Last Minute Valentine Ideas * Sweet & Simple Magazine

Are you looking for some fun last-minute Valentine's Day ideas? We have some for you, heart filled and everything lovey.

These easy to make Valentine's are sweet spin on kids sewing cards. Simply cut out some hearts from craft paper, punch some holes, sew together with pretty ribbon and fill with Valentine candies.

These are the Very Best Sugar Cookies, I promise! Top them with some Valentine sprinkles, red sugar or heart shaped red hots.

This Heart-a-Stack game is one for those of you looking for a sweet little game for your kids this Valentine's Day. Simply grab a big bag of conversation hearts and see who can build the tallest stack!

Want to leave something sweet for your sweetheart in the morning? Print out and tape this Valentine's Tear Card on your bathroom mirror for some Valentine's Day fun play together.

Do you do a nice Valentine's Day breakfast too? It's tradition in our house to have French Toast with red berries on top. This Berry Sourdough French Toast is delicious topped with vanilla bean creme fraiche.

Happy Heart Day!

5 Must Try - St Patrick's Day - Yummy Rainbow Foods

Do you celebrate St Patrick's Day with eating something green or rainbow colored? I always try to find something that is green or Irish or in rainbow colors to eat and wear for the holiday. When I was growing up  I use to tell my friends I was a little bit Irish. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, that was a big deal on St Patrick's Day. They dry the river GREEN for St Patrick's Day in Chicago so as you can imagine claiming a bit of Irish if you cold had some bragging rights to it. Now I'm not sure if there is much Irish if any in our blood, we're more Scottish but I was claiming some for St Patrick's Day.
To give you some ideas for your St. Patricks Day celebrations I rounded up 5 rainbow colored foods for you to try.

Why not start Saint Patrick's Day off with a luscious Rainbow Smoothie from The First Year blog.

These Rainbow Fruit Parfaits looks so delicious!

Do you or the kids need a little snack in the afternoon? How about some Rainbow Lucky Charms Munch with crunchy pretzels. 

If you're not really into Irish foods but still want to celebrate how about some Rainbow Salsa! 

Everyone is just going to love trying some Rainbow Veggie Pizza, Give it a try, yum! Veggie pizza is my favorite. I would add some artichokes to it too.

Have fun celebrating! 

Krazy Christmas Balls with Krazy Glue

sponsored by Krazy Glue

Don't you just love going to all the fun Christmas parties with your friends and neighbors during the holiday season. Some of the funnest parties are the ones with everyone dressing up in their crazy ugly Christmas sweaters and exchange white elephant gifts and play fun silly games.

Inspired by these parties and the crazy Christmas sweaters, I created this fun new Christmas tradition that even your most craft challenged friends will have fun making because anything goes!

Krazy Christmas Balls are over the top glittered, ribboned, tinseled, rick racked, jingle belled ornaments. The key to getting all those layers of glorious sparkly bits to stick is the Krazy Glue.

Gather your supplies. Lots of them. The more and varied and holiday themed the better.

Supplies List:

• Krazy Glue
• Mini Wood Cutouts
• American Crafts Glitter Set
•  Essential Colors Glitter Set
• Christmas Ornament Balls
• Glass White pearl Ornament Balls
• Wired Tinsel
• Craft Scissors
• Tiny Jingle Bells
• Tiny Reindeer
• Paint Brush Set
• Nail Polish Remover (in case you glue some bits to your fingers or your fingers together!)

Now start creating. No reason to be intimidated or trying to make them perfect, anything goes! There are no rules. Just add Christmas bits to your heart's content.

To apply the seed beads, sequins and tiny pieces of glitz I used the Krazy Glue All Purpose No Run Gel. It's great for precise glue application without running. For adding the ribbons, tinsel and other embellishments I used the Krazy Glue All Purpose with the brush. The reason Krazy Glue is key to this craft is because it is fast-acting and dries so quickly and can be used on multiple surfaces including, glass, wood and vinyl.

This is a great craft for parties because of the quick drying glue everyone's ornaments will be great to take come with no drying time.

