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February 1, 2022

We are so excited to share with y'all our picks for Valentine's Day 2022! We suggest checking back daily for updates and ordering gifts as soon as possible to avoid shortages and shipping delays. Some of these companies may also offer gift cards.


These posting may contain affiliate linking. If you make a purchase, we will make a fee from this, but it does NOT change the pricing. Items on our guide may have been gifts to us in exchange for sharing.




To be honest...they had us a cookies! So we would like to introducing the Latest & Greatest Cookie Box. A delectable box of 6 freshly baked, hand made cookies all individually packaged & nestled in our signature "Open For Doughpness" mailer box.

The Latest & Greatest Flavors are Cookie Queen's (Stephanie Sellers) choice, so prepare to be pleasantly surprised! This box always includes a mix of seasonals, best sellers & classics.

Stephanie Sellers, the proud owner of Cookies & Dreams — wants to see growth, as she is no stranger to hard work and loves a good lady boss. Her story starts in 1994, when she first started baking with her long time babysitter (Mimi). Several local 4-H competitions at the county fair later, and after taking the traditional, college route, Stephanie took her very first entry-level job at a bank, just in time for the financial crisis, a mere three weeks later. She created her first business, but with life’s overwhelm, ended up selling it and entering the financial sector. There is are storefront locations in Iowa if you live there or are traveling through.

Pucker Up Paper Lips



Pucker Up Paper Lips offers a variety of lips perfect for Valentine’s Day including a white lip adorned with red kisses, a black-based lip featuring a heart pattern in pink and red, to a traditional sexy red, bold lip, to lips in shades of pink and red. Price ranges from $35 USA to $125 USA depending on size and design. Custom designs are also available, and prices vary depending on design and size.

Laura, a self-taught paper artist, launched Pucker Up Paper Lips in October 2021 after a successful paper sculpted flower business as well. Laura’s design experience is varied from having a gallery show in England featuring her paper sculptures to working a New York Fashion Week runway show where models wore her artwork, to having her paper lip art feature on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, to even designing custom paper lips for leading cosmetic brands.

“I have always loved to craft and create with paper and through the years, my passion for paper has grown,” Laura explains. “I use paper to create sculpted lips and decorate them with more paper. 3d paper sculpture in the form of lips is very unique and is a creative piece of art.”



Straight Shot of Elevatedly Aesthetic Vintage Style Sunglasses
  • Make them lust after your style with Felix Sunglasses. A versatile shades with enticing flair that will make you feel confidently attractive in your own sense of fashion.
  • Unique sports style you will not easily see anywhere else so you can get lots of compliments .
  • High quality Polarized lens will block 100% Harmful UVA & UVB Rays. It also comes with our brand gift box, microfiber cleaning cloth & nice hard case
  • You don't have nothing to lose! In case of any size issue or you just don't like it, we offer 100% risk-free money back guarantee for 365 days
Dabble & Dollop
Fizzy Valentine: Tired of handfuls of sugary hearts and all those chocolates? Our Fizzy Valentine showcases 6 Valentine-themed bath bombs in an alternating pink and white pattern. Coconut & Guava bath bombs combine to create the most loving, fizzy, and fresh-smelling bath you (or your kids) can have! Made in California, this Set includes 6 bath bomb combination of 3 Guava and 3 Coconut scents. MSRP: $18

Other Gifting Ideas:

3-in-1 Mixables: It's a Shampoo! It's a Body Wash! It's a Bubble Bath! Dabble & Dollop's 3-in-1 Mixables feature fresh, authentic scents designed to be mixed, kids can customize their own sudsy creations each and every night. Choose from any of our 7 amazing aromas and textures. Use alone or get Creatively Clean and mix them up to create over 125 unique bathing combinations!

