Easy Kids Valentine Crafts to Make to Celebrate Valentine's Day

Crafts

I attended public school and when I was a kid I used to love Valentine's Day. In fact, one of the things I remember most about it is all the arts and crafts I enjoyed making both at school and at home. Read on for some modern day crafts that are just as much old-fashioned fun for today's contemporary children.

Image from Crayola.com

This Bunches of Love Heart Shaped Flower Bouquet from Crayola is absolutely adorable and a cinch to make. Here's all you need: some glue, scissors, colorful scraps of paper, and chenille sticks for the flowers and a recycled can and more paper for the vase along with Crayola Model Magic Poke to hold the blooms upright.  How to Directions

Image from The Suede Sofa

Handprint and Footprint Crafts are always popular with kids and parents -- not only are they fun and easy to make, these are keepers as family heirlooms. Here's a really sweet idea that I really love from the blog The Suede Sofa which also shows you a variety of other handprint options.

Image from Alpha Mom

From Alpha Mom comes this adorable Paper Plate Heart Hat. This would be a delight to make for a kids Valentine party at home or at school and only requires a few simple materials starting with a plain old inexpensive paper plate. How to Directions

Image from How About Orange

This Pink Paper Heart Garland from How About Orange is so pretty, you'll want to hang it up for Valentine's Day as well as leave it up year round. This is worth checking out, you will be really surprised how easy this is to make because it's simpler than you think. How to Directions

Image from Martha Stewart

Take a close look at these simple & beautiful Sweet Spot Hearts Valentines from Martha Stewart. All you do to make these colorful, clever and sweet valentines is cut out hearts from strips of old-fashioned dot candy, then sign and mount on colored paper. How to Directions

See More on Pinterest
For more than 450+ more creative and fun Valentine's Day Craft & Recipe Ideas don't miss this lovely Pinterest Board.

Valentines Day for Dogs Fun for Humans Too

Pets

By Dexter Elspas
Doggie Blogger

Valentine's Day for Dogs!

Dexter the Doggie Blogger

Woof! I'm wiggling with excitement for another guest appearance here on MommyBlogExpert and my little tail couldn't be wagging faster today. 

MBE partnered with Milk-Bone for this post

My Recent Dog Adventures

I've done some pretty exciting and fun things for the first time in my short life. I've learned how to swim, I've eaten a whole pumpkin pie in one sitting, and have even hung out with the cute girl dogs at the Woofstock 90210 Dog Festival in Beverly Hills, to name just a few. 

Time to Get Ready for Valentine's Day for Dogs

But this is the best yet -- and in the Dog Days of Winter -- no less. What's the big news? Today has been officially declared Valentine's Day for Dogs.

Here I am hard at work assembling this year's valentines...

Boy have I been busy the past few days working on valentines for my friends and best gal. Coloring, adding Milk-Bones (ok, I admit, I ate just a few in the process), and addressing some adorable cards with messages such as "You Make My Tail Wag" & "I Dig You" to all my dog buddies for today's Valentine's Day for Dogs. Friends like Coco the German Shepherd, Brownie the Chocolate Labrador, Griffin the English Bulldog and the girl I'm sweet on, Ginger the ginger-colored Miniature Pinscher. 

...all finished ready to paw-out to my friends

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What do you think of the way my valentine's came out?

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I'm not telling you all about this to make you jealous. You doggies out in cyberspace are encouraged to ask your people to help you get in on all this Day of Hearts frivolity dedicated to man's best friend and your entire network of dog family and friends. If those 2-legged animals ask any questions, just tell them your buddy Dexter gives a paws up to this and I suggested you check it out.

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To celebrate with me all my four-legged readers and their dog loving humans are invited to grab some fun free doggie printable Valentine greeting cards for canines. You'll have a blast making these, bonding with your people, and delivering them to all your friends. 

Learn more about Big Heart Pet Brands Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni and Milo's Kitchen by following the brands' respective pages on Facebook.

