Cutest Valentine's Day Video Ever!

I just found the cutest Valentine's Day video and I had to share. Here you go: What kids think about love and smoochies:



Aren't they the cutest!

What Valentine's Day Means to Me

Image via Flickr by Illusive Photography

When you think of Valentine's Day, what comes to mind? Is it Cupid and his quiver of arrows? Red roses, boxes of chocolates, heart-shaped jewelry?

These things certainly are associated with Valentine's Day, but to me today is more than just about showing your sweetheart how much you love them. I'd like this day to be about showing everyone how much you love them.

There are many types of love that exist in this world. There's the romantic love you feel for your sweetie, the parental love of a child, familial love of a sibling or parent, and friendly love of a close friend. 

How My Mother-in-Law Shows Love

Image via Flickr by butterflysha

All of us love receiving fun mail—a card, a letter, a package. Something that you can open and enjoy reading rather than just junk mail or bills. This was especially true when I was a kid before the prevalence of computers, the Internet, and cell phones. It was exciting ... especially if there was a present or money inside. 

Since we got married almost 11 years ago, that's not so expected. With email and texting, most of my communication takes place electronically. No need for stamps. No delay for the recipient to get what you sent. And yet on almost every holiday, in the mail I find a card from my mother-in-law wishing us a happy birthday, a merry Christmas, a happy Valentine's Day, and even a happy Thanksgiving (yes, they make cards for that. Who knew). 

I always thought it was kind of a waste. A waste of money for the card. A waste of stamps to send it. But after being married over a decade, I realize that this is her way of showing she cares for us. It's the time she takes to pick out a card, pay for it, write a message inside, and send it with enough time to reach us before the holiday. It tells us that she's thinking of us and loves us. Sometimes she'll include pictures from our last trip or pictures of her and her husband. It means a lot to her to send those cards, and it means a lot for us to send some back to her. 

It may be a little thing. We may just throw the cards away after reading them (and we may not). But she uses it to connect with us.

What Love Can We Show on This Valentine's Day

Is there something we can do on this Valentine's Day to show our love? Not just to our one true love, but to everyone? It may be too late to send a card this year, but even just a quick text to say, "You are a dear friend. Thanks for being there for me" may just lift the spirits of a friend who is feeling unloved. Writing on a Facebook wall, "Hey, friend. How are you? Let's make plans for next week" may help someone feeling lonely. You never know the impact of a quick message of love.

Share Love Freely

Image via Flickr by vmiramontes

What I've found over the years, though, is that we should share love and admiration for others freely. Don't be reserved thinking that the other person will be put off by that expression or think you strange. It's possible, but that shouldn't stop you from sharing. Nine times out of 10, their hearts will be lifted by what you say. Your friendship will grow and you'll both feel a little more joy. 

With family, saying I love you to your family members is great, but you know what means more? Saying why you love them. For Valentine's Day this year, my husband took nesting boxes and put my gift in the smallest one. On each box, he took a sticky note and wrote a reason he loved me—one for each year of our marriage. Opening a present is wonderful, but knowing things about me that made him happy he married me meant more than the present alone. I can keep those sticky notes and read them again and again. I feel much more loved today than I did just from the present.

Take the time to share with your siblings, parents, and children what it is about them that you love. What qualities do you see in them that you wish you had? What things about them make you smile and make you want to be with them?

What about your friends? Often we take friendship for granted. Why not tell your friends why you're so glad you know each other and what makes them a great friend. Don't be afraid to tell a friend you love them. 

Share Love with Everyone ... Even Those You Don't Know

Via Desktopas.com

It's easy to share love with those you know and love dearly, but what about those you don't know? In Matthew 22:37-39, it reads, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

So who is your neighbor? Anyone you see and come into contact with. According to Jesus we should love our neighbors as we do ourselves. I think "thyself" could be interpreted to mean your family. Do you love your neighbors like you do your own family—your own household? If not, what can you do for your "neighbors"?

It could be simple as a smile. It could be paying for someone's groceries behind you. It could be dropping cookies off at a neighbor's house that you don't know. 

When it comes to loving those around you, for me it's about treating others how you want to be treated. The typical golden rule. It's not treating others how you are treated. It's not treating others like you're worried they will hurt you. It's about finding Christ's love and showing it to those around you.

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

"Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

"When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

"Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."'

Matthew 25:34-40 

Via GregOlsen.com

So for this Valentine's Day, let's share more love into the world. And if I haven't told you lately, I love you!

(Expired) Hot Deals on Amazon: Heart Pendants for Valentine's Day

This deal is now over. Hope you were able to find something while it was still on :).

