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7 Easy Tips for Celebrating Galentine’s Day

February 9 By American Greetings

Galentine's Day

They’re your secret-keepers, your supportive soul sisters, your ride or die:  your gal pals that mean the world to you. So naturally, having a celebration devoted to appreciating them for all they do is a fantastic one, and what better way than to have a Galentine’s Day celebration?

What is Galentine’s Day? We’re not even going to touch this one, when Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) of Parks and Recreation fame sums it up perfectly:

It’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands
and boyfriends at home, and we come and kick it breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies.
It’s like Lilith Fair minus the angst…plus frittatas!

From that moment in 2010, a fictional holiday gave birth to a real-life tradition with an almost fanatic following, with women everywhere declaring that this needed to be a real thing. And why not? What could better than getting together with the women you love and admire to celebrate friendship and gratitude for each other in a fun and meaningful way, complete with (let’s face it) two favorite food groups? Fizzy cocktails and whipped cream (not necessarily in that order).

So whether you’re into brunchin’, lunchin’, or midnight munchin’, we’re hooking you up with some simple tips for paying homage to your squad on Feb 13th that will definitely deliver all the feels to the girls who run your world.

Your Galentine’s Day party planning checklist

Galentine's Day

1. Invites —party’s at your place! (Or restaurant, or wherever you and the gals like to hang).Grab some invitations and announce to your she-ros that you’re hosting a Galentine’s Day gathering to celebrate female friendship!

2. Gifts for your guests. If you’re thinking of handing out gifts to the gals, check out our gift guide for some fun and thoughtful ideas that will make them feel special.

Galentine's Day3. Favors that leave a lasting impression. You can scour Pinterest for hours for tons of fun ideas, but we love the idea of giving a feeling that will never fade. Head to your party supply store for heart-shaped balloons for each of your guests. Before filling with helium, write one thing you love about each guest on a paper heart and fold it up tight. Insert into your balloon (use a funnel and push through with erasure side of a pencil!), fill with helium, and add a ribbon. (Be sure to keep track of whose balloon is whose by using different colored balloons or attaching different colored ribbons. Not only will the balloons add to your décor, but guests can later pop their balloon at home to receive your meaningful message – priceless.

4. Get your groove on. Prep a music playlist about friends, or include songs that have stories behind them that you shared with various ladies in attendance. (You know you have them. Like the time you walked out of the bathroom at the diner with your skirt tucked into your underwear just as “Girl on Fire” came on the radio.)

Galentine's Day5. Bring on the bubbly. It’s never too early for champagne (it’s practically the new orange juice),

so if you’re kickin’ it brunch style, Mimosas are an easy way to go. If you want something red and berry-ish to suit the mood, try rosé sparkling wine and add raspberries or pomegranate. Another easy choice is orange vodka, cranberry juice, and club soda topped with orange slices. Plus, these can easily be made non-alcoholic by simply leaving out the alcohol. (But we didn’t; just saying.)

6. A toast to friendship. (clink clink!) A few words to warm the heart always make for a meaningful moment. If you want to go straight for the jugular, you might try something like: “It’s around the table that friends understand best, the warmth of being together” – Anonymous.
Or, go for fun: “True friendship is when you walk into their house and your WiFi connects automatically” – Author Unknown (internet probably). We can hook you up with even more ideas if you hop over to our What to Write page. These ideas work well as a toast in addition
to messages you can write in your cards. (Cue all the feels!)

Galentine's Day7. Cards for everyone! What would Galentine’s Day be without a “tine” for every gal? (We just made that up. It’s the fizzy drinks). Of course, you’ll probably want to make sure each person
in attendance is given a warm expression of how much they mean, and since you just saw our What to Write ideas, you’re all set! Simply head pick your favorite cards here. Or, you might want to give everyone a Thank You card for coming and, more importantly, for being the good friend you feel so lucky to have.   

Galentine's DayOur girlfriends are like our second family. These days, with the world spinning faster every second (so it seems), it’s important to keep them close, and a little gratitude goes a long way
in showing them how much they mean to us.

Leslie Knope said, “Anytime a group of women get together, we embody the spirit of the holiday.” We’ll go one further and add that ‘we embody the spirit of friendship.’
Cheers to yours — Happy Galentine’s Day!

