Trudeau Valentine's Day Review and Tips For a Perfect Breakfast In Bed

Heart shaped chocolates made with Trudeau chocolate molds. Heart shaped egg and pancake made with Trudeau Egg Ring.

I received the Trudeau products free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The best way to make Valentine's Day super special this year is making your loved one breakfast in bed. Your loved one will appreciate being catered to while being able to sleep in. Nothing is better than waking up to the smell of something yummy cooking in the kitchen! Go ahead, spoil your significant other rotten and don't overlook this treat!

Sometimes it is hard to get up early and keep it a surprise, though. I have some tips below that will help with making the breakfast in bed perfect. Making the breakfast with Trudeau's kitchen gadgets makes it more fun and even more extra special too because it is all in the little details that counts!

Tips to Make Breakfast in Bed Perfect:

• Timing is Important: Make sure your loved one doesn't have to eat and run. It is better to pick a time and day that they have plenty of time to leisurely enjoy breakfast in bed and savor the experience.
• Get a Bed Tray: Buy a tray with sides so that the food will stay contained and not spill onto the bed or floor. One that has folding legs is nice as well so that the food will be raised up off of the person's lap. It is easier to eat this way. You can also use a small laptop desk if you can't find a tray.
• Presentation is Everything: It is the little things that make it extra special for someone else. Get out the fine china and pretty silverware. Use flowers as decoration: a single flower on the tray, flower petals sprinkled around the plate, edible flowers (you could even get crystallized candied edible flowers or make your own) placed on the plate. Use cloth napkins: You can fold these into all kinds of fun romantic shapes and some come in pretty floral or heart patterns. Make a card with a nice note on it or menu of the food to go with the meal. Decorate with a pretty placemat, paper doilies and/or confetti. Use heart shaped containers like bowls, reusable cupcake liners, etc. Sometimes the food can be formed or cut out into romantic shapes too!
• Know What You Are Making For Breakfast: There are a lot of great choices out there and it does help to know your partner's favorites. Plan ahead and make sure you have all the ingredients, etc. before the big surprise. Don't forget the salt and pepper or cream and sugar, if needed.
• Prepare the Breakfast Like a Ninja: If you sleep in the same bed as your partner get up early and sneak away stealthily. If they wake have a good excuse to make sure they go back to sleep. Make the breakfast as quietly as possible so you don't wake your partner prematurely. Sometimes you can also chop or mix the ingredients the night before. If you don't want them spoiling the surprise you can also put a towel in the crack under the bedroom door so they won't smell the evidence. Also try to clean up any messes before they are served so you can spend time with them and not kill the mood by having a messy kitchen.
• Serve Drinks Only ¾ Full: Pouring beverages, especially the hot ones, ¾ of the way full will make sure they are not easily spilled when the tray is in transit.
• Make Them Comfortable: When bringing the tray of food to your love, set it aside so you can prepare their area. Puff up the pillows and add extra pillows so they can sit up comfortably in bed. Straighten out the covers so that the tray can be on a flat surface. Add a towel, folded table cloth, or small blanket under the tray when you place it to catch any crumbs.
• Get Them In The Mood: Play some nice music, give them a good book or the morning paper to read, watch a favorite show on TV, or just have a nice conversation while they eat.
• Clean Up After: After they are done with their breakfast pamper them by taking the tray and cleaning up. While doing the dishes run a luxurious bath for them to relax in. While they are enjoying that don't forget to make the bed too.

4-Inch Silicone Egg Ring, Red Heart:
This Heart Shaped Egg Ring is made of non-stick, heat resistant (up to 428°F-220°C), and and BPA free silicone and is top rack dishwasher safe. This also doesn't scratch your pans like the metal egg rings. It is wonderful for making 4-inch diameter heart shaped eggs (use large or extra large eggs) and pancakes! These work better to if you make sure the Trudeau logo is right side up because the lip on one side is thicker than the other and it is easily flipped around. The thicker edge on the bottom helps with keeping the egg and pancake inside the ring. Also, since it is 4-inches it is slightly too big for a piece of bread or English muffin. The adjustable, metal bar grip handle is great so that you can lift the ring up without burnt fingers after one side is done to be able to flip the egg or pancake over. It also swings around so that you can place it flat in a drawer. 5 year warranty. - MSRP $5.99

