Heart Sayings

A dream is a wish your heart makes.

A good friend is like a warm quilt wrapped around the heart.

A heart never wrinkles.

A helping hand is showing a loving heart.

A joyful heart is good medicine.

Always keep a cool head and a warm heart...

Friends make memories...the heart preserves them.

From ones mouth comes what is in their heart.

Give others a piece of your heart, not a piece of your mind.

Great thoughts come from the heart...

FUN! FUN! FUN!!!!!

This is a cute gift idea to give someone, put a packet of hot chocolate and spoon in a red mug and attach this poem:

Cupid made a little batch
of "Love Soup" just for you.
He blew a kiss & threw it in
in fact, he blew YOU two!
He added white & fluffy hugs
and a little stirring stick
So add hot water, sip it slow
it's sure to do the trick.


:).,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,:)


Cupid Poop

Put some of those cinnamon red hot heart shaped candies in a zip lock bag and give with this poem attached:

I couldn't send you flowers, and candy wouldn't do.
And mushy cards just didn't say the things I want them to.
So I got you something special, and here's the inside scoop.
I found you something very rare - It's genuine Cupid poop!

:)./,.,.,.,..,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,..,.,.,,.:)


Valentine Hubby /Wife Coupons

Write these coupon ideas below, on small pieces of paper and roll them tight. Insert them into balloons and blow them up. Place them around the house and let your honey pop the balloons in order to collect their special coupons:

Some ideas are:
"One Free Back Rub"
"One Free Foot Rub"
"Candle-lit Dinner"
"One Night-on-the-Town"
"Their Favorite Dessert"
"One Free Car Wash"
"One Night of Hugs and Kisses"
"One Kids-free Evening"
"Good for one night of doing the Dishes"



Special Box

Wrap a small box in Valentine's Day wrapping paper or make your own by decorating red construction paper by pasting on pink hearts, and adding stickers, glitter, etc. Tie the package with a red ribbon. On regular construction paper or any kind or fancy stationery write the following poem and attach it to your special valentine's day gift box:

This is a very special box that you can never use.
The reason that it's special is that it's always new.
Whenever you feel lonely or are feeling blue.
You only have to hold it and know I think of you.
You never can unwrap it; please keep the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close to your heart; It's filled with love inside.


A Friendship Heart

Put this saying in a little baggie and put a penny with a small heart sticker on it inside the bag.

Put me on the face of a Penny,
So I will be easy to find;
Carry me with you always,
From someone who thinks you're fine.
Touch me when you feel sad or lonely
And you will always know,
Someone's thoughts are with you
Wherever you may go.




Candy Grams

I "chews" you for my Valentine (stick of gum)
This may be "corny", but be my Valentine (candy corn pieces)
"Mint" to ask you to be mine (mint)
A "kiss" for you if you'll be mine (Hershey's kiss)
Don't burst my "bubble" - Be mine (bubble gum)
I'm no "sucker" - I want you for my Valentine (lollipop)



Valentine Bouquet
This is a great gift for a teacher. Decorate a medium sized terra cotta pot...fill with Styrofoam..cover the foam with moss. Attach candy bars (the candy bars used in the poem) to bamboo skewers (I taped them to the back, so it didn't ruin the candy) and then put these (flowers) into the pot...attach the following poem:

****All words using candy are in caps*****

Dear ______:
We want to thank you for all you do for us. You do "GOOD AND PLENTY" around here. You help us by giving us "MOUNDS" of homework, so we can "SKOR" well on all or our tests. We know that the lessons you have taught us will help us both "NOW AND LATER" in life. Sometimes you are a "HOT TAMALE", and other times a "BIG RED", but we know that you love us to (REESES) "Pieces". We also know that we make you "NUTRAGEOUS" at times. We wish we could give you a "100 GRAND" on "PAYDAY" but all we have is "HUGS" and "KISSES" and a "SYMPHONY" of voices saying Thank You....Happy Valentines Day. Hope this gift brings a "BIT O HONEY" to your day.

