come out. Crescent rolls shaped, special salads, and dessert - well, the sky is the limit. Strawberries, cherries, whipped cream, chocolate, etc. all add to the memory of a great day.
What all this comes down to is to enjoy the day and use your creativity and inspiration to allow you the artistic freedom to decorate your home, and your meals in a traditional, or way-out style. You are the architect and the designer. Whatever you choose, just remember that your family and friends will "love" your endeavors and you for taking the time to bring Valentine's Day into their everyday schedules. That, in itself, will make it the best Raspberry Divine Cake, or Chocolate To Die For Brownies that may just become a tradition or a sought after favorite for next year. ENJOY! Arleen M. Kaptur ©January, 2007
Owner of A & J Northwoods that features
crafts, gifts, fresh and gourmet foods.
Arleen has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines.
For a complete list please contact Arleen at
asnorthwoods@centurytel.net
Arleen Kaptur may be contacted at or asnorthwoods@centurytel.net Get Paid To Shop At Home!
This Valentine’s Day, send your heart to school with your child. Instead of packing her usual brown bag lunch, surprise her by creating a miniature Valentine’s Day celebration for her to enjoy. (Remember that even though Valentine’s Day is typically a “pink” day, boys enjoy celebrating the day of hearts and love too! Simply adapt these instructions for a more masculine feel…use a blue bag and maybe a blue napkin.)
If your child carries a lunch box to school, skip it today. Use a white lunch sack instead, or find a pink or white colored gift bag. Write your child’s name in bold letters with a thick, red marker. Decorate the sack with cute Valentine stickers. Using red card stock, cut out a pair of identical hearts. Make sure the hearts are the same width as the sack. Hold the hearts on the top of the sack, one in the front and one in the back. Punch two holes in the middle of the hearts, using a hole puncher, about an inch apart. Be sure to punch through to the sack as well as the hearts. Set the hearts aside.
Now you can begin the Valentine lunch. Try to pack only pink-colored foods. Begin with a carton of strawberry flavored milk or a strawberry flavored smoothie. If your child likes to eat sandwiches, cut the prepared sandwich into a heart shape using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. If your child dislikes sandwiches, try cutting cubes of hard cheese and ham or turkey with a cookie cutter. Add a container of strawberry yogurt or strawberry gelatin. Fill a plastic container with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for dipping. For dessert, pack a heart-shaped brownie or cupcake with pink frosting and sprinkles, or pack a few cookies frosted with pink icing. (Grocery stores have a variety of individually wrapped snacks for Valentine’s Day if you are short of baking time.) For a healthier dessert alternative, simply sandwich a few graham crackers together with strawberry flavored cream cheese.
Include in the sack a large pink napkin folded into a rectangle. Write the words “TABLE CLOTH” on the outside with the red marker. Write a sweet Valentine’s Day message on a white plastic spoon. Wrap the spoon in a small pink napkin and tie with a piece of red curling ribbon. For a finishing touch, throw in a small box of conversation hearts.
After packing the lunch sack, attach the hearts to the top with a long piece of pretty ribbon. Simply tie the sack closed by lacing the ribbon through the holes and tying the ends into a pretty bow in the front. Your child will be delighted when he opens his Valentine lunch and you will be admired by his classmates and teachers.
Treva Bedinghaus is a freelance writer and webmaster of www.partiescometrue.com. She is a busy mother of three young children for whom she enjoys throwing fabulous parties. Treva Bedinghaus may be contacted at http://www.partiescometrue.com or treva@partiescometrue.com MOMS MAKE MORE! Support Family First - visit our
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