Valentine's Breakfast

Valentine's Breakfast

Cinnamon Roll Hearts 

I'm sure you've seen the cinnamon roll hearts on Pinterest.  While at the grocery store I saw a can of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls on sale so I decided to give it a try.  

Now I've read that you need to get the flaky cinnamon rolls or the hearts don't turn out as well. The ones I picked up were not the flaky ones but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I mean, at a $1.29 I couldn't not try it.  They would look fun on the Galentine's brunch table. 

I can see why you'd want to pick up the flaky cinnamon rolls.  The regular ones don't roll out like the flaky ones do. As you can see I couldn't get some of them to roll out.  And the ones I did get to roll out I could only sort of make into heart shapes. 

Cinnamon roll hearts ready for the oven. 

Aaaand, here's the finished cinnamon roll hearts.  Food blogger I am not. No flawless food pic's here.  Just real authentic food pics. The heart's didn't turn out too bad.  You know I had to add Valentine's sprinkles.  The sprinkles make them pretty. 

The one in front doesn't quite look like a heart and I bet if I used the flaky kind I could have achieved more of a heart shape. 

Perfect heart shape? no. But I'm still going to enjoy it for Valentine's breakfast.  I'm guessing your girlfriends would still eat them too if you served them up at your Galentine's party. 

Have you tried to make cinnamon roll hearts? 

Valentine's Round Up

Valentine's Party Round Up 

Valentine's Day is a great time to spend some time with your girlfriends and I'm bringing you a round up of fun ideas to help you treat your friends with a party. 

BellaGrey Designs has some adorable tags perfect to attach to party favors.  Pick up some baby aloe plants and attach the tag "You had me at aloe"  or get creative with the "Lets stick together" tags and attach them to some nail polish and a nail file. 

How stinkin cute would these lady bug marshmallow cookies be on your dessert table or put them in a cute little box and send them home as party favors.  Get the easy tutorial over at Party Pinching. 

I HAD to include these chocolate covered marshmallow caramel hearts from The Partiologist because hello, caramel and marshmallows!  As a guest I wouldn't be able to pass these up. 

I like Joy in the Commonplace easy Valentine's tea idea. This party shows you that a party doesn't have to be stressful for the host. You can make your own cookies, scones or cinnamon rolls or you can pick some up at the local bakery.  Tea and treats is cozy and makes for easy conversation flow. 

A crafturnoon with friends is my kind of Valentine's party and   Revel and Glitter  shows us just how much fun it is.  From creating cards to a temporary tattoo station you'll be laughing, having a fun afternoon and making deep connections with your friends. 

Show your girlfriends how much they mean to you by throwing them a brunch.  Jordan's Easy Entertaining  threw her friends a beautiful brunch and you can use some of these ideas to throw one of your own.  The story she tells of using her grandma's cake plate really touched me. Oh, and she has free printables for you too ;) 

Oh you know I have some ideas for you too.  A cookie decorating party brings out the creativity in your friends.   Don't forget the bubbles.  My friends had too much fun with them. 

A Galentine's Day brunch can be a really easy party to throw.  Pick up all the food from the store or have your friends bring some to contribute to the party.  

Will you be throwing a Valentine's party for your friends?

Galentine's Day Brunch

Galentine's Day Brunch 

If you're a morning person like me, brunch is great for a Galentine's Day Celebration.   I usually start the party at 11:30 a.m.   When my friend showed up at the party this year she said, I am so glad you have your parties at 11:30 a.m., I get to sleep in, come over and spend a great time with friends and still have time to get errands done or attend an evening event.  YAY! comments like that make a host feel pretty darn good. 

This year's theme was XOXO.  I saw this gold XOXO at Hobby Lobby and the party started forming in my head.  Pink and gold are the main colours with touches of red.  I'm loving the pink with the gold. How about you?

I love serving brunch for a few reasons.

1. People love breakfast foods. 
2.  The food is easy to prepare.
3. Breakfast foods are my favorite foods. And I'm a picky eater. 

Oh how I love croissants.  So I pick up mini ones from the store.   I could try and make them but it's just so much easier to pick up at a store or local bakery.

I may not make the croissants but I do make the strawberry scones.   I make them into heart shapes by cutting out the scones with a heart shaped cookie cutter.  The heart shape of these turned out WAY better then the last time I made them into heart shapes.   I use Baker by Nature's recipe.   When you make the dough the scent of lemon from the zest smells so fresh and you get a hint of that taste in each bite. My friends like these scones so much they're always happy to take some home.

Along with the mini croissants and scones, I also made a crustless quiche and served fresh fruit.  It's not berry season in February in Oregon so I wasn't sure how these would taste but oh my my.  These berries were bursting with flavor.

You didn't think I was not going to have dessert did you?  No party of mine is complete without dessert.  These Jelly Belly Valentine Jewel Mix didn't last long.  In fact as soon as my friend saw them she grabbed a handful.  Dessert before brunch?  I'm down with that.  This mix is sooo tasty. The combination of bubble gum, cream soda and very cherry is, well, it's hard to stop eating them, that's what it is.

