Treats for your Sweet

Unfortunately I do not have a whole lot of time for chit-chat this week (you've probably figured that out already though). Never fear, I’ll be back to my Chatty-Cathy little self by next week. But this week has me getting things pulled together for both mini’s Valentine’s Party’s, getting ready for mini #1’s 5th Birthday party (which is Saturday), and doing a thorough cleaning in every corner and crevice of the house since our family will begin arriving on Friday morning. Top this off with another potential private school visit too. So this week is a little hectic for me, as it is every year.

At any rate, I realize today is Valentine’s day and while some of you like going overboard for this holiday, other’s of you are probably like me, and just prefer something low key. So I thought I’d give you a few really simple but memorable deserts you can whip up for your someone special. And don’t fret that you don’t have the ingredient’s sitting on your pantry shelf. One quick stop into the grocery on your way home from work will provide you with everything you need, but yet not leave you standing on your feet for hours attempting to make banana’s flambé.

Chocolate Mousse Box
5 Hershey‘s® (or a higher end brand such as Ghiradelli if you prefer) chocolate bars (1 cut in half)

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Small plastic bag or piping bag

1 recipe chocolate mousse

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave and pour into a small piping bag for “mortar.”

2. Use one whole Hershey’s® chocolate bar to form the base of the box.

3. Pipe melted chocolate along one long edge and press a second whole bar upright into the melted chocolate to form the back of the box. Hold in place for about 30 seconds until set.

4. Repeat using one of the half bars to form each end of the box. Pipe the melted chocolate along two sides of the bars to form the corners and set onto the base, making solid contact with the back. Allow time for each piece to set before moving to the next.

5. Finally, pipe the melted chocolate around the two ends and one long side edge of another whole chocolate bar and set it into place to create the front of the box. Let set. Box can be completed the day before serving.

To Serve: Pipe two spirals of your favorite mousse recipe into the box and gently rest the last chocolate bar on top to form the lid. Garnish with fresh flowers or berries.

Chocolate Balloon Bowls
1. Wash and sterilize a regular balloon. Blow up balloon to double the size of your fist and tie off (note: this picture shows smaller bowls than I recommend).
2. Melt any flavor chocolate and let cool to approximately 88 degrees. **Warning, if the chocolate is too hot the balloon will explode and create a mess*** I recommend melting chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute at 50% power. Always stir after each minute.
3. Hold balloon by the knot and dip halfway in chocolate. Roll balloon so it is coated well
4. Place dipped balloon on a wax paper or parchment paper covered tray and put in the fridge.
5. Once chocolate is hard 5 to 10 minutes, remove from fridge. Pop the balloon, which should peel right from chocolate and you have a beautiful bowl.

These bowls are a easy yet terrific way to wow and amaze your friends! Put a decadent mousse or pudding inside or even some homemade ice cream and it really creates a special treat.

Chocolate Custard Bags

1. Cut the top off of an unused, coated 1-lb coffee bag to a height of 2-3".

2. Melt semisweet chocolate chips in microwave (use my above directions and make sure to continuously stir!)

3. Using a pastry brish, apply several coats of the melted chocolate to the inside of the bag, allowing time to harden between coats. When fully set, peel the bag away from the chocolate.

4. Fill each bag with your favorite mousse or custard and garnish with fresh berries.

Happy Valentines Day!!

Candy Topiary

Are we the only ones on the planet who just don’t make that big of a deal over Valentines Day? I always do a few little things for the boys, but Mr. Monogram and I have never really bought into the whole Valentines Day thing. We usually just grab dinner out and I make a special desert or something. Last year I filled a large glass vase with the jumbo sized candy hearts, and inserted a smaller vase down in the center. I put a nice little floral arrangement in it and left it in his office on his credenza while he was out. Voila. Sometimes the little gestures are the best ones (especially on an overrated “holiday” like Valentines Day).

But this year I thought I’d try something new. After watching the fabulous Dylan Lauren, owner of famed Dylan’s Candy Bar (oh, and not to mention, daughter of Ralph Lauren) on Martha a couple weeks ago, I loved the little gift baskets she brought with her. One in particular, I was most excited to try my hand at. Her candy topiary.

