#SayMore With Hershey's Kisses Deluxe + D.I.Y. Checkers Board Tray

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Momma Told Me: That's nice to hear.

Growing up my father was always there, even when he was not, which was quite often in the scheme of my childhood years. Pop worked Monday- Friday, as a traveling technician servicing his company's equipment everywhere from our home town to 100's of miles away. He was almost always 'on the road' before I'd even risen for school, and he'd often return home just in time to tuck me into bed. Because all we really had were the weekends, we made our moments count during the week.

My father was notorious for finding reason to 'extend' my bedtime just a little longer. He'd make ridiculous bets, call me downstairs for a 'forgotten' dessert, and offer just one round of our favorite game, Checkers. For my 6th birthday my grandparents sent fun twist on the classic game, Chockers, and a bag of Hershey's Kisses. The game was identical to the classic one, with the exception that the pieces were actually plastic Hershey's KISSES and the 'Kings' were delicious chocolates the winner actually got to eat. Momma was never too keen on that version- especially since my father so often let me win so he could share his favorite chocolates.

Delicious Hershey's KISSES have been a symbol of love in our family ever since those childhood memories first blossomed. Every holiday we'd send a bag of KISSES out to my grandmother, and every holiday she'd send some right back. And, let's not forget, they're KISSES- sharing a Hershey's KISSES is just like sharing a melty chocolate hug. And, I don't know about your family, but ours holds chocolate in high regard when it comes to expressions of love through gifting! So, when I discovered new Hershey's KISSES Deluxe chocolates, the delicious new Hershey's KISSES with twice the chocolate and a premium Hazelnut center, I immediately wanted to share them with my father.

In fact, Hershey's KISSES has an exciting campaign currently going on right now to encourage their fans to #SayMore this holiday season with more meaningful conversations and deliberate interactions. The Say More campaign is precisely the type of message we here, on Momma Told Me, like to preach with our retrospective stories. Every year I gift my father something handmade, and this year's gift is inspired by those Hershey KISSES memories, and bed times stretched by chocolate Kings and crinkled wrappers. This year I'll be gifting my father a home made Checkers board and a box of Hershey's KISSES Deluxe.

Making this project was a time for me to not only reflect on warm, fuzzy, memories, but to inspire a dialogue with my father about how much those memories truly meant to me, within the scope of my childhood and even still to this day. I began by finding a square serving tray I could easily re=purpose for a board game. Since I already had 1.5" round wood discs from the craft store, I knew I needed a board at least 12" x 12," so I picked up a 14" square bamboo serving tray that was affordable, and lightweight enough to be carried from room to room, or stashed under the coffee table when not in play.

Your color scheme will vary, depending on your tastes and the finish of your chosen tray- I decided to go with a classic red and black grid. Using odor-free rub on wood stain I applied 2 coats of red to one side of 32 discs (the board base), and both sides of 18 discs (my playing pieces,) then repeated the process with the remaining discs for the black. Once dry I measured an even distance from the walls of my tray and cut cardboard spacers to lay inside as a guide for a centered grid. Using wood glue I daubed a spot of glue for each marker until all 64 spots were placed. I then placed a heady box atop the grid for several hours while the glue set.

To allow for the 'Kinging' of pieces I used a gold paint marker to draw crowns on one side of 4 pieces, for each color- though, players can also double collected pieces to signify a 'King' as is traditional. My preference? Gift your Checkers board with a 35 count box of Hershey's KISSES Deluxe for use as the 'Kings.' In any case, I sealed all of my pieces, and the board, with 2 coats of clear acrylic paint spray- in a well ventilated outdoor area wearing proper face protection.

This was a very affordable and simple product with a wonderfully clean finish and final look. The tray has handles so it can be taken from room to room, or even outdoors, without the game being disturbed, and all pieces can be contained inside so pieces are never lost. In an age where family members poke one another and send emojis from the next room over, couldn't we all use a little more time to reconnect over a classic board game like this? When was the last time you spent some time getting to know your house guests over a little good matured competition and delicious chocolates?

New Hershey's KISSES Deluxe are all about taking a moment to savor life with the friends and family that mean so very much. Share the rich chocolate flavor, and delicious hazelnut center, with someone this season and see what conversation you can strike. We're all so busy running to and fro this time of the year, why not relax and reconnect? Need a little more inspiration? Check out this heartwarming video of how one family was encouraged to Say More to their mother. Follow Hershey's on Facebook for more #SayMore inspiration. Do you know someone in your life you'd like to take some time to reconnect with? Who might enjoy a chance to say more over delicious Hershey's KISSES Deluxe?


What Daughter Says: No matter how much those around you know how you feel about them, take the time to share and #SayMore this holiday season.

I-C is hosting a contest for the new Hershey KISSES Deluxe where our readers can enter to win one of 50 Hershey’s KISSES Deluxe 75 – piece gift box valued at $35! *I-C will randomly select fifty winners from all program entries and will handle fulfillment of the winning prizes.

Give The Gift Of Smiles: Homemade Lip Balm + Lip Sugar Scrub Tutorials

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftOfPhilips #CollectiveBias

Momma Told Me: Give smiles.

I still remember my mother's 45th birthday. She had asked for an electric toothbrush, a Philips Sonicare to be exact. And, no matter how my father and I urged her to pick something less 'practical,' she insisted that a shiny new toothbrush, with a few replacement heads, was all she really wanted more than anything. Fast forward a decade later and the mentality has very much changed. Smiles are vogue. They're Pin-worthy, on -trend, and very 'in.' And those Philips Sonicare toothbrushes? They're on the bathroom counters of all my friends and family. I can't spend a night in their homes without noticing the proudly displayed toothbrush, and hearing a lecture about how it's time to make the switch.