OR

You can put all the candy in a bowl or basket with the poem or lay it out on poster board with the candy taking the place of the words:

My dearest SUGAR BABY, Happy Valentine's Day! May this bring a SNICKER as you read my message It will not make you CHUNKY and I am not playing TWIX on you. You are my BIT_O_HONEY BAR NONE. Our GOOD 'N PLENTY life together is like shopping on 5TH AVENUE on PAYDAY. I wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY on this Valentine's Day HUGS and KISSES Love, (YOUR NAME)

OR

My dearest SUGAR BABY, I PROMISE this bouquet will bring a SNICKER as you read my message. I am not playing a TWIX on you. You are my BIT-O-HONEY. I can always count on you in a CRUNCH, and I will always TREASURE you. Our GOOD & PLENTY life together is like 100 GRAND on PAYDAY! I love you to PIECES and wish you MOUNDS of ALMOND JOY on this Valentines day! HUGS & KISSES, NOW & LATER.......

OR

My Dearest Sugar Baby,
Happy Valentine's Day! May this bouquet bring you a SNICKER as you read my message. You are my BIT-O-HONEY, you are worth more than a 100 GRAND to
me, I get GOO GOO eyes every time I see you. There are more stars in my eyes for you than in the MILKY WAY. Our GOOD-N-PLENTY life together is like shopping on 5TH AVENUE on PAY DAY. I know I can be CAREFREE with you. As you know, I love you NOW AND LATER and I wish you MOUNDS OF ALMOND JOY on this Valentine's Day. Hugs and Kisses,

The RoMANtic Valentines Worth Sending

If you are going to celebrate Valentine's Day, I suggest you do it with a little forethought. Buy your card now and mail it out to Loveland, Colorado for extra special treatment. Your card will be postmarked LOVEland, Colorado and it will also be hand-stamped with a unique four line poem.

The Loveland Chamber of Commerce organizes this yearly romance project with cards going to all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries.

It's simple. Just enclose your pre-addressed, pre-stamped Valentine's card in a larger envelope and mail to:

Postmaster, Attn: Valentines, Loveland CO 80537.

Here are some more "romantic" cities.

Kissimmee, Florida 32741
Valentine, Texas 79854
Valentine, Nebraska 69201
Loving, New Mexico 88256
Bridal Veil, Oregon 97010
Romance, Arkansas 72136

Chocolate Candy Recipes

This Valentine's Day make some easy chocolate candies for those special people in your lives. Just click on the title above to go to recipes for Chocolate Covered Cherries, Chocolate Covered Caramels, Homemade Easy Fudge, and Easy Haystacks

The Chocolate Theory

French Chocolates

8 squares unsweetened chocolate
4 oz German sweet chocolate
1 can sweetened condensed milk (15 ounces)
1 c crushed nuts

Melt chocolates together in saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Add condensed milk and mix until smooth and well blended. Cool a few minutes. Shape into balls, using about 1 t for each. Roll in nuts. Makes about 6 dozen.


Chewy Chocolates

1/2 lb soft caramels
2 T heavy cream
1 c pecan halves
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Heat caramels with cream in saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly. Cool 10 minutes. Set pecans on lightly buttered baking sheets in clusters of 3. Spoon caramel mixture over nuts, leaving outer ends of nuts showing. Let stand to set, about 30 minutes. Spread melted chocolate over caramel mixture. Makes 2 dozen.


Chocolate Butter

1 stick butter, softened; cut into pieces
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Stir butter and chocolate together by hand. Transfer to covered container, refrigerate or freeze until ready to use. Serve with biscuits, pound cake, croissants, muffins or waffles.


Brownie Caramel Walnut Pie

1 9 inch unbaked pastry shell
1/2 c chopped walnuts
20 caramels, unwrapped
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 egg, beaten
2 T margarine or butter, melted
1 6 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degree. Sprinkle nuts into pie shell. In small saucepan, over low heat, melt caramels with 2/3 cup condensed milk. Spoon over walnuts. In bowl, combine egg, margarine and remaining milk; mix well. Stir in melted chips. Pour mixture over caramel layer. Bake 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool. Serve warm or chilled. Refrigerate leftovers.


Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake

1-7 oz package caramels
1/4 c evaporated milk
3/4 c chopped pecans, divided
1 9-inch chocolate crumb pie crust
2 3-oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c sour cream
1 1/4 c milk
1 package chocolate instant pudding
1/2 c fudge topping

Place caramels and milk in a heavy saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat stirring continually, until smooth, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Pour into pie crust. Combine cream cheese, sour cream and milk in a blender. Process until smooth. Add pudding mix: process for about 30 seconds longer. Pour pudding mixture over caramel layer, covering evenly. Chill, loosely covered, until set, about 15 minutes. Drizzle fudge topping over pudding layer in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle top of cake with remaining pecans. Chill, loosely covered until serving time.


Cherry-Chocolate Heart

Taste tempting flavors of hot fudge sauce and whipped cream pair up with cherries for a Valentine's Day dessert that is guaranteed to melt hearts.

1 (15-oz) package refrigerated pie crusts
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 c confectioners' sugar
1 t almond extract
1/2 c whipping cream
2/3 c hot fudge ice cream topping
1 (21-oz) can cherry filling and topping

Allow both crust pouches to stand at room temperature 15 to 20 minutes. Remove one crust from pouch; unfold. Press out fold lines. If crust cracks, wet fingers and push edges together. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon flour over crust. Turn crust, floured side down, on ungreased cookie sheet.

Using paper pattern as guide, cut crust into heart shape.* Generously prick heart crust with fork. Bake in a preheated 450-degree oven 9 to 11 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool. Repeat with the remaining crust.

Combine cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and almond extract in a small bowl; beat until smooth. Add whipping cream and beat until thickened. To assemble, place one heart-shaped pie crust on serving plate; spread with 1/3 cup of the hot fudge. Carefully spread half of cream cheese mixture over hot fudge. Spoon 2/3 of the cherry filling over cream cheese. Spread second crust with remaining hot fudge and place over filling. Carefully spread with remaining cream cheese mixture. Spoon remaining cherry filling about 1 inch from edge. Refrigerate until serving time. Store any remaining torte in refrigerator. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

* To make pattern, cut a piece of paper into a heart shape about 10 1/2 inches high and 10 inches wide.


Pretzel Hearts

You need: vanilla-flavored candy coating and some miniature twist pretzels.

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place about 4 ounces of candy coating into a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes, until melted. Stir until smooth.

Add about 10 pretzels and mix gently until pretzels are well coated. If your mixture is too thick, you can microwave for a few more seconds.

With a fork, remove each pretzel from the coating mixture and place on the waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Immediately decorate with sprinkles. Repeat with remaining pretzels. Let stand about 30 minutes, until coating is completely set. Serves: 8-10.


Valentine Chocolate Balls

These look great wrapped up in Plastic Wrap then tied with a Red ribbon:

3 c of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
1 can (300ml) of sweetened condensed milk
finely chopped nuts
cocoa powder

Melt chocolate chips; remove from heat. Stir in sweetened condensed milk. Chill 3 hours or until firm. Shape into 1 - inch (2.5cm) balls; place on wax paper-lined trays. Chill until firm. Roll in nuts, cocoa, or dip into melted chocolate chips of a different color. Chill and enjoy. Makes Five Dozen

Valentine Punch

This punch is delicious warm or cold. If you prefer a cool drink, chill it in the refrigerator and serve it with an ice ring or ice cubes.

