Showing posts with label Valentines Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentines Day. Show all posts

Friday, January 23, 2015

Food Review: Special Treats and Recipes for Valentine's Day



Be My Valentine World
Show someone how much you love them on Valentine's Day with these special treats and recipes.   

Here are a few suggestions for making this Valentine's Day fun, memorable and full of hearts for you and the one, or ones, you love.  

Delight your sweetheart with unique treats throughout the day, starting with a heart shaped breakfast.  We have even included a special gift for your backyard birds.

 

Heart Shaped Breakfast Waffles


Why not start the morning off right with heart shaped waffles.  Waffle batter is pretty easy to make.  You can either use a product like Bisquick and simply add milk, eggs and vegetable oil, or you can whip up waffles from scratch with a recipe like this one.   The secret ingredient to making homemade waffles delicious is a 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract. 

 Chef’sChoice 840 WafflePro Taste / Texture Select Waffle Maker Traditional Five of Hearts Easy to Clean Nonstick Plates, 5-Slice, SilverCheck Price


Add some delicious strawberry syrup or raspberry topping to the breakfast table, and your family is sure to be singing your praises all day long.


*All of the recipes are linked for easy clicking to find the delicious recipes.  Plus, you will find a selection of Heart Shaped Waffle Makers by clicking here.




Mozzarella Cheese Filled Heart Shaped Snacks


mozzarella cheese filled hearts
I recently came across this recipe pictorial for Mozzarella Cheese Filled Hearts posted by a friend on Pinterest.  I simply had to seek out the original recipe and tutorial post to share here on Review This!

These treats look easy and delicious for an afternoon snack, a treat for a child's lunch box, or perhaps an appetizer for a Valentine's Day romantic dinner. 

The recipe and directions for these awesome Valentine's Day treats can be found on Hungry Happenings.  

Beth also provides a recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Pesto which makes the perfect red sauce for dipping for Valentine's or any day.

These mozzarella hearts really are a cool "twist" on the mozzarella sticks that are popular appetizers in so many family restaurants.    




Valentines Peep Pops   

valentines peep pop

Another fun and easy treat would be these Peep Pops.  

Brianna gives us excellent instructions with lots of photos so we can makes these specialty chocolate goodies.

It is truly amazing how many different shapes are available in our favorite "Peeps" these days.  They certainly allow us to make a lot of really awesome and tasty gifts by serving as the foundation for specially made designs.  

I never could make myself eat the little chicks, but I have no trouble devouring the Peeps hearts.     



Valentine's Day Chocolate Mice


I am sure it will come as no surprise to anyone that one of my own personal favorites has to be these Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice

They are the perfect way to give chocolate covered cherries and Kisses for Valentines Day.

chocolate covered cherry mice
Chocolate Covered Cherry Mice


Roasted Red Pepper Pesto
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto
Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

A Special Treat for our Feathered Friends

birdfeeder heart
We certainly don't want to forget to make a special treat for our backyard birds.  They are always so faithful to sing to us and to add beauty to our ordinary days.

Chrysa provides us with directions and a recipe to make a Valentine Bird Feeder Heart


Many of us experience extreme cold, snow and ice during the month of February.  These hearts are fun and easy to make.  They are a wonderful way to say thank you to our outdoor "friends" as and a beautiful way to provide food during the winter months. 




Heart Shaped Cake


Last, but my no means least, I want to share the gift I enjoy making for my own family each Valentine's Day.  

Heart shaped cakes are easy to make with the right pans and they can be made in any flavor of cake and icing.  Over the years, I have made pink and red icing for the cakes, but my husbands' favorite is a simple German Chocolate cake in the shape of a heart.

*Additional Heart Shaped Bakeware
 

Share your favorite Valentine's Day Treat

Have you published an article about your favorite Valentine's Day treat?  We would love to see it!  Please leave the link in our guestbook so we can visit.


Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Sunday, December 21, 2014

A Good Romantic Comedy for the Whole Family - A Christmas Classic

A Good Romantic Comedy for the Whole Family - A Christmas Classic


If you're looking for an excellent romantic comedy movie, look no further! While You Were Sleeping is a flirty, fun, cheerful film that the whole family can watch.

What's the Movie About?

Sandra Bullock plays Lucy Moderatz, a Chicago Transit Token Collector who's in love with a handsome man she's never met but sees every day taking the train. That man is played by Peter Gallagher; his character's name is Peter Callaghan.

On one particular day, a mugger pushes Peter onto the tracks, and Lucy, without considering her own safety, jumps into action and saves Peter from an oncoming train. When he's brought to the hospital, unconscious and in a coma (where he stays for most of the movie), they won't let Lucy see Peter because she's not family...at which point she quietly says under her breath, 'Oh that's alright I was just going to marry the guy.' One of the nurses hears what she says, misunderstands it, and lets her see Peter, explaining to the hospital staff that she's 'Peter's fiance.' His family shows up and is told by a nurse that Lucy is Peter's fiance - they're rather shocked! It seems she's not Peter's type, as Peter is a high-powered lawyer. In contrast, Lucy is a down-to-earth, loving, single, non-manipulative woman...the type Peter doesn't usually attract.


Lucy Falls in Love with Peter's Whole Family

The story centers around Lucy being unable to tell Peter's family that she's not really his fiance because she feels like she's part of a family again for the first time in a long time. You see, Lucy lost both her mother and father, was an only child, and didn't have a family.

The story also centers around Christmas time, so being invited over for Christmas and being around all the fuss of the season in a family home gives Lucy a sense of connection she's long needed.


Things Get Complicated When Lucy Meets Peter's Brother Jack

Lucy ends up spending the night on the couch at Peter's parents' home after dinner, and late that night, Jack, played by Bill Pullman, comes home. Lucy hears him speaking to his sister Mary, pretends to sleep, and tries to slip out quickly in the morning to avoid talking with Jack. Unfortunately, that plan doesn't work; Jack waits on the staircase to speak to Lucy before she leaves. You can see that even though he doesn't believe she's Peter's fiance, he's very attracted to her. Thus, things begin to get emotionally complicated when neither Lucy nor Jack can tell each other their true feelings about each other..since, after all, Lucy is engaged to his brother (but not really!).

The Movie is Filled with Numerous Funny Characters

One of the funniest characters is Joe Fusco Jr., played by Michael Rispoli! He's the son of the landlord in the building Lucy lives in. He has a 'thing' for Lucy, but of course, she's sweet to him but doesn't have 'those feelings' for him. He flirts with her in comical ways..one day,  he's standing at the bottom of the staircase as Lucy unlocks her apartment door, flashing some tickets, and shouts up to her.."Tomorrow night, eight o'clock... I got ice capades...I know, I guy" - This movie line always gets tossed around in our house!

Peter Boyle plays Ox Callaghan, the father, and his dry sense of humor adds dimension to the film Jack Warden, who plays 'Saul,' the family friend.


How does it End?

I won't be spoiling the ending on this one, so if you haven't seen it, you'll have to watch to see how it all turns out. It's a wonderful feel-good movie to watch on girls' night or with the family. It usually comes on TV during the holiday season. I watch it every year.

My Personal Sense When I Watch the Movie

I don't know if this happens to you, but some movies bring me back to a point in my life and leave me almost missing that time. My early 20s remind me of Lucy's life: I moved to Toronto, finished school, worked, and loved being a city girl. 

The 'city setting' makes me think of my young days of living alone, in my own apartment in Downtown Toronto...a time I loved. Watching the characters walk through the city and laugh together...the cold winter days and nights all bring a familiar smile to my face. I love how this movie makes me feel.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, February 15, 2014

Valentine Upcycle Events and Celebrations

red card with a gold heart

Recycle the Valentine Happiness All Year Long


Valentine's Day is a day to share love, happiness and appreciation. It's a day for which many crafters spend weeks in preparation. Homemade cards, hand crafted gifts and upcycled decorations are all created for this one special moment. Share your love and happiness all year long by recycling the sentiment of Valentine's Day.

