Ta Da!!! The Valentine Box! What a great activity to do with a child. It’s even fun to do one and give it away full of treats to someone special. Someone always needs a little love!

It’s a BIG weekend ahead if you are making those wonderful school Valentine boxes.    This is certainly a family and friend activity.  First, know the student’s ideas for his or her Valentine box.  Then gather supplies together at home, then make a trip to a craft store to pick up items and supplies that are needed.  The sky is the limit on this project!  I’m helping with two boxes for boys this weekend.  Stay tuned for the revealing on Monday!

If you are mailing a Valentine package — you best get it in the mail!  If you are not — well think of someone who could use a “pick-me-up” and send them a Valentine package.  Pack you box with goodies specific to the person you are sending it to — I send Lego’s to my grand kids and plenty of candy.  Once the box is packed, then add some pizazz to the package with stickers and stamps.  Someone is going to love it!

A quick way to remind a child that you love them is to put Valentine stickers on their lunch sacks.  If they don’t take a sack lunch, Throw a set of Valentine stickers in their backpack.  You might want to put them inside a notebook or book so they will be sure to find them.  If the backpack is not an option, under a pillow or in a coat pocket is a great place, too.

A family favorite of young and old is Jello Candy.  We love it for any holiday and it is the perfect “get-well” remedy.  Choose your favorite flavor of gelatin (jello).

4 envelopes Knox Unflavored Gelatin (4 Tbs.)
3 packages (3 oz. each) flavored gelatin (jello)
4 cups boiling water

Combine the unflavored and flavored gelatin.  Stir into boiling water and stir until completely dissolved.  Pour into an 8 or 9-inch baking pan.  Chill until firm.  Cut into 1-inch squares.  Makes about 6 dozen squares.

I like to put pieces in plastic eggs for a surprise treat for anyone!  ENJOY!

These are gluten-free!

This week I would like to share an Easter treat each day.  There will be a gluten free treats, as well.  Today’s treat is “Easter Egg Krispy Treat.”

1/4 cup margarine  (1/2 square)
1   Package marshmallows 10 oz.  (Kraft Jet-Puffed are gluten-free)
6 1/2 cups rice krispies  (Rice Krispies gluten-free)

Microwave margarine and marshmallows for 3 minutes. Stir in rice krispies.

Spray the insides of 24 plastic eggs with cooking spray.  Fill each side of the eggs with rice krispy mix while still warm.  (There may be extra rice krispy mix left over.) Allow to cool.   Enjoy!

Variations:  put a little food coloring in the margarine mixture for colored Easter eggs.  You can place the filled plastic eggs in a basket or lunch box for a fun surprise treat.

This is a great “kid” project!  Find or buy some furry pom pom balls in a variety of sizes.  Glue a big ball to a small ball.  You can glue small black paper circles for eyes and a triangle out of orange paper for a beak.  Voila!  A baby chick!

Easter is two weeks away. The celiac kid is looking fun food to eat at his Easter Feast. Please share your favorite Easter/spring foods that are gluten free. Our family favorites are: #1 deviled eggs – all time favorite, ham (I like turkey ham), potato salad and shredded carrot and pineapple in orange Jell-O. Of course Jell-O Jigglers are also a hit!

I love making crafts with kids!  The craft in A Paper Hug was meant for kids to do.  Operation: Celebration is all about celebrating holidays long distance.  A cute idea for St. Patrick’s Day is to cut hand prints out of several colors of green paper.  With the fingers out, paste them on some paper, cardboard or a ring cut out of cardboard to make a wreath.  It will look darling as a door hanger or send it to a friend or family for St. Patrick’s Day with a cute note:

Here’s a wreath of hugs for St. Patrick’s Day!