Valentine Gift Ideas

There's still time to order your sweetie a Valentine surprise! Here are some fun picks from Amazon.com: Just click on the pic for details...give it a sec to load =)

Consignment Shop Finds

Found this great Disney Gardening Book with how-to's just like at the parks! for 5 bucks and these ADORABLE yellow ruffle bowls (Williams-Sonoma, I might add ;)) four for 9 bucks! Saaweet!

Found this distressed dresser for my beachy guest room for just ..$60! This is just a photo of the beach room, see how good it looks in it's new home? ;)

Decorating Bug

It's this time of year that I get a bug for decorating. Maybe it's cabin fever, maybe it's new year-new look, or maybe just creativity kicks in... Whatever it is, I've GOT it! Here are some great ideas for kid's rooms (some of it ON SALE right now!) from one of my fav kid's stores: Land of Nod!

Kids' Bookcases: Kids Honey Walden Bookcase - Honey Bookcase
Kids' Bedding: Kids Blue Solar System Bedding - Twin Solar System Quilt

Kids' Growth Charts: Kids Space Growth Chart - Space Growth Chart

Here are some homemade ideas too!

• for wall decor, Michaels' has some 12x12 black frames. Just go to the scrapbook paper aisle, find your favorite paper (themed to go with room, ie: space, etc) and frame it! Way easy and very inexpensive!
• purchase chalk board paint and paint an old dresser for some fun furniture!
• affix glow in the dark stars to ceiling--
• use metallic silver fabric for throw pillows and big floor pillows
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

BAKED Crab Rangoon =)

Found this recipe and tried it for lunch today..had to share...YUM!

Caribbean Pork with Lime Coconut Rice and Mango Salsa

You will need:

• can of pineapple tidbits


• 1 lime


• 4 boneless pork chops


• 1 cup white wine


• 1/4 c fresh chopped cilantro


• 1 yellow or red sweet pepper


• 1/4 c strips red onion

Marinate boneless pork chops in pineapple juice, lime juice, white wine, fresh cilantro, salt and pepper. Marinate for at least 2 hours in fridge. When ready to cook, add 1 TB Extra Virgin Olive oil to frying pan. Add pork chops. Brown lightly both sides. Add liquid from marinade to pan. Add strips of yellow or red sweet pepper and red onions. Cook on med/low with cover on. When veggies are soft, add pineapple chunks to pan. Cover and heat.
Meanwhile, cook your rice: Coconut Lime Rice from Southern Living Magazine.

TIP: toast coconut and add to top of rice when serving. Gives it an extra YUM factor =)

Mango Salsa:
Peel and chop mango. Add diced red onion, chopped cilantro, diced jalepeno pepper (no seeds), chop red or yellow sweet pepper. Squeeze fresh lime juice over top and stir.

Wontons: Tropical Wontons from The Pampered Chef

Valentine's Day classroom party ideas

Birthday in a Box says:

Party Preparation
Party Flyer for Parents:

You or the classroom teacher should send an email invitation or a flyer home with each child at least two weeks in advance if you will need any of the following for the party:
•Cash donations to offset the cost of the party


•Donations of food, craft supplies, or decorations


•If the students should bring Valentine cards to school that day for every classmate


•Parent volunteers at the party

Planning Your School Valentine's Day Party:

Decide on the order of the activities, and have at least one easy backup game prepared in case you need to fill time. When planning the party you will need to consider:
•Number of Children in the Class: If you have a group of 12 or more, you may consider setting up activity stations at which you can do a craft or activity with a manageable number of children (i.e. 6 to 8). For example, a class of 21 should be divided into three groups. Start by having the whole class play a game like Hugs & Kisses, and then break the class into groups of seven to rotate between three station activities.


•Age of the Children: This consideration is most important when selecting crafts. Preschool children should be given simple crafts without any objects that could potentially be choking hazards.


•Length of the Party: For a two hour party, you might plan one active group game such as Hugs & Kisses, a couple of craft stations such as our Valentine's Mouse Craft and Edible Friendship Bracelets activity, and a game station with Candy Relay and Breathless. If you're serving food, make sure you also set aside 15 to 30 minutes for this portion of the party.


•Size of the Party Area: Make sure you have enough space for all of the activities you want to set up. If you plan more activities than you have space for, consider which games and crafts can be quickly set up and broken down.





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Decorating & Food Ideas


School Valentine’s Day Party Decorations

Ask the teacher ahead of time which of these decorating ideas will work in the classroom:
•Cut hearts from pink, white and red construction paper to hang throughout the party area. Older children may cut out their own hearts. To make each heart, fold a piece of paper in half. Cut a half heart along the fold. When you open the paper you will have a perfectly symmetrical heart. Allow your guests to decorate the hearts with crayons, markers, stickers, glitter glue, and other decorations. Send the hearts home with the children as keepsakes.


•Tie pairs of heart-shaped balloons to the edges of the chalkboard, teacher's desk, etc.


•Twist together strands of red and white streamers, and hang them from the ceiling.


•Tape red balloons along the door frame leading into the classroom to create a balloon arch for the children to walk through. You can also hang streamers from the top of the doorway so your guests have to walk through them to get inside.


•Play background music of songs that fit the theme such as the theme song to Beauty and the Beast and "Be My Valentine" by Jack Hartmann.


School Valentine’s Day Party Food
•Make delicious, heart-shaped cookies with our Linzer Hearts recipe and a heart-shaped cookie cutter. (Recipe makes 48 cookies.)


•Make heart-shaped sandwiches by cutting sandwiches with a heart-shaped cookie cutter


•Cupcakes are an easy treat to serve to a classroom full of children. Frost with pink icing and add one heart shaped candy on top.


•Pick up different kinds of Valentine's candies from your local grocery or drug store, such as conversation hearts, heart-shaped lollipops, and Hershey's Kisses (or other inexpensive chocolates).

•Serve red and pink drinks like fruit punch, strawberry milk, and pink lemonade.


•Use our Valentines Party Supplies to serve food.





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Party Favors

School Valentine’s Day Party Favors

Here are some Valentine's Day favor ideas your class will love! You don't have to spend a lot of money to make each student feel special.
•Take your time writing Valentine's cards for each student. Make each card unique so everyone feels special.


•Attach a heart shaped lollipop to each Valentine's Day card.


•Give each student a heart pencil, eraser and stickers along with a small piece of candy.


•Instead of Secret Santa, have each student bring a small $5 gift for their Secret Valentine. Let everyone open their gifts together at the party and then try to guess each other's Secret Valentine.


•Ask the children to decorate a shoebox during the party. The shoebox should have their name on it and a large slot on the lid. At the end of the party, ask everyone to put each other's Valentine's Day cards in each other's shoeboxes.


•Check out our personalized items such as zipper pulls, stickers, bag tags and more!
valentine's party ideas and party supplies compliments of Birthday in a Box.

Super Bowl 2011

Super Bowl XLV party supplies are now available! Here's a peek:
These are available through our partner, Plum Party- super fun store!