Classroom Valentine's Day Card Exchanges Made Fun and Easy Thanks to Nestle USA and their Candy Assortments (Review)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Nestle USA has expanded its seasonal Valentine's Day collection for 2014. It has unveiled its Valentine's Day assortments, with a lineup that includes the new Nerds in Disguise Mystery Flavor Exchange Kit, new Raisinets Treat & Card Kit and new Wonka Mix-Ups Treats Bag Kit. And returning this year are bestselling Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Valentine Exchange Kits.

With Valentine's Day just two days away, you may find yourself like my mom always did -- rushing to the store to buy baking ingredients to make cupcakes or other baked goods by two brothers would sign up for to bring to their class Valentine's Day party.  They always seemed to forget to mention this to my up -- that is until the day or two before they needed them.  I can still remember seeing my mom going crazy looking in the pantry to see what she had for ingredients and what she needed to pick up.  And, then that night she would bake like crazy in order to get 2-3 dozen cupcakes or magic bars ready for my brothers to bring to school.  I, on, the other hand, would always play it safe and just sign up to bring candy to hand out.  Come on, who doesn't like candy?  But, when I was little, I had no idea that there were so many options available when it came to shopping for seasonal candy.  My mom would always ask what I thought would be best.  And, my responses was always the same...chocolate. :-)  She would follow up and tell me that not everyone liked chocolate, so that I would have to think of another candy for her to pick up (usually when she was running out to buy last minute making ingredients).  My go-to candy options always ended up being Nerds or Sweet Tarts. :-)  And, each and every year I would bring these candies for my holiday parties (ie. Valentine's Day and Halloween), I never returned home with leftovers, as everyone wanted seconds and thirds. :-)  

And, now that I have children of my own and they have holiday parties to attend -- yes, even preschoolers have holiday parties, I find myself like my mom back in the day, whipping up last minute cupcakes and making one last trip to the supermarket to pick up candy and Valentine's Day cards for the girls to sign and get ready to hand out.  Even though it looks like there will be yet another snow day, I have to plan for school and parties and will be baking up a storm for Savannah's and my nephew's school parties.  Hey, if school is cancelled, we will just have to enjoy them ourselves. :-)

So, what will the kids be handing out for candy this Valentine's Day?  Well, thanks to the folks at Nestle, they kindly sent along a sampling of their popular seasonal candy for me to review, as well as some new candy options sure to be a hit.  While I wished I could have kept and hidden the candy for myself, I knew that the kids would have a blast handing these cute Valentine's Day themed candies to their friends and classmates.

"This year, Nestle has created some very special treats for Valentine's Day that go above and beyond just candy or cards," said Tricia Bowles, spokesperson for Nestle USA Confections & Snacks. "We're helping Mom create the perfect classroom exchange kits including an extensive lineup of convenient, affordable and special treats with activities that are perfect for school exchanges, snacking and parties."

The collection's highlights include:

Candy & Card KitsAn assortment of convenient Valentine's Day card classroom exchange kits in Nestle Crunch and Wonka flavors includes cards made to fit these classic treats:

• New Wonka Mix-Ups Treats Bag Kit, 24 pouches. These activity-focused treat bags include stickers, Valentine-themed pencils and more. The kits also include a variety of Wonka candy including Nerds, Sweetarts and Laffy Taffy fun size pieces; 12 ounces, suggested retail price (SRP), $8.98.
• New Wonka Nerds in Disguise Candy & Cart Kit. Give the gift of mystery flavor Nerds to friends this holiday. Each package includes a package of Nerds in a new mystery flavor. A great way to impress your classmates and keep them guessing; 9 ounces, SRP: $3.49; available exclusively at Target.
• New Raisinets Treat & Card Kit, 20 pouches. A healthier alternative for gift giving. The Raisinets Treat & Card Kit is filled with real fruit pieces of raisins and covered in milk chocolate. Available exclusively at Target; 11 ounces, $4.99
• New Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Mystery Flavor Valentine Exchange Kit. The first-ever Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Mystery Flavor--packaged in a 24-piece exchange kit that includes packets designed to double as Valentine's Day cards. Consumers will try to figure out the secret flavor. Available exclusively at Target.
• Pixy Stix Candy & Card Kit. 32 pieces, 5.17 ounces, SRP: $3.29.
• Nerds Candy & Card Kit. 20 pieces, 9 ounces, SRP: $3.29.
• Laffy Taffy Candy & Card Kit. 24 pieces, 7.5 ounces, SRP: $3.29.

