Three Things + 1 : Lots of Love (and giveaways)

My husband and I don't typically celebrate Valentine's Day. His birthday is the week before, so it seems too close to celebrate in February. We will typically just choose a random day during the summer to have our own Valentine's Day though... just to celebrate our relationship. :-) These giveaways are awesome Ali and I love that print!

Valentine's Day morning is fun. Since my husband and I work this day due to the businesses we are in. We make heart shape pancakes in the morning. We make Valentines but you have to put what you love about the other person in it. ( or why that person is special to you). I work late and I leave a special note on each childs pillow so they know that I am thinking of how much I love them on this day.

My husband and I always do something differnt each year... no set routine. This year I am also going to help a friend celebrate her one year free of cigs. Then Saturday my hubby and I will do something nice, maybe dinner???

I love Valentine's day, and all the pink to go with it. We have a Red dinner, where all the food we eat is red. I am looking to add a few more traditions this year also.

One my traditions is giving my husband a big mylar balloon. He has a lot of fun adjusting the height with weights so, the balloon follows the air current from various household heat sources and our movement. We find it in the strangest places!

My children are grown and living all around the country. For Valentines Day I send them boxes of their favorite cookie. One year I sent gifts instead and they all called to ask what happened to the cookies. At Christmas this year I overheard a very serious discussion on what snack food they would select if they could only have one to eat the rest of their lives and these cookies were the unanimous choice. They don't know how happy that made me!

Hi Ali:
Holidays have always been special to me. My Mom would do something special for my sister and I every Valentine's Day. We would get something heart shaped, like earrings or such. She had a pretty bad childhood, so she wanted to make sure special days were celebrated.
As adults, we appreciate what she did and still does. Mom still makes a point to contact us or send a card (these days it's e-cards). We have now brought the tradition forward to our families.
My husband and I may not always be able to make a huge to do about it, but it is always special. I never have to remind him of a birthday or a holiday.
Have a good day!
Anna-Marie :-)

I was a florist for many many years so Valentines day has always just been a card and trying to get some sleep. Our little one was born on the 15th so now I always think about being in the hospital ready to deliver him.

I don't have any valentine's traditions. This year though, since I'm a single mom and the economy is bad, I'm planning to have a V-day party where parents can drop their kids off for free babysitting while they go to dinner or do whatever they want to do. If it works well, it may become a tradition.

I have always celebrated Valentine's Day until I met my husband. He doesn't believe in getting caught up in all the hype on "Valentine's Day." He believes you should love your partner that much EVERY day of the year! And since he does just that, I don't worry about Valentine's Day. I truly get showered with love each and every day!

My boyfriend and I normally celebrate together, or well, we have always done that through our three years together. One year we took a really nice bubble bath at a spa, another year we stayed at home and cooked a three-course meal together and one time we went to a really nice restaurant. We always spend time together Valentine´s Day, make sure to do something - just the two of us. Quality time :) I love it!

In my little family, we write lists of the top ten things we love about each other. My son and I also cut out paper hearts and string into a banner that hangs throughout the house (we get a little crazy with cutting out all of the hearts ... so many to put up!).
I also love picking out Valentines for my son to give to his class. Each year it is something new that he is way into ... I look forward to his choice every year!

Valentine's Day is so fun. We all do home-made Valentines. I make them for kids and hubby. Hubby makes them for kids and me. Kids make them for me and hubby.
In the morning we make pink, heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast.
We all enjoy each others creativity, yummy food, and time together.
HUGS!
Jen

Each year I make red velvet cupcakes with candy hearts for decoration...the kids look forward to them every year...and so do I!

We do little gifts and candy for the kids in our family, and usually go out to dinner around Valentine's Day (not usually ON the actual day).

Wow! Fantastic Giveaways! Thanks for hosting this.
Valentine's Day at our house is pretty low key. My hubby and I have have never really celebrated V-Day until my daughter came along. Now we focus on her and our love for her. We usually do simple things like making cookie Valentine's for family and friends and we send out cards to grandparents. But I am looking forward to seeing other things and ideas listed. I love making those holidays as special as possible, but in a reasonable, simple way.

When my children were toddlers we started the tradition of the Valentine's Day basket...like an Easter basket but full of "love stuff" like chocolate (naturally!) and other small items. Usually there was a small toy, Valentine socks, heart-shaped playing cards, pencils, coins, etc. Now that the kids are older, the baskets contain video games, movie tickets or gift certificates or a roll of quarters...perfect for my college-age daughter who needs to do laundry. As far as I know, no other girl in her sorority gets a Valentine's basket!

It's nice to read what everyone else does... lots of good ideas! We give little gifts and candies... and of course the valentines for school.

I make cupcakes every year for my kids...now young adults. I also give them a box a candy and a card to let them know they are loved that day. Everyone needs to know they are loved~

Valentine's day reminds me one more time what a special man leads me through life. We don't have any special traditions. He always brings me flowers I love, I try to surprise him with the small gift from the heart. But I think the best thing is to hear and to whisper "I love you".

I help my kids make their Valentines every year. It is fun to let them come into my scrap area and pick out the embellishments they want to use. Fun time and memories that last a live time.

Valentine's Day is pretty low key around our house. Usually, I have a little toy wrapped and ready at breakfast for my son and we eat something yummy together with daddy. Last year, I used my scrap paper to make my hubby a box of love notes, one for each week of the year. I decorated the box and it sits on his nightstand. He pulls one out every week.I may do something similar this year, but maybe love coupons instead. I also really liked the Maggie Holmes Love Notes project in CK. Valentine's night we usually do a family dinner and I make a special dessert.

As soon as the Christmas decorations are down - we start decorating for Valentine's Day. We have special heart shaped bowls and plates for the kids - they eat almost every meal of these from now until Valentine's day. On Valentine's Day we have a special meal with lots of reds and pinks, a lot of things shaped like hearts, etc. I also have lots of large cookie cutters and always cut their sandwichs in shapes for school - -right now they are heart shaped!
What a great excuse to show your family you care!

We send out our Christmas cards/letter disguised as Valentine's! This is a tradition we started several years ago when all of the Christmas traditions started to overwhelm me. I got such a great response from friends and family who said it was nice to get mail in February and they had more time to read our Family letter than during the busyness of December! We also have a special dinner by candlelight, my husband and I...and our 2 precious children.
Thanks for sharing these awesome products and creative people!
Beth

I don't really have any traditions, yet. But I think this year I'm going to pass out little Valentine's to all my girlfriends and spend a cozy evening in with my boyfriend.