You Will Need
One 7-inch flower pot (I painted mine gold)

One 6-inch Styrofoam ball

1 Styrofoam cone (18-inches-tall-by-6-inches-wide)

One 18-inch long, 3/4-inch diameter dowel

4 to 5 bags of assorted fun-sized candy bars

1 pound twist wrapped candies

Hot Glue Gun

Glue Sticks

1. Place Styrofoam ball inside flower pot.

2. Force dowel through Styrofoam ball inside flower pot. Poke hole into cone.

3. Add glue to dowel and affix cone to dowel.

4. Make sure the glue gun is on the low setting; a high setting will crinkle the wrapper.

5. Begin attaching the first row of candy to the bottom of the cone.

6. Make sure all the wrappers line up and that they extend about 1/2-inch below the base of the cone. Hold the candy in place until it is secure to the cone.

7. Start the second row of candy: Apply glue toward top of the wrapper, making sure there is a slight overlap between the first and second row of candy (like roof shingles).

8. Continue gluing candy in rows around the cone all the way to the top. When the cone is completely covered with candy, fill the bottom of the pot with the wrapped candies of your choice (such as Bit O’ Honey, Jolly Ranchers, Laffy Taffy, or Double Bubble Gum).

Seriuosly folks, this was super easy, and fun! It also didn’t take a long time so it’s something you can do while you’re watching tv and relaxing. Here’s how mine turned out. Cute, right?! Well I thinks so, but now I just have to figure out A) how to hide this thing and B) how to get it over to his office on Wednesday morning by myself!

A Series of Unfortunate Events (& A Few Things I Love Today)

Friday, as it turned out, was not the greatest day. Mini #2 was not his usual chipper and cheery self that morning, and after returning home from taking his brother to pre-school that morning, he proceeded to throw up all over my Egyptian cotton Ralph Lauren bedding while watching Thomas the Tank Engine. Ughh.

So I changed the mini, stripped the bed, and had no other option other than throwing the comforter in the washing machine. I seriously didn't think it was that big of deal since I have a super capacity washer. Although the corner of the spread sticking out of the machine should have been a giant red flag to me, I just continued with my mission (anyone who's ever had to "clean up" curdled milk knows why I felt the instant need to forge ahead). Anyway, I closed the machine and crossed my fingers that it a) didn't overflow due to the fact that I decided to mix a cocktail in it with twice the amount of detergent, 300 mule borax laundry booster, Oxyclean and anything else I could find, and b) didn't go crashing through the floor into the kitchen below (it's on the 2nd floor of the house) due to the vigorous shaking of a machine that is overstuffed. You see, while yes, there is a "super heavy" setting on the machine, the setting I really could have used was one which should be called "idiot" setting.

So you can imagine, I was a tad scared to go into the laundry room when my entire brick house stopped shaking from this beast in my machine. Vomit be gone! Dry Clean only? HA! I'll show Ralph Lauren a thing or two! But lo, it would in fact, be monogram momma who was to learn a lesson that day. Because the minute I opened the machine, I saw it. The BIG FAT RIP through the fabric of my beautiful spread for which my entire bedroom is decorated around.

Uh Ohhhhhh.

Mr. Monogram is NOT going to like this at all.

Not

One.

Bit.

So I was in a teeny bit of trouble on Friday. So now I am not only redecorating mini #2's big boy room, I will now have to undertake redecorating my master bedroom as well. This is not something I had planned on and really looooooooooooove my bedding and linens so now I have to start all over.

So here is my issue. This is my master bedroom furniture here. It is heavily carved, massive, and quite formal. So that means, that I really need to put formal linens and drapes back in my room as well to go with the furniture. My walls are a gold color and there is no way Mr. Monogram is going to have them repainted because it's a tall vaulted ceiling in there. And I also want to try something new, and veer away from my normal red, gold, green color scheme. What's a girl to do?

I was thinking about this white Pottery Barn bedding with a chocolate border and a formal monogram in script. And then I wanted to pair it with more formal, really colorful, European shams and throw pillows w/ lots of fringe and trim. I found some beautiful things I loved over at my favorite spot, Horchow. But you know my friend Ashley? She thinks I'm going to regret doing a white duvet with a 90 lb dog and two little mini monograms running around. I am sort of thinking I might risk it though and have pretty throw on the bed too. What do you think? Is this all too casual for my furniture (you can click on the picture to see it larger)?

Anyway, since this has me pretty preoccupied, here are just a couple things I Love Today.

Monogrammed Custom barrettes from Happy Thoughts will leave you with many happy grosgrain thoughts!

Looking for a really cool yet simple birthday gift for a toddler? Then look no further than these Dado Cubes. INGENIOUS! Sure, kids love to build blocks, but talk about taking it to the next level with your creativity!

