VALENTINE'S WITH THOUGHT

 VALENTINE'S WITH THOUGHT

by Michael Webb

Founder, TheRomantic.com

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

ROSES ARE RED, POTATOES ARE PINK...

 ROSES ARE RED, POTATOES ARE PINK...
Submitted by: Janet

Because the members of my family are all my special loves, my Valentine's idea was for all of them several years ago.

For dinner on Valentine's Day, all the food I prepared was red or pink. I can't remember the whole menu, but it included pink mashed potatoes, pink bread, red Jell-O, and a red tinted heart cake with pink icing. The kids weren't sure what to think, and to this day, they groan when I mention the pink mashed potatoes!

My hubby must love me a lot, because he sticks with me in spite of my crazy ideas.

THEY ALL ADD UP

 THEY ALL ADD UP


Submitted by: Jeff Bohrer

When my wife and I were dating in high school (about 7 years ago), for Valentine's day, I got a dozen roses for her. Instead of giving the entire bouquet to her at once, I gave them to her one class at a time.

I arranged for a friend of hers in each of her classes to pick up a rose from my locker and give it to her during that class. For one class, I even had to ask a teacher to present it to her! Attached to each rose, I had a (very) short poem written that pertained to that class (music, math, etc.) and my affection for her.

To my surprise, she has kept every one of those little notes, and we read them not too long ago with tears in our eyes. Those were probably tears of amazement or sadness because I don't think I've lived up to that romantic moment since. (I'm convinced it was Divine intervention working through me then!)

This idea could be modified for those couples who work or take college courses and know each others' schedules and locations during the day.

THE PICKLE PUCKER JAR

THE PICKLE PUCKER JAR

Submitted by: Betsy Hatfield

Last year at valentine's, I got a big glass pickle jar from a restaurant, scrubbed it clean, and painted the jar with flowers, hearts, sunshine, clouds, etc.

Then I got a bunch of "fancy" doodle pads and began writing reasons & reminders of how & why I love my husband. It didn't stop there-- I began collecting little poems, quotes, and song lyrics to add to the pot.

When my husband is having a rough day he can open the lid and reach in for a "boost". This jar was easy to make and VERY personal, and he enjoys it year around. I love to collect stuff for the jar as well!

RENT A ROMANCE

 

RENT A ROMANCE

Submitted by: Darlene O'Donnell

Four years ago I wanted to come up with something totally unexpected and unusual for Valentine's Day. My husband is very easy to please and I knew that what ever I did he would be appreciative. I didn't want to just buy something for him to wear or to eat. So, I put my thinking cap on and this is what I came up with.

I got out the yellow pages and looked for Hot Tub companies. I actually found a couple of them that rented out portable hot tubs! After calling a few of them I decided on one and then put my plan into action.

It was being delivered while my husband was at work and they came early in the morning. I had to move all the dining room furniture out of the dining room to so the hot tub would fit! I moved all the furniture into the living room before they arrived.

These guys rolled in a 4 person hot tub and set it up in my dining room! They started filling it and got it running for me before they left. Now my only concern was that it would be warm enough to go in by the time Steve got home from work! In the mean time I went to the store and bought some wine for later that evening. I kept calling Steve at work to be sure he wasn't making a surprise visit home!

I made a card and in it I explained that his Valentine's gift was inside the house waiting for him and I put the card on our front door. You cannot imagine the surprised look on his face when he saw a hot tub in the dining room! And I was in it! Above the hot tub was our dining room light and I had the lights dimmed, candles in the background and soft music on the CD player.

We had the best time and made lasting memories while that hot tub was there. The best part of renting the hot tub, the company that I rented it from was in a home and garden show and called to tell me that they couldn't pick it up for a few days!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARK

 A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARK

 

Submitted by: Cam Baker

My girlfriend used to get disinterested easily, so I had to keep finding new ways to keep her interested. One way was something out of character for me, was to take her to the Cemetery for a picnic. Before I got her, I purchased her favorite drink (diet coke) and her favorite food (pineapple pizza) and set up a picnic in the cemetery with two wine glasses set across from each other.