5 cinnamon sticks
1 t whole cloves
1/2 gal. cranberry-raspberry juice
1 qt ginger ale
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 T dried (or 4 T fresh) peppermint

Wrap the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and mint in cheesecloth. Simmer this bundle in the cranberry-raspberry juice for 20 minutes. Remove the spices and pour the warm juice in a punch bowl. Add the ginger ale, orange slices, and a few fresh mint leaves. Serves: 8

Sweetheart Cake

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/4 c cold water
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c crushed pineapple w/juice (20oz)
2 T lemon juice
1/4 c maraschino cherry juice
2-3oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
12 cherries (quartered)
3 drops red food coloring
1 (12oz) container of Cool Whip

Soften gelatin in cold water and set aside. In a saucepan, boil sugar and pineapple juice. Remove from heat and add gelatin, lemon juice and cherry juice. Cool to lukewarm. Whisk in cream cheese until blended. Stir in cherries and food coloring. Chill until slightly thickened then fold in whipped topping. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish, and refrigerate. Serves: 8

Easy Chocolate Spots

Simple Valentine's Day Party or Prom Party

Tips for your Valentine's Day Party
Serve simple cookies and punch on doily lined plates. Set up a table for the kids to make homemade Valentine's while they are at the party. You could even set up another table for everyone to decorate their own sugar cookies! Make sure you keep everything simple.

Prom Party

If you're looking to throw a fantastic theme party, you might want to consider that perennial high school event, The Prom. The following is a "how to" primer for all you prom party planners:

1. Rent the tackiest hall you can find. If you can find a very spacious "dive bar" that is typically empty on a Saturday night, save a few regulars. It should have a nice VFW hall quality to it, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere you need to create prom ambiance. Most owners are more than thrilled at the prospect of bringing in 200 customers.

2. Make a simple web page or design an online invitation on one of the free invitation sites like evite.com. If it becomes an annual event, make a collage of pictures from the previous prom and post them online. This generates excitement for the party and also gives people some good ideas for tacky prom outfits and hairstyles. You can add icons from your particular prom era, like John Travolta in his "Staying Alive" suit or a verse from "Stairway to Heaven" or "C'mon Eileen".

3. Decide on a theme. You can even ask for submissions on your invitation. A good response might be "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night".

4. Plan Your Decorations: Get a roll of butcher paper and some poster paint. Make banners with classic high-school slogans such as "Class of '82 rules!" or "Have a Bitchin' Summer". Next, decide on a color scheme. Two colors is best and the tackier the better. Pink and mint green is a nice combo, as is silver and baby blue. Get a bunch of helium balloons in your colors. A mylar curtain in the doorway is a must. If you don't know what a mylar curtain is, ask at your local party store--it comes in a variety of colors, so you can probably find one that fits your scheme.

5. Make a "balloon arch" for photos. This is not the easiest thing to do, but it is a must. Tie balloons of alternate colors into clusters until you have a long chain that you can make into an arch. People can either take their own photos or you can go all out and hire a photographer with a Poloroid camera and one of those umbrella lights. The umbrella light really makes you feel like you are back at the prom.

6. Hire a deejay who is willing to stick to music from 70s and 80s (or 60s and 90s depending on the age of your group). This is the most important thing of all, besides your costumes. If he starts playing Ricky Martin, it just won't feel authentic. And there's something about those songs you haven't heard since high school that gets you dancing like you're 17 again.

7. Get a Great Outfit. This is by far the most important element of the party. If people don't dress up, it won't work. A good suggestion might be wearing your ugliest leftover bridesmaid's dress or your real prom dress (if it still fits). Men or women who don't have
anything on hand can pick up amazingly tacky ensembles for $10 at the local thrift shop. A wrist corsage or carnation for the lapel is also very prom-like.

While it might sound complicated, this prom plan is fairly easy to plan and relatively inexpensive. There is no food involved as most of the prom couples go to dinner beforehand (or have dinner at home with their kids). Everyone buys their own beverages and at the end of the party you can pass a box around and ask for donations toward the deejay's fee.

Old Fashioned Valentine's Day Games

The year is 1928, and the good hostess is planning a Valentine's Party for her friends and family. "The Farmer's Wife", a popular magazine of the day was ready to supply "games for a jolly crowd". In some ways, parties were more elaborate and well planned then, but at the same time a good hostess used what simple resources she had available. She was "frugal" without even realizing it!

~Musical Hearts~ (Elementary)

This game is similar to musical chairs. First you must make one big red heart that a person can hold in both hands. Everyone stands in a circle. A parent, teacher, or a student then plays music (it can be any popular love song or song about friendship). As the music plays you pass the paper heart clock-wise. When the music stops the person standing on the left of the person holding the heart is "out" - he or she must exit the game. The game continues when the music begins again. The game continues until the last person remains holding the heart. Give the winner a box of candy!