Be sure you have good ventilation in the area you are crafting with Krazy Glue.

Happy Christmas Crafting!

xo

Good Stocking Stuffers * Gift guide 2016

I've collected some wonderfully good stocking stuffers for your favorite people this holiday season. This edition of my Sweet Holidays Gift Guide is a collection of the best stocking stuffers most are on sale too!

for her...

Super cute in hearts and pink any girl would love the Too Faced Funfetti Set at HSN. It's the perfect starter set for a teen just beginning to use makeup your favorite friend or even your mom. I know I would LOVE it. The set includes a sweet blush in a heart shape, a set of 12 matte and shimmer eye shadows shadows, the prettiest mocha pink lip gloss and my all time favorite Better Than Sex mascara.

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at HSN

Pretty in pink and green and aqua and yellow and more, every girl will want the FUJIFILM Instax Mini 8 Camera. 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

This whole set of 10 festive Cheery elf Nail Polish colors is only $10 at Target. It's perfect for you mistletoes. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

MAC has the sweetest set of bright pink handled white makeup brush just for the Christmas season. It's called their Nutcracker Sweet Essentials Brush Kit. You can buy it online at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

for him...

The Braun Series 7 790cc-4 Electric Foil Shaver with Clean & Charge Station is perfect for your guy. And you can't beat this deal at Walmart. It's $120 off !!! 

FREE Shipping too!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Walmart 

One trend I am loving right now are these large print paisley ties. This is the MICHAEL Michael Kors Men's Creston Paisley Tie. Macy's has a nice selection for Cyber Monday. 

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

With the new iPhone 7 requiring a wireless earbud, a good wireless earbud it a hot gift this season. The Beats PowerBeats2 wireless in ear earphones are a great stocking stuffer. 

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

for the home cook & baker...

The Prepara Swiss Kitchen Multi Tool is perfect for the home cook. It even comes in a festive green color at Target.

FREE Shipping!

BONUS an extra 10% off too!!

Check out more  Sweet Deals at Target

Every Christmas we get new glasses to share our favorite holiday drinks. The cute winter sweater themed glasses from UncommonGreen are so sweet!

Check out their constellations and city etched barware too!

Hearts are my favorite and these Love Beyond Measure measuring spoons are so sweet with a dash of love, a spoonful of laughter and a heart full of stamped on each one, found at Bed Bath and Beyond for only $2.99!!

FREE Shipping!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Bed Bath and Beyond

Copper measuring cups are so pretty you will never want to hide them away in a drawer. They also make a lovely gift for your favorite baker. These are from the Martha Stewart Collection at Macy's.

FREE Shipping over $25 purchase!

BONUS an extra 20% off too!!

Check out more Sweet Deals at Macy's

Happy Holidays!

Valentine's Day Ideas * Crafts & DIY Projects

I just adore this big Red Heart from Little Peanut. It reminds me of the tissue paper hearts we made in elementary school for Valentine's Day. 

Old fashioned Vintage Valentine's are other love of mine. The graphics and sayings are just so charming. I have the sweetest old valentine that was given to my great-grandmother that I place on my mantel every year. A local antique shop here in Provo, UT has a whole collection of vintage valentines. I am making Creative Breathing's Vintage Valentine Wreath  this year. 

Craftberry Bush has directions for this lovely Heart & Love Sheet Music Wreath. It easy to make and you probably have all the supplies already on hand.

I love that this Simple Punch Ruffle Wreath is so easy even the least crafty of us all can make it.

Make some cute DIY Arrows to go with your hearts for a Valentine's Day Mantel decor. Your kids will surely be tempted to play with them. I promise. 

Do you have some fire wood logs? This is such a fun and very simple home decorating idea from Today's Fabulous Finds. Carve you and your lover's initials into a "tree"  for Valentine's Day-
I Love You Log.

Happy Decorating xo

April- founder & editorial director

Pink Valentine Baking * Home & Entertaining

Le Creuset Le Creuset how I love Le Creuset... Pretty in pink and ready for a Valentine's Day treat.
Le Creuset Pink Heart Shaped Cast Iron Dutch Oven

A mixer a bundt and 3 pink mixing bowls for your Valentine.

