An Easy-To-Make Valentine's Day Snack Board Everyone will LOVE

I received Love Corn for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

It's Valentine's Day Weekend, and we are here for it! Just like every pandemic holiday over the past year, we don't have big plans, but we do everything we can to make the holiday special at home. Tonight, we're having a Valentine's Day themed dinner with our very small quarantine crew, and this AMAZING Valentine's Day Snack Board will be making an appearance!

I have been a fan of charcuterie boards for a while, and I finally upgraded our tiny board to a large tray. It holds so much more, which is essential for a big family, and it doesn't spill when I'm carrying it to the table. Heart-shaped pizza and heart-shaped pasta is on the menu this weekend, but who doesn't love a snack board full of sweets?!? I did throw a few good-for-you snacks into the mix, because balance is everything! 

This is my first attempt at a snack board full of sweets, and I think everyone is going to love it. Typically I fill the snack board full of healthy foods and snacks, but special occasions call for special treats. Too much sweetness isn't always a good thing, so I had to add in some delicious salty snacks for variety. I can't wait to dig in, and I know my kids are going to flip over it, so I think it's going to be a huge hit!

Capture The Everyday Moments

"We Take Photographs As A Return Ticket To A Moment Otherwise Gone." -Katie Thurmes

I love taking pictures! Although portraits are my specialty, I love to capture the ordinary everyday moments, too. I take pictures daily on both my DSLR and iPhone, but only share a small fraction of the pictures I take. Life has been so boring for the past few months due to the quarantine, so instead of sharing the continuous loop of each day at home in a weekly recap, I'm going to share my favorite DSLR photos, month by month, over the next few weeks!

We are in the midst of a massive project right now. Between our project, homeschooling, and everyday life, I planned to skip blogging completely this week, but here I am with a few extra minutes. Sure, my little kids might be refusing to sleep, but I'm going to take advantage of this time while they are mesmerized by Moana for the billionth time! (Just keeping it real!)

After months of social distancing, and days of extremely hard work, I am exhausted mentally and physically. I have so many things I want to share, but I only have the energy to share a few of my favorite pictures right now. I'm going to start with February, make my way through March, April, and May, and hopefully by the end of it, life will be somewhat normal so I can get back to weekly recaps!

The Busyness of a Big Family

I didn't really consider us a big family until baby #5 joined our world. Now that we're officially one year into having five children, I get it. I understand exactly why there aren't very many big family bloggers out there!

The issue is time. Or more accurately, the LACK of time. My day starts at 6 AM, and I literally don't get a break from parenting until my head hits the pillow at 11 PM (or later). And really, it doesn't end. I have a big problem with turning my thought process off so I can sleep!

I miss blogging. SO much. It was a part of my life for so long. I don't want to give it up just yet, and I have so many posts waiting in my queue. I had big plans to post 2-3 times a week, and I was doing so well until the busyness that comes with big family life got in the way. See, over the past 4 weeks, a LOT has come up that threw us off track!

Fab {Target} Finds Friday

Happy Friday! I'm so glad it's Friday, and I'm really looking forward to the weekend thanks to having an extra day "off." The return to reality after the holidays was rough, so the three day break is much needed!

I've been participating in Friday Favorites for years, but this year, I'm starting something new: Fab Finds Friday. Here, I'll be sharing my favorite finds from stores, websites, and small shops. It probably won't be every single week, but I'm aiming for twice a month!

I usually stop at Target each week to pick up the little extras (cleaning supplies, pet items, healthcare and beauty items, etc). I also hoard gift cards I receive to Target, and use them to pick up items as I see them. Over the past two weeks, I found some great clearance deals, and some cute seasonal items in the Target Dollar Spot, and decided to share them with you for my first Fab Finds Friday!

Life Lately - Countdown to Baby!

Hello, my friends! This space has been very neglected over the past two and a half weeks. I'm currently almost 37 weeks pregnant, and we have been in full Prepare For Baby mode lately! My focus is on organizing all the things, getting the house ready for a newborn, and dealing with the usual busyness of life right now!

I feel so much guilt over neglecting all the posts I had planned, but I'm working hard on giving myself grace. This pregnancy was a big surprise, and it has been very difficult for me. I am so ready for it to be over, and for this baby boy to finally be in our arms! I'm ready for my body AND my life to get back to normal, even if that new normal is going to be even busier!

Here's what we have been up to over the past few weeks while counting down to our baby's arrival...

Life with Littles: February Moments & Memories

I love the month of February! It arrives with the promise of Winter being halfway over, and is usually full of fun events for my family. This February was even more exciting than usual! It began with a fun mini getaway for my family, and ended with a new puppy!

The Kids Behind the Blog: February Edition {All About Love}

It's February and love is in the air!

Well...kind of. Any parent who has more than one child knows that sibling relationships are like a roller coaster. One minute they adore each other, and the next minute, they are the WORST. SIBLINGS. EVER.  That's just a very real and perfectly normal aspect of raising children! It's definitely true for the kids behind my blog!