Hers was the one with her favorite flower sitting inside of it (a rose) and beside that was a heart shaped box. When we got there she opened the box to find chocolates surrounding a heart made of barbed wire, after the laughing subsided, we had a wonderful afternoon of relaxing in the most quiet place I knew of. I chose the quiet place because we had earlier discussed that we did not have enough time for each other as our obligations to other people got in the way.

You can chooses any spot and modify this accordingly.

HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

Last year for Valentine's Day I came across a copy of the children's book How Much Do I Love You. I thought the story was very cute about a big hare and its little hare and how they try to show one another their love. To make the story more personalized, I printed out our "pet" names for one another and glued them over the names of the characters in the book (so now the story was about us!). She was so amazed to open up the book and read the story that she took it to her mother to show what I had done (the book still sits by our two stuffed bunny rabbits in our guest bedroom).

 

LET HER ROAR

LET HER ROAR

Submitted by: Joel B. Harvell

The first piece of jewelry I ever gave my, then future wife, I gave to her on Valentine's Day. I had decided to give my Love a gold filigree bracelet, but I wanted to give it to her in a unique way.

A co-worker suggested giving her a stuffed bear, and have the bear wearing the bracelet. My favorite pet name for my wife was "tiger". I decided to go one up on the bear idea and find a little stuffed tiger and use the bracelet as a collar. I had to search quite a while before I found a stuffed tiger small enough to use.

On Valentine's Day my love and I went to a very nice restaurant to have dinner and exchange Valentines. The hugs and kisses I got when she opened the box and found the little tiger with the gold collar were very wonderful.

SHOW THE WORLD YOUR LOVE

 SHOW THE WORLD YOUR LOVE

Submitted by: Susan Biblel

One year when we had no money, my husband spelled "I love you Susan Jo" with cutout letters of cardboard and put it on our garage door. When I came home from work, that was there for all the world to see. He was used to coming up with creative idea's on a budget :-)

Well, this year was no different, we live in Ohio, where there is usually snow on the ground in February. So, my hubby got a red can of spray paint (he had already) and out in our pasture, he wrote his Valentine message to me! It was beautiful! Bright red paint on the glistening snow saying "I love you, the love of my life!" The people he worked with thought it was so neat, the newspaper came and took a picture and it was in the evening news! It is one of my most memorable gifts ever!

COUNTING DOWN TO V-DAY

 COUNTING DOWN TO V-DAY

COUNTING DOWN TO V-DAY

submitted by: Kim Gau

You know how there's the famous "12 Days of Christmas"? Well, how about the "14 Days to Valentine's Day"?

Each February I count down the days to Valentine's Day by sending my husband one goody each day from Feb.1st through the 14th. It's never anything big or expensive.

At this time of year, cards, candy and trinkets are readily available at any store, but I also I try to include homemade and personalized items, too. Some things I've sent before are: brownies with white icing tic-tac-toe x's and o's; chocolate covered pretzels, a giant heart shaped cookie, a postcard in the shape of giant lips, m&m's in a heart-shaped container, etc.

This year I'm going to send a photo of our new dog, am going to try making a heart shaped pizza and am eager to try the Jello cookie bouquet in this week's tip. All you have to do is look around you and through catalogs (Cheryle's Cookies is a great one) - there are ideas all over the place!

I package the item up as creatively as possible and send it via US mail, personal delivery or his co-workers. The people he works with look forward to seeing what he receives each day, and he tells me they tell him how lucky he is. (and I know he just eats that up!) Then on the 14th I do an additional something like cooking his favorite meal or decorating the house with red and pink paper streamers. It's fun to plan out what I'll send him each day!

DRESSING UP, STAYING IN

 DRESSING UP, STAYING IN

submitted by: Renthia Kruger

My husband and I had been married for only 5 months on our first Valentine's together. We really didn't have much money to spend on presents, and my husband is not creative at all, so I knew I would have to come up with something if I want a romantic Valentine's.