And, honestly, who can blame them? The 'smile' sits atop most noticed lists for job interviews, first impressions, and romantic matches alike. An estimated 1 million selfies are taken a day, worldwide. I'll let you soak that in a little bit. And, unless you're making fish lips, you're showing off those pearly, hopefully, whites. It's easy to see why the stylish Philips Sonicare 2 Series electric toothbrush is one of this year's hot items. Electric toothbrushes like Sonicare's can remove up to 6 times the plaque and buildup of manual ones, and with considerable less effort. The Sonicare 2 Series even comes in stylish limited edition colors such as Coral (seen here,) Steel (Blue), and Green when you shop at Target. These trendy colors are especially perfect for gifting teenagers- and I've got just the one in mind to give this one to!

My niece has been all about the selfies since she became a teenager- She's convinced her mother to shave, her father to allow her to wear (modest) dresses to school, and is constantly preening and primping in every reflective surface in sight. Like a typical teen, the world revolves around her (at least in her head it does.) But she's also beginning to wise up about hoe much effort it takes to maintain that 'flawless' look, and that beautiful teeth are not just a matter of fashion and self esteem, but a matter of health too. The Coral Philips Sonicare Series 2 electric toothbrush will be perfect for her. And, because I want to foster confidence and a year full of smiles in 2016, I'm even going to gift her a few smile enhancing (maybe even educing) extras. Right now the Sonicare 2 Series is on sale for an amazing price of $39.99 at Target, so I have a little extra left over in my budget.

The first thing I new I wanted to add to my 'Gift Of Smiles' was a set of homemade flavored lip balms. The process really couldn't be any simpler, and is something even tweens or teens would enjoy doing for a slumber party or birthday event. All it requires is a petroleum substitute such as a beesewax, cocoa butter, or unrefined coconut oil. While Momma's mom would tout the benefits of petroleum jelly all day, my generation is a bit more green and organic minded- so I suggest a pure cocoa butter or cocoa butter and coconut oil blend. Next, you'll want a few fruit beverage drink packets- the powder kind you typically add sugar too.

Place your base in a mixing container and sprinkle a little of the powdered drink mix in. Using a Popsicle stick or other fine agitator, fully combine the two before adding more. A little bit of most drink mixes will give a pleasant aroma, light flavor, and nice tint. Adding too much powdered drink mix will make the balm gritty and unpleasant. If you would like to make a tinted balm add a little extra red to one mix! If the mixture is too thick to blend place it (in a microwave safe container) in the microwave for 10 seconds on high, until the base of the mixture has just started to melt. Portion the mixture into plastic balm pots (I used 5 gram pots typically intended for mineral eye shadow, you may buy them at most beauty supply stores.)

Next I wanted to make something entirely natural that my niece could use to help treat her lips with on a weekly basis, something that would add a touch of 'spa' treatment to my gift. I first fell in love with the ritual of lip scrubs last year when I purchased one on a whim from a handmade vendor. I immediately fell in love with the dramatic improvement of my lips texture and health. Just one treatment a week left my lips in amazing shape, softer, more even, and free of dry or peeling skin.

You'll need, 1 C pure cane sugar (granulated,) 1 TBS organic vanilla extract, one vanilla bean, and 1 TBS coconut oil (melted/liquid). Prepare your vanilla bean by running a straight edge down the middle (starting at the curved top) and scraping the center 'caviar' out. This center extract is what you will use in your sugar scrab. As a tip, store scraped beans in your pantry vanilla jar for wonderfully fragranced vanilla!

Next, combine all ingredients with a fork, or wide spoon, gently scraping the mixture together (rather than smashing.) Do not overwork the mixture, it should be light, fluffy, and slightly damp. The vanilla bean should be seen throughout.

Home made sugar lip scrub will keep in an air tight jar for months- If you open your scrub and notice it as begun to dry out simply portion a little into a dish or tray, as a drop of water and create a gritty paste to apply to your lips. Use the scrub once, to no more than twice, a week, directly applied to the lips and 'scrubbed' into the lips with one's fingers. Rinse and enjoy exfoliated lips!

To complete my gift of smiles gift I picked up a few affordable extras, no more than a few dollars each. I included a pack of sugar free gum, and some fruity breath mints, as well as some bright colored wash cloths, mouth wash, and floss picks. I even threw in a selfie lens kit so my recipient can show off their beautiful smile in a whole new way! I packaged all these items up in a clear travel cosmetics case with a bow, ready to gift.

I'll be honest, since the Philips Sonicare 2 Series is nearly half off at Target right now, Sabrina is not the only one on my list receiving one for the holiday this year. I can't divulge the other recipient, as they read the blog, but I can tell you I got a beautiful Coral Series 2 for myself. I even scored a great price on some replacement heads, so I am ready to go for 2016!

More than not lately I look at things from a questioning perspective of 'Am I getting old?' This is not one of them. Sure, I might appreciate the value of a great smile a lot more than I did in high school, but my nieces and nephews also seem to have caught on a lot earlier than me. I'm not longer the exception when it comes to the 'electric toothbrush club,' and I know a few people on my holiday shopping list who will be smiling extra bright come Christmas morning! What are some of your best tips and secrets for a confident smile? Do you know anyone on your list who would love a Philips Sonicare 2 Series this holiday season?

What Daughter Says: I may have interpreted Momma's advice different than she originally intended, but the outcome is still the same. Sharing the confidence of a great smile is just as important!