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

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.

My husband and I do not have an traditions really. We usually go out to dinner. One year we switched it up and went bowling and had fun. In my classroom students pass out their treats and I give them goodie bags.

we don't really do anything special. Sometimes we get Outback and bring it home. I'm hoping since my son is a little older, we can do some more things. I can't wait for his class party this year.

I love to order red heart shaped bagels for breakfast with the kids in the morning and I set the table with valentine plates and napkins and set up a little table top tree decorated with valentine ornaments and ribbon.

I make simple construction paper placemats for the kids and put on all the reasons they are loved - I leave this with a few chocolate treats at their place and they find it when they come down for breakfast.

We usually spend the evening all together, having a nice dinner at home. It's simple and it's easy, and we always have a great time.

At the end of January we bring out the Valentine's Day decorations and the kids basket full of Valentine's Day Books. And, since my kids are both in grade school we have fun making cards to exchange.
Love is in the air!

On my first Valentine's Day with my husband we were living in Japan, so we went out for sushi and came home and watched a movie and drank hot chocolate. Since then we've done the same thing, whether living in Japan or the US!

I'm going to make eggs in a basket - with the bread cut with a heart cookie cutter for breakfast- and make heart shaped cut out cookies - and let my 3 1/2 yo frost and decorate with sprinkles for daddy. Just making the ordinary a little special.

My husband is actually the winner on Valentine's. I make him a card or a small accordian album...but last year, he went on Picaboo and had a book done about our love! The year before, he made a puzzle and when you put it all together, it was our first photo as a couple (in High School!) I can never out-create him when it comes to Valentines Day!

valentine's day is the hallmark holiday says my husband but he still indulges me with an awesome card (sadly not homemade) and we always have a special homemade dinner at home - this year it's a Saturday - I'm thinking of trying something I've NEVER made before - plus sending lots of fun treats to the nieces & nephews and my best buddies - all homemade. (LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog . . . I've just started reading in the last two weeks . . . can you say addicted . . .THANK YOU!)