YumEarth provided some allergy free treats in adorable Valentine's Day packaging to help inspire this post, no further compensation was provided. All thoughts and photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016.
Momma Told Me: Share the love.
With the exception of dairy, our immediate family is fortunate enough not to have any allergies or food sensitivities, which allows us to indulge in holidays with little refrain. However, when it comes to the topic of children, holidays become much more than an extra treat here and there, but a social event which is often celebrated among many peers at parties and school functions. Do you know that an estimated 8% of K-12 children have some form of major food allergy or sensitivity? Holidays are about sharing the love, not singling people out- so we've put together a few amazing, and simple, ways for kids to share the Valentine's Day spirit in a more including manor.
First up is YumEarth Organics gummy bears in special seasonally packages Valentine's Day serving pouches. These .40oz (approximately 6 bears per serving) Gummy Bear pouches are individually packaged and ready to pass out. You may recognize YumEarth from their previous features here on Momma Told Me for their Naturally Flavored, NON GMO, Synthetic Free, Real Fruit Juice candies and snacks that really put the 'sweet' back in 'sweets.' These delicious bears are not only made with real fruit juice, but real cane sugar as well, and come in a variety of delicious flavors like Mango Tango, Perfectly Peach, and Strawberry Smash. Best of all these are Nut and Gluten Free, making them a great sweet option and alternative to mainstream candy when sharing with classmates.
Many of the children at the daycare are on strict diets for gluten sensitivities or behavioral issues. While I love them like my children, they aren't my children, so I am always extra picky with what I'll share for snack time and holiday treats. YumEarth Gummy Bears and Sour Beans pass the parent test of approval in front of a very tough crowd, and the kids NEVER know the difference between YumEarth and 'mainstream candy.' Of course, depending on your own child's dietary restrictions, or perhaps your own parenting rules, you may wish to discourage sugar all-together as a group element., so we've come up with a simple sugar-free Valentine's idea and a fun craft everyone will love celebrating with.
There are few things as exciting to the kids as a glow stick, and glow stick are entirely cheap and affordable. You can pick up a container of 50 mixed glow sticks for about $7 at the local party store, more than enough for an entire class. So grab the FREE "You Make My Heart Glow" Valentine Printable at the bottom of this post, use a hole punch to put a hole in the bottom and top and you've got instant Valentines sure to be a kit at any party or school event. If you want to get really fancy you can even print them on card-stock for a keepsake that's sure to last. Just don't bend those glow sticks while putting them together!
Of course, growing up, one of my favorite things about any holiday was the special craft projects I'd make at school and take home to show off to my parents. A simply art or craft project can help open a great dialogue for discussion of the holiday's origin, which relationships we're thankful for, and how we can show our love every day of the year. Some of the youngest kids in our group began the afternoon repeating how Valentine's Day was 'just for married people and moms and dads,' but we soon explored how love for a new baby brother, special grandmother, and even a best friend can be worth celebrating too.
With a few poster boards from the dollar store, a pack of colored pipe cleaners, a pair of scissors, a roll of tape, and some markers you can easily make these Love Bug Headbands. I began by cutting our poster-board in 2" strips length-wise. Next each child picked out a heart sticker and wrote 'Love Bug' as close to the center of the strip of paper as their dexterity skills allowed. Then they twisted and bent their 'antennae' and taped them on the inside of the paper at either side of their lettering. Next an adult wrapped the headband around their head to measure for fit and cut two interlocking notches to help size. Of course you could just staple or tape the back of the headband if desired, too.
Each and every child enjoyed making their Love Bug headbands, and not a single one was alike. Some boys drew their favorite sports team symbols on the sides while another child drew a portrait of his family, and even the 4 year old scribbled her lettering on the front with complete pride. Smelly markers always help make craft time more fun, of course- but we managed without any painted noses this time. And, when we were all done, we sat down to enjoy a nice all natural nut and gluten free YumEarth treat- our favorite YumEarth Organics Gummy Bears in Valentine's packaging. Grab your YumEarth Organics treats in time for Valentine's Day online at Amazon.com or locally at a Walgreens, Whole Foods, Albertsons or more near you. See the complete store list here.