Classic vanilla cupcakes got Valentine'd up with gold flecked heart toppers from Wilton and Candyfetti from Sweets Indeed.  Why am I telling you where I got everything from?  In case you want it for your party you'll know where to get it.

I hope this party inspired you to host a Galentine's Day brunch.  Be sure to come back to see the cookie decorating portion of this party.  My guests and I had way too much fun and you don't want to miss it.

Shop this party:
Styling, concept and photography by: Fizzy Party
Red backdrop: Oriental Trading 
Gold sequin table linen: Joann
Gold XOXO : Hobby Lobby 
Pink glitter candle and xoxo sticker: Target 
Felt ball garland: Mailbox Happiness 
Red glitter hearts, gold glitter box, clear containers holding jelly beans: Michaels
White and red cake plates: World Market
Jelly Beans: Jelly Belly 
Gold flecked heart cupcake toppers: Wilton
Candyfetti: Sweets Indeed 

Galentine's Day Brunch

If you missed the first part of the party go check it out. I'll wait. 

As the first part  of this party informed you, my Galentine's theme this year was inspired by the Pantone colours of the year and a girls fort theme. It would have been cool to host this brunch in an actual fort instead of one I created on my dining room wall. 

I kept the brunch easy and simple. I made my first ever crustless quiche which my friends said was very good, strawberry scones  which I had made for my sugar scrub party, turkey bacon and fruit. 

I reused my sparkly gold table linen from my Mardi Gras party  and St. Patrick's Party and topped it with a tasty brunch and little details in the Rose Quartz and Serenity colours of the year.  

Sneak peek of the desserts which will be featured on Friday. 

Party picks created by Fancy and Fold  add pops of colour to the strawberry scones. 

I hope this brunch has inspired you to host a Galentine's brunch of your own. What would you serve?

Vendors used for this party-
Invitation and paper heart garland: Order this invitation or have one created for you by Painting Paris Pink 
Papers in the backdrop, wood round and gold sequin table linen: Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft
Tissue tassel garland and party picks: Fancy and Fold

Valentine's Breakfast

Guest party from 4kids Cakes:

This year I wanted to surprise my kids with a Valentines Day breakfast.  Normally I am all about planning a party way in advance, but this one I decided to do totally last minute - as in 3 days to plan.  Kim from Small Moments is a rock star when it comes to printables & created this set for me on the spot.  I couldn't have been happier with the results!

We have a tradition of having heart shaped waffles for breakfast on this holiday each year, but I wanted to come up with a twist.  Red Velvet Waffles with a cream cheese frosting syrup started off our menu.  I used a super simple recipe from DuncanHines.com (or you can use your own recipe).  

Hashbrowns, eggs, & bacon folded into the shape of hearts were offered.  On the sweets table, we included mini donuts, french macarons, rice krispy treats, hot cocoa, and the yummiest marshmallows from MadysonsMarshmallows.  The giant ombre ones are not only gorgeous, but so delicious!

For our table settings, I went the quick and easy route.  Plates, cups,napkins  and silverware are from the party section at Walmart. The roses are from their valentines department. Topping off their plates are cookies from my favorite cookie gal - Alison @ Sweet Themes. Milk and Hot Cocoa with more marshmallow's from Madyson's Marshmallows were their drink options.  I adore the bottle wraps Kim made for our plastic milk bottles.

The surprise went off without a hitch - I made everything when kids were either sleeping or at school.  It was a crazy couple of days, but SO worth it!  One of our kids asked me why I did it - the answer is simple.  Just because I love them.  Valentines Day can be about more than a significant other.  So lucky to be a mom to these kids & do a quick party just because :)

Waffles:

1 pkg. Red Velvet Cake mix

4 eggs

2 cups milk

Whisk together & follow your waffle maker instructions.  Super easy. Even cuter in the shape of hearts!

Cream Cheese Frosting Syrup:

1 pkg. cream cheese

1 stick butter

1 cup. shortening
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 T. vanilla (I prefer clear vanilla for this)

1 cup + whole or 2% milk

1/4 tsp. salt

16 oz. powdered sugar

Blend cheese, butter, and shortening.  Add remaining ingredients.  You can add more milk to get desired consistency of a thick syrup.  Poor over waffles & enjoy!

Vendor Credits:

Styling: Christina of 4KidsCakes.com

Photography: CCsDesktopDesign.com

Printables: SmallMoments.bigcartel.com

Macarons, Mini Donuts, Rice Krispie Treats: 4KidsCakes.com

Marshmallows: MadysonsMarshmallows.com

Sugar Cookies: SweetThemesBakery.com

Macaron Pedastals: facebook.com/pages/Maison-du-Bonbon/

Milk Bottles: PartyOnDesigns.com

Straws: HooplaEvents.net

Hutch & Desk: facebook.com/ReNewFurnitureFinds