This month is all about celebrating love and friendship: it is the perfect time to shower your family and friends with gifts from the heart and gifts of your time.
Waylon H Lewis quote
Good morning friends, yesterday was Ground Hog day and Phil predicted that we were going to see 6 more weeks of winter Many of you, including most of my family, are shoveling out from 6-10 inches of snow so I would guess that you are not happy with the groundhog. Honestly, I am not ready for winter to be over(then again I am not shoveling snow), I want to enjoy the rest of my nesting season.
Heart shaped cookies
The good news is that it is February and there is a lot to celebrate this month: Valentine’s Day, National Dark Chocolate Day, National Pizza Day, International Friendship Day, Black History Month, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, to name just a few things(see more here).
Vintage French Post Cards
February is the month of love..
Valentine’s Day is not a holiday that everyone enjoys or even celebrates and some even refer to it as a ‘Hallmark Holiday’, perhaps because it is synonymous with romantic love and grand gestures. But I like to think of Valentine’s Day and the month of February as a time to celebrate ALL of the people in my life.
What about you? Are you a “fan” of Valentine’s Day? Do you think if it as a Hallmark holiday?
C.S. Lewis Quote Pinecones & Acorns
Who Should You Celebrate During the Month of Love and Friendship?
- You
- Family and Friends
- Strangers
Angelita Lim Quote
How to Show Love During the Month of February
To Yourself
Make time for self-love and self-care. Be sure to get enough rest, get your vitamin D by getting outside at least 20 minutes a day, eat well and hydrate. Water is good for your skin, hair, organs and mind and during the winter our skin dries out because of the dry air, so we need to replenish it. If you do not think you are drinking enough water here are 5 easy ways to drink more.
Relax, read, regroup. Treat yourself this month to some of the little things that make you happy; a bath with your favorite pampering products and a glass of wine while you soak away the cares of the day. A cup of coffee with a friend, or a day of pampering at the spa. A weekend streaming movies in your jammies and your favorite take-out meal. There are so many ways to show ourselves love, we just have to remember that we deserve to be loved and treated as well as we treat others. Last but not least, practice gratitude.
Valentine’s Day Chocolate Cake with Buttercream icing
Family, Friends, Significant Other
The most heartfelt gift that you can give your loved ones in your time, it is priceless. Go for a drive(this one of my favorite things to do with my mom), visit your old house or neighborhood and reminisce about the past.
Plan an adventure with your kids, maybe a hike or a scavenger hunt. Have family game day or do a puzzle together.
Bake or cook a favorite dessert or meal. Baking is my “love language” and if you receive a gift from me it is from my heart and from my kitchen. You could make these candy favors with your kids or if you are not a baker how about this fabulous candy and cookie board?
Plant a garden or some pots of herbs or bulbs(if it’s too cold)with your kids or create a fairy garden.
Make or send cards and letters by snail mail.
Call friends and family, share a Zoom Valentine’s Day party.
Say “I Love You.”
Dalai Lama quote
Strangers
Show love to others by acts of kindness.
Volunteer for a cause that is close to your heart. Donate blood.
Spring clean and give your gently used things to a shelter, church, or an organization in need.
Take treats to your neighbors, offer to pick up their groceries, or shovel the snow.
Spread Love
Take some time this month to spread kindness, love, gratitude and friendship, it makes each and every day of our lives so much better.
Love Quote Pinecones & Acorns
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
As I mentioned above I think the best gifts are gifts from the heart. That said, here are a few of my favorite gifts to give on Valentine’s Day.
- Books, coffee table books, the latest bestseller and of course a romance novel
- Candles
- Perfume
- Bath Salts or Bubble Bath
- Cards
Valentines Gift Ideas
For my husband(who has everything), I make him a chocolate dessert, this year it will be a German chocolate cake and I give him a card. More often than not I do not give him a gift unless I find something really special. At this point in our lives we have everything we need and more, not to mention the fact that if he finds something he wants he just buys it.
Valentines Day watercolor
I like to send and give love and gifts all year long, not just on Valentines day to let my friends and family know that although they are far away they are still in my thoughts.