Dabble & Dollop 3-in-1 products are made with sustainable USA-sourced plant-based ingredients, are Certified Tear-Free, Gluten-free, Dermatologist-tested ultra-mild, Vegan and arrive in USA-made Post-Consumer Recycled soft-touch bottles. These products are Leaping Bunny Certified, Cruelty-Free and feature our innovative SmartScent™ technology, which utilizes a blend of natural oils and nature-identical compounds (formulated to the strictest European Union standards for quality and purity) and is free of known allergens. MSRP: $15 each

Droplets: Dabble & Dollop Droplets take bath bombs for kids to the next level. A 100% natural, clean & safe way to make bath time fun and encourage creativity. Set includes 12 bath bombs available in either Original Scents (3 Strawberry, 3 Tangerine, 3 Honeydew and 3 Vanilla); or Tropical Scents (3 Strawberry, 3 Tangerine, 3 Honeydew and 3 Vanilla). Each Droplet is “kid-sized” at 1 inch, making them perfect for a gentle, moisturizing, sweetly scented bath experience. In addition to being 100% natural, our Droplets are vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and made in California, USA. MSRP: $25


Trilliant Food & Nutrition introduces Café Caps™ Coffee Creations and Café Caps™ Hot Cocoa Creations, all-in-one single-serve solutions that conveniently bring a premium café experience to your home unlike any other.

The cup + cap process is unique, but simple – for Café Caps™ Coffee Creations, pour the cap, brew your single serve cup, and enjoy a café quality latte. For Café Caps™ Hot Cocoa Creations, brew your single serve cup, pour the toppings from the cap, and enjoy a quality café experience at home.

Café Caps™ Coffee Creations includes three separate flavors, each in its own six pack, all made with 100% Arabica coffee and a cap of toppings:
  • Vanilla cinnamon cap is filled with a blend of cream, cinnamon, and bits of vanilla
  • Chocolate hazelnut cap is filled with a blend of cream, cocoa, and bits of chocolate
  • Mexican mocha spice cap is filled with a blend of cream, cocoa, a hint of ground cayenne, and bits of chocolate
Also available are Café Caps™ Hot Cocoa Creations in two separate flavors, and a hot drink mix, each in its own six pack, all with a cap of toppings:
Classic milk chocolate hot cocoa cap is filled with a generous portion of mini marshmallows
S’mores hot cocoa cap is filled with mini chocolate chips and a generous portion of marshmallows
Birthday cake hot drink mix cap is filled with mini marshmallows and sprinkles

MSRP is $8.99 for Cocoa and $9.99 for coffee. Café Caps are now available for purchase at retailers across the nation.


Jelly Belly Gum

Available in four iconic Jelly Belly jelly bean flavors -- Very Cherry, Watermelon, Island Punch and Berry Blue -- Jelly Belly Sugar-Free Gum offers a taste of the beloved confection in a different format. Jelly Belly Sugar-Free Gum comes in a traditional blister pack of 12 with a suggested retail price of $1.49, as well as a 55-piece jar retailing for suggested $2.99 in the Watermelon and Berry Blue varieties at Dollar General locations.



Bellion Vodka is the must-have functional spirit to help you celebrate Valentine’s Day with benefits - and no hangover!

Naturally sweet and exceptionally smooth, it’s the smart way to enjoy vodka cocktails, whether Cupid’s arrow has you toasting with your loved one or raising a glass at a Galentine’s gathering. It’s the new drink experience meant to be shared.

This is the first functional spirit featuring NTX Technology - a fancy way of saying it’s better-for-you vodka. How so? It features a proprietary blend of FDA-approved ingredients: Licorice Root Extract, Mannitol (manna sugar), and Potassium Sorbate (white salt). The result is a spirit that reduces damage to the liver by 90% and DNA by 70% while easing inflammation and other alcohol-induced side effects. It’s distilled six times to bring out the flavor in every sip. Check out some great recipes here. 
This product is intended for those 21 years of age. Please drink responsibly.


The Healing Rose is a MDAR licensed processor handcrafting body care and oils using 100 percent USDA Certified Organic essential oils, carrier oils, butters, waxes, and herbs. The products are infused with CBD Hemp Extracts that are third-party tested for pesticides, residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, and harmful nutrients/elements. This is a woman-led company that believes in only using 100 percent natural ingredients that are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and GMO-free. The Healing Rose is found on the shelves of more than 150 unique company’s shelves across 25 states and counting.
We have been working with the Healing Rose for well over a year now and absolutely love their products. We understand that some people get overwhelmed when they hear CBD and might not understand what it truly is. We invite you to check them out and do your research. They will truly impress you with their products, just like we are.


