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

I like to make Valentines about my husband and kids. A nice relaxed dinner together...usually out doors as it is summer here ... and an icy cold treat for desert. Last year I made cute little cards for my girls telling them why I loved them.

We stay in! Tried to go out one year, and waited 3 hrs PAST our reservation time to eat and ended up leaving! LOL!

We go out to dinner as a family and then have a date night later in the week without the kiddos on a different night when it's not so busy at the restaurants. We usually watch a "Chick flick movie" too.

My birthday is the day before Valentine's so we actually have a "low-key" February 14th celebration- heart shaped pizza from our local take-n-bake pizza chain, we watch the Charlie Brown Valentine's special with our kids, drink sparkling apple cider, and eat some of my heart shaped birthday cake. My husband and I do exchange cards but instead of gifts we usually go together to our favorite book store and pick out a book or cd together.

I have not had a stable valentine of my own for many years but I chose to celebrate all the love i have in my life on 2/14 - i have been blessed with 3 amazing kids and wonderful friends so i focus on that and not the man of my dreams (who is on his way to me for sure but taking a rather indirect route). i do a heart shaped meatlof with ketchup on top, mashed potatoes with a bit of red food dye, candles on the table - and lots of gratitude and appreciation.

We've never been up for the "go out" Valentine's Day thing! When we were first married it was because we had no money and now it's because we have a child! :) So, every year I make the same favorite Dinner of ours and then we write love notes to each other and put them in a mailbox. We don't read them until the following year, so this year we will read the ones from last year. Anyway, kinda corny but it works and we love it!!!

I kick off the morning with heart shaped pancakes for my children (served with fresh strawberries). I think this year will start a tradition of a mass mailing of valentine cards to friends and family, since I missed sending out my Christmas cards!

I usually cook a nice dinner, something that we do not have very often. I make sure to have some fresh flowers in the house and since i am a carder a homemade card for my honey of course. I try to put together something special for my niece, new pajamas or a craft kit. Our Valentine's Day is simple but i try to do something, these Canadian winters get a little long so it gives us something to look forward to.
Dawn M

I always bake a cake for my boys and make coupon books for Valentines Day -- even though they're almost grown up now, I still do it!
Thanks for doing all these giveaways Ali! You're awesome!

For valentines day we just hang out in pjs all day and in the evening go to dinner my hubby and the kids. Last year my son was 2 weeks old so we didnt do that, I did do something special for my daughter though since she was just becoming a big sister, but this year we will pick that tradition back up.

My husband and I plan a night together at home. No TV, no computer - just the two of us (and the dogs).

We have a spaghetti, because it's red, drink out milk in fancy glasses, and then eat chocolates:)

We have a spaghetti, because it's red, drink out milk in fancy glasses, and then eat chocolates:)

I usually spend a quiet evening at home with my husband, thinking about all the reasons I love him!

I usually spend a quiet evening at home with my husband, thinking about all the reasons I love him!

With conversation hearts, valentine cards and wearing pink.

We don't go out anymore (too many people and we have a toddler) so we stick at home and celebrate. Every year we pick a food to prepare as a heart. We get more and more creative every year. This year it will be chicken pot pies in heart bowls!

Since the time when my husband and I first started dating fourteen years ago we have always cooked dinner together for Valentine's Day instead of going out. Now that we have kids and hectic schedules it's a nice way to slow down and appreciate each other's company.

Since I don't have a husband/boyfriend, I have a date with my son, 4 1/2. This year, if the weather is nice, we will go to the zoo in the morning and take a picnic basket w/ us. We may then go to the movies and have some ice cream afterwards. If the weather is not nice for the zoo, we'll have breakfast somewhere nice (and kid-friendly). We don't go out to eat often, and hardly ever for breakfast, so even IHOP could be a treat. We'll bake cupcakes together and take them to my brother's house... along with some hand-made valentine's, of course.

my husband and I leave little valentine notes in surprise places throughout the month of February...it's one big love fest the whole month!!!