Remember this friends, in every relationship you get out of it what you put into it. So ask yourself this, are nurturing the relationships in your life that are important to you? If not maybe that is something to work on this year.
What do you typically give or like to receive for Valentine’s Day? Do you prefer to give flowers or chocolates?
Have a great afternoon.
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Elizabeth I didn't know you had grandkids! And what a great post, you are so thoughtful. I do celebrate Valentines with my Dad too–in addition to Jim. And I have a traditional V-Day dinner party with some close friends. So it's become a fun holiday. Thanks for the great suggestions, I want to look at the recipe for that cake, I love chocolate!!
ox
Leslie
One thing I avoid on Valentine's day is going out to eat. Restaurants are too busy.
Back in grade school, I found distributing Valentines to be so exciting. But the French don't really do Valentine's day. Chocolates and flowers but not cards.
Admittedly it's not a day that I mark.
Elizabeth, was it you who recommended “The Second Mrs. Astor”? Just finished it and it was fabulous!
I love Valentine’s Day and I’m blessed with a husband who is a romantic. He knows I love traditional Valentine’s Day gifts – the truffles in the heart-shaped velvet box, the red roses.
He likes calendars, so I got him a perpetual one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1161705201/paulownia-wood-perpetual-block-calendar?click_key=c048905a0955b9d439241da8bda131f8b069a413%3A1161705201&click_sum=3d734772&ref=shop_home_active_6
I wear red all month long, and wear red lipstick and rose scented perfume and lotion.
We live in a tiny town and one of our local cafes (normally only serves breakfast) is putting on a 5 course candlelit dinner. So charming! We’ll dress up and go to that.
Off to get a red mani/pedi! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Amy, I love this. I am loved the Second Mrs. Astor! There are so many good books out and not enough time to read them.
My husband is very romantic and always writes me a beautiful card, paints me a picture and finds something I mentioned and forgot about. I have never been a jewelry person, although I like it I rarely wear it. I am happiest if you buy me a book, something to use while baking(a hand made rolling pin) or take me for a pizza!
Make sure to let me know about the 5 course dinner! I cannot wait to hear what they served and how you liked it. Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for always sharing your beautiful life!
Aw, have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Here’s the cute Valentine’s menu at our local cafe:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcHyolug79/
I love this post and quotes.
This post and quotes are so great. Love them.
Thank you
Receiving baked goods is my love language lol! Love the heart cookies.
That is the perfect love language! Thank you.
I do like St. Valentine’s Day, mostly because it’s a bright spark during the mostly dreary, damp days of February!
I dug out my string of tiny heart lights and have wrapped them about the bust of Diana the Huntress here on the table, and tossed a few wooden hearts about – so not a lot of Valentine decor.
Lovely ideas, pix, poems, food here Elizabeth, thanks for sharing. I have a card for my love and, like you, will probably mix up a batch of something chocolatey. . . . . . .or, if I’m lazy, toss on my red coat, Dior red lipstick (under the mask of course), and head to the bakery for a small chocolate cake!
Happy days ahead – stay warm dear.
P.S. May look for a red mask – one with hearts and red lips perhaps, haha!!!!!
We usually celebrate Valentine’s Day at home and my husband cooks. When I was teaching,, I loved giving my students candy on Valentine’s Day.
Paula, I can only imagine what an amazing teacher you were. Happy Valentines day!
To me Valentine’s is a hallmark holiday, but it doesn’t bother me like Christmas does.
William I hope that you have a great night!
I just LOVE LOVE LOVE everything you shared about Galentine’s Day, and Valentine’s Day too. I am like you I so
enjoy spreading the love. I am a card person, last year I made cards for my Galentine friends. This year I ran out of
time, so they are all manufactured. It’s the thought that counts. I bet you enjoy the day too.
Katherine, I love cards, sending them and receiving them. I think it makes people feel special when they receive a card in the mail, or a box. Thank you for your kind compliment.
Why not have a day, a month to focus on love which spills into kindness and hopefully a measure of grace toward each other. Thanks for a good post!
Linda, you are so right!
Yes!!!! I love this post so much! It’s such a timely reminder of all that is good in this world!
Happy day rock star!
KariAnne
Thank you KariAnne! Have a great day friend!