Set of 3 Chocolate Silicone Molds, Heart Shaped:
These chocolate heart molds have 15 cavities each and come in a set of 3 in different colors. They are made from flexible, heat resistant  (up to 428°F-220°C), and BPA free European grade silicone that is easy to clean and are top rack dishwasher safe. These effortlessly release the chocolate from each heart shaped cavity. Great for making chocolates, ice hearts, gelatin/homemade fruit snacks/gummies, candies, small candle/wax crayon melts, soap samples, etc. I used my double broiler pot to melt the dark chocolate melts and butterscotch chips. I had fun experimenting and swirled the two in some, layered them in others, and put red hots in some of them too. My kids had fun helping as well. These are super easy to use. Approx mold size; 2.5cm/1" diameter each x 1.5cm/0.5" deep. – MSRP $11.99

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Wordless Wednesday One Chicken All Alone

Unfortunately, predators are a fact of life when you live on a farm. We are thankful to God that one of our chickens survived.

Easter Egg Decorating

I love decorating Easter eggs and decorating with them as well. In 2002 I was pregnant with my second child, Jaedan, (this picture was taken less than two months away from birthing him) and I was apparently breathing in too much Springtime air and in a fashion statement mood, LOL! So there you have it...the prego plastic egg princess :)

There are many fun ways to decorate Easter eggs and also to decorate with them. The Easter egg is used to celebrate Easter or Springtime. The Egg is widely used as a symbol of the start of new life, just as new life emerges from an egg when the baby chick hatches out. In Christianity it is the symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

EASTER EGG TIPS:
Try dyeing or decorating different types of eggs in order to vary the sizes (quail for smaller and goose for larger). Also consider dyeing brown eggs to alter the range of colors you can produce.

To empty a raw egg, begin by using the tip of a sharp utility knife or a hat pin to pierce both ends of the egg; turn the knife or hat pin in one of the holes to widen it slightly. Then, poke a straightened paper clip or the hat pin through the larger hole to pierce and "stir" the yolk. Hold the egg, larger hole down, over a bowl, and then blow the contents out with a rubber ear/nose syringe (available at drugstores).

Safety
1. Color only uncracked eggs.
2. Discard hard-boiled eggs that have been out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
3. Hard-boiled eggs should be consumed within one week.

Here are some great ways to decorate eggs and decorate with Easter eggs this Easter season.

THINGS TO USE TO EMBELLISH YOUR EGG OR EGGSHELL:
Scrapbook Notion Eggs (Put on stickers, hole punch shapes, postage stamps, scrapbook paper, construction paper, tissue paper, crepe paper, gift-wrap paper, foil, confetti or other scrapbook embellishments.)
Sewing Notion Eggs (Glue on ribbons, cloth flowers, braid, rickrack, cording, pom poms, lace, netting, fabric, felt, fake fur, leather, bits of broken costume jewelry, small silk flowers and leaves, buttons, or other sewing embellishments.)
Craft Notion Eggs (Glue on sequins, glitter, beads, yarn, raffia, pipe cleaners, cotton balls or other craft embellishments.)
Natural Notion Eggs (Glue on small dried pasta, beans, rice, lentils, small pebbles, small sea shells, feathers, pieces of potpourri or dried flowers/leaves, or other natural embellishments.)

USING PAPER:
Decoupage Eggs, Washi Eggs, Crepe Paper or Tissue Paper Eggs
Papier-Mache Eggs


PAINTED OR DYED EGGS: Note: Do NOT eat eggs that have been painted or dyed with unnatural substances!
(For paint use glitter glue, glitter paints, acrylic paints (pearlized is my favorite), puff paints, nail polish, markers, undiluted food coloring, etc.)
Stenciled Eggs (use a stencil to trace designs onto the eggshell with paint)

Dyeing Eggs:
(For dye use PAAS Easter egg dye or other commercial egg dye, food coloring dye, or all-natural dye.)

Tips For Dyeing Eggs (Gently lower and raise the egg on a soup spoon or tongs into the cups or dishes with dye, to avoid cracking. The longer these are left in the dye the deeper and darker the color. You can dip the egg again in a second color to experiment with different color combinations.

Food Coloring Dye (Combine 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon of food coloring with 2 tsp. vinegar in a cup that is deep enough for the eggs. Add water to about the half way point. Gently place the eggs into the cups. When you remove the egg from the dye, pat dry with a paper towel and place in a holder.)

