So with Valentine's day looming, I'm sure there is a lot of you out there with your head in your hands thinking 'crap' or some other choice words :P
I have a head like a sieve at the best of times, but I do always remember the commercial celebrations, like valentine's day :P just ask my fiance he'll tell you ;) I remember a number of years ago cursing the day that is Valentine's day. because I was convinced I would end up alone or in a convent, so I always said if I ever had someone to celebrate Valentine's with, I would go all out :)
I know many hate that day and think it's stupid, but the romantic in me will always think otherwise :)
So for those of you who have absolutely no notion what to get for your significant other I will suggest a few homemade items to help you...and p.s if none of these help, Lidl/Aldi/Tesco etc do some fairly cute little bits leading up to the day :)
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| You could just use one of these funny cards? :P |
90% of ideas are cooking based, so if you're not great in the kitchen don't read the following :P
If you're partner has a sweet tooth then I would definitely suggest the following:
A sweetheart cake.
Ok so you have seen that really pretty cake you think they'll love in the bakery window, you check the price and you don't like what you see...but you love the cake.
Make your own! And quite simply too :) Have a look in a recipe book at whatever type of cake you like...(Chocolate is probably the best) and decide on an icing (preferably pink). The tricky part is how do you get the shape without having to buy a special shaped tray :)
Use one circular baking tin and a square one, make two cakes. When both are baked, cut the circular one in half and turn the square one around until it resembles a diamond shape. Place both halves of the round cake on top until it resembles a heart and cover in your icing, sparkles, strawberries etc :) Simples!
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If you want something cuter I will suggest a Heart Sweetheart pie :)
For this you might have to be very creative, but it is a really cute idea and perfect for Valentines ideas :)
You will need :
Ingredients
3 – 4 cups of strawberries (cut into chunks)
Frozen pie crust ( pastry)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoon cornstarch
1 egg yolk
sugar to decorate
In a bowl, pour sugar over the strawberries. In a saucepan, bring the water, cornstarch, and strawberries to a boil over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut out hearts from the pastry using a small heart shaped cookie cutter. Place pastry shell in desired oven dish.
Leave the strawberry filling cool down and when finally cooled pour into the pie shell.
Brush one side of your cutout hearts with an eggwash formula and place them on top of the pie in a neat circular row,
Brush the entire pie with the egg wash and dust with sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes then reduce the oven to 375 degrees and bake for another 20 – 25 minutes until the filling bubbles.
Crust should be golden brown when ready.
If you would rather make lots of smaller versions of the above pie, then follow the same recipe with the strawberries, just cut out sizeable heart shapes in the pastry. Place one heart on top of another and fill with the strawberry mix and cook for the same time ;) Simples!
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Chocolate covered hearts.
So if you just want something simple and delicious, I would suggest these. All you need are some cocktail sticks, strawberries, melted chocolate and whatever else you feel like decorating them with, icing sugar, edible glitter, etc. Go mad :) Simply melt some chocolate, any kind, bournville, dairy milk, galaxy, aero, or even simple cooking chocolate! Cut some strawberries in half, place them flat down and beside their other half to shape a heart. Place a cocktail stick through them so they don't separate and pour chocolate over them, decorate with whatever you wish and leave them in the fridge. Voila! If you feel like messing or having a laugh I suggest chocolate covered bananas instead ;) for the messers out there :P
Another similar idea is cookie hearts :) make any type of cookie he or she like, in a heart shape using a heart cutout. Cover in sprinkles, chocolate or pink icing and you're done :)
So if you hate the idea of food and want some practical cutesie presents I have plenty of ideas for you :)
So remember that last time you went on holidays and bought the obligatory deck of playing cards? Well it can make the most romantic Valentines gift for your partner :) I know you might love a lot of things about them, more than 52? If so, write them down, one thing on each card, for a unique present to your partner. It might be unusual but that's part of the charm :) Plus it's guaranteed to make them smile :)
Homemade scratch cards. (I personally love this!)
So if you want something really cute, Ii will suggest these and they are actually really simple!
So I would suggest you write something cute on a piece of card, be it a scratch card to get a certain gift like breakfast in bed, a bath, dinner, something adult :P (especially after fifty shades is out :P) So write what ever you like on this piece of card, decorate it and then is the creative part. Get a small blob of acrylic paint, any colour and mix with some fairy liquid. Water down if necessary. Paint the mixture over your answers to be scratched off and leave to dry in a spot with sunlight for 2-3 hours. After this you should have a scratchable surface :)
If you're looking for something specific for her and homemade? Try this simple and easy recipe
and it is guaranteed to make her smile :) A rose petal coconut sugar scrub!Sso after all of these new diets came out coconut oil has become a best seller on the market and is used in EVERYTHING!! Especially in health and beauty! So I came across this and thought omg perfect gift for her. So all you need is 1/2 cup coconut oil , 1/2 cup rose petals, 20 drops of rose water oil or almond oil and 1 cup granulated sugar. Mix all of the above together using a hand held blender, add more or less of the almond/rose oil depending on the smell you want and spoon into a jar of your choosing (an old jam or relish jar washed out is good as any!). Decorate however you wish :)
Looking for something specific for him?
Simple! I know it might sound so obvious, but men literally love getting things from women, who know exactly what they like (outside the bedroom this is!;p ). So the ideal gift is to literally fill a box full of the stuff they like, beer, bacon, pizza, fifa, beer, die hard...etc! Men aren't as complicated as us women, we like romantic cheesy stuff but men are happy with practical and simple things they like! Sso find out what food he likes, beer, dvds, music etc and just put it all in a box, I guarantee he will be delighted!
To be honest most of the homemade gifts I found for men were not for a picnic in the park :P but if that's what you're looking for or know he likes, I advise you to go see Fifty Shades and get some ideas ;) ;)
Happy Valentines gift making peeps ;) I'll be doing some makeup looks for the ladies as well so feel free to have a look at them also!!
Until next time <3
Sandy.S
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