What Daughter Says: Be sure to include everyone this Valentine's Day with some allergy friendly Valentine's Day ideas and treats!
The following DIY Smarty Phone Valentines content has been sponsored by the Hershey Company. All photos contained
below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016. #HSYMessageOfLove
Momma Told Me: You're sweeter than kisses.
We've already established that my family has a history of saying 'I love you' though Hershey's Kisses chocolates. Whether it was my grandparents sending seasonal Hershey's Kisses clear across the country or my father and I pushing bedtime limits with an after dinner game of Chockers (the official Hershey's Kisses Checkers game,) I grew up with these little chocolate drops unwrapping a message of love. So it's absolutely delightful to me that this year, for Valentine's Day, Hershey's has released new Conversation Candies in Hershey's Kisses and Reese's Cups, exclusive to Target stores nationwide.
The limited edition Hershey's Kisses Conversation Candies feature an array of heart flecked pink, purple, and blue foil wrapped Milk ChocolateKisses with sweet little messages printed on the bottom of the wrapper. There are at least 10 unique messages, I've counted, and they range from fun and flirty 'Let's Kiss' and "XOXO" to simply "BFF." Hershey's Conversation Kisses bring home the fun of traditional Valentine's conversation hearts without the chalky aftertaste; who doesn't love to enjoy a melt-in-your-mouth Hershey's Kisses?
Of course my father, who has always maintained the only way chocolate can be made butter is with peanut butter, is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cups fan- so I have plenty of Reese's Conversation Cups on hand for Valentine's Day too. Unlike the Conversation Kisses, these special edition cups, also exclusively available at Target, have fun heart messages printed ON them- so you can unwrap a surprise with every cup. The wrappers also have the perfect writing space on top for a "To and From" label- they're literally ready to pass out this Valentine's Day. Really, what could be better than chocolate WITH conversation messages?
Okay, there is something, maybe- I DID hit the personal lab and create something extra special for all of you, my Valentine's- too bad the delicious Hershey's chocolates don't transfer through the screen to your printer too! Inspired by our previous Nerd Love Hershey's Valentine's Basket theme, and D.I.Y Robot Box of Chocolates, I kept the techy love alive with some adorable printable Valentine's Day wrappers that transform a couple Reese's Conversation Cups and 2 Conversation Kisses into a sassy Smarty Phone Valentine! These are easy to make in seconds with the FREE Printable wrappers, featured below, and a little bit of colored yarn. You truly can spread the #HSYMessageofLove in no time!
Obviously I still had my teenager (I can't believe I'm calling her a teen now!) niece in mind when I made these colorful and playful Smarty Phone Valentine's, complete with delicious Hershey's ConversationKisses earbuds. Because, what teenager or tween ISN'T plugged into their smartphone these days? Of course these fun Hershey's Conversation candies are sure to spark a few fun conversations between classmates or co-workers this holiday. Just be sure to remind them there's no warranty on those earbuds should one get eaten!
My favorite thing about holidays, such as Valentine's Day is sharing the love and fun with friends and family. Pleasing tweens and teens can be tough- they never seem to want anything anyone else has. Go ahead and print out our Smarty Phone Valentine's Wrappers and let them have their say with hand picked Hershey's Conversation Candies from Target, each and every Smarty Phone is guaranteed to be unique! As for me, I'll be passing some of these Smarty Phones out to my league-mates next week at the alley! Be sure to get the FREE Smarty Phone wrapper printable and grab your Conversation Candies from Target. Now tell me, who in your life gets a Valentine every year? Are you a traditional cupid who only shares the day with your other half, or do you like to spread the love around with family and friends?
This post was sponsored by Lionsgate as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.
Momma Told Me: Every choice leads to another path.
When I was 17, already through my first semester of college, I packed up my first car (a lovely pearl Saturn if you're wondering) and drove across country with my best friend. I was moving to Rhode Island to be with my high school sweetheart, she was tagging along for the commentary in her life's memoirs. The road trip was fairly uneventful but I distinctly remember laying my head on the pillow, in whichever value motel we happened to stop at once our eyes begun to droop, and imaging the day that would mark the end of our journey. The day I would step out of my car and into HIS arms.