~Race the Heart~ (Elementary)

This game is a fun outdoor game for a group of kids. You will need just one small paper red heart (small enough to fit into someone's closed fist). First divide everyone into two teams. Team A and Team B. Each team should then pick one person to be captain. Each team must have a home base at opposite ends of the playing fields. Be sure that you point out boundaries. The two captains meet and decide who will begin first. One team takes the paper heart and huddles (gets into a small circle) so that the captain can secretly give one person the paper heart. Since the other team is probably watching everyone may want to pretend they have the heart. Then both teams line up facing each other about four feet apart. On the word "go" by a teacher or parent the team without the heart must then chase and tag members of the other team. When tagged you stop and open your hands to reveal if you have the heart or not. If the person tagged does not have the heart he or she says, "sorry - race for the heart!" He or she then must stand in place while the tagging team seeks out other players. The team player with the heart must run towards the opposite team's safety base. If he or she gets there safely without being tagged then their team gets a point and the game starts over. If he or she gets tagged, then the heart is given to the other team and the play begins again. You can set the number of total points to win.

~Be My Valentine Smile~

This is exactly like the game, "If you love me honey, please smile!" Have everyone sitting in a circle with one person being IT in the middle. The person who is IT then goes up to anyone and says, "Hi! Can you please be my valentine, please smile!" The person then must respond to it by says, "Sorry, I cannot be your valentine. I cannot smile." The person saying this cannot smile at all. If he or she does, then they become IT and have to go into the center and start the game over. The person who was IT takes the seat of the person going in! Lots of laughs!
~Hide the Heart~

All you have to do is make some red paper hearts and hide them around the room (or classroom). Have your friends go and find them.

~Guess the Nametag~

Create some nametags with words that relate with Valentines Day. Such as hearts, flowers, red, white, pink, and love. You will then tape these tags on people's backs. But they cannot look for the names. They must not find out what word is on their tag until the game starts. Everyone goes around and gives each other clues about the "valentine word" on their backs. You can ask a person only one question at a time. The game continues until everyone has found what theirs tag says.

~The Biggest Smile~

This is not a game, but its a great group activity to see who can give the biggest smile! You can give prizes to the person with the biggest smile. You can choose one boy and one girl winner. One at a time measure people's smiles with a ruler (or measuring tape). This is fun. You can also measure the zany faces! You can take photos as you do this as people are smiling BIG!

~Guess Who?~ (Older elementary, pre-teen, teen)

This is a fun guessing game which should bring a lot of smiles. Pass out little strips of paper to everyone in your group. Have them write the most embarassing thing that may have happened to them on the piece of paper. Make sure it is not anything too gross or inappropriate. Everyone then folds up the papers small and it is collected. One by one the strips are read aloud and everyone has to guess who the person is.

~My Prince Charming~ (A Couple's Game)

This is a fun game for couples. Place chairs facing inward in a circle formation. All the girls sit in the chairs with their boy partners on their knees in front of them. The boys take off both of their partner's shoes. The shoes are then thrown into the middle of the circle. Then each boy in blindfolded by their girl partner. On "GO" the boys must go (with verbal directions from their girl partners) and retreive their shoes and put each shoe back correctly on the appropriate foot. When both shoes are put on correctly the girl partner takes off the boy's blindfold. Continue the game until the last couple does it right!
Another version of this is to just have the boys on GO retrieve the shoes one by one not blindfolded.

Heart Tag

Inspiration or ideas to make this holiday fun for the whole family

Rosemary Valentine Wreath

Give this dainty, heart-shaped decoration to your Valentine or lovingly decorate your home.

