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

Valentine's Day is very low-key in our household. My husband isn't a huge fan (he's convinced Valentine's Day was invented by a joint partnership of Hallmark and florists). Of course this doesn't stop me from taking time to show him how much he is loved. I always hand make a card for him and write something personal in it. He always smiles that "you are so great" smile.

We've had such a succession of funny disasters with big Valentine's plans that I'll be scaling back this year. Next year will be our first as parents so I'm paying attention to all the ideas for children.

We buy our daughters some cute little gift, such as socks, or a nightshirt that has a Valentine theme. We usually finish up the day by having dinner together - either at a restaurant or at home.

We do a dinner out the weekend before or after. Then on Valentine's Day we shut the TV off and I cook and we actually sit across the table and have a conversation while we're eating. We keep it low key, as long as it's just the two of us spending the evening together, it doesn't matter where we are.

I love Valentine's Day... I love the cards and the mushiness of it all. This year I will be hosting a dinner for my close friends and we'll spend the evening with great food and wine and some pictionary. I also made my son a basket of goodies and I made a mini album for my hubby with ten reasons why I love him... I can't wait to give it to him.

I'm going to create a sweet card for my BF and hide it in his pocket. ;)
And I'll cook something for dinner, light a candle and maybe watch a romantic movie.
Oh, and I'll give my mum a call as her B-day is on Valentine's Day. :)

We have lots of Valentine's Day traditions. The kids and I made Valentine cards by hand to give their friends, we bake cookies, and all dress up in red or pink. My hubby and I exchange handmade gifts and then we all have dinner.

Well, we never do much. We might do some red and pink crafts or make red and pink treats. Shane and I usually go out to dinner sometime that week, but not usually on valentine's because we assume it will be so busy everywhere. He always picks up candy and a little gift for the girls. Pretty simple. This year I'll be hugely uncomfortable (that whole pregnant thing) so it'll be really really low key.

It's always a good time for pink! I like to buy my beloved a funny pair of boxer shorts and leave cards for him to open after I leave the house. He sends me roses to school. We've been together (dating + married) for 15 years and I've gotten a dozen roses every single year on Valentine's Day. When he sends them to school...and I tell that story to my students he is the hero of the day for all my female students. I love to tell them...for some it's the only example of someone being treated right!

This year I am going to spend some time with one of my best friends that has been in Mexico - it will be so good to see her! :)

Actually Valentines Day should not hold fond memories in my heart. 8 years ago on Valentines Day I was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. My husband and I thought it a bit ironic that this was the case, especially because i was pregnant with our second child (a product of love!)However the story has a happy ending, obviously, I am cancer free, that baby I was pregnant with is now a healthy seven year old, and my husband and i came out of this with a much stronger relationship. We are grateful for our health and our family and don't really need to show it with material things, however the kids get a kick out of getting small gifts and are absolutely tickled to receive chocolates from Dad!

I have not yet started a "Valentine's Tradition" with the kids, but maybe this year I will. My parent's always left us a small box of chocolates and a card on the kitchen table Valentine's morning, maybe I will do something similar.

On Valentines Day, my new hubby and I will be keeping it low key. Probably rent a dvd and make dinner for each other. In the past we've gone out to eat, but have found that trying to get into a nice restaurant on that day is crazy! So we skip going out and stay in instead. Then we usually end up going out somewhere later in the week.

We buy some sort of treat for our daughter (9), though the nearly 2 yr old will still be exempt from candy this year. :) I tend to expect flowers from the hubby, though I tell him not to buy roses. Such a markup!! Thanks for the giveaways!

For Valentine's Day we generally spend the day together (unless its a workday) doing things that we both enjoy as a couple - we'll go to our favorite nature spots, visit some of our favorite shops, watch some of our favorite movies, and top it all off with a homemade dinner that we both enjoy. It's all about celebrating what we enjoy as a couple :) Happy V-Day to you and yours, Ali! Thanks for the great giveaways :)

This is my first Valentine's Day to be married, so my husband and I are trying to plan a romantic getaway. :) We always exchange cards and sweets - he's not much of a chocolate man so I have to be creative. My mom always sends a heart-shaped box of Russell Stover candy. I love opening the package and seeing that - those same boxes were always waiting at the breakfast table when I was a kid.

My family celebrates Valentine's Day with dinner at home and a "surprise" knock at the front door to reveal a small gift for each family member. (Our children have always wondered how a "knock" at the front door can happen because Mom and Dad are most always in plain sight!)

We usually try to get the family together and just spend an evening together eating pizza and watching movies. Our daughter in law's birtday is the 16th, so we usually celebrate the birthday as well. our grandson is 2, so we will probably try to throw some treats in for him as well. Thanks for sharing so much of you and your family with us.

This is going to be my first V-day as a married couple. The past 2 V-days I've made something crafty. Hubby actually told me he loved me on our first v-day (2007) and we spent the day in Malibu. Then the next v-day (2008) my hubby surprised me with an over night getaway in Cambria, CA and asked me to marry him. This year, we've had a lot going on, moved, new job, bought a home etc so we will probably spend a romantic evening at home. Maybe get some take-out. That if hubby is not on a business trip.

Hubby and I do something special, usually rent a movie, order in, and snuggle on the couch all night.