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Filed Under: Tips, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Galentine's Day, Tips

Valentine’s Day Tips For Better Communication In Our Relationships

January 30 By American Greetings

A Chat with Koren Bierfeldt, LPCC

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s all about the emotions as we celebrate the people who matter most to us. And rightly so, because our relationships provide us with all the things that make life meaningful, and joyful, and amazing!

But we also know that relationships can be… well, a bit more complicated at times, too. Love is certainly not the only emotion involved, and relationships can take a heck of a lot of work—just keeping it real. So just why is it that the very same people we love so much can sometimes make us feel frustrated or misunderstood? How can we care about someone so deeply, but at times also feel confused or disconnected from them? How do we navigate through the emotions of our relationships and try to improve them—so we can focus on the happy stuff more often? What gives?

Lucky for us, we‘ve had the most insightful chat with Holistic Therapist & Relationship Expert, Koren Bierfeldt — to help us understand why this is the case.

With close to 20 years experience Koren helps us understand the nuances of miscommunication and why it’s crucial to have good communication to grow healthy, fulfilling relationships — and keep our meaningful connections in tip-top shape. Read on to discover how Koren works with couples to help transform their relationships and get tips on how you can show your loved ones how much they mean to you!


Koren, it seems you really enjoy what you do — how did you get started in such an impactful career? 

Like a lot of people, when I was a teenager I went through some very difficult times. I turned to a psychologist for help and she made an incredible difference in my life. She was a great role model, and that’s when I became really excited about the idea of being able to help others and touch lives in such a profound and positive way.

Can you give us a glance into how you work with people and help them connect with each other?

I really love working with couples and families, because I believe that relationships are our greatest gift. As people learn how to communicate effectively and how to resolve conflict in healthy ways their closest relationships can be strengthened, uplifted, and healed. I teach my clients how to honor each other’s differences and needs, and how to accept ownership for their own actions and reactions.  They learn how to truly listen to one another, and to communicate with appreciation for each other.

Why is effective communication important in maintaining healthy relationships with the people we love?

Being able to communicate effectively is one of the most important things you can do to have successful and fulfilling relationships. Caring, connected, supportive relationships are built on trust, honesty, openness, and mutual respect. Working together in love toward the common goal of an improved relationship can be deeply transformative and can greatly enhance intimacy, connectivity, and understanding. When we feel heard and understood in our closest relationships we experience greater joy in all aspects of our lives.
A chat with Koren Bierfeldt

Can you share any interesting facts about communication, understanding, and how these affect our physical or mental well-being?

Research has shown that poor communication skills are the number one reason for conflict in relationships. And a lack of adequate repair following an argument is the biggest contributor to marital unhappiness and divorce.

Studies have also shown that people who have satisfying relationships with family, friends, and community are happier, have fewer health problems, and actually live longer. Scientists also found that having relationships that make us feel connected and understood helps relieve harmful levels of stress. It also improves coronary function, insulin regulation, and our immune systems. Conversely, lacking healthy social connections can be associated with depression and later-life cognitive decline, as well as increased mortality.

One study (J. Holt-Lunstad, T.B. Smith & JB Layton, Brigham Young University) examined data from close to 309,000 people, finding people lacking strong relationships had a significantly higher mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day— also greater than obesity and physical inactivity. So, we see how important meaningful relationships really can be.

Valentine's Day Tips for Better Communication Tips in Our Relationships

But Koren, sometimes our relationships can be soooo difficult to navigate. Why is it that so often our actions don’t align with what we feel inside?

There are different reasons why someone’s behavior may not align with how they really feel. Some people are afraid of conflict and avoid expressing their thoughts or emotions in fear of causing an argument or hurting the other person. Others choose to behave passive aggressively and say they’re fine, when they are really hurt or angry. Some believe that if they lose control of their emotions others will think they are weak or vulnerable – we call that “emotional perfectionism.” People may also be afraid of rejection and repress their feelings because they’re afraid of abandonment or ending up alone. All of these behaviors cause harm to relationships and create disconnection with loved ones. But acknowledging our feelings and addressing them honestly is the best way to move forward toward health and happiness.

Can you offer any advice for people who might struggle to express their emotions?

When I’m working with someone who has a hard time expressing their feelings, I usually ask them to think about what it is they want most. If the answer is that they want a deeper level of connection and intimacy in their relationships, then they have to be willing to speak authentically even when it’s difficult, which takes courage. I also ask them to really consider the price they are paying when they choose not to express themselves. Because there are lots of ways we can share our feelings with someone, whether by acts of kindness, saying it directly to them, or even writing it down for them to read — of course, greeting cards make emotional expression so much easier!