Self-Care Valentine’s Day Bundle for only $50! ($87 Value) 43 percent off
Salve Sampler Pack ($50 value)
Fortify & Renew Soak ($25 value
Sweet Orange Lip Balm ($6 value)
Peppermint Rosemary Lip Balm ($6 value


Lovers’ Valentine’s Day Bundle for only $115! ($207 Value) 44 percent off
Organic 1200mg Broad Spectrum Silver CBD Oil ($70 value)
Massage Oil Sampler Pack ($50 value)
Relax & Restore Roll On Oil ($25 value)
Goddess Revival Bath Soak ($25 value)
Relax & Unwind Bath Soak ($25 value)
Orange Lavender Lip Balm ($6 value)
Peppermint Rosemary Lip Balm ($6 value)

Important Tips for Safe Solo Travel

If you’re thinking of traveling solo, you’re not the only one. It’s something that lots of people now want to do or do regularly. It can be very rewarding and it’s an entirely different experience to traveling with other people. It puts you in a new position and gives you the chance to make new friends along the way as well. Here are some tips to keep in mind if it’s something you plan to do.

Image Source - CC0 License


Learn a Little of the Language


If you don’t already speak the language of the place you’re heading to, it’ll help a lot if you try to pick up some of the basics before your trip. When you’re able to communicate a little and talk to local people, it helps you to meet new friends and ask for basic things. You don’t have to become fluent, but you should try to learn enough to get by.


Fit in as Many Varied Experiences as Possible


In order to get the most out of your solo travel plans, you’ll want to make sure that you’re fitting in as many varied experiences as possible. Try to see and do as much as you can without burning yourself out. If you have a limited amount of time in the destination you’re heading to, even day and every hour is important. Don’t waste the opportunity to explore. 


Do Your Homework


Doing your homework on the location and knowing how to get around safely is obviously very important. You don’t want to put yourself at risk in any way. So find out what the biggest risks are and how you can protect yourself and your possessions. That’s obviously even more important than normal when you’re traveling by yourself.


Image Source - CC0 License


Take Extra Precautions When Driving


It’s a good idea to take extra precautions if you’re going to be driving in a destination that’s not home to you . Make sure your car is in good shape and you know the rules of the road. You should also learn more about the steps to take if you do get involved in an accident on the road. You should find a car accident lawyer to assist you with that if the worst does happen.


Do What You Want to Do


You should really try to make the most of the fact that you’re by yourself and that you have control over how things play out. When you travel solo, you don’t need to play by anyone else’s rules. That’s what makes it so appealing to so many people. You can do precisely what you want, so be sure to embrace that fact and make the most of it every day.


Traveling by yourself can be risky and daunting, and that’s precisely why you need to take extra precautions. But you also need to enjoy yourself and make the most of the whole experience. Traveling by yourself helps you realize things about yourself and what you enjoy doing most.




How to Make Pudding the Old-Fashioned Way?

We all love to have desserts after a meal. Desserts not only satisfy our tongue, but it also offers tons of health benefits. However, bread puddings are most people’s favorite. These have different flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate, and butterscotch, and ensure satiating your taste buds greatly.

Experts say that most people love to enjoy the instant, dry mix and ready-to-eat puddings sold in grocery stores. However, you necessarily don’t have to buy puddings when you can make them on your own. Yes, these are pretty easy to make and offer better nutrition than the others.


Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

Why You Should Make Homemade Pudding?

Pudding is a great source of vitamins, minerals, calcium, and protein. Also, it is one of the best recipes to enjoy with your loved ones during holidays and weekends.


With that said, let’s discuss why you should make pudding at your home:


Best Way To Use Extra Eggs

Are you wondering what to do with leftover extra eggs? Homemade pudding is your answer! Know that pudding is made with egg yolks (the yellow part of an egg) to give it a delicious look.


Ease To Make For People with Diabetes

Pampering and satisfying your tongue can be challenging if you are diabetic. Most people say that you have to put your hands away from your favorite delights when you have diabetes. While it’s true, there are some other ways to satisfy your tongue without skyrocketing your sugar levels.


So, you can create homemade pudding with a zero calorie sweetener, which tastes similar to sugar and keeps the sugar level in check.


You Can Customize The Flavor

Pudding is great for food enthusiasts and those who love to get creative in the kitchen. Know that your favorite flavor can be easily added to it, such as dark chocolate, raspberry extract, etc.

