WHY I LOVE

This post is sponsored by 1-800-Flowers but all opinions are my own! Thanks for loving the brands we love!

It's easy to make Valentine's Day all about the kids, the festivities and the treats, but ultimately, I want Collin to know how much he means to me on Valentine's Day.

 

14 Things I Love about Collin ... one for each day of Valentine's :)

1. He loves to dance and brings music into our house in the best way possible. 

2. He works harder than anyone I know. 

3. He's mildly OCD about most things, just enough to be endearing. 

4. His vacuum lines are a force to be reckoned with (see above). 

5. He's Justin Timberlake's biggest fan. 

6. He passed along those baby blues to 2/3 of our kids - PTL.

7. He listens. And adapts accordingly, whether it's parenting, marriage or just where the dishes go ;)

8. He wants to be better every day, and works towards that. He wants to do the same for others.

9. He requests the same three things for dinner every week: pizza, spaghetti, and grilled cheese. 

10. He no longer complains about how gross my car is or how messy my side of the closet is. 

11. He loves me for me (see above) and has never once tried to change me. 

12. He supports my ice cream habit and will gladly drive to the store for me at 9:00 pm if I'm out. 

13. He will sit on the couch sometimes and just browse through our family chatbooks... he oohs & awwws and really adores each photo. It's pretty sweet. 

14. He has dreams & goals for himself, but also for his children, which are well thought out and incredibly abundant. Dreams about them being good people and goals for them to make an impact in whatever way they choose. He really pours his heart into his family and we are better for it. 

Our friends at 1-800-Flowers are encouraging us to share #WHYILOVE this February ... and sharing the love with you! Use the link above & you will get 20% off a bouquet to send to someone you love ... all the way through February! Such an easy way to show someone you love them. 

The kids love to go online & pick out flowers for grandparents, best friends and anyone else who might need a little love - it's a fun surprise and such an easy way to make someone's day!

XO - Go show the love! 

Valentine's Favorites

The kids insist that since Christmas is over, they'll "never be happy again" until another holiday is here. And since I'm all about pleasing the people, I delivered the good news. Valentine's day is just around the corner, full of little heart notes, boat loads of candy and of course, all the red & pink we can find. We're really indulging this year, cause God forbid we have unhappy kids ;). 

I rounded up a few of my favorite Valentine's items I've seen around the ol' interwebs... this unicorn sweatshirt is already ours and same with those adorable little happy heart jammies. I'm a sucker for love. (whoa, that would be a CUTE valentine's card message with a lollipop attached!! )

ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE // SIX // SEVEN // EIGHT // NINE

 We spent our morning at Ikea and now I'm really feeling like I deserve an afternoon coffee and some serious time on the couch. A girl can dream, right?

TO MY LOVE ♥

While Valentine's Day isn't my favorite holiday (I prefer the other holiday associated with hohoho), I do love the meaning behind it. Love deserves a little parade every day of the year and I've certainly hit the jackpot when it comes to finding my very own love. 

Collin and I have been together for almost 9 years and I knew I loved him from the day I met him. Literally, the love-at-first-sight where you call your mom and tell her you met the man you will marry and you're already pregnant with his triplets. I mean, I'm not one to rush in to things, but... I knew he was the one I was waiting for and haven't had a doubt in my mind since that very moment. There's really nothing quite like the feeling of certainty. It's far & few between, but like gold when you stumble upon it. 

I love so many things about Collin but one of my favorites is likely his capacity to love people. He loves the most unlovable qualities of people, gives grace to those whom others have written off and doesn't just act like he cares, but truly does care. Collin goes out of his way to make people feel important, to make them feel valid, and eventually to feel loved. The circumstances of their situation are irrelevant and his greatest gift is giving people the benefit of the doubt. 

To be the biggest recipient of his love is one of my greater blessings in life. I've never questioned his love for me or our children a day in my life and while I have my fair share of inadequeaces, none of them make a mark on his rictor scale. 

Sometimes God gives us what we need most in the form we least expect. Collin is gentle-hearted, patient, slow-to-anger, and inclusive - all things I am not. He is the ying-to-my-yang, he is my person. 