Still not sure what to get the woman in your life for Valentine's Day? Check out Amazon's sale on heart pendants going on today. The best part? FREE 1-day shipping, which means there's still time to order and receive it before the big day.

Whether you need a gift for a wife, girlfriend, friend who's a girl, daughter, mother or grandmother, there are many pendants to choose from that are beautiful. Here are some of my favorites:

For those looking for something a little different, the Sterling Silver Black Diamond Heart Pendant Necklace is a beautiful design that pulls away from the typical colorless diamond pendant. For only $75, this pendant is available 50% off.

Another great option is the 10k White Gold Diamond Double Heart Pendant, available in both white gold and yellow gold. This pendant is available for 70% off—only $100 instead of $345. What a great deal for a beautiful pendant.

If you're looking for something with color, consider the Fuchsia Swarovski Elements Heart Pendant. Besides the color shown here, you can choose between aurora borealis and red pendants as well.

I think that the one I like the most, though is this 14k Rose Gold over Sterling Silver Open Heart Pendant that says "You hold my heart forever." How sweet is that. You can choose between rose gold plated, yellow gold plated and sterling silver, and it's only $20, which is 60% off!

Of course these are just a few choices available. Check out the sale and order soon. These deals are only good for today, February 11.

7 Free Printable Valentine's Day Cards for Kids to Take to Class

Are you looking for a cheap and easy way to create Valentine's Day cards? There are free printable designs found online by those who are creative and talented at graphic arts. Here are some I've found that would be easy and cute.

Owl and Monster Valentines

If you have a daughter, maybe an owl-themed valentine is more her thing. Check out this cute owl design from Deal Wise Mommy:

If your kids are more into monsters, then Deal Wise Mommy has that covered too.

Other designs from Deal Wise Mommy include a mustache design and a rock music design. 

Bug Valentines from Ellinee

Another fun design comes from Ellinee.com:

Or enjoy some with jungle animals from the same site:

Both are so cute, I don't know how to decide which I like best!

Geeky Valentines

If you or your kids enjoy the geeky things in life, check out the free printables from Epbot, which feature Portal designs. 

Boy Valentines

If you're looking for printable valentines for boys that are more "manly," check out these ones from One Charming Party featuring dinosaurs, superheroes, and diggers:

With so many fun designs, you should have plenty of choices for your kids' valentines day. I so wish I'd had these when I was a kid! Which design did your kids choose for their Valentines?

(Expired) Just in Time for Valentine's Day: Free eBook "Special Dinners for Two"

Deal over :(. It went too fast. Hope you had a chance to grab it while it was free!

Planning a romantic dinner for your special one on Valentine's Day? Check out this free ebook, "Special Dinners for Two (Easy Recipes from Scratch)."

Even if you don't have an e-reader, I would recommend getting the book anyway. You can always get the Desktop reader from Amazon and maybe one day you'll have your own Kindle that you can read it on as well. Plus this special price (i.e. FREE) won't last long!

Considering this is rated 4.8 stars, it's a handy recipe book to have on hand for wedding anniversaries, couples, and any time you want to plan a special dinner.

Looking for a Cute Design for Love Coupons?

In a previous post, I shared with you one free printable design for love coupons by Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night. Here's another great design that you can use that's free and ADORABLE!

Just go to Ellinee.com to print out these adorable cards. Some are blank, so you can fill them in with whatever you want. I don't know about you, but I love this design.  

Valentine's Gifts for the Man in Your Life

Via NJFamily.com

Now that we've covered great V-Day gifts for women, what about men? Men are a little harder to buy for because most of the gifts that work for women, just don't work for men (flowers, chocolates, lingerie, jewelry, etc.). So what should you get the man in your life? Here are some ideas.

Watches

Although jewelry doesn't work, a beautiful watch is a great addition to any man's wardrobe. Here are some great deals on watches available now:

Invicta Men's Pro Diver Watch though listed at $895, this watch is on sale for only $90, a fraction of the original cost. Choose from rose gold, blue ionic, and gun metal bezel. This is a beautiful watch that's been highly rated.


For a striking face, check out the Stuhrling Men's Professional Diver Watch. At only $70, down from over $120, and a 4.3 star review rating, this is a great option as well.

Of course these are just a couple of the stunning watches available. Many are on sale right now at great prices.

Gadgets

Most men are kids at heart, so nothing is better than a new toy. From video games and systems to tablets to e-readers, a new toy may be just the perfect way to say, "I love you." 

If you're sweetheart is an audiophile or a gamer, a sweet set of headphones would make a great gift. Great options include the V-MODA Crossfade Headphones, which are currently 50% off and have a 4.5 rating. Another option is the Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones at $98 or the Pioneer STEEZ Stereo Headphones at $50 (down from $130).