So the week before the 14th we decided that we were not going to buy presents, instead we would make the day special by doing something together.

Because we are both working, and too tired in the evening to cook, we bought our dinners from a lady, so dinner was all ready. When we got home from work, we dressed... and I mean dressed. I wore my most beautiful black evening dress, and he wore a black suit and white shirt (he looked so sexy)... While I was doing my hair and my make-up (as if we were going to a fancy place), he quickly set the table, lit the candles, and put on some soft music.

We ended up dancing and sitting on the couch, telling each other how much we love the other one, and in the end it was the most romantic evening of my life.

MEMORY POSTER

 MEMORY POSTER

submitted by: Shanna M. Wright

The most creative thing I've ever done for Valentine's Day, is decorate a huge piece of white poster board with memories. I took candy wrappers that I saved from the first date, as well as love notes received from my honey, a receipt from a date that I paid for (since he was broke), a stuffed animal from one of those claw machines (which cost my beloved at least $25 to win), movie stubs, and other little reminders of the special times spent together. I safety-pinned the items in the shape of a heart.

12 DAYS OF ROMANCE

12 DAYS OF ROMANCE

 

submitted by: Katie Sparrow

This year I decided to be a little creative and yet try to save a little money while doing something special for Valentine's. I am going to do the 12 Days of Valentine's. Starting 11 days before Valentine's, I will leave little gifts for my loved one to find.

Day 1 - one balloon that says "I Love You";

Day 2 - two coupons for various special favors or treats;

Day 3 - three love songs, some taped and some written words, that mean something special to us;

Day 4 - four love poems, I found on a postcard site and hand written;

Day 5 - five terms of endearment;

Day 6 - six chocolate candy hearts;

Day 7 - seven flowers;

Day 8 - eight heart shaped cookies;

Day 9 - nine message heart candies;

Day 10 - ten reasons (of the millions) why I love him;

Day 11 - eleven Hershey's hugs and kisses;

Day 12 (Valentine's) - twelve ways to say "I Love You", languages.

I am still in the process of trying to figure out if I want to leave them in the same spot to be found at the same time every day, or if I want it to be more random. This was a lot of fun planning and didn't cost much at all with our "poor student" budget. I think it will be very memorable. 
 

VALENTINES IN A BOX

VALENTINES IN A BOX

submitted by: Elizabeth Peeden

Last year at this time my fiancé was in the Army, stationed in Germany. With us being so far apart it was impossible to spend Valentines together, but I still wanted to do something special for him. The only problem was I could not come up with anything original. Sending him flowers seemed too trite, but what do you do for someone when they are so far away.

With Valentines fast approaching I was still out of ideas, so I went to the store hoping to come up with something to do for him. I kept thinking that things would be so much easier if he was here. Then it dawned on me that since he could not spend Valentines evening with me, I would send one to him.

So, I decided to send him a Valentines evening in a box. The first thing in the box was a note and a balloon explaining how much I hated being apart on this special day and if we could spend Valentines together this is how our evening would go. Then the next thing he came to in the box was 2 candles and a box of macaroni and cheese (candle light dinner).

The next item he came to was the movie "While you were Sleeping" with a note attached to it saying how we would spend the night cuddled in each others arms watching a movie. The last thing I placed in the box was the book Chicken Soup for the Couples Soul with a note explaining how we would end the evening cuddled up reminiscing over the "story" of how our love has grown. And of course I filled every empty space with Hershey Hugs & Kisses.

He absolutely loved the package when he got it!

 

SPELL IT OUT

SPELL IT OUT

 

submitted by: Theresa Germain

When my husband came home from an extended business trip, the first thing he saw when he came through the door, was I LOVE YOU spelled out with the kids big plastic blocks on the floor just inside the front door.

When he went to take a shower there was another message on the wall, I MISSED YOU, spelled out with foam letters that stick to the wall when damp. And on the refrigerator was another message made with the magnetic words.

Having the kids toys spread around isn't a bad thing when they tell him how much you care.