Hello Recycling Sweethearts!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day and that you were able to spend the day with those people that are special to you. 

Last week, Valentine crafters around the Web were busy preparing for this romantic and caring event. To celebrate their handmade creations, the Recycler hosted an impromptu Hashtag Event. Crafters were invited to share their Valentine creations by Tweeting their stories and pictures using the hashtag #ValentineCrafters.

Almost 200 crafters were seen at the Valentine Crafters 2014 #ValentineCrafts Hashtag Event. Some showed up with just a photo of their hand crafted Valentine present. Others came dressed to the nines with detailed step-by-step instructions to duplicate their sentimental creations.

Vallain was seen Making Homemade Valentines. She saves scraps of paper and greeting cards so that she has a supply of recycled materials from which to choose according to her muse. Her Valentine card ideas can easily be reused to make greeting cards for any holiday.

MSchindel made a splash wearing the jewels she designed during her Romantic "Queen of Hearts" Earrings Project. I love these earrings, I love this earring style and I'd love to make several pairs, all with different beads to complement the different seasons.

It was a ton of fun to host the Valentine Crafters 2014 #ValentineCrafts Hashtag Event. It was so much fun that plans are being made for the Easter Crafters 2014 Hashtag Event. So, get your upcycled, recycled and reused Easter crafts ready. Write a how-to or recipe to show us your creative magic. We'll be announcing the date and sending out invitations in a few weeks.

Until next week, be clean and be green.

Coletta





Posted by Coletta Teske
Coletta Teske

About This Contributor

Coletta Teske writes reviews on books, business management, writing, crafting, cooking, and gardening. She is also an avid recycler and shares her tips on recycling. She delights in upcycling an old object, recycling or transforming discarded items into a new treasure.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Friday, February 14, 2014

Valentines Day Special Edition ~ Romantic Movies & Music

Happy Valentines Day and welcome to this special edition of Romantic Movies & Music!

As many of you already know, I am a hopeless romantic!  Love and Romance are the essence of the beautiful rose called life.  Without it, most of us would wither and die.  

Because "forever hopeless romantics" are in love with love, we naturally gravitate to romantic movies and music.  In celebration of Valentines Day, the day set aside every year for love and lovers to celebrate, I am featuring a large selection of romantic movie and music reviews written by other forever hopeless romantics.  

These are all exceptional reviews and I warn you now, it is truly impossible to pick a favorite.  So get out those tissues because, without further ado, I give you:


Most Excellent Forever Hopeless Romantic Movie and Music Reviews

*All Photos are Linked to Actual Review Articles Written by Noted Authors

 
 Is Your Love Somewhere in Time? ~ A Fabulous Movie Reviewed by notsuperstitious13 The Notebook-True love at its best! An Outstanding Review by FreshStart7 Review of "The Cutting Edge" Movie ~ Precious Memories by DecoratingforEvents A Personal Reaction & Review of You've Got Mail by nicolepyles86 A Good Romantic Comedy Movie for the Whole Family ~ While You Were Sleeping Movie Review by Brite-Ideas Love Doesn't Just Happen, Sometimes You Have to Work For It! ~ Love Comes Softly Review by Grammieo Only You Movie with Robert Downey Jr ~ Reviewed by Kinworm "Grease": A Wholesome Youth Musical Review by Charito1962 Before Sunrise: a Different Romance Movie ~ Review by Aibrean82 40 Year Ago ~ Memories of Romeo & Juliet by Grammieo Who Could Ever Forget Wuthering Heights Reviewed by Kiwinana71


 

More Romantic Movies & Music

Because love and romance are a part of every day, I will continue to search for more romantic movies and music reviews to share with you right here on Review This!  

I would also welcome your romantic music & movie reviews!  Please, share the links to your reviews with me.  I would hate to miss something awesome!







Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


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