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

While my family doesn't have any Valentine's Day traditions as special as these, as an elementary school teacher I had many traditions at work. I loved decorating the classroom with red, white, and pink in the weeks leading up to that special day. Then, on February 14th, friendship and love thick in the air, we'd all pass around our handmade or store-bought Valentines. We'd sit in a circle with our little baggies open and ready to receive. I really believe the kids were much happier when it was their turn to stand and give things to their friends and to me, than when they were on the receiving end.

I always give candy and a stuffed animal to my children, candy to the hubby, and (you guessed it) candy to my sister's family, my brother, and my mother (sugar free for her - she's diabetic). This year will be especially sweet as it's the first Valentine with my grandson, Austin.

This year we are actually going to be on vacation in Mexico. I am planning to make something cute to give to my hubby as well as something for the couple that is going on vacation with us.

I celebrate with the whole family. We start the day with heart waffles, heart cookies in the kids lunches and then homemade pizza, shaped in a heart of course, for dinner. I write all the reasons I love each of my kids and my hubby on hearts and hang them in their doorways so they walk through them in the morning.
Happy Valentines Day!

we have lots of little traditions - heart shaped french toast; valentines day outfits, a valentines scavenger hunt, a valentines day dinner, and an extra special dessert of valentines day sundaes.

We don't have traditions or ways of celebrating Valentine's Day here other than a card or a small gift. My husband is usually gone during that time anyway and this year will be no exception. :( But for our kids, since now they're older and remember and understand things better, I'm looking for something fun for them to do that we can continue on with every year. :)

I usually make a special dinner for my husband, daughter & me. Last year it was crab legs, shrimp, salad & a really good Chardonnay. Chocolate & strawberries for dessert... :-)

This year I hope to make cards with the kids. Hopefully we can get a babysitter for a real date. I love celebrating love. We have already started and baked pink cupcakes with pink icing and sprinkles last Saturday.

Fun goodies! DH & I celebrate Valentine's Day each year by going to the gym. It's the first time in the new year that it's nearly empty and it's good for our hearts. :)

A nice dinner at home for my husband (no crowds). Candle light, good dishes. It's always a special, quiet evening.

Hi! My hubby and I celebrate the day we met. Feb.7 1989. so for the whole week leading upto V-Day we do little things just for us. We hang out, or go out for simple evenings. We try new things. Try to spend very little, as not to focus on gifts, but focus on time together. It's a lot of fun searching for $ free ideas.We also make each other fun and sometimes quirky gifts.We are in our 20th year of dating.So this year is even more special I'm planning a special surprise, though I can't say. He often hangs out in my craft room,just in case he reading this. love ya:)

did your mini for my hubby last year - guess i will do something similiar again to show my love.

We aren't big celebraters here but I usually make heart cookies of some kind for Clay to take to work. And some years I do some sort of silly thing for him when he wakes up in the morning. One year I filled his car with balloons (he wasn't a huge fan of that LOL). At this point in our lives doing fancy things for Valentine's just isn't our style. Doing acts of service are romantic around here. So for hubby, a nice massage will make him happy. And for me, running the fence around my newly expanded garden LOL!GREAT Giveaway. Wishing myself luck.

We celebrate with a small scavenger hunt for our sons. This was started nearly TEN years ago, & they are now nearly 12 & 16 & they request it every year! Definitely a sweet tradition. We also make each other valentines that reflect the other persons interests, and qualities. Cherry Muffins, red spritzers & generally an affinity for all things 'hearty'. : ) I'm hoping this is something they will take with them when they have their own families.

Hi Ali.
Thanks for asking and the Giveaways Ali This is the best holiday for me we do it all year long.notes to each of us.
I have always made it a family thing always wanted to show my girls to show their love to there friends & family so we have always done this year round,
On every other Sunday we have valentine night we get flowers white tulips and a great desert,
we have had a picnic finger foods and a note to each of us about the one thing special that you did for each other over the weeks.
Now the girls are gone so my hubby and I spend it away at one of the McMenamins hotels. No T.V. No phones and just each other to share the moments with....
I so look forward to going,
hope you have a happy day,
love the goodies that Eve makes thanks for putting the spot light on these bright women,
Lisa Hall
On the Oregon coast
good luck with the new bundle of joy,
And the A was for you to ware.

Ah, I seriously haven't thought about Valentines Day yet! I usually try and make something yummy for my boyfriend and leave little notes for my family.

I love all the ideas pouring in. There are valentine cards that get sent to school/preschool and I really hope to make some heart cookies with lots of pink icing. The first year I made these was when my husband and I started dating.
With three young children, my husband and I will be sharing our Valentines Day with them.
It will be a great family day!
Catherine

We haven't established any major traditions for V-day yet- my husband is military and has worked or been deployed for most V-days lol! The kids and I always put together cards for a few loved ones.
My mother used to buy each of her children a chocolate from a special candy company in town- it was always shaped to reflect the recipient. I got a chocolate camera once- that was almost too cool to eat! (Note: ALMOST).
:-)

Every year I give my kids and my husband each a box of Chocolates. It takes me forever to find "just the right ones" each year. I always try to find one in a tin for my husband by "MRS FIELDS"...so I get to keep the tin afterwards:) (Our last name is Fields). One year we were in Disney and no heart shape boxes of chocolates...my teens were sad! I haven't made that mistake again.
Dancingly, Denise

Just something small for my son and husband. Not quite sure what it will be this year. I'm hoping I can get some new ideas from this post.