What messages would you inscribe on those tiny candy Valentine's Day conversation hearts?
What if the ubiquitous miniature valentine-shape conversation candy bites could deliver actual meaningful words to the recipient?
Forget the standard "Be Mine;" "Best Day;" "Kiss Me" and "Dear Heart." Instead, isn’t the market ready for some updated phrases, personalized and packed with truthful statements? This would certainly leave little doubt where one stands as a lover or a friend.
The powdery blue and pink confectionary treats could easily be transformed to serve as a real "conversation" in our lives if we get a little more edgy and add creativity. After all, communicating today is made easy with a minimally worded text. Why not say something that we mean in short form using candy messages of sweetness?
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What fun if the sweet, small valentines speak directly for us, either anonymously or with a formal face-to-face delivery?
Think about how the shy, reluctant lover among us could use scripted candy as a crutch. Meaningful words could help someone conquer the jitters in a subtle and endearing way.
There’s probably no chance in today’s marketplace that candy manufacturers will stop producing little pink and blue hearts with words on top. Candy conversation hearts have been around for more than 100 years. Production has, however, shifted a bit to include blank candy hearts for those who want to add their own name on the candy.
Yet, there’s still room for an even newer twist on the itsy-bitsy valentines with our own messages that everyone can relate to.
Consider this. Shy or not, witty or crafty, anyone can influence a relationship using this approach. Some words can actually start or end the relationship, really.
Most mini hearts on the market today need eight to 10 spaces on the top side for the lettering.
Knowing this, it’s impossible to deliver a full sentence on a piece of candy. "Sorry to crash car" just won’t fit. Or, "Meet me in St. Louis" is too long, as well.
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But shorter sentiments will do fine. "Forgot wallet." "Meet break room." "Grandma dead." "Dog gone." "Losing it." "You B Mine." "Love is us." "Nice dress." "Better man." "No homework."
Even "Marry Me" can be positioned on the candy.
A candy heart could deliver an important business message, as well. "Found guilty." "Call Bank." "Fire." "Lost key." "You fired."
Sending a heads-up in a candy message could be a good idea. "Headache." "Fight." "Bar Closed." "See me." "Bleeding."
Don’t forget the emoji for added creativity.
(Heart) 100% Love. ... (?) Where? When? ... (Greater than symbol) More love.
Or just "All Good."
How about a simple "Finished," putting an end to this nonsense?
Andrea Chancellor has more than 20 years in newspaper and magazine journalism and 20 years in public relations.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Valentine's candy conversation hearts messages could say so much more
