Heart-Shaped Marshmallow Crispies<\/h4>\n
Kids (and kids-at-heart) can’t get enough of ooey-gooey marshmallow cereal treats\u2014it’s a staple at most classroom parties. But we thought this classic treat deserved a decorative spin for the holiday of love\u2014so we pulled out the heart-shaped tins and got to work.<\/p>\n The Ingredients: <\/b><\/p>\n The How-To:<\/b><\/p>\n This recipe makes about 12 treats\u2014and is so easy for the kids to help with!<\/p>\n Sophie\u2019s girls love to enjoy cozy treats in the winter months. To warm their little hearts, we made customized hot chocolate dipping spoons.<\/p>\n We started with about three cups of milk chocolate chips, which we melted over the double boiler. Next, we dipped pink plastic spoons into the melted chocolate one at a time. Laying the coated spoons on a sheet of wax paper, we had each partygoer sprinkle a few spoons with mini marshmallows, heart-shaped sprinkles, and crushed peppermint candies. We let the spoons sit for about 15 minutes before wrapping each in a plastic sleeve tied with string.<\/p>\n For the class party, we picked up a jumbo-sized box of hot chocolate mix, and one of the parents volunteered to bring in her electric kettle. The students had a blast watching the chocolate melt in their cocoa, releasing marshmallows and sprinkles into their mugs.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not surprising to find yourself surrounded by delicious sweet treats for kids to enjoy at any Valentine\u2019s Day get-together. And while we couldn\u2019t wait to dig into all the sugary goodness at our DIY party, we also thought the parents would appreciate it if we snuck in some healthy snacks, too. Sophie had the wonderful idea of making heart-shaped fruit kabobs.<\/p>\n The Ingredients: <\/b><\/p>\n The How-To:<\/b><\/p>\n We kept the skewers chilled in the refrigerator until the Valentine\u2019s Day party. The heart-shaped pieces were so cute, the students didn\u2019t even seem to notice they were eating something healthy!<\/p>\n With the snacks made and looking enticingly delicious, we turned our attention to the actual valentines themselves. Sure, it\u2019s easier to grab a box of pre-made Valentine\u2019s Day cards from a shelf, but that misses the point of Valentine\u2019s Day<\/a>. We wanted to bring the good ol\u2019 days of construction paper hearts and gluing on glitter to our modern kids.<\/p>\n Each party attendee brought one treat ingredient and one item for the valentines craft table, so we ended up with a great mixture of fun items including:<\/p>\n It was exciting to watch each student come up with his or her own valentine idea and make a unique card for each of their friends. The kids got to show off their creativity and the parents got to enjoy an afternoon getting to know one another and their children\u2019s friends.<\/p>\n Not only was the Valentine\u2019s DIY party a chance to spend quality time hanging out and chatting, but it was a time to get creative and enjoy the spirit of the holiday. Sophie later told me how each of the students eagerly presented their handmade card to their friends while devouring our treats, and I hear her kids (and their friends) are already clamoring for a similar party this year.<\/p>\n Want more ideas on how to make Valentine\u2019s Day extra special this year? Let the Elves help you get creative and gift straight from the heart with their <\/i><\/b>downloadable coupon printables<\/i><\/b><\/a>. Get even more ideas on our <\/i><\/b>Facebook<\/i><\/b><\/a>, Instagram @Elfster, and Twitter @Elfster<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"handmade](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/il_fullxfull.684218548_ciwx-300x300.jpg\")
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Hot Chocolate Spoons<\/h4>\n
![\"chocolate](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Image-3-1-300x300.jpeg\")
Loving Fruit Kabobs<\/h4>\n
![\"watermelon](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/6320792713_b413b54d6d_b-300x225.jpg\")
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Valentines Crafted from the Heart<\/h4>\n
![\"kids'](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Image-5-1-300x201.jpeg\")
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