The reality is that we have four kids ranging in age from 3-12 and they all have opinions that don't always match up. Yes, they are each filled with a depth of love that amazes me each and every day,  but they are still kids with feelings, emotions, and hormones! I have hope, because I know it gets better. Being the youngest of 8 children, I speak from experience! In the meantime, I'll just pop in some ear plugs to silence the bickering and REALLY savor the moments when nothing but love fills our home!

In honor of Valentine's Day, this month's interview is all about love!

 Dylan - Age 12, Alexandria - Age 9, Liliana - Age 5 & Liam - Age 3

  
 What does the word love mean to you?


Dylan: "It means to like someone or something." (This was followed by a sigh. I think this kid is going to stop participating soon!)

Alexandria: "It means that you like them and you think they are a nice person."

Liliana: "It means that you love your friends or something. It means being nice and helpful."

Liam: *Blows me a kiss* (Good boy!!!)

Kids choice! How do you want to spend Valentine's Day?


Dylan: "At home spending time with my family members." (He must want something.)

Alexandria: "I want to spend Valentine's Day sleeping." (Me: Really?!? Her: Uh-huh.) LOOOONG pause. "Or seeing family members."

Liliana: "I want to give everybody a red, beautiful heart with sparkles on it!" (Sparkles are a MUST!)

Liam: "MOOOOO!" (Okay, so you want to spend Valentine's Day with a cow? Or was that directed at me?)

Do you have a Valentine? If so, who?


Dylan: "Yes, Brianna." *Smiles* (Yes, he has his first girlfriend. Hold me.)

Alexandria: "No, not really." (I don't believe her. She always has a crush!)

Liliana: "Yes. I have my family!" (AWWWWW!)

Liam: "Nana! And Papa. Nana and Papa!" (Always the favorite...)

How many days are in the month of February?

Dylan: "Uh. Really? 28."

Alexandria: "28?!?"

Liliana: "I don't know! I DON'T KNOW! 30?"

Liam: "Un. Ooooo. Feee!" *claps* (Well, it is the shortest month...)

How do you show someone you love them?


Dylan: "By being nice."

Alexandria: "By doing nice things to them!"

Liliana: "I show them by being nice and really helpful to them. Just like I do with you. *Grins and wraps her arms around my neck* (Well played, Lily, well played.)

Liam: *Blows me another kiss* (You win, dude!)



Being nice is obviously the key to everything in life. Remember that, kids! (And I will totally remind you of these answers when you're bickering!)

All joking aside, these four really are incredibly loving kids who are so lucky to have each other. Their love for their family and friends takes my breath away! I am one lucky mama!

I'm linking up this post for The Kids Behind the Blog.

Puffy Paint Hearts: A Fun & Easy Valentine's Day Craft Kids Will Love {Tuesday Talk}

Happy Love Month! It's hard to believe that we are already one week into February, and that Valentine's Day is just one short week away. 2017 is flying by!

Before I share this adorable Valentine's Day craft, I just want to mention how excited I am to be joining a group of amazing bloggers as a new host for Tuesday Talk! I've been linking up my posts on this weekly link party for well over a year, so I was thrilled when I was asked to be a host. You can grab my button and link up any of your posts below!

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I love making holidays special for my four kids, and Valentine's Day is no exception! I know it isn't a big holiday in the grand scheme of things, but we still have fun celebrating. We decorate the house with hearts, make valentines and valentine boxes, and spend the first half of February baking and making heart-themed crafts.  It's just such a fun way to celebrate those we love most!

We kicked off our Valentine's Day crafting with a really fun puffy paint hearts craft! My kids absolutely LOVE puffy paint. It's easy and inexpensive to make, and it has the coolest texture after it dries.  They have made so many adorable crafts using this awesome sensory paint!

INGREDIENTS:

• Shaving Cream
• White Glue
• Food Coloring
• Bowls
• Spoons for mixing
• Paint Brushes
• Construction Paper
• Sprinkles (optional)

 

DIRECTIONS: 

1. Fill each bowl with shaving cream (1 bowl per batch/color).

2.  Add in the glue. Some "recipes" will tell you to mix equal amounts of glue and shaving cream, but I feel like that's too much. Start with a small amount, mix, then add more if needed. The texture needs to be thick and sticky, but foamy enough to be able to paint with. Basically, when you lift the spoon out of the bowl and shake it a little bit, the mixture should not slide off. That's when you know you got it right!

3. Add drops of food coloring to each batch.  Start with just a few drops and add more if needed.

4. Stir the mixture until the color is perfectly blended. It will look pretty and good enough to eat! (My toddler tornado sampled it before. Exactly why he sat this one out!)

5. Grab paper and paintbrushes, and start painting hearts! Be sure to paint with large globs of puffy paint so it remains puffy when it dries.

  

6. Add sprinkles to the design as soon as it's finished. This can be VERY messy which is why I say sprinkles optional! My 9 year old accomplishes this step neatly, but my 5 year old is very, let's say, enthusiastic!

