Shirts

2008

The last 3 years I have gotten a tshirt on Valentine's day to surprise Sei. The 1st time was the best because he totally was not expecting me to have on a shirt that said "I ♥ Seiuli."

2006

This year I got a shirt that says "Got Sei? " with a red kiss behind it. And another one that says "Feel Safe at Night. Sleep with a cop. (Just not mine.) "
I also got all the kids different versions of shirts too.

Tristan: Don't Like Cops? Try callin' a crackhead for help instead of MY DAD.
Alec: My dad can arrest your dad. (pic of badge)
Isabel: My daddy (Pic of badge) is my hero.
Taj: My daddy catches bad guys. (pic of badge) What does your dad do?
Livie: God made my daddy (pic of badge) so firemen would have heroes.

They are all super cute!! We're all going to surprise him on Vday wearing our special cop shirts. I'll wear my "Got Sei?" that nite if we go out.
2007

Anyway... I think a customized shirt is a cute, simple idea to say "Hey! I love you!" I got mine at http://www.customizedgirl.com/ but there are tons of sites out there. If you do this I just ask you NOT to do the "Got Sei? " with your hubby's name of course, just so mine is unique this year. Thanks!

Off the subject- do y'all like my hair with the blonde?

Valentines with my kids

Like Suzanne, we don't go out to dinner on V-day. I hate the crowds. We go out the day before or the day after. This year I am doing a Fancy Lovey Tea Party for my family. I bought a bunch of pink plates and teacups from Tai Pan and I am decorating the table with big, glass containers filled with v-day M&M's and chocolate covered marshmallows. We are having chocolate covered strawberries for dessert and sparkling Martinelli's that they will get to drink from my champagne flutes I received for my wedding. I think maybe for dinner chicken pillows and asparagus. They love that. I am the MOST excited about the table. Tule and pink glittery stuff EVERYWHERE! I am SO excited. I am headed out first thing on Monday to buy a white cake stand to decorate with ribbon. YAY!

We start the morning with heart shaped pancakes. I use cookie cutters and spray the inside with Pam and pour the batter on the inside. We use strawberry syrup and real whipped cream.

The girls always get a V-day treat from us. We put it on the front porch and doorbell ditch. They don't know how we do it every year. This year it is a favorite book, a box of chocolates and some sparkly lip gloss.

We always end the evening watching some happily ever after flick. I think this year it will be "Enchanted".

Hellooooo Lauren!

Hey, I keep waiting to hear your steamy ideas!!

See, after being married 25 years, i have used up every steamy idea I can think of.

Helllp!

Angela already shared everything I know!

Wow I have already heard some great tips.

My favorite thing to do and I have done it twice so I know it works!!
The night before I BOMB his side of the bed full of good chocolate, candies, CD's, concert tickets, toys etc.
Things that are fairly flat. So when he goes to pull back the covers for the night he is pleasantly shocked.
(Then you grab all the dove chocolate and eat yourself silly!) What I mean you can then go from there!
Okay that is about as creative as I get. I hope to hear more great ideas from this gang!

Excuse Me While I Talk About My Issues

Well, clearly Tori didn't do a very thorough background check before inviting me to this party.

I'm a Valentine's Day scrooge. It might stem from years and years of loneliness combined with years and years of spending more time with the flowers on the wall and riding the short bus....but that's just a guess.

I also hate the way my husband gets a deer in the headlights look around February 12th and it doesn't go away until about sundown on the 14th. How he walks past me like I'm a ticking bomb and swallows hard and asks for water for his dry mouth every time I ask him a question. "Does she really just want me to pass the salt or is this code for 'YOU DON'T EVER DO ANYTHING NICE FOR ME I'M TIRED OF BEING THE ONLY ONE WHO TRIES IN THIS RELATIONSHIP IS A NEW DIAMOND SO MUCH TO ASK!???!!!' and I'm going to regret passing the salt?"

And last year a crazed Mary Kay girl in my ward who sells you lipstick and then asks your name cornered poor Jay and told him I was desperate for a $65 basket of lotion crap that now fills the junk drawers and toy boxes of our home. First clue: Angela is never desperate. 2nd: Angela doesn't wear lotion. 3rd: If Angela were desperate, it would be for chocolate or sushi. Or chocolate sushi. NOT lotion.

So, it was basically a lose-lose. Now on the list of "If you ever do that again I will seriously lose it" is also "Mary Kay baskets you are tricked into buying by an unscrupulous MK saleswoman."

That being said....

I do love the idea of there being one day set aside to focus on the romantic and sweet and gushy stuff. And I think this a great blog idea to help us make it a great day for all parties involved.

Because it is my goal to send a son into the world who acknowledges holidays, I like to do little things for the kids too.

The biggest hit, thus far has been rice crispy kisses. I get a set of funnels, there's usually 3-4 sizes in a set. You make rice crispies and then cram them into the funnels while they are still hot. Once they've set, you pull them out and they are shaped like Hershey kisses and you wrap them in foil. There's a size for every age. And you can put little personalized notes for the strip of paper that comes out of the top. Does that have an official name? I don't know.