Also, duly noted: Collin does a mean Michael Jackson dance routine, he's often "hangry", he loves sports, hates cookie dough (this one was a major red flag), and has a shoe collection that could rival any of yours. The kids ask all day when he will be home, as he's their favorite wrestling partner & "candy club" host. He's the apple of all of our eyes, and the 5:00 hero to our days. 

Happy Valentines Day to the one I love the most! xxoo  

Valentine's Round-Up

There's this strange sort of pressure for Valentine's Day gifts to have some sort love undertone. Chocolates - they should probably be heart shaped and bonus points for red filling #barf. Flowers - pink, red, or nothing, honey! And for the kids? If it isn't pink or 'hearty', don't even bother ;) Really though, it's a double edged sword - this expectation that valentines gifts are themed. On one hand, it really narrows down your choices, on the other hand ... there'a a bit of a hunt involved if you follow the rules. (ok i know their aren't 'rules' per-say, but come on...festive is in my blood).

Here's a few of our favorite, heart shaped, lovey dovey valentines treats for those you love.

First off...Farm Girl Flowers. While these beauties are only delivered in California (on bike or scooter - how cute!), they can serve as some fantastic inspiration. Because did you know that 90% (YES!) of people don't want red roses? Try a fresh and creative mixed bouquet instead ... peonies, ranunculus, cabbage!, and tulips are always winners. 

Rifle Paper always has the most amazing stuff, and this heart print is no exception. Not only is this perfect Valentine's Day decor, but can stay up all year! 

Next up? Llama Llama I Love You - these are my all time favorite kids books - because two llamas in love? #adora 

Now men...they're pretty much impossible to buy for on V-Day. But this leather key chain with a subtle embossed message - the perfect gift for "your bug". 

Freshly Picked Moccs - I've raved about these a billion times, but the neon pink are some of our personal favs and couldn't be a better gift for your little lady. Perfect for the impending spring 

(damn gopher or whatever it is says we have 6 more weeks of winter - so that's only slightly annoying...i swear that's such a publicity stunt...has he ever not seen his shadow?!) 

For your little man, this LOVE YOU nightlight is just the right amount love. Baylor lives & dies by his night lights in his room and would seriously love this light. 

And lastly, for anyone else in your life who deserves a little recognition (the nanas, the aunties, the sitters and the teachers), you really can't go wrong with Starbucks gift cards. Their designs are so cute for valentines and they even have little hearts on their cups right now. I'm not sure about you, but that seals the deal for festive ol' me. 

What's your go-to gifts for Valentine's Days - I need some more ideas!! #crunchtime

the story of a young casanova

First off, for those of you who watch the Bachelor...can I just get an AfreakinMEN that Tierrable is GONE. Cheers to no more heinous eyebrows. Moving right along ...  

One of my BFF's (yep, here we go again) got married last year to a Mr. Casanova, making her Mrs. Casanova. (You're probably wondering where the heck this is going...bare with me) How legit would it be to be  Mrs. Casanova?  Romance, luxury, love, mystery. Right? Whatevs. I wonder if the lady at the bank thinks she's married to a fierce spanish speaking casanova? Funny thing is, it's true! He's quite a charmer, that Nick.

ANYWAYS. Somehow, this post about my baby's valentines became about a hustling casanova. Ok, back to our agenda.

BAYLOR is what I'd like to call a young casanova. He is the only boy among heaps of little baby ladies. We had SO many friends give birth to baby girls last year and Baylor was the lone gent. SO, in honor of his manly baby status and the fact that he has lots of little girlfriends, Valentine's cards seemed like the perfect idea. Not to mention, we're trying to bring chivalry back around here (not sexy, chivalry, JUSTIN). Side note: How good was JT's performance at the Grammy's? I was about to go all home wrecker on Jessica Biel and make him mine! 

Baylor and I worked very hard on this little project and thanks to his teething, he had lots of extra drool to seal the envelopes nice & tight. Makin' lemonade out of lemons around here, people.

FIRST, we had to come up with a photo concept, so we made a charming little onesie.

Getting a photo of him in the onesie where he wasn't lunging forward for a piece of fuzz on the floor was likely the biggest challenge of them all. Even greater than preventing him from eating everyone's valentines.

Once we got the [not so] perfect photo, I pulled together a little somethin' and VOILA, we had valentines!

Off to all the little ladies they go! (And the Nanas, Gammys & Aunties!)