7 Simple Tips To Make Pudding At Home

This chocolate pudding is easy to prepare. That said, let’s discuss some of the easiest ways to make pudding in an old-fashioned way:


1. Add The Ingredients

First of all, add the sweetener, salt, and cornstarch to a large saucepan. Know that adding cornstarch thickens the custard and helps keep the eggs from thickening once they’re heated. By doing this, you’ll be able to prevent tasting scrambled eggs in your dessert.


2. Add The Milk And Gently Cook

In the next step, slowly pour the milk into the pan while gently whisking the ingredients. Make sure to stir the pot until the liquid has started to thicken and bubble.


3. Lower Heat And Stir

Once the pudding has started to bubble, lower the heat. After that, continue gently stirring for 2 minutes, then switch off the heat.


4. Add The Yolks Carefully

Combine the egg yolks with a mixture of hot custard in a small bowl. This brings the eggs up to a higher temperature, so they’ll mix into the pudding more smoothly, without curdling.


5. Heat Again

Bring the saucepan again for a gentle boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.


6. Add the Flavor

Stir in the chopped chocolate. Once it’s fully dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat. Top it off by stirring in your favorite extract. Let the mix cool for about 15 minutes and stir again to keep it smooth.


7. Enjoy

When your pudding has cooled completely in the fridge, it’s time to enjoy it with your loved ones.

Conclusion

Pudding isn’t just tasty, it is a healthy way to get your body’s calcium. Also, it is one of the best desserts to prepare during the weekends or holidays to enjoy with your loved ones.


To sum it up, following the tips mentioned above can help you create a delicious pudding effectively.




Top Leisure Activities to do in Los Angeles

Have you ever imagined how boring life would be without leisure activities? Every day typically brings stress which accumulates to have mental and emotional impacts in the long run. Leisure activities help us break free from our tedious everyday life to refresh and energise our minds. 

If you live in Los Angeles, you already know how stressful life can be. In fact, Los Angeles is rated the most stressful city in the US. Talk about relentless work schedules and unavoidable traffic; that's only the tip of the iceberg. 

One great way to make life a lot easier in Los Angeles is by engaging in leisure activities from time to time. Oh no, we aren't talking about staying all day indoors! Instead, we're talking about going out to experience the world from a different angle. We're referring to engaging in activities that bring heartwarming and adventurous experiences.

While your choice of leisure activities will depend mainly on your hobbies, interests and preferences, you might need recommendations for some of the most exciting things to do. So if you're ready, here are some of the best things to do and must-see spots in LA.

Photo by Roberto Nickson from Pexels

1. Whale watching

If seeing aquatic wildlife on screen has always been amusing, you may consider taking your experience a step further by connecting with the marine mammals in their natural habitat. With an awesome view, Los Angeles whale watching centres have large aquatic creatures that will make your jaws drop in absolute awe. Whales, dolphins and sea lions are some of the animals you should expect to see during your whale watching cruise.

Although a relatively recent practice, whale watching has dramatically grown in popularity within and outside Los Angeles over the years. In fact, over 13 million people worldwide go whale watching every year, generating about 2 billion dollars in revenue.

2. Rio Zipline

If you're the adventurous type, you might want to go ziplining with your loved ones. Feeling Los Angeles from the "zipline" perspective is an experience only those who have been there can narrate. And trust me, no matter how hard they try to explain, it can't even come close to experiencing the moment yourself. Besides being a form of physical exercise, you get the opportunity to bond with your family or friends from a rare angle. Moments like this and other exciting activities can sometimes be all it takes to iron out any misunderstanding with your spouse or friend and kick your relationship into high gear.

3. Visiting a Museum

Museums are one of the most important places to visit anywhere you are, and Los Angeles has plenty of them. Depending on what things you'd like to see, each museum has a collection of several artistic and creative wonders that will keep you wowing all day. Some of the museum in LA are:

  • Getty Center

  • Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

  • Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

  • Hammer Museum

  • Etc

A brief online search about each of them will give you an idea of what to expect, so you can choose your preferred leisure location based on what piques your interest.


Lastly, other leisure activities you can engage in include a hot air balloon ride, painting party, helicopter tour, and so on. If you're within a tight budget, whale watching will be more than enough fun to make your day. Plus, connecting with nature helps to boost mental clarity, which can be all you need to become more productive at work.