I also like to "bomb" Jay's car the night before, with love notes and his favorite treats because he leaves in the morning when I'm in my deepest stage of rapid eye movement and so when he gets up and leaves, he thinks he'll have to wait the whole long day for all kinds of Valentine's Day loving.

But now that we live in Iowa, I'll probably just shuck some corn for him and call it good.

14 Days of Valentines

Well, the Naughty/Nice journal sounds more fun, but here's something my family has liked!


For the last few years I've done a "14 days of Valentines" for everyone in my family, and they really enjoy it.

Basically I just put a bow or a note on something small and leave something on their pillow each day starting on February 1st. Pretty much everyone gets the same things - a new pen, a little puzzle, a flower, a tiny box of chocolates.... I loved Tori's list below, and I plan on pilfering many ideas from it this year!

It's funny, because even a new antiperspirant becomes a gift if you put a bow on it, at least around here!

My Valentine Ideas

Tori, this is a great idea!

Every year I make heart-shaped cinnamon rolls for Dustin on Valentine's Day. He is a sucker for baked goods so it's what he likes the best. I just dent in the cinnamon roll at the top to make the heart shape. He can either take them to work to share that morning or hog them all for himself! :)

I also buy him a really nice card or make a really nice one. I usually just print cards out on the computer, so I think he appreciates that I go to a little extra effort on Valentine's.

We have also made a tradition not to go out to eat that night. It's just so busy! We found that we're pretty tired and grouchy by the time we get into a restaurant, even with a reservation. So we stay home and have a really good meal like steak, shrimp & crab legs by candlelight. We put the kiddies to bed or in front of a movie early. It makes it a nice quiet evening with just the two of us. The time together is the most important part for us.

We aren't that big on gifts at my house, so that's about it. Well...until later that night! ;) New lingerie always seems to go over well! :)

For Glittersmama

Found some ideas for Vday for soldiers, but I'm sure some of us with our husband's here can use some of the ideas... I especially liked the "Naughty/Nice Journal" and the "Why I Love You Journal." I did something similar for Sei years ago...
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Red hots or their favorite candy
Handwritten love poem or song
Handmade Valentine
Hershey’s kisses and hugs
“Hot Pants” - boxer shorts with kisses and hugs painted on them
Lotions & perfumes
A tiny bow & arrow with a note from Cupid
Fuzzy dice
Picture book or frame
Steamy love letter


A favorite romantic movie
Marshmallows with a note that says “I’m always on cloud 9 when I’m with you!”
Fuzzy pink, red, or black robe
Bath & Body products
Handmade CD of love songs
Warm and snuggly new red bath towel
Valentine themed stuffed animal
Personalized M&Ms in red, pink and white
Red or pink candle
Hot cocoa
Homemade heart shaped sugar cookies with red sprinkles
Anything red – red jello, red rice krispie treats, etc.
Silk or gold dipped red roses
“I love you” pin
A romantic book
Handkerchief, pillowcase, or other racier article of clothing sprayed with your scent
Handmade romantic fortune cookies (grab a box at your local craft store)
A pillow made out of fabric printed with a picture of you
Love coupons that they can redeem
A puzzle out of a picture of the two of you
A Victoria’s Secret or Mens Fitness magazine with your face glued on all the models
A “This is Why I Love You” journal
A “Naughty and Nice” journal – one side nice normal things, the flip side naughty things

Another idea is to send a gift package of inexpensive but meaningful items. Is your love always without a pen or do they seem to forget something all the time? What about all of their favorite foods or movies? Send gifts that will let them know you're really listening to them and thinking about them!

Get your mail postmarked in LOVEland

I thought this was cute. I found it online. You could do this for your kids or man:

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If you are going to celebrate Valentine’s, I suggest you do it with a little forethought. I cringe every time I go to the grocery on February 13 or 14 and see dozens of men crowding around the greeting cards to buy their cards at the last possible moment.

Buy your card now and mail it out to Loveland, Colorado for extra special treatment. Your card will be postmarked LOVEland, Colorado and it will also be hand-stamped with a unique four line poem.

The Loveland Chamber of Commerce heads up this yearly romance project with cards going to all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries annually.

It’s simple. Just enclose your pre-addressed, pre-stamped Valentine’s card in a larger envelope and mail to: Postmaster, Attn: Valentines, Loveland CO 80537

You can also send it to postmasters of these cities too:

Valentine, Texas 79854

Valentine, Nebraska 69201

Kissimmee, Florida 32741

Loving, New Mexico 88256

Bridal Veil, Oregon 97010

Romance, Arkansas 72136

What's this??

I'm trying to come up with cool ideas for Valentines Day. I have a few but I'm either too poor or I've done it before. So... here is a sneaky blog to post ideas on. Don't post any ideas you don't want stolen.:)
HOLD THAT THOUGHT- I meant to make y'all authors and not just readers. Gimme a minute...