Sweetarts Hearts
Choose from pink and purple swirled heart-shaped Sweetarts Hearts Gummies, Sweetarts' Hearts or Sweetarts Lollipops, a spin on the iconic Valentine's Day conversation heart available in sweet and tart flavors. These Sweetarts Hearts are perfect for decorating and snacking, or purchase them in convenient pouches ideal for classroom exchanges:

• Sweetarts Hearts. 8.25 ounces, 22 pouches, SRP: $2.49 and 18 ounces, 44 pouches, SRP: $4.49.
• Sweetarts Hearts Gummies. 11 ounces, SRP: $2.49.
• Sweetarts Lollipops. 11 ounces, SRP: $2.49.

Other Valentine's Day products Nestle is offering this year include the Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger Hearts (8-ounce or 10-ounce bags; SRP: $2.99 to $3.19); pink and red foiled heart pieces filled with delicious Butterfinger or Nestle Crunch pieces; 35-piece Chocolate & Sugar Exchange Bag (21.45 ounces, SRP: $4.99); a value-priced assortment of chocolate and sugar-candy favorites--Nestle Crunch, Nerds, Gobstoppers and Butterfinger, the Nestle Chocolate Minis Bag (18.5 ounces., SRP $4.99); perfect little bites of Nestle Crunch, Butterfinger and Baby Ruth, 36-piece Valentine Nerds (18.7 ounces, SRP: $4.49); tiny, tangy, crunchy candy now available in limited-edition strawberry and punch flavors; 40-piece Wonka Mix-Ups Treat Size Bag (18.7 ounces, SRP $4.49); Your Wonka favorites--Laffy Taffy, BottleCaps and Nerds all in one variety bag.

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Of the above Valentine's Day candy offering from Nestle, I was sent their Wonka Nerds in Disguise candy and card kit, which came with a mystery flavor (you will have to pick up a box at your local Target stores to find out what the flavor is), along with a bag of Sweetarts Hearts Gummies, my personal favorite Sweetarts Hearts and the Nestle Chocolate Minis Assortment bag, which included mini Crunch, Butterfinger and Babe Ruth candy. Mmm, I am getting hungry just thinking about them! :-)

Even though the girls had their Valentine's Day cards ready for their friends, they couldn't resist sitting down with Daddy to put together the Nerds in Disguise cards, which you would slide the little box of Nerds into the flap to for a special candy surprise. 

I wasn't sure if the cards/candy would last until Valentine's Day, as the girls kept running around the house pretending to hand out their cards to everyone, including their dolls. :-)  I even caught Bella huddling in the corner of the living room trying to pry open a box of Nerds.  Poor kid almost had the box open before we found her. :-)

My kids asked why the Nestle Chocolate Minis Bag was open and looked a little empty.  I told them that I had to take out a few pieces to sample so that I could write my review up.  If only they knew that I already knew how each of the candy bars tasted -- I was just satisfying my sweet tooth...and with their mini sizes, I didn't feel bad going against my no sweets diet. :-)  Come on, it is Valentine's Day and all! 

I can't wait to hear what the kids' friends and classmates think of the new line of Nestle Valentine's Day candies, as well as the bestselling Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip Valentine Exchange Kit, which I ended up picking up with the last minute baking supplies. If I was in their class, I would be in sugar heaven. :-)

To find out more about Nestlé Valentine's Day offerings, visit www.facebook.com/WONKA.

**You can find the above Nestle Valentine's Day candy at your favorite local retailer, including Target stores. **

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.