It may have been that I was a beautiful 17 year old Southern California girl exercising her newfound independence with a recklessly romantic act- but the moments that followed that final screech of my tires onto his mother's gravel will forever be burned into my mind. It was exactly one week before my 18th birthday the leaves had already begun to turn every so slightly and the warm Summer winds rustled the trees towering high above my head. It felt as though I were in a whole new world, despite the fact I had been there so many times. My heart pounded and butterflies began to knot my stomach. The reality of my decision was finally setting in. We had dated all through high school, but what if her didn't want me here, now?
What followed was a sequence that, in my mind, will always play out like the perfect screen from a romantic movie- I remember my feet swinging up off the ground as he held me as tight as he could. His grin so wide and constant it gave his own true feelings away. My hands ached for hours from the grip, hand in hand, neither of us willing to separate. It was young love, but it was simple and carefree love.
The Summer, then Fall, that followed now remains the most vivid of my life- It is filled with warm feelings and sweeping memories that play like ancient home movies in the back of my mind. And while we were far from each other's soul mates, we had our time, and that time was perfect. It's funny, really, when I'm asked to reflect upon 'my first love' in casual conversations with girlfriends or in discussion groups, my eyes get a bit glossy and I tend to smile, "It's a bit like a romance novel," I'll say.
People tend to get a little confused- Surely, if it was such a great romance, it would still be continuing. How could someone have such fond and vivid feelings about a person they no longer share those feelings with? I can't explain it, but it's true. And that is precisely what makes me a Nicholas Sparks fan.
My first Nicholas Sparks film was, actually, The Notebook 5 weeks after it hit theaters, and that very same, magical, Summer. I like to think the endearing love story portrayed in that film went on to inspire the months that were about to enfold, at least in mentality. I saw The Notebook 4 more times in that little Rhode Island theater. After that, I couldn't get enough- I went backwards to A Walk To Remember, then collected each and every Nicholas Sparks book. I won't say I've read them all, but I've read most- and most many times. And every time a new on screen adaptation of one of my favorite Sparks' novels is released I am swept up and taken back to my own love story and memories of reckless abandon and young love.
The Choice, coming to theaters this Friday February 5, 2016, is a book I've long held a love-hate relationship with. The story, so quickly told, hits you in it's entirety only after it has ended. In some portions, you know what is coming, you feel the decisions, the Choices, the characters struggle to make but the ultimate question will leave you torn inside no matter your feelings on life, love, and the time we are given.
I wish I could discuss the book candidly- Given the imminent release of it's motion picture counterpart, and how drastically some of the key elements seem to have been altered based on the previews, I can only best urge you to read the book AND watch the film. At it's core The Choice chronicles the somewhat whimsical but extremely raw love story of independent medical student from a privileged past Gabby, and small town ladies' man Travis. Both going about their lives relatively happy until their world's collide setting forth a series of defined choices. The movie and book both dare to ask- "How far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?" a question which weighs heavy in introspect when we are asked to turn the question to our own lives.
I don't want to spoil the film or the book so I am limited in what I can say. What I can tell you is that The Choice does not disappoint in terms of those heart-wrenching twists and chest pumping highs. The characters are solidly flawed making them immediately identifiable, and compassionately human. The title holds a solid theme throughout their story, because The Choice really is the story of two people and the decisions they make once their paths cross, and at many times you are sure to find questioning what you would do were you in their situations.
But, most of all, The Choice remains a classic Nicholas Sparks novel of deep connection and love set among beautiful lush environments. I am sure many women will be asking to see this film for Valentine's Day, and many couples will walk out of the theater with quite a bit to discuss. And, in true Sparks' form, I am certain emotions will overwhelm until the very last scene has rolled. Check out the Official Trailer for The Choice then let me know, below, if you've ever had to make tough decisions in the name of love. What Daughter Says: I didn't marry my high school sweetheart but I don't regret my choice to move across country to be with him. At the time, it was what I needed. In the end, it led to another path.