Pastel Pink Melamine Bowls
Williams-Sonoma Stoneware Pink Cake Pan
Pink KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Server your homemade Sparkling French Lemonade is these pink pitcher and tumblers from Anthropologie.
Pink Granada Tumbler
Pink Granada Pitcher

Christmas Storytime Bedding * Christmas Family Traditions

As Christmas is approaching we have been thinking about our favorite Christmas family traditions and thinking of new traditions to start this year. Every year I gather all my Christmas books and place them in a basket under the Christmas tree. I have a collection of fine Christmas plush toys that sit next to the basket of books. The kids are only allowed to play with the plush toys if they sit quietly under the tree and read a book. Everyone loves this special family tradition.
This year Pottery Barn Kids has a collection of Christmas themed bedding and pajamas that go along with some of our favorite Christmas books.

I just adore the Santa's Sleigh set that goes nicely with my all time favorite Christmas book, The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. I can just imagine aa a kid I would have layed in bed looking at this print of santa taking off in his sleigh and how he would be coming to visit me soon.

1. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Pajamas
2. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Sheet Set
3. Santa's Sleigh Flannel Duvet Cover

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer has been a memory for Christmas for as long as I can remember but what I remember most about Rudolph is trying to memorize all the names of the reindeer as I sang the song over and over again in the car. This original print is from the 1948 short film by Max Fleischer in 1948. Your kids will fall asleep practicing all the reindeer names in these sweet Rudolph pajamas and comforter set.

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Sheet Set
2. Buffalo Check Flannel Sheet Set
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer® Flannel Pajama

The good ol' Grinch. Dr. Seuss brought him to life 1956 in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and still after all these years kids to love to read about him and all the Who's in Whoville. Maybe it's the rhyming of Dr Seuss or the funny sweet characters or the grumpy silly Grinch that gets us but he always comes back to us every year.

1. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Sheet Set
2. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Pajama
3. Dr. Seuss's The Grinch™ Flannel Duvet Cover

Check out more sweet holiday bedding on Pottery Barn Kids.

Sweet holiday dreams to you all filled with visions of sugar plums!

Thanks to Pottery Barn Kids for sponsoring this post. 

Macy's Holiday Event Salt Lake City * Home & Entertaining

It's the most wonderful time of the year full of delicious foods, family activities and holiday traditions. I believe that traditions are very important part of family life. Most of our family traditions began 20 years ago when my family first began. We always go together to pick out a fresh Christmas Tree.

Our traditions officially started with one of our beloved traditions of reading Clement Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas in our new Christmas pajamas around the Christmas tree.  Each year we've added to the collection of The Night Before Christmas books. Everyone chooses one to use to read along. As my kids grew we added taking Christmas light rides while listening to classic Christmas songs.  As the kids got a little bit older we added watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on tv and waiting to see the Santa Claus.

Then came making candy covered gingerbread houses out of graham crackers while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's Christmas Time again Charlie Brown while sipping hot cocoa.
We always fit in a Christmas play or two and a Christmas musical performance.
We still do all these cheery holiday activities as a family. Do you have a favorite Christmas time tradition?

An old tradition is back in Salt Lake City, the Christmas Candy windows. This holiday season Macy's is having my very most favorite Christmas character Snoopy, in candy!

This coming November 19 join me at this free event...
Macy's Candy Window Unveiling
Macy's City Creek in Salt Lake City
Thursday, November 19 at 6pm
S. Main Street Candy Windows

"Starting at 5pm bring the family to the women's department on 2 for festive activities like hot cocoa, face painting, balloon artistry, letter writing to santa, and much more! Plus don't miss an exclusive sneak peak of the Pioneer Theater Company's production of It Happened One Christmas. Then, just before 6pm, follow the cast outside to the Candy Windows of S. Main Street for our grand unveiling along with our very own Holiday Ambassador, Snoopy!"

 Visit Macy's Holiday Events for more info

Thanks to Macy's Department store for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine #macysbelieve