FTC Disclosure: To facilitate this post I received doggie treats from Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Milo's Kitchen, and Canine Carry Outs along with some fun pet parent accessories for my human family. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Tofu Molten Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe Created by Season One MasterChef Junior Winner

Good Food

If you'll be baking for one or more chocolate lovers this Valentine's Day, you're going to want to keep this award-winning dessert in mind. House Foods recently partnered with Alexander Weiss the kid who won Season One of Fox's hit cooking competition series for children, “MasterChef Junior.” This February 14th, whip up Alexander’s Tofu Molten Lava Cake, which incorporates House Foods Tofu, to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Recipe

Tofu Molten Chocolate Lava Cake
Created by Alexander Weiss, Season One MasterChef Junior Winner

Yields 5 Servings 

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• Extra butter for molds
• Unsweetened cocoa powder for molds
• 1 heaping cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
• 1/2 pkg House Foods Premium or Organic Tofu Medium Firm, pressed dry
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• Sifted powdered sugar
• Whipped cream, ice cream, or fresh fruit for optional garnish

Directions

1. Preheat over to 450 F, positioning rack in center of oven

2. Lightly butter your ramekins and line with cocoa powder. Tap out excess cocoa powder and set prepared baking dishes aside.

3. Fill medium pot with about 2 inches water and place over medium heat, bringing to simmer. Place heatproof bowl over the simmering water making sure bottom of bowl doesn't touch water. Add chocolate and butter to melt, stirring often with spatula. Set aside to cool.

4. Blend together the tofu, egg yolks, and sugar in a blender until smooth, making sure to scrape down the sides of the blender a couple times. 

5. Fold the tofu mixture into the chocolate and butter mixture. Add in the flour and salt, and fold until combined well. 

6. Divide evenly into ramekins, filling them about ¾ of the way to the top. Arrange on a baking tray and place in oven. 

7. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the cakes are browned on the sides and top, and the center is still a bit wobbly, but not raw. The cakes should be runny in the center, and set on the outside. 

8. Immediately turn out onto your plate and sift over some powdered sugar over the top. Garnish with toppings of your choice. Alternately, you may leave the cakes unmolded and serve in the ramekins with caution, as they will be hot. 

FTC Disclosure: Recipe and photo provided by House Foods America. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

5 Secrets to Get Kids Brushing Teeth Well

Health

Tooth Decay, Most Common Chronic Kids Disease

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, which is exactly why February was deemed Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month.

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While many parents are aware that proper and frequent brushing is one of the most important steps in protecting their tot’s pearly whites, getting kids into the bathroom to brush – without kicking and screaming – is often still a challenge.

5 Tips to Get Children Brushing Better & More Often

1.  Pick the perfect toothbrush. Take your little one shopping to select a special toothbrush. Favorite animated characters, spinning heads and flashing lights are just some of the enticing possibilities that may pique their interest. Letting them choose will boost their “big kid” confidence and make them more vested in brushing.

2.  Offer toothpaste that tastes like a treat. Appeal to small senses with a healthy toothpaste that tastes extra special. But beware bells and whistles created with harmful chemicals, such as artificial colors and sweeteners, which may entice but can also come with serious health concerns.

3.   Bring fun into the bathroom. Brushing should be taken seriously, but it doesn’t have to be serious. Encourage kids to make big, circular brush strokes like train wheels; pretend they need to clean their “big dinosaur teeth”; or watch a fun video while they brush. When brushing is playful, there’s less pressure.

4.  Find a kid-friendly dentist. Make first trips to the dentist fun by choosing a provider who caters to children with music, puppets, toys and more. If the experience is positive, they’ll be more prone to want to impress the dentist (and possibly get a special treat) with their good at-home brushing habits.

5.  Set a good example. Show your kids that brushing is an easy, everyday routine by modeling frequent and scheduled brushings, such as right after breakfast, before bed or following a sweet treat. It can even be a family affair! When little ones see brushing as a simple daily habit instead of a chore, there will be less protest.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Christian Louboutin Shoes Giveaway Spa Week Heart Over Heels Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes

If you love those coveted high heel pumps with the iconic red soles as much as I do, keep reading. That's because you have the chance to WIN a pair of those beauties and other prizes style conscious women appreciate if you enter Spa Week's third annual Heart Over Heels giveaway. And the best part is you and I will be doing our part to help stomp out heart disease in style because a donation is being made for each entry.

Heart Over Heels

Giveaway

Open to US & Canada residents

What could be more important than joining with the American Heart Association to raise awareness for heart disease? It's the number one killer of both men and women so there's no better way to kick that deatly illness off the planet than in killer heels, right?

Now through 3/8/15 you can win one of these two great prizes 

• Pair of Christian Louboutin pumps of winner's choice ARV $700 or less
• Beauty giftbasket from NCLA, Smashbox, Rituals & Red Door ARV $350

ENTER NOW

FTC Disclosure:  I disclose that I have entered this sweepstakes and am sharing the opportunity to win with like-minded shoe loving MommyBlogExpert readers. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in connection with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.