All-Natural Egg Dyeing (Use the color chart below to create all natural egg dye. Combine the dye source with 1/2 Tablespoon of vinegar with some cold water in a saucepan. Add raw eggs (make sure there's enough water to cover the eggs) and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you simmer, the darker the color will be, but simmer at least 10 minutes so that the eggs cook thoroughly.)
Natural Egg Dye Color Chart
Pinkish to Red - Beets, Cranberries, Red Grape Juice, Cranberry Juice, Raspberries, Cherries, Pomegranate Juice
Orange - Yellow Onion Skins, Chili Powder or Paprika (for a brownish/red orange), Cooked Carrots
Yellow - Green Tea, Chamomile Tea, Turmeric, Orange or Lemon Peel, Carrot Tops, Cumin, Celery Seed, Saffron
Yellow Green - Yellow Delicious Apple Peels
Green - Spinach Leaves, Red Onion Skins and Vinegar (olive green)
Blue - Blueberries (more grey blue), Red Cabbage
Purple - Red Onion Skins
Violet - Violet Blossoms, Small Quantity of Red/Purple Onion Skins, Hibiscus Tea, Red Wine, Red Zinger Tea
Golden Brown - Dill Seeds
Brown - Strong Coffee, Instant Coffee, Black Walnut Shells, Black Tea

Unique Dyeing Techniques
Two-Toned Eggs (Dip top half of egg in 1 color and the bottom half in another. Or, dip each half of the egg in the dye for different lengths of time, creating different shades of the same color.)
"Tie-Dyed" Eggs (Method # 1: Use 100% silk. You can use an old silk tie as long as you want to cut it up...just make sure it's not your husband's favorite before you do. Go HERE to get the tutorial. Method # 2: Place several eggs in a colander in the kitchen sink. Splash eggs with vinegar. Drip yellow food color onto eggs. Gently shake the colander for a few seconds to help the color spread. Let set for 30 seconds. Repeat with 1 or 2 additional food colors. Let set again for 30 seconds after each color added and lightly rinse eggs with water. Drain completely. Allow eggs to dry. Method # 3: Dip egg briefly into dye to lightly color; let dry. Cover sections of egg with pieces of tape. Press down edges with fingernail to be sure tape adheres. Dip in second color dye; let dry. If you would like a third color, leave on tape but add smaller pieces. Dip in contrasting color. Dry and carefully remove tape.)
Marbleized Eggs (Use the enamel paint way or in a mug or jar large enough to contain one egg, place 1 Tablespoon of cooking oil, 1 Tablespoon of vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of food coloring. Add enough water to cover egg, swirl quickly with a spoon and quickly lower into and raise egg out of liquid. Pat dry with paper towel.)
Lacey Eggs (Wrap a piece of lace or doily you don't want to keep around the egg and secure with a ribber band or twist tie then dip egg in the dye.)
Speckled Eggs (For natural looking speckled eggs use light blue dipped eggs and brown tea stained eggs. Then use one bottle of brown craft paint and a toothbrush. Dip brush into paint and lightly splatter and dab around the egg to achieve a random, lightly dotted pattern. Allow to dry.)

TOOLS TO USE FOR APPLYING PAINT TO YOUR EGGS:
paintbrushes of different sizes and widths (You can create a number of cool strokes with these including dry brushing to make crosshatch patterns, zigzags, stippling, etc. You can also just use to paint pictures or stencil the paint onto egg.)
sea sponges (Use for that sponged look.)
cotton swabs (Good for painting applications quickly within a stenciled area or making dots with paint.)
toothpicks (Use for thin lines and detail.)
pencil erasers (Put a dab of paint on pencil eraser to make dots)

