Pink and Purple cookies...Challenge conquered- what's next?

So last week I posted the very first Pinterest challenge. I picked a fun Valentine's Day themed pin that I had seen before. PINK CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! How fun, right? Heck yeah it was fun! Miss I said she wanted to do purple cookies, while Miss S wanted to stick with pink- so we doubled the fun and made BOTH! I ended up doing most of the mixing once they had added the ingredients, but that's ok because the cookie dough got EXTREMELY thick was hard for me to stir, so I can't blame them for stepping back from that step of the recipe.

We only cooked about a dozen on the first night...just enough for everyone to have a couple or three each. The General really liked them!!

 I was really pleased with how well this recipe turned out. They were super soft and yummy! We baked another set on Wednesday so that Miss I could take them to school for her Valentine's day party. After that we still had an entire container of purple cookie dough left in the freezer.

That container became the solution to one of my dilemmas that had arisen. Miss I's teacher's birthday was coming up on Feb 16 (tomorrow, but I's last day of school before that was Thursday) so we needed to come up with something as birthday gift in addition to her Valentine of Hershey Kiss Roses. So we printed off a sticker with baking instructions and a note that said "Happy Birthday from I. L." stuck it on the lid and then tied a ribbon around it. Voila! Instant teacher gift!! Score!

So that's how the first challenge went at our house. I know that several people accepted the challenge on The Pinspired Mom Facebook page but there were only a couple people who shared pictures! Thanks to Becky V. and Katie A. for sharing. Here is Becky's pictures :) She made oatmeal chocolate chip! Yum!

 

Katie's were apparently so yummy that she could barely take a picture before they were all eaten! It must have been the M&Ms she added :)

Great job everyone and I hope more people will start joining and sharing their Pinterest challenge pictures with us! So what is this week's challenge, you ask? It is a week long photo challenge.

I've always thought the idea of monthly photo challenges were a fun idea! But I always either forget a day or tend to forget completely towards the end. So I thought, why not try it for a week? I found a fun Photo Challenge for the month of February. But instead of doing the whole month obviously, start on Feb 15 and stop on Feb 22. The daily picture challenges are as follows:

Feb 15- Button
Feb 16- Hands
Feb 17- Sunshine
Feb 18- Sweet
Feb 19- Dinner
Feb 20- Challenge
Feb 21- Looking up
Feb 22- Smile

You can use a camera, phone, instagram, etc. Please don't just Google images, but rather find these items and take the pictures yourself. You can post them to the event or the main wall of the Facebook page. You can post a picture each day or you can wait and collage them and share on Friday, its up to you. I will share some of my favorites on my blog next week. 

Want to accept this week's challenge? Then be sure to join the event on Facebook!

Love is in the air!!!

With the arrival of February, comes the anticipation of Valentine's Day. And I have to say I'm pretty excited about my Valentine plan for the General. I'm not doing anything too terribly expensive or grand, but I am plotting a long term valentine. Starting today I will leave him a little something every day to show him that I am thinking of him and that he'll always "Be Mine". I started with the Hot Tamales hidden in his computer bag.

 

I got him some fun snacks/candies/cards that have funny/silly/witty notes with them. The notes that go with the snacks and candies are as follows-

Jack Link's Jerky- You drive me wild! 

Jack Links Original Bag 3.25oz, 8/Box (Google Affiliate Ad)

Junior Mints- We were "mint" t o be together

Sunkist- I love to be "kist" by you

Starburst- You make my heart *burst* with love

Starburst Fruit Chews Stand-Up Pouches, 41-oz. (Google Affiliate Ad) 

RingPop- I'm glad you put a ring on it

Hot Tamales- You're one *Hot Tamale*

Reese's Pieces- I love you to pieces

Reese's Pieces 1.63 oz, 36/Box (Google Affiliate Ad) 

Coke- I *soda* love you!

Cherry Coke Zero Fridge 12 Pack (Google Affiliate Ad) 

Angry Birds candy- Let's be Love Birds

"Ted" DVD (not pictured)- Will you be my "Ted"dy bear?

I'll be giving him the Ted DVD last and be using it as a "date" night for us on the 14th. The rest of it I'll be hiding in random places each night for him to find each morning. My pinspiration for this can be found on my "Valentines" board.

The girls will be giving him a new basketball as well as recreating the pics below for him to put in his office. This is on my pinterest board "Hubby Stuff"

                                                      Original Source

As for the girls' valentines- they'll each be getting new pjs. I'll also be sure to make some surprise treats for them and will surprise them with a root beer float party (pinspired by this valentine pin)

They are going to be handing out candy free valentines at school this year and we looked at a few options that didn't have candy, including bouncy balls, straws, and the one they chose- glow sticks. Tricolor 12" Glow Sticks 4 Pk (Google Affiliate Ad)

Original Source

While their classmates may be getting candy-free V-day love, their teachers will be treated to 18 long stemmed Hershey Kiss Roses in a vase of candy conversation hearts! Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses, 40 oz Bag, 2 Bags (Google Affiliate Ad)

 I was reminded of these when I saw them floating around Pinterest. My mom and I had actually made them before YEARS ago and for what reason, I can't remember at all. But I still remembered how to make them. I tweaked the "recipe" slightly this time around. Originally we had used red or pink satin to cover the kisses and then tape them up and add the leaves. This time I just found pink and red wrapped kisses and covered them with saran wrap. Much easier and you still get the same effect.

So that's what I know is being given to those beloved by the people in my house. What I'll get? Who knows, but I'm sure I'll love whatever my 4 wonderful Valentines come up with. What will you give YOUR valentine(s) this year? Something handmade, inspired by pinterest, store bought? As long as it's given with love then it's the best valentine in the world!