For me it seems like Christmas and New Year were just yesterday. When I got out my calendar to see when the next holiday was, I was shocked to see that Valentine's Day is just two weeks away.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because I think that it brings out the best in both the giving and the receiving aspects of life. It is always special when you share with people how you appreciate and love them, and it is always nice to receive that.

Whether you tell people you love them, send them a card, or do something special, here are some ideas that perhaps you have not thought about. These are done with food, but you can use the same ideas and create sentiments that are not so caloric.

I enjoy giving homemade gifts, even though sometimes it takes a long time to make them. Homemade expressions of love are special because the love is expressed in the process of giving as well as in the giving itself.

Snow Kitten
Message: You're Purr-fect for Me
This is made from a Hostess Snowball cake

Use the snack cake as the head and attach heart-shaped candies for the eyes and nose. Use red string licorice for the mouth and whiskers. The small, triangular cat's ears are cut from a fruit roll (or poster board or construction paper).

Dinosaur Greetings
Message: You are dino-mite!
This is a Dinosaur made out of a Hostess snowball

Use the snack cake for the body and push candy corns into the top to form the dinosaur's spine. Use toothpicks to attach licorice and gum drop pieces for eyes, cheeks, and feet.

The Beating Heart
Message: My Heart Beats for You!
This is made from a Ding Dong Hostess snack cake.

Pipe large connecting “X's” of frosting around the snack cake. This can be done by putting white frosting in the corner of a heavy quart-size plastic zipper bag. With the frosting in one corner of the bag, snip the bag so that you have a stream of frosting coming out that is about the size of a pencil lead. Now use two pretzel sticks with a gumdrop stuck on one end for the drumsticks.

There are many more idea that you can use an candy bar with. Go the candy section of the store with a pencil and paper and then open up your creative and see what you can come up with.

Here are a few that I came up that will help you get started:

• 100 Grand Bar — Thank you for the grand things you do for me. 

• Boost Bar — You always boost me up.  Thank you!

• Bounty Bar — You bring so much bounty into my life.

• Milky Way — I often think that I am in the Milky Way when I am with you.

• Mounds — You mean Mounds and Mounds to me.

• Hershey's Treasures — I treasure you.

If someone is far away and you can not send the items that I have described, you can create it and send them a photo. They will love you for you creativity and your efforts.

Have fun Enjoying the Journey and creating memories that will last forever.

Would you like to get in on Outdoor Cooking and Camping Tips from Dian Thomas, “Queen of Outdoor Cooking?” She will share with you her creative and fun ideas. Go to www.CampingWithDian.com and get started today! © 2008 by Dian Thomas.