Communication overall has changed in recent years – have these cultural changes made communication more or less effective in your opinion?

We now live in an age where so much of our communication takes place digitally. When we wake up in the morning we immediately reach for our devices and then use them to stay connected with everyone, the whole day. I think there are pros and cons to this.

Instant communication, connection and social media have boosted our ability to engage with a broader social network—with updates and significant events happening not just in our friends and family’s lives, but also those with whom we might not otherwise stay connected. Which can be good. The downside is that we’re often not as present or connected with those who are right in front of us—often the people who matter the most. In-person and verbal communication can often have far greater emotional value than anything that can be conveyed electronically. For example, we can’t hear the tone or softness in someone’s voice when they tell us they love us in a text. We can’t feel the sincerity of emotion as intensely when we aren’t able to look into our loved ones’ eyes as they express their feelings. And that’s all very important.

It seems like you really make a difference, Koren – so what’s the very best part about what you do?

I get to help people heal their relationships and lead healthier, happier lives. I’ve witnessed many beautiful transformations over the years. What could be better than that?

Valentine's Day Tips for Better Communication

Okay, last thing — Valentine’s Day is almost here. Any thoughts on how people can make this the best Valentine’s Day ever for their loved one?

That’s a great question! It makes me think about the fact that people have different ways of experiencing and receiving love. Some people feel most connected through physical touch or affection. For others, the most important thing is spending quality time together. My suggestion on how to make this a special Valentine’s Day would be to really think about what makes your loved one feel most connected, special, and loved. If you’re not sure, ask them!  That’s their personal love language. Then plan a special way to tell them and show them – give them an experience, a card, or a gift centered around meeting their most heartfelt needs.

Care to share a favorite Valentine’s Day memory before you leave?

My love language, the type of communication I appreciate most, is verbal affirmation. I feel most loved when people communicate their feelings verbally or in written form, and really listen when I’m expressing myself.

One of the best gifts my husband gave me was to take me to a coffee shop in a bookstore. He gave me a beautiful card that expressed his feelings about our marriage. Then he said, “Today, you can talk about whatever you want and I will give you my full attention. If you want to get a book and discuss it, I’ll spend the afternoon doing that with you. If you want to process your feelings about our relationship, I will listen deeply.” Then he proceeded to tell me all of the reasons that he loved me. I was in complete heaven! I know that, for him, this was not a fun way to spend an afternoon. He would much rather have gone to a sporting event or out with friends. But he took the time to think about what would make me feel most loved and cherished. There isn’t any gift that I can think of that has ever meant more to me than that day.


So, whether face-to-face, hand in hand, digitally, or through written messages, it’s important to remember that speaking from the heart is key—not only in this season of love, but every day.

Saying “I love you” is always a great way to go, of course! But if that seems a little tricky to you, our writers have offered suggestions on finding the right words for you. Check out these tips for what to write in a Valentine’s Day card — and make sure to tell the person you love how important they really are.

Learn more about Koren Bierfeldt and how communication can improve your relationships at www.korenbierfeldt.com. 

 

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Filed Under: Inspiration, Love, Valentine's Day

How to Make Tissue Paper Flower Pens

April 6 By American Greetings

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Tissue paper flower pens are a fun, inexpensive and easy way to make someone a gift from the heart. For less than $1.00 per pen, you can create a festive keepsake that’s sure to make them smile—without breaking your wallet. And the best news is, you don’t have to be super crafty to make one!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. Pens (straight ones without a clip work the best)
  2. Tissue paper
  3. Curling ribbon
  4. Double-sided tape
  5. Scissors

 

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Lay a single piece of tissue paper flat and smooth it out.  Fold it in half four times, smoothing it out each time to avoid wrinkles.
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Take your scissors and free-hand cut a cloud shape, cutting through all layers of tissue paper at the same time. It doesn’t matter if it’s perfectly symmetrical or that it resembles a perfect flower-shape. (In fact, we found that the uneven cloud-shape gives you a fuller look.)

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Take your stack of petal-clouds and restack them on top of each other, flipping some of them over and rotating them around so that they’re in an uneven stack, not perfectly one-on-top of each other.