If headphones aren't the cards, consider getting a tablet. They're so versatile with the many apps available and your love will have fun playing games, watching Netflix, reading books and more. Consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-Inch, Wi-Fi). At only $200, it's a reasonably priced tablet that runs Android 4.0. Though it only comes with 8 GB of internal memory, it's expandable with micro SD cards.

Depending on his interests, other fun gifts include digital cameras, cuff links that double as a Wi-Fi hotspot, or a safe that looks like a can of Dr. Pepper.

Do Something for Him

Although it's always nice to get a gift, sometimes the best present is doing something for your sweetheart:

Via Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night

• Get the kids out of the house for the night and cook him dinner (maybe not on the day of Valentine's so you can actually find a sitter). After dinner watch your wedding video and talk about what you remember about your wedding day.
• Make him some love coupons with things that he usually doesn't get (i.e. not "clean the kitchen" or "take the dog for a walk" if he doesn't usually do these things anyway). For example, if he hates mowing the lawn every weekend, make him coupons for mowing the lawn so he can have a break every once in awhile.
• Schedule out some together time for you and him when no one else is around. Pick an activity he really enjoys and do it with him (with a good attitude even if it's not one of your favorite things to do).
• Give him a heart attack. No, don't send him to the hospital, but cut out a bunch of hearts and hide them around the house, car, his lunch, his briefcase, wherever (maybe get up early before he leaves for work and do it). On each heart, right something you love about him. 
• Write him a love letter. Sure emails and texts are great, but there is something about a hand-written letter. Write why you fell in love and how you feel today. Tell him all the things you're grateful for and why you're glad you two are together. Don't forget to seal with a lipstick kiss and light spray of perfume. 

Hope this helps in brainstorming. What are you planning on doing for your sweetie this Valentine's Day? Or what did you do? Share in the comments.

What to Buy Your Wife for Valentine's Day

Are you ready for Valentine's Day? Do you have a gift for your wife?

Ah, who am I kidding? Most of my readers are women, so it might not help to give gift ideas for a wife, but hey, maybe it will give you ideas of what to "suggest" to your hubby, right? And with Valentine's Day only 8 days away, there's no time to waste, especially if you're ordering online.

Maybe this year, you can hint and see if he takes it. Create a wishlist on Amazon with anything and everything that you'd like to get, send him the link and see if he actually follows through. Here are some ideas for great V-Day presents:

Jewelry

Jewelry is always a classic Valentine's gift and for good reason: what better way to remind her she's beautiful than by buying her something beautiful. Here are some classics for a great price.

Gold Hoop Earrings are a perfect addition to any ear and you don't have to worry about irritating metals. Currently (as of this writing), these were 70% off, only $90 instead of $300. Great way to say, "You're mine forever."

For something more unique, try jewelry shaped like animals. This Mother and Baby Turtle Diamond Pendant Necklace is a great gift for the mother of your children. Other options include a rose gold diamond elephant pendant and a penguin pendant with black and white diamonds.


Of course, the ultimate classic is a pair of diamond stud earrings. If that's out of your budget, consider getting a pair of stud earrings with Swarovski crystals. Many consider these just as beautiful and made from the highest quality crystals. Best of all, your sweetheart won't worry about losing them unlike real diamonds. For only $29, it's a great gift if you're on a budget.

Other Great Gifts

If jewelry isn't the right gift, there are many other choices. Here are a few:

• Fragrances: Does your sweetie need some more of her favorite fragrance? You can find many of the most popular scents online for a fraction of the cost of department stores. Valentine's savings range from 25 to 50% off, so it's a great time to replenish your supply.
• Watches: If you just realized that your wife has never owned a nice, jewelry-quality watch in the 10 years that you've married (*winks in hubby's direction*), maybe it's time to look at watches available. From rose gold to two-tone to Swarovski crystal, there are some beautiful watches for a great price.
  
  Burgi has a diamond bracelet watch that is listed at $750, but is on sale now for only $156.
  
  But this isn't the only great deal. Right now, many watches are on sale for up to 75% off. 
• Flowers are always lovely. Just make sure you know whether your wife, girlfriend, or hopefully soon-to-be girlfriend enjoys flowers. Bonus points if you talk to her mother or best friend to find out her favorite flower. Don't just stick with red roses. There are so many flowers to choose from and the more creative, the better!
• Love coupons are a fun idea for those who don't have a lot of dough. Many sites are offering FREE printable love coupons that you can personalize and give to your significant other, like those by Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night. All you need is paper and a printer.

Have some ideas for gifts that you want to share? Add them in the comments.