Heavy-gauge wire
Wire cutters
Slender sprays of rosemary
Florists silver wire
4 Wheat stalks Scissors
Dried herbs/flowers such as rosebuds, lady's mantle, Queen Anne's lace and helichrysum
Satin ribbon, 1/2 inch wide

Although, traditionally red roses and rosebuds signify true love, include some yellow roses and cream flowers to lighten the design a little and to give it variety. The rosemary symbolizes love, fidelity and remembrance. "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray you love, remember." The wheat symbolizes riches, prosperity and friendliness. A single red rose symbolizes everlasting love. Yellow roses symbolize joy. Pink roses symbolize perfect happiness.

Twist the wire into a circle. Then, by pinching it at the base and the top, make it into a heart shape. You can make it any size you want, but the one I made measures 8 inches in length. Cut short sprays of rosemary and bind two or three together on the frame with silver wire. Place together two wheat stalks. Cut two more stalks into several short lengths and fasten these to the top of the two long stalks. They will form the top of the decoration. Bind short sprays of rosemary and the dried flowers along the length of the stalk, placing the rosebuds so that they face in opposite directions. Tie the ribbon close to the top of the stalks so that it conceals the first stem binding. Fasten the stalk to the top and base of the heart and tuck in small flower sprays to conceal the wires. Wire a single red rose to the inside center of the heart. The rosemary will gradually dry on the decoration if it is hung in a warm, dry atmosphere. Then it will become a lasting token.

Note: The decorated wheat stalks run vertically up and down in the center of the wreath.

Stained Glass Heart

Place red, pink, and white crayon shavings between two pieces of waxed paper or in waxed paper sandwich bag. Cover with newspaper. Adult presses with warm iron to melt crayon chips. Allow to cool. Cut heart shape from center of construction paper. Tape waxed paper behind heart-shaped hole. Variations:

-Fold construction paper in half to make card. Cut heart shape
from front of card. Tape "stained glass behind the heart-shaped hole.

-Cut "Stained glass" into heart shape. Attach string to create mobile.

Herbal Potpourri Valentines

2 oz. sweet woodruf
1 oz. each red rose petals and red clover tops
3 oz. rose hips
3 tonka beans, sliced
1 oz. orris root, cut
30 drops essential oil of choice
Muslin, Lace, Ribbon

Cut muslin hearts and sew together sachets, leaving an opening for the herbs. Tuck some of the potpourri mixture into each sachet; close up opening and trim with lace and a ribbon for hanging.

MAKE YOUR OWN VALENTINE PAPER (For Everyone)

white paper
various heart shaped cookie cutters
pink and red paint
Styrofoam trays

On the table place white paper and various heart-shaped cookie cutters. Pour red and pink paint in shallow pans - Styrofoam trays work as well. Print hearts on white paper using the cookie cutters as a tool.

Variation: Print on tissue paper. Makes great wrapping paper

Valentine's Day at Mom's Break

Valentine Hearts Pin

red or pink pipecleaners
small safety pins

Take one pipe cleaner and cut in half. Twist ends together. Shape to make a heart. Add a safety pin. Give to a friend.

Heart Shaped Pins

These make nice presents to make for Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, and Friends:)

1 c flour
1 c warm water
2 t cream of tartar
1 t oil
1 c salt
Red Food Coloring

Mix together the flour, water, cream of tartar, oil, and salt. Stir over medium heat until smooth, adding food coloring at the end. Remove from the pan. When cool enough to handle, knead until well blended. Shape into hearts and press pins into the backs of the hearts.

