v.day treats.

when we were iced in, i decided we should use that time to make our valentines.

i had originally planned on making your basic sugar cookie. no shame in that, right? right.

but then, while blog stalking, i stumbled upon this.

i had mini candy canes, left over from christmas. i had the little candy sticks with the intention of making cake pops a while back. i even had almond bark from good intentions back at christmas time. perfect-o!

b. started out 'helping momma'. he was in charge of the candy sticks.

it's real simple. make a heart out of two candy canes and put a 'lollipop' stick in the middle.  lay them on a cookie sheet with wax paper.

and then - the bug ended up doing this:

and this:

so, i ended up finishing them at naptime. he was uninterested in being 'neat'... and the candy canes moved around really easy, so.... yeah.  if you're really set on your kids making the valentine - then this isn't the valentine for you. {but they turn out real cute!}

the recipe calls for 'white chocolate' but i had vanilla flavored almond bark. so that's what i used. it was 'free'.

melted it in the microwave...

i poured my melted white chocolate into a ziplock bag and cut a tiny corner off so i could 'pipe' it into the 'molds' of the candy canes. {it really isn't thick enough to pipe like icing, so it more dripped.} but it didn't make near as much of a mess as i thought it would if i tried spooning it.

by the second batch, i realized that it would look best if i smoothed out the melted almond bark before putting the sprinkles on. much better. {i was going to use some crushed peppermint - but a lot of kids don't like peppermints. mine not included, so i just used sprinkles. but i think that would be VERY cute.}

i wrapped up in little treat bags and tied with some tulle and a red construction paper heart. voila! instant valentine!

on another note. i finally finished my valentine's wreath. don't worry that valentine's day is like, tomorrow. it will stay up through the end of february. i worked too hard on it for it to only be up for a few days. it took way more time to wind the yarn onto all of those styrofoam balls but it was mindless, therefore therapeutic, so i didn't mind.

i love it. except for the top. i need a ginormous red/white polka dot bow. but with all of the snow and ice, i just haven't gotten to the store for that. it'll do. until next year, and then i'll add it. {please tell me that you have things that "will do for now" too??? nope? i'm the only one? awesome.}

happy friday. our friday is busy - preparing for a busy weekend. but it's good. hoping to get a lot done today {as i sit here at my computer procrastinating....}