Love Notes

Here's a little something i've been doing for my husband for 8 years:
throughout the year i either buy or make cards for him, or write a short "love note" to him. I hide them away in a lock box in my closet and give them to him on special occassions or "just because."

what makes them even more special is that I am giving these to him several years after I write them. It's a way to relive how I was feeling at a particular moment in time...this year he'll receive a valentine I bought for him during our first year of marriage - 6 years ago - should be fun and romantic reading:O)

peggy vincent of ORIGINAL magical Glow in the Dark Pillow Cases! - Plus Keepsake Photo & Sticker Calendars. Innovative gift ideas for every occassion!

Valentines for Elderly

Make valentines for the ederly in nursing homes. Pick a local home ask owner/manager how many are needed. Make simple cards using constuction paper, lace, glitter, glue etc... Let the kids imagination soar on this. Then the day before Valentines arrange to deliver. The patients' smiles will be well worth the effort!

Kimberly Wall of My Home Garden Party

Pocket Full of Hersheys

Leave Hersheys Kisses in your loved ones jacket pockets on Valentine's Day!

Mai Ling of eMOMMIE

A Love Bit to Buy

A package of 24 Valentines for children to color in themselves, then seal and give to friends, classmates, etc.
A direct URL to the product
Cost is $3.95 per set, and we only have 6 left in stock. from Mary Stoltz of CanvasToClay.com

Get Him Movin' - Love His Heart Invite your partner on a moonlit stroll. It can be very romantic and will get him off the couch!

From Sherry of Together We Lose

A Gift of Kisses

This is an easy and heartwarming gift which can be used for Valentine's Day or any occasion! It's so much fun and so easy, that you can make 2 or 3 and also give them as a special gifts for teachers, grandparents, parents or friends !

You will need:
*A scoop- a powdered detergent scoop or a sugar/flour scoop that can be purchased from the kitchen tool section of the store.
*Hershey Kisses
*Paper or Index Card and Markers
*Paper Lunch Sack or Brown Craft paper
*Plastic Wrap
*Ribbon
*hole punch

Wash and dry the scoop. Fill with Hershey Kisses. Place in the middle of a square of plastic wrap, gather the wrap up into the middle, twist and tie with pretty ribbon. Cut a piece of paper to measure 3 1/2 x 5 inches long or use an index card. Fold in half. Punch a hole in one corner. On the front write "to" and "from" with your name and the person you are giving the gift to, then inside write the following:

A scoopful of kisses for you
Because I love you and all that you do.
Thanks Mom! (Or the name of the person)
Happy Valentine's Day!

You can change "Thanks" to Happy Birthday, Get Well, or any message you would like to add! If you want to give to a teacher, simply change love to "appreciate". String a piece of ribbon through the hole you punched and tie it to the gathered plastic wrap where you tied it with ribbon.

Decorate the lunch bag with designs, pictures, stickers or even fabric cut-outs. Place your scoop into the bag, fold over and punch two holes in the top of the bag, so they go through the layers. Now string ribbon through both holes and tie into a bow. Your gift is ready!

For more old fashioned ideas subscribe to Old Fashioned Tips, a daily mini newsletter with tips on crafts, gardening, and cooking. Send any blank email to mailto:oldfashionedtips-subscribe@topica.com

From Brenda of Old Fashioned Living

Romance

I have two ideas for all you ladies missing out on the romance......since I married a man who also "shows" that he loves me in practical ways (changing the oil in my car, things like that to make sure I am safe and taken care of, but not very romantic) I have found that I need to get my pampering from other *safe* places *grin*

First idea: buy yourself flowers when you do the grocery shopping. It may eventually make him realize how much you really do enjoy flowers, and if not, you still have fresh flowers that you can enjoy. I remember the first time I did this, Rick wanted to know where the flowers were from, told him the really cute guy bagging my groceries bought them for me *evil grin*. thought he was gonna hit the roof, so I calmed him down and explained (again) how much I enjoy flowers, so I bought them for myself. We happened to have company over, and everyone commented on the flowers and how beautiful they were (mind you, they were $5 from the grocery store LOL) and wanted to know where they came from, so Rick jumps in, while keeping eye contact with me, begging me not to blow it, and said he bought them for me! He owed me for that one and knew it LOL. The grocery store flowers here seem to last about 3 weeks. Cheap enough, I feel that I more than get my money's worth, and I feel good about me!