Craft Site Directory: Valentine's Day

Family Corner's Valentine's Day Ideas

The History and Legends of Valentine's Day

St. Valentine's Day originated from several events and customs. It is named after St. Valentine, who was a Christian priest. The origins of Valentine's Day can be traced back to Pagan times. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a day honoring Juno, the Goddess of women and marriage and Queen of the Roman Gods and God-desses. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia, a festival of love honoring Juno. Love lotteries were an important component of the celebration, which took place on the eve of the festival. The names of girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Young men would draw a girl's name from the jar, making these two partners for the duration of the festival. So even though they weren't yet called by the name, these early Romans were in fact the first Valentines. Of course, the early Christians frowned on such erotic goings-ons. Despite their best PR efforts, the church's attempts to convince celebrants to substitute the names of saints for would-be lovers was not met with much enthusiasm, especially since the partici-pants were encouraged to emulate their chosen patron saint's virtues for the coming year. Instead the church settled for toning down the nature of Lupercalia from eroticism to romance. Saint Valentine or Valentinus, who had been martyred on February 14th 269 A.D, proved a convenient symbol around which to fashion this new celebration of romance. While evidence suggests the saint was himself a chaste man, legend has it he defied Emperor Claudius II by secretly marrying count- less couples, a practice the emperor had banned believing that marriage weakened his army. Eventually Claudius caught on and the good saint was condemned and beaten to death. Another legend has it that Valentinus had befriended his jailer's daughter during his imprisonment. He left her a farewell letter signed "From Your Valentine".

In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor St. Valentine, who became the patron saint of lovers and gradually, Feb. 14 became a day for exchanging love messages and simple gifts. The practice of lottery drawings to select Valentines persisted well into the eighteenth century, but a gradual shift took place in which the gift giving became the sole responsibility of the man. This marked the beginning of the end and the practice eventually disappeared and individuals were at last free to select their own Valentines.

Manufactured Valentine cards didn't appear until the end of the eighteenth century. The Victorians took the cards to elaborate lengths, trimming them with lace, silks and satins and embellishing them with special details like feathers, flowers, golf leaf, hand painted details and even sweetly perfumed sachets. Until the mid-1800's, the cost of sending mail was beyond the means of the average person, and the recipient, not the sender was expected to pay the cost of mailing. It wasn't until the advent of the penny post that the modern custom of sending Valentine's cards really gained critical mass. Today, Valentines Day is the second most popular occasion for sending greeting cards, only surpassed by Christmas.

Snow Ice Cream In A Bag

This recipe is enough for one person, so that everyone can make their own.

1/2 c milk
1/2 t vanilla
1 T sugar
4 c crushed ice
4 T salt

2 qt size Zip-loc bags
1 gal Zip-loc freezer bag
a hand towel or gloves to keep fingers from freezing as well!

Mix the milk, vanilla and sugar together in one of the quart size bags. Seal tightly, allowing as little air to remain in the bag as possible. Too much air left inside may force the bag open during shaking. Place this bag inside the other quart size bag, again leaving as little air inside as possible and sealing well. By double-bagging, the risk of salt and ice leaking into the ice cream is minimized. Put the two bags inside the gallon size bag and fill the bag with ice, then sprinkle salt on top. Again let all the air escape and seal the bag. Wrap the bag in the towel or put your gloves on, and shake and massage the bag, making sure the ice surrounds the cream mixture. Five to eight minutes is adequate time for the mixture to freeze into ice cream.

Edible Glacier

Make a 6 oz. package blueberry flavored gelatin following package directions. Pour into a pan. Put in refrigerator until solid (several hours). Crush about 1/2 package of chocolate wafers or chocolate sandwich cookies. Mix with one container of Cool Whip and spread over the set gelatin. This is the icy blue center of the glacier, with silky snow on top. Serves: 4-6

Sock Snowman Craft

Crystal Snowflakes Craft

Polar Bear Cupcakes

Tortilla Snowflakes

What in the Heck is Groundhog Day Anyway?

Groundhog Day Crafts

Super Bowl Party

Begin with an invitation that will bowl over your guests. Write your party details on a piece of paper and attach to the back of football trading cards. Or, photocopy part of the sports page from the newspaper or a sports magazine. Write your party details in one of the columns. Ask guests to dress in their team colors.

Create a centerpiece: Place a bunch of pennants in a foam ball and place the ball inside a football helmet. Add crushed soda cans and trading cards to your centerpiece.

Use football T-shirts, jerseys, jackets or sweatshirts as a buffet table covering. Or decorate your table with green felt or Astroturf and white tape as yard lines. Use wooden dowels for goal posts. Making pigskin placemats scores a touchdown at any party.

Decorate the room with your favorite team colors using crepe paper streamer football Mylar balloons. Hang a football piñata. Play Sports Rock and Jams CD or Cassette. Hang football posters and pennants in your party room. You can create team pennants from colored card stock and attach to wooden sticks.

