D.I.Y. Smarty Phone Valentines With Free Printable + Hershey's Conversation Candies

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 Chocolate Kisses 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 Conversation Kisses 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?

 For more #HSYMessageOfLove information, including recipes, visit CelebratewithHerhseys.com.

What Daughter Says: It's hard to out-sweet these kisses when they're made of delicious Hershey's Milk Chocolate!

Make Meal Time Personal With Drink In The Box + Bento Ideas

I received compensation for this post through my relationship with the Quality Blue Community. I also received a product for this review. All opinions are my own.

Momma Told Me: I don't care what it looks like, eat it!

I was a little spoiled growing up- Momma would make these extravagant lunches for me long before it was cool for 'modern' mothers to spend an afternoon whittling apples and molding rice. However, she did it out of love, and the need to fuel her creative side, rather than a need to convince me to eat a well rounded meal. I never had the luxury of deciding what I was and wasn't going to eat that is, if Momma put it on the plate (cut into stars, or straight from a can) I was to eat it without complaint. If course today's mothers not only desire to give their children a meal that is full of love, but also one that is more wholesome and nutritious. 'Custom' meals are an integral part of modern parenting, and the accompanying beverage should not be overlooked!

With the growing concern over high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and general additives in children's beverages, modern Mommas as checking labels and pouring from their own pitchers.As a child Momma never gave me straight fruit juice (even up to age 12, it was always cut with purified water.) But, of course, part of drinking from the 'juice box' (or pouch) is the 'cool' act associated with drinking from the vessel, not so much a concern for the drink inside. What if you could make your child's drinks just as cool, while getting them excited over drinking the beverages you choose? Drink In The Box, featuring Eastman Tritan™ nearly indestructible plastic offers a colorful, reusable, drinking vessel with all the cool angles of a modern drink box, minus the additives and extras. Learn more about Eastman Tritan™ and their products on their Facebook page.

It couldn't be easier to get children excited about drinking healthier, refreshing, beverages. The Drink In A Box comes in 4 bright neon colors (Pink, Orange, Blue, and Green) so you'll never lose them in the car, purse, or travel bag- and they're entirely spill proof when closed, so you can bring your drinks on the go and sip all day long. This revolutionary snacking tool holds 8oz of your child's favorite beverage and can help cut out sugar dramatically when filled with fresh fruit and water, or even freshly squeezed homemade juice. Did you know the average 8oz child's disposable juice box has around 14 grams of sugar? Yuck! Kid's are sweet enough already, no? And, of course it's made with durable BPA free plastics.

It's no secret colorful plates and drinking containers, such as Drink In The Box made with Eastman Tritan™ plastic help get kids excited about eating healthier and eating more. It can be challenging to get children to step outside their comfort zone of 'accepted' foods and eat a more balanced meal so we like to prepare bento meals for the kids. Using smaller portions of 'indulgent' snacks alongside healthier vegetables and fruits in fun cutouts and shapes a bento meal can keep picky eaters munching to the last bite.

Right now we're pretty excited about a certain upcoming space character franchise releasing a 7th installment so we've been coming up with themed named for everyday snacks. I even put together the Bento you see below using rice cakes, a spinach tortilla quesadilla, some fruit punch outs, yogurt dipped pretzels and cinnamon bears. It's always fun to reconnect with a new generation about characters and stories from my own childhood- too bad Momma was never into 'that' series!

Of course planning cute meals and cutting food into fun shapes is fun- but it also gets us thinking more about the food we put on our plates and in our mouths. Every time I reach for the Drink In The Box I remember that I have a choice to serve something loaded with sugar, or genuinely hydrating. We like to compromise and put frozen fruit in the bottom to help keep water chilled longer- and the children love eating the fruit at the bottom when they're done. Of course the Drink In The Box seals pretty darn tight, so they have to practice their 'please' and 'thank you's to achieve that!

Whether you're trying to pack your little superheros in the car on the way to and from big brother's soccer practice, or simply helping to keep them fueled for another round of creative play in the backyard- smart serving choices make all the difference. You have a say what goes onto their plate, why not have a say as to what goes into their drink box? What do you like to fill your child's cup with? 

What Daughter Says: Have a say in what your child eats and drinks with healthier options in a cool disguise.