RESIST DYEING:
Pysanky Eggs (Very fancy wax resist eggs. A Ukrainian tradition.)
Silhouette Eggs (put leaves, herbs, and flowers against the eggshell and secure by wrapping it with some old pantyhose before dipping into dye. You can also make shapes out of masking tape or adhesive vinyl film with scrapbook hole/shape punches, stickers, or reinforcement stickers and place them on the eggshell before it goes into the dye.)
Banded Eggs (Put rubber bands or strips of masking tape of different widths on the eggs before they go into the dye to create that striped, checked or plaid look.)
Waxed Eggs (Write on the egg with crayon (crayola is best) or drip hot wax onto the eggshell in different areas and let harden before putting it in the dye. A stylus can also be used for creating more intricate patterns. This tool looks much like a pen, but has a barrel at the end for holding and dispensing wax. Heat the barrel of an empty stylus by holding it near a lighted candle. Scrape the beeswax patty to fill the stylus with wax, then heat the barrel again in the flame. Touch the tip of the stylus to the egg to let the wax come out and draw your design. Heat and refill the tool as necessary. Make line drawings, or fill in areas if you wish. Let wax dry, then submerge egg completely in dye. Remove egg; let dry, about 10 minutes. To remove the wax place the eggs on aluminum foil on a baking sheet with rims in an oven preheated to 250 degrees; this works for blown-out and hard-boiled eggs. When wax starts to melt, about 10 minutes, it will glisten and shine; remove eggs from oven, and hold in a paper towel wiping off the wax.)

OTHER THINGS:
Crayoned Eggs (Boil the eggs in a mixture of water and vinegar (about 1 1/2 tablespoons of vinegar for every cup of water) for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat. Carefully remove a hot egg (parents only) and let it cool for about 10 minutes. (Leave the others in the water until you're almost ready to decorate them, so they stay warm.) Holding the egg on a paper towel, draw on the shell with the crayons. To avoid smudging your design when turning the egg, carefully lift it from the paper towel, turn it, then set it back down. Let the design set for about 30 minutes.)
Millefiori Eggs (Wooden eggs with a layer of polymer clay cane slices all around it.)
Mosaic Eggshell Art (use dyed crushed Easter eggshells to make mosaics on paper)
Eggshell Planters
Eggshell Votives
Egg Animals (Decorate your eggs with googly eyes, paper, felt, feathers, fake fur, pipe cleaners, etc. to make them look like critters.)
Felted Easter Eggs (These are made of felted wool and wooden eggs.)
Fabric Eggs (Made of fabric.)
Knitted Eggs
Beaded Plastic Eggs (Use translucent multicolored plastic beads and hot glue to plastic eggs.)
Thread Eggs (Wrap embroidery floss soaked in starch over small oval balloons and let dry.)
Carved Eggs
Chocolate Filled Eggs
Robin's-Egg Place Card Eggs
Sugar Easter Eggs
Egg Ornaments (Blown out eggs are fragile but can last a long time if properly handled. They can be hung on a tree or branches cut from a flowering tree put in a vase and brought inside as decorations. Just attach a loop of ribbon or some yarn to the top with some glue to hang.)
Egg Garland
Sliceform Paper Egg

Want to decorate a virtual egg? Go to the Incredible Easter Egg Designer!

For more very cool ideas go HERE!

So, what is your favorite egg decorating technique?? Please comment!! I would love to hear your ideas!

Spring has Sprung

I love spring! My favorite part is when the flowering trees blossom. I love when the daffodils and tulips poke their heads out of the ground and open up to the sun and the birds start singing again.

I love Easter egg hunts and coloring eggs.

This painting © by Greg Olsen
I love Easter and remembering our Savior and what he did for us.

I love starting my garden.

I remember my mother making Easter treats with us when my sisters and I were little. The best memories are of the cupcakes with green dyed coconut on top and candy eggs, Bunny Pear Salads and the Braided Easter Wreath Bread. Yum!

What do you love about Spring? What are your favorites? Do you have a favorite Easter recipe? Please share with me! Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday Double Shelled Egg

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Teela's First Easter!

Tomorrow is going to be Teela's very first Easter because last year Easter was March 23rd and Teela wasn't born until April 15th. So, I saw that my friend Erin had a picture of her little girl, Melody, on her blog and Facebook in bunny ears. I was like, "Oh, how cute!!". I happen to have a pair of bunny ears from the boys dress up box and so, here you go. Teela in bunny ears :)

Easter Eggs

I love decorating Easter eggs, but haven't really made it a tradition yet in my family. I would love to start this year, maybe if I can squeek it into my busy, crazy schedule. I would love to have my boys participate in the creation of some of them. Maybe I can post the results on this blog later.

There are many ways to decorate an egg. You can paint, dye, tie dye, carve, batik, decoupage, glitter, etc. There is even an International Egg Art Guild. Easter Is Sunday, April 12th this year. There are some very unique egg decorating ideas out there. I love the Ukrainian or Pysanky ones I think the best! They are so pretty!