Transform your room into a Super Bowl stadium. Rent some bleachers or simulate bleacher seats with folding chairs arranged in a semi circle. Or arrange your furniture in the same fashion. Place goal posts at each end of the room. Got a tiny TV set? Surprise your guests with a large screen television. Many electronic stores will rent them for the big game.

As your guests arrive pin the name of a football player or coach on the backs of guests as they arrive. Guests have to guess who they are by asking questions of others. Award gag prizes to the first 2 people who guess correctly.

Design a raffle in which guests record their answers before the game's kickoff. Charge everyone a minimal fee and award a cash prize to the guest who answers the most questions correctly. Questions could include: First player to score, First team to score, First second and third quarter scores, Team leading at half time, Winner of the game.

Hang a Football piñata and let the kids break it.

Make sure you have some activities for the Football widows. They can discuss favorite books they have read or view a movie in another room.

For the food portion of the evening, why not ask your guests to prepare and bring their favorite chili recipe and have a chili fest. Give an award for the best tasting chili. Or you could even provide the recipes for them to make.

Super Bowl Menu

Super Bowl Chili

1 (16 oz.) can chopped tomatoes, do not drain
2 (15 oz.) can dark red kidney beans, not drained
1 lb. ground beef
1 small red pepper (chopped)
1 1/2 cups water
Dash Worcestershire Sauce
2 dashes garlic powder
1/8 t. pepper
1 t ground cumin
1 pkg. instant onion soup mix
1 T chili powder
2 T sugar
1 T dried oregano

Brown ground beef in large saucepan, drain grease. Add water and seasonings. Let simmer approx. 10 minutes. Remove mixture to large pot. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer approx. one half-hour. Make a day ahead and reheat during the second quarter so it will be ready for half time. Top heated chili with shredded cheddar cheese and green onions. Serves: 8-10


Goal-Line Chicken Salad

4 1/2 c diced cooked chicken
1 1/2 c diced apples
3/4 c halved green grapes
6 T sweet pickle relish
6 T mayonnaise
6 T ranch salad dressing
3/4 t onion salt
3/4 t garlic salt
Lettuce leaves

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, apples and grapes. In a small bowl, combine the pickle relish, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, onion salt and garlic salt. Pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Serve in a lettuce-lined bowl. Serves: 18

Over the Top Nachos

These nachos can be served as a meal, but all the good stuff makes for a great appetizer or snack while watching a game.

Serve with sour cream and salsa.

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (14.5 oz) package tortilla chips
jalapeno pepper slices to taste (optional)
2 (8 oz) packages shredded Cheddar & Monterey Jack cheese

In a large frying pan, brown ground beef with onion, salt and pepper over medium heat. Break the meat into very small pieces while it is cooking. After the meat is thoroughly cooked, drain off the grease.

Arrange chips on a microwavable platter. Spread beans over the chips. Layer with 1/2 of the cheese, the ground beef mixture, and remaining cheese. Arrange jalapeno peppers on top. Microwave on medium high until cheese has melted. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings

Superbowl Popcorn

4 qt popped corn
12 oz peanuts
2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c melted butter
2 t lemon pepper
2 t cumin
1/4 t cayenne pepper
2 t chili powder
1 t paprika

Combine popcorn, peanuts, and cheese in a large bowl. Set aside. Add spices to melted butter one at a time, stirring constantly. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Yield: 6 servings

Nacho Popcorn

1 t paprika
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 c melted butter
10 c freshly popped popcorn
1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

In a small bowl, stir paprika, chili powder, and cumin into melted butter. Gently toss butter mixture with popcorn, coating evenly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss until coated. Makes 10 cups.


Build Your Own-Sundae-Buffet

Plan a Low Fat Super Bowl Party

Goalpost Get-Together from Betty Crocker

Sports Sunday Celebration

Football Super Party for 12 from Betty Crocker

The King Center

This is a great site honoring the late Martin Luther King, Jr. You can hear his famous speech and find out what his day is all about.