7. Allow the Puffy Paint Hearts to dry for 8-12 hours. They will dry into a silky soft, puffy texture, and the kids won't want to stop touching them!

No matter how many times my kids make a craft with puffy paint, it never gets old. They will paint picture after picture for well over an hour. Most of their creations have lasted over a year, despite being constantly touched.  This year, the Puffy Paint Hearts are an adorable addition to our Valentine's Day decor!

Join us for Tuesday Talk! Link up ANY post below.

Beth at Our Pretty Little Girls | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Crystal at Hall Around Texas | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram 

Jessica at Sweet Little Ones | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Stefanie at Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam, & Dylan Too | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Becky at BYBMG | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Lindsay at Lindsay's Sweet World | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Sarah at Sarah E. Frazer | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

Justine at Full Hands, Full Heart

Christina at Waltzing In Beauty | Pinterest | Instagram

Meghan at The Adventure Starts Here | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram

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Snapshots of Love

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend!

It all started with a Sweetheart Tea with my little sweetheart, Lily.

Lexie had a class party that day, too. She returned with a box full of valentines and a cold. (She was better within 24 hours. She rarely gets sick and when she does, she gets better ridiculously fast!)

On Friday evening, we ended up getting snowed in at my parent's house.  We went up for dinner and it started snowing like crazy.  It got really bad really fast, so we stayed put.  It wasn't the best night of sleep, but we woke up to a big breakfast cooked by my mom!

The girls stayed with their grandparents while the boys and I picked up Grant and headed to Dylan's basketball game.  Dylan played so well, and ended up scoring again. He really stepped it up this past week!

After the game, we had mandatory family nap time!

My parents brought the girls home and they stayed with our kids so Grant and I could escape for a rare date night!

We met two other couples at the movie theater for a triple date to see Deadpool! I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it was actually entertaining.  I mean...Ryan Reynolds.  Enough said.

After the movie, we parted ways and went out to eat. Grant and I sat next to a table full of teenagers going to a dance and it hit us that in about 5 years, Dylan will be doing the same thing. (And I will totally be sitting in the corner of the restaurant spying on him.)  Time truly does fly by.

After our meal, we strolled the aisles of Target, and picked out some Valentine's Day treats for our four little valentines.

Meanwhile, back at home...

(And the tween was MIA again.)

It wasn't an overly romantic date, but it was a much needed date. It gave us time to step out of the parenting role and reconnect! Once home, we sent my exhausted (they hid it well) parents on their way, put on our pajamas, put the kids to bed, and had a date with Netflix.

On Valentine's Day, we had our annual Valentine's Day Breakfast! It was extra special this year because it fell on a weekend. I made heart-shaped pink pancakes and strawberry milk and didn't let anyone come into the kitchen until everything was ready!

The kids were so excited and grateful. They showered us with thanks, then ran off to play.  My littlest valentine stayed behind to keep me company as I cleaned up!

All the Valentine's Day excitement was apparently exhausting. 

Liam fell asleep while playing, so we put him down for an early nap.  I was able to sneak away for the ultimate Valentine's Day gift: Grocery Shopping ALONE. It was like a mini vacation!

That night, we had a simple dinner of heart-shaped cheese quesadillas, which the kids LOVED!

We ended Love Day by just spending time together.  It's what we do best!

Grant and I put the kids to bed, then enjoyed the last few hours of Valentine's Day together.  We celebrated the same way many other couples did on Sunday night: by curling up to watch The Walking Dead.  That's how we roll! 

We didn't have an extravagant, overly romantic Valentine's Day weekend full of exciting getaways and perfect snapshots.  But it was a weekend full of love and it was absolutely perfect for us! 

How was your Valentine's Day?

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Sweetheart Tea

I kicked off this Valentine's Day weekend with a Sweetheart Tea with my little sweetheart!

Lily is attending the same preschool that Dylan and Lexie attended.  Instead of a Valentine's Day party, the students host a Sweetheart Tea.  Each student is able to invite one loved one to the Sweetheart Tea.  I was the lucky recipient of the invitation! 

This morning, I arrived at Lily's school with my favorite tea cup. Lily escorted me into the dismissal room to have our picture taken together, then escorted me to the classroom where I was surprised by a table filled with extra special homemade gifts!

We said a prayer, then ate our delicious goodies.  After we ate, Lily's class sang us a few songs.

It was my third time attending the Sweetheart Tea but it was every bit as special as the first and second time!  I love spending time with my little lovebug!

As soon as we got home, Lily eagerly opened up all her valentines from her classmates.  It was an exciting day!

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I'm now the proud owner of some really special keepsakes!

It was a great start to my Valentine's Day weekend!  Happy Valentine's Day, friends! 

LET'S CONNECT!
TWITTER // FACEBOOK // INSTAGRAM // BLOGLOVIN // GOOGLE+ // PINTEREST