NOT JUST FEBRUARY 14

NOT JUST FEBRUARY 14

 

 submitted by: Mark Hughes

Two years ago I decided to stretch Valentine's Day out all year long. After cutting out 365 pink, red and white hearts from copy paper, I set out on the daunting yet loving task of placing a special message on each one.

Some were scripture notes from the Bible to give encouragement or verses that were special to me and by wife. Some were date notes: movie of your choice, dinner out, dinner fixed by me, a drive to the beach, etc. Some were chore or help notes: I do the dishes for a week, I'll clean the bathrooms, I'll watch the baby this weekend, etc. And some were sweet nothings: back rub, take a long bath, take a nap while I take the baby, let's look at our wedding photos and reminisce...

Once all the hearts had a message, each was folded and placed in a large jar decorated with appropriate Valentine's colors and shapes. I wrapped her special gift, which she opened and then placed on the counter where she could reach for each day's note, to be used at her discretion. It has been a simple yet wonderful way to keep us aware of each others needs.

MY SPECIAL VALENTINE

 

MY SPECIAL VALENTINE

Submitted by: Dianne Werthmuller

These are my ideas, I gave these to my husband for 3 different Valentines Days in past...

1) I found old games at garage sales (bought at next to nothing prices) and saved only the game pieces and cards (Monopoly was a score) I used the Monopoly "chance" cards - wrapped in red and listed for my hubby how he could exchange the card for, get out of an argument free, forgetfulness free card, I'm sorry card, etc. along with a handmade Valentine's card to him saying how I was glad I was married to him.

2) One year I made and laminated 2 ea. (2" x 3") cards printed with FREE PASS anytime, anywhere --were in small fine print and added this to my blonde brownies in heart basket. He has a pass to anywhere anytime (one was in case he lost one of them.) He really liked that card!

3) I found a small red mail box, addressed it to him with the flag up, and made up my own coupons (free manicure, free facial, free foot rub, free I'm Sorry, free day with the guys, free wash and wax, free 'I don't want to have to go to ________, free to do what I want to do day,etc. He used them all up for his special occasions! And I got the benefits of all those coupons too, because I love doting on him!

You can be creative and cost-conscious at the same time

FROM WORST TO BEST - VALENTINE'S

Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentines Day Ideas

 

 

FROM WORST TO BEST - VALENTINE'S

Submitted by: Amanda Williams My boyfriend is the world's worst gift giver. He either always forgets and goes out at the last minute, buys wilted flowers, or the worst chocolate ever. He doesn't mean to he just can't seem to get good gifts. Finally, last Valentine's Day, I decided that I was going to force him to get me a quality gift. We made a pact to actually make each other's gifts. I spent two whole days on his gift and card. I was getting kinda' nervous when the day before Valentine's Day I saw him cutting out little red and pink hearts from construction paper when I wasn't looking. Once Valentine's Day rolled around and since my guy had to work I spent most of the day home alone. I was kinda' depressed all day long as I thought of the gift he was going to give me. I know its the thought that counts, and that he always meant well, but around noon a delivery guy stopped by with a wilted rose for me. I was so upset. Aaron called me later from work and asked did I want to go out to dinner. I said sure and went to take a shower. After I got out I found a card under the edge of the bathroom door. When I opened the door there was no one there. I opened the envelope and inside was a hand made card with the red and pink heart glued to it. The card read, "Love is big, love is tall, look for me in the hall." So I went to the hallway and there taped to the wall was a second envelope and a rose. This time I was lead to the kitchen. There in the refrigerator was a third letter and a box of my favorite chocolates. I was then led to the bedroom, and a bed covered with petals. Fresh ones might I add. I was getting so excited. I the center of the bed I found one final letter. This letter led me out my balcony where my boyfriend sat with the dinner he had made at his sister's house earlier that day (he had taken the day off) lit by candlelight. He even had my favorite song playing in the background. It was the most romantic night of my life and it totally made up for all the bad gifts I had ever gotten.