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Posts Tagged ‘valentine’

No. 7 { Happy Valentine’s Day! }

Posted in Lists, The Holidays, tagged , , , , , , , on February 14, 2012 | 2 Comments »

♥

Make something together to display in your home!

You’ll spend time with one another while you make the item, and then for the rest of your lives together { or as long as you decide to keep it displayed } you’ll be reminded of that time you spent together and how productive you can be when you work together. Ryan + I had tons of fun yesterday making a rolling rack a la Kate via Design Sponge. It only took us a few minutes to put everything together — much longer to actually find all of the pieces in the hardware store!

More pictures to follow of the finished product! We just love the way that it turned out. But for now, we’re going to swing by Coffee By Design for some coffees, then ramble around the city looking at the bevy of valentines that the Bandit has left for us this year — so excited! This is my favourite thing about Portland. I absolutely can’t wait!

Also, Christine of the blog Metroboulottricot gave one of my Valentine’s Day ideas a try and shared her photos here. Check it out if you’re interested in seeing how someone else pulled together the monthly date envelopes idea! I have had lots of fun planning these 7 ways and I’m terribly flattered that some of you have given them a try. Thanks for sharing, Christine!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

xx.

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No. 5!

Posted in Lists, Music, The Holidays, tagged , , , , , , on February 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

♥

Make more mixtapes { yes, still! }

Sure, mixtapes may have been a huge hit amongst teens in the ’80s, but the mix — not necessarily in tape form — is an excellent way to show someone how you feel about them. These days a CD or a playlist is probably more relevant. Either way, it’s the thought that counts! To some this may seem cliche, but you don’t have to make a big deal about it. I make mixes all the time for us to listen to in the car or while we’re bumming around the house. Making an effort to scout out potential new favourite songs for the one you love is a sweet and thoughtful way to show them 1. that you know them + pay attention to their tastes, and 2. that you care.

I made a Valentine’s Day playlist packed with sweet + romantic songs. I can’t wait to listen to it with my Mr. on Tuesday! The best part about having a distinct song or playlist that you hear often during a certain period of time is that you start to associate the two. Wouldn’t it be lovely if your honey popped in the mix you made them later on in the year and happily reflected upon the time you’d spent together this February? Choose songs that remind you of them and plenty of new gems you know they’ll like! Happy mix making!

Check back for two more ways!

xx.

No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 6

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No. 3 Way To Make Valentine’s Day Last All Year

Posted in Lists, The Holidays, tagged , , , , , , , on February 5, 2012 | 3 Comments »

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Surprise your love by doing his/her chore!

If there are certain things that your partner always tends to do { for example: Ryan always does the laundry, but I always do the vacuuming/cleaning } surprise them by doing this chore instead! There’s nothing more romantic than having an unintended night off because your partner was kind enough to do it as a surprise. Do this every so often when your honey deserves a night off, or when you’re particularly happy to have them around, and then you’ll be sure to make Valentine’s Day last.

The element of surprise is key here, though. If you come to expect that the other person is going to take care of things, then it won’t seem as special. When I decide to do this, I like to do Ryan’s chore before he comes home from work, when he’s in the shower, or if he steps out of the house for something. That way when he goes to do the dishes or what-have-you, he’ll find them already done and be completely blown away!

Check back soon for four more ways to make it last!

xx.

P.s. Here are No. 1 + No. 2!

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No. 1 Way To Make Valentine’s Day Last

Posted in Lists, The Holidays, Writing, tagged , , , , , , on January 29, 2012 | 4 Comments »

♥

Get in the habit of writing love letters.

This is something that Ryan is really good at. He often leaves me little notes to welcome me home from work or to tell me that he’s thinking of me while he’s away. I think about him often, too, but for some reason it never occurs to me to write it down! That’s why one of the things I want to work on to make Valentine’s Day last all year is this:

I started by penning this message the other day. From here on out, every time I have a little thought about our future, or a sweet memory from our past, I’m going to try to jot it down and leave it somewhere for him to find { think lunchbox, pillow top, pockets }. It’s so nice to know that you’re being thought of, thus, this doesn’t have to only be for a partner. Try this for a family member that you love, or a co-worker that deserves a “thank you”!

One of the best things about Valentine’s Day is that it encourages us to be deliberate in our expression. When life gets in the way, it’s easy to forget to tell your partner that you really love them { and why }, even if you think it and feel it often. But, everyone needs to hear these things sometimes. And when it’s written down you have a great chance to really consider what makes your partner and your relationship so special and choose your words accordingly. Your notes, though, don’t always have to be formal! Even just scribbling something on the back of a receipt, on a chalkboard, or a calendar will get the sentiment across.

Stay tuned for six more ways!

xx.

No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 | No. 5 | No. 6

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Valentine’s Day Is Nearing!

Posted in Music, Portland, The Holidays, tagged , , , , , , on January 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

♥

Do you have any plans in mind for your darling?

I have tons of plans! I really love Valentine’s Day so I’ve been brainstorming ways to make it last all year. There are seven projects I’ve come up with that I’m going to share with you over the next couple of weeks. Ryan + I get really into seasons and holidays and love celebrating together. I can’t wait to share our ideas with you!

 

To get you in gear for the upcoming Valentine’s Day features, I pulled together >> this playlist <<. Please enjoy it while you cook a delicious dinner, make a cutesy card to give away to your darling or your best friend, or while you celebrate the holiday in whatever way you so choose. I also wanted to share with you the story of Portland’s Valentine’s Day Bandit! This is one of the things that makes me love this holiday so much:

It was 1976 when the Valentine’s Day Bandit first struck our salty city by the sea. But unlike other bandits, he did not steal, damage, or otherwise harm any public property – instead he covered the city with a flurry of red paper hearts, spreading the love on Valentine’s Day. Since then, we’ve awoken every February the 14th to find our town once again plastered with hearts.

I can remember my first time experiencing this fond phenomenon (as I am not a native of Maine). I was charmed and delighted on my morning walk to work by the way that this city seemed to love me. Every shop window and lamp post burst forth with love; our city seemed to be splitting at the seams with admiration for its inhabitants.

For decades this tradition has continued. And as if covering an entire city in paper hearts was not task enough, the bandit has begun to add other towns across the United States to his route, notably: Montpelier, Vermont, and Boulder, Colorado. It seems he is taking a page from Santa’s book! One has to wonder, will our Portland hero make his way into the hearts of the rest of the world one loving city at a time?

And after all of these years, no one has figured out who the Bandit is! It’s one of our city’s great mysteries. Last year the Portland Fire Department showed their support for the Bandit by flying a red heart flag above their Congress Street station! Check out the Wikipedia article, and also my photos from last year, and a flickr set from another Portlander in 2006!

Or, come + visit this Valentine’s Day to see for yourself!

xx.

P.s. Don’t feel guilty buying yourself some little Valentine’s Day treats, either. Who says you can enjoy this holiday on your own? Make it special for yourself!

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