DIY: Valentines Inspired Bird Feeders

Alright who else on the West Coast got swallowed up by a blanket of white stuff? I may be the only one, but I actually really enjoyed the big dump. It made everything a beautiful winter wonderland. The shoveling sucked, but I did get lots of exercise and fresh air. The power didn't go out for very long (YAY BC Hydro!). And I got lots of projects finished up that I kept pushing to the side!

Heart shaped bird feeders was one of those projects we knocked off the to do list, (original recipe found over HERE). Zach helped me with this valentines craft and it was relatively quick and painless. While the kids lunched I whipped up the ingredients (no this isn't a "naptime craft" says the mother of three :P). When Zach was ready he helped me scoop the birdseed concoction into a heart cookie cutter, I popped them out and that was it! As Rylee would say, "Easy Peasy Lemon Squeesy."

Supply List:

Cookie Sheet

Parchment Paper

Twine

Cookie Cutter

Cooking Spray

Straw/Chopstick/or Bamboo skewer

Mixing Bowl

Ingredients:

6 Tbsp Flour

1.5 Tbsp Corn Syrup

1/2 an envelope of unflavoured Gelatin

1/4 cup Water

2 Cups Bird Seed (I just bought ours in bulk from the pet section of the grocery store)

*this recipe makes approximately 12 hearts in a 2" heart cookie cutter

What You Gotta Do:

Step 1: Add your flour, corn syrup, gelatin, and water into a bowl and mix until they resemble liquid glue. Add your birdseed and mix it all together.

Step 2: Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spray the inside of your cookie cutter with cooking spray. (You will need to respray your cookie cutter every couple hearts)

Step 3: Place your cookie cutter on parchment paper and fill with birdseed mix, pressing down firmly to pack it in. 

Step 4: Using your skewer poke a hole through the heart. 

Step 5: Remove heart from cookie cutter carefully and place on parchment paper to dry (I let mine sit 24hrs but that was overkill, 8hrs is probably good). 

Step 6: Insert twine through the hole, (if your hole closed over while drying, don't panic, just reinsert your skewer), tie a knot and your done! Attach a tag if your giving as a gift or just go hang it outside and watch the birdies come!

10 Valentines Date Ideas + A Special Offer

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

What's better than a day solely devoted to telling those you love that you really do love them! Sometimes we just don't say it enough or we get to the point in our relationships that you figure they just know, but heck I know I like to hear it every now and again! And let it be known that my husband needs and likes to hear me say it too... mmmhmm thats right ladies, guys are mushy gushy too! So go tell your man you love him... no really go do it... like NOW!

Another great aspect to Valentines Day is you get to spend some quality time with your better half! And I love any reason to go out on a date with my husband. So sticking with the theme of spending time together I've created a little list of fun date ideas for those of you who are stumped or just simply forgot to plan something. And if your single, some of these ideas are good enough to do with your best friend, so whoever you are, whatever your relationship status, get out and have a fun, loved filled day!

10 Date Night Ideas

1. // Couples Massage // This is an amazing time to relax with your special someone! And bonus many spa's offer Valentines specials so you don't have worry about breaking the bank. Groupon and LivingSocial are great sites to get deals too!

2. // Go For Coffee // This is so simple but a great way to reconnect. You can add a little twist by writing out some "get to know you" questions and maybe you'll learn something new about one another. (you can also use this list)

3. // Mini Golfing + Go Karting // Unleash your inner kid and have fun competing against one another. Heck you can even throw in a little wager... loser owes the winner a massage when you get home!

4. // Fancy Night Out // You'll definitely be splurging with this one, but sometimes it's just worth it! Get all dressed up and go out to a fancy restaurant. If your doing this last minute make sure to call ahead to make a reservation, otherwise you might end up all dolled up but eating at your local diner (that could be fun too though).

5. // Reenact Your First Date //  Did you ever think you would end up where you are now? Let those butterflies and sparks fly again as you go back to where it all started.

6. // Go For A Walk // Remember when you used to hold hands, do that again, and then just enjoy one another's company! Don't forget to stop and cuddle up on a bench for a bit and if you want to make it a little more romantic plan to go out around sunset.

7. // Go Out For Dinner // And don't just go anywhere, go somewhere you've never been before! 

8. // Bubble Bath + Gelato + Wine // .... need I say more?

9. // Go For A Drive // Make a playlist of your favourite songs, or songs from your wedding and go for a drive with no place in mind.

10. // Dinner + A Movie // This you can stay in or go out for. And ladies this is your one night you can make your guy watch that chick flick you've been dying to see, take full advantage of it! 

There, some last minute date ideas for Valentines... or any night for that matter! Have a lovely Love Day!!

Oh! and be sure to take advantage of our 25% off Valentines Special for all ad space available on O&M! (special is on now till the end of February)

Check out this months fabulous sponsor:

Valentines Treat

I think Rylee fell in love yesterday...

With chocolate pudding and arrowroot cookies!

As a little Valentines treat I taught her the fine art of dunking cookies. She mastered it in seconds, although she has to work on limiting her double dipping. Grandma was a little paranoid she was gonna get it on her couch but Rylee did a pretty good job of keeping it all over herself (as you can see). 

Happy Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!

Of course on the one day of the year where we get to spoil each other silly with love, Sevio and I are an ocean apart!

This is the first (and last hopefully!) Valentines we have been apart since we started dating, I know, I know it's a sad day! I'm not an overly mushy-gushy kind of girl that needs flowers and chocolate, but I do think it's important to value a day that is all about cherishing the one you love, it will not be a day we miss but rather postponed till a later date.

Until then, Sevio, I love you and miss you and wish you were here, or I was there. I love you, I love you, I love you! Your the most patient, loving, and forgiving husband a girl could ever ask for. To infinity and beyond...

Let me play my favorite game and dedicate a song to you...

Your my sweetheart, I belong with you, and you belong with me!