Second idea: We do a girls night in once a month. We swap houses where we meet, and we all have to bring a "gift" for the hostess and a dish or beverage. There is one agreement, we will NOT discuss kids or husbands, and not b****ing. It is a total pamper-me night. Lots of times, we will pick a theme for the gifts, either a color, a country, etc. The best part is, the one who is receiving gets to pick what she wants....she could say candles, and then she would get 11 different candles, she could say green and everything would have to be green LOL, it is a LOT of fun! Great way to feel that people care about you, and to express your love for others, while spending time with those ever important girlfriends! And, if you skip one month, that person doesn't have to buy you a gift on your month :o)

From Karyn Todd of A-Room-A-Therapy Concept! Breathe new life into your home one room at a time with our unique

While doing some research for the Feb. issue of the Raggedy Gazette I found some wonderful "love bits" to share with you. Please go toCrafts and check out all of the great ways of saying I love you every day of the year.
From Connie of www.amongcountryfriends.com

I have one that is sort of an all year thing. I have learned from being an RN that life is very fragile. Always take the time to look your family in the eyes and tell them you love them before you part in the morning. Never leave the house angry. Let your loved ones know how precious they are to you every day, and you will have no regrets!
From Cindy East, RN of http://101helpideas.com

Here is one I do for Anniversary but can be used for Valentines Day. I make 12 coupons that can be redeemed at 1 coupon per month. The coupons are good for many things like a free back massage, free foot rub, free bubble bath, free candle light dinner, free night by fireplace with just hubby and me, free bottle of wine, free hotel stay for the two of us. It amazes me how the coupons change each year we are married. Hubby and I will be married 19 years Febuary 12th and the coupons just seem to get even better! There are so many other coupons you can make. Hubby redeems them once a month and feels special all year long. This is one way to keep the home fires burning 12 months out of the year!
From Tawnya of www.malloftreasures.comAward Websighting Designs Affordable Designs That Guarantee A Wow! Wholesale Gifts From Around The World http://reillytpsa.mygiftparty.com/

Write your sweetheart or child a lovenote on the bathroom mirror where he or she is sure to see it. You can use a washable marker or grease pencil. Personalize it with a lipstick kiss!
From Jennifer of Baby's First Pearls jennifer@baby-pearls.com

Every Valentine's Day our family has an indoor Valentine's picnic. We spread out a blanket and have a picnic in our living room with some music softly playing. My daughter looks forward to it every year.
From~Dionna Sanchez of Emphasis On Moms

Now Some Biz Valentine Bits

Heart Shaped Soaps

I make heart shaped soaps with cookie cutters and put one, free, in every order in the month of February.

Janine Phariss of HerbaTherapy.com

Romancing your clients and employees on Valentine’s Day
Copyright 2002, Adriana Copaceanu

With the holiday season behind us, it is time to start looking at next year’s plans for growing our businesses. Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show just how much we value our clients and employees.

Here are some ideas:
Tie a Valentine's balloon to a bag of hard candies or heart shaped chocolates, and attach a card with this wording: "Our customers (employees) are the heart and soul of our business". Deliver it to the decision-maker. Everyone who walks by will think their sweetheart sent them something special and will ask about it. They'll end up talking about you, saying your company name over and over all day. You could also include a nice personal note.

Send a bag of nuts with a note saying: "XYZ Company is nuts about our customers (employees)".

Buy a packet of forget-me-not seeds, and send it with a note saying: "Don't forget! We can help you plant the seeds of success for your business!"

For inactive clients, you could send a heart shaped chocolate with "We'd love to hear from you!" tucked inside the wrapping.

"Kiss your worries good bye. XYZ Company is here to take care of your needs" attached to a bag of lip shaped chocolate is another idea.

These are just a few ideas to get your creative thinking started. You can adapt these to your own industry, or think up other sayings.

Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in Helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd.

To sign up for her biweekly newsletter, send a blank email to join-gn@charliepage.com

Visit Adriana at A B C Gifts and Baskets

Thanks to www.amomslove.com