Scoot on over to Tabblo and for a bargain price of $1 each, you can upload your own pictures and personal Valentines message to how ever many recipients you wish (you can even create a special message for each valentine!). Worried about the turn-around time? Well don’t! They’ll also address and mail them directly to your recipient for you! Heck, it’s included in the $1 per card price! Now I guess there is no reason for out of town family and Friends not to hear from you next week, is there?

Versatile Valentines

It's not quite February, but I know if you're anything at all like me (and really, you must be somewhat if you keep coming back to monogram momma's), then you too are thinking about Valentines Day Cards. And I'm not just talking about cards for the mini monograms to tote to pre-school which profess their undying love and admiration for their little pre-school friends. But also cards for grown ups too.

So in starting this post, I actually realized this is going to require more than one post because there was so much great looking, non-tacky stuff for DIY Valentine's cards this year (yes I actually said non-tacky and Valentines Day in the same sentence). And Monogram momma just does NOT do character valentines cards. I think we can both agree that there is no shortage of tasteless valentine gifts and cards to be made, especially when it comes to kids cards and crafts, but I was lucky to stumble upon some really great ones that are very easy and require little skill, time, and cost. Perfect for young and old(er) alike. In a word, let's just say they are versatile valentines.

But I can't take credit for today's ideas. They come to me directly from one of my favorite places, Paper Source , and with several items already sold out, I suggest you hop over there pronto. Unfortunately, my favorite idea for this valentine's cards this year for the mini's, the Fortune Cookie Valentine, is already sold out. Booooo. But in digging I found instructions on how you can do it sans the nifty instructions from Paper Source. Now that doesn't mean I don't reccomend picking up any one of their fabulously colorful and fun valentines themed papers or solid colored papers for that matter for this project. Go ahead! I sure plan to, but it just means that we aren't SOL just becuase we didn't order in time. Nope! We are too crafty and resourceful for that at monogram momma's!

So as I was saying, if you like this different little Valentines Card idea for yourself or your kids as well, then you can print up the template here. You'll also need a pen, scissors, crayons, markers, and strips of paper to write the valentine message on. After printing up the template, cut out the circle following the dotted line. Then trace the circle onto your decorative paper you want to use for the fortune cookies (as an aside, you can also just get a round shape in the size you want and trace that directly onto your colored paper as well and just skip the template). So once your circle is cut out of your paper, you want to lightly fold it in half, and then in half again. Then just pinch it at the center and either glue the pinched seam to retain it's fortune cookie shape, or you can also put a few stitches in there with a needle and thread (just make sure you use a very small needle!). Write (or print) your love notes out on your stripes of paper, then put them inside the paper fortune cookies with ends of slips exposed for it's recipient to see it and read it.

Okay, so this is beyond cute if you ask me. But you know me, and this just isn't enough of a "wow" factor. So I'm going to take it one step further. Why not put your Valentine fortune in this adorable take-out box, and also include a sweet little treat for your Valentine? Cute, right? I know!!!! Now, these boxes are a tad pricey, especially if you've got as many to do as I do. But I know I've seen them elsewhere, and even at the Dollar Tree in the party/gift wrap section (and don't pretend like you don't occasionally run into your Dollar store either). Check out Party City or Oriental Trading Company also for chinese take-out boxes where they won't be as decorative, but they'll be much more affordable.

As I mentioned, there are lots of other great ideas at Paper Source to get you started on your Valentines card making crafts. The Candy Shop Magnolia Card Craft would be super cute for any little girl to take to school, or for smaller tots, the Color Your Own Valentine would be just perfect. Depending on the age, you can pick up some colored glue and glitter and really let them go to town! Just look around and pick up heart shaped cards with matching or coordinating envelopes and then let your kids creativity really do the work for them. Or if you have a slightly older child or are wanting to do a great card yourself for a special friend or special someone, then pick up a few of the accordian cards. These are SO fabulous! What I love about these is that you can include photo's or special mementos and it's more like a small book of "i Love you's" instead of just a card. Something else to keep in mind.

Okay, so this should hopefully give you a few ideas to help get you started. I've got to clean the bathroom, change the sheets on my bed, start some laundry then run out the door to meet a friend for lunch and then head off to meet with the baker about Mini #1's birthday cake. Whew! Tonight we've also got our second private school to go look at for mini #1 so I've got to start getting ready for that this afternoon as well. I think I know what my fortune cookie is saying today...A fun filled afternoon of flat-ironing your hair awaits you. Oh joy.