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Use the tip of your pen and press down on your stack of petals. Carefully pull the petals up 2-3 layers at a time onto the handle of the pen.AG_FB_LINK_Tissue_Paper_Flower_Pen

Once all of the tissue paper is pulled onto the pen, wrap the flat end of the pen in double-sided tape. Pull up a single piece of tissue paper and gently press it onto the tape from several sides. Gently squeeze the tissue paper to pull it all close together.

Now you pull all of your petals a few at a time towards the end of the pen.  Gently pull your petals through your thumb and index finger to smooth them out and bring the flower together.

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Holding the flower between your thumb and index finger, wrap the very base of the flower in double-sided tape. Apply double-sided tape length-wise down both sides of the pen and wrap the base of it as well. Then starting at the base of the flower, wrap the pen in the green curling ribbon.

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Move slowly and overlap it so that the pen is completely wrapped in ribbon. When you reach the base of the pen, cut of the excess curling ribbon. If the ribbon feels loose at the tip, you can tuck another piece of double-sided tape under the tail end of the ribbon for extra security.

 

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And there you have it–an adorable tissue paper pen, perfect for celebrating any occasion! If you want to make a dozen, it will take about two packages of tissue paper and about a roll and a half of curling ribbon, keeping the total cost of this project under $1/pen.

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Still need some extra help? Watch our full video tutorial below:

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Filed Under: Anniversary, Baby Showers, Congratulations, Crafting, DIY, Easter, Easter, Friendship, Fun activities, Gift ideas, How-to, Inspiration, Other, Quirky Holidays, Valentine's Day, Videos

Printable Valentine’s Day Shopping List

February 2 By American Greetings

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If Valentine’s Day seems to be sneaking up on you, you’re not alone. The holiday is fast approaching, and it can be hard to stay organized when there’s a lot to be done – treats to make for class parties, finding valentines for your kids to exchange with friends, picking out the perfect Valentine’s Day cards for everyone on your list, etc.  Speaking of lists, we thought we’d do our part to help keep you organized with this fun, (and FREE) printable Valentine’s Day shopping list.

This sweet printable includes a shopping list so you won’t forget anything you need, and open notes section to write down extra reminders, and adorable little love notes you can cut out and leave in lunch boxes, school folders, or around the house for your sweetie.

Printable Valentine's Day Shopping List

Pin these printables today!
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Filed Under: Inspiration, Printable, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Printable Valentine's Day Notes, Printable Valentine's Day Shopping List, Valentine's Day Card

Happy February! (Free Desktop/Mobile Backgrounds)

February 2 By American Greetings

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It’s February–home to one of the sweetest holidays of all—Valentine’s Day!

To keep your New Year going in the right direction, we thought we’d create a wallpaper to remind you of all the new opportunities and experiences that await you in 2017. You can download this free, beautiful background on your desktop and mobile device, and even set it as your Facebook cover photo.

We hope this background inspires you every time you look at your phone or computer screen! Happy February!

February 2017 Calendar

 

2560 x 1440 / 1680 x 1050 / 1440 x 900 / 1280 x 800 /

Mobile Background / Facebook Cover Photo

Click here for directions on how to change your backgrounds.

Pin this download today!
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Filed Under: Desktop Calendar, Downloadable Background, Valentine's Day Tagged With: February 2017 Calendar, February Calendar, February Desktop and Mobile Backgrounds

Free Printable February Calendar

January 31 By American Greetings

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February is here, and if you’ve walked around any store, or browsed any website recently, you know Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! But beyond Valentine’s Day, there are several other fun holidays celebrated throughout the month. We’ve created a Free, Printable February Calendar for you to print out and mark with these holidays, as well as upcoming birthdays you want to remember, and any other important dates you want to make note of.

 Printable February Calendar Other holidays we think you might enjoy celebrating in February include:
Groundhog Day (2/2)
Do you think Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow? Make a fun family bet!

Make a Friend Day (2/11)
It’s always great to make new friends. Try talking to someone you don’t know so well today, and talk to the little ones in your life about the importance of making new friends.

Random Acts of Kindness Day (2/17)
We love this day. Treat a friend or coworker to a cup of coffee, or leave a little note of gratitude for someone special.

National Drink Wine Day (2/18)
Red? White? Rose? Cheers to this fun holiday!

The 89th Academy Awards (2/26)
Whether you’re planning on going to an Oscar party, or watching in your pj’s, this always an exciting night!

Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday (2/28)
Eat, drink, and have fun on this day of celebration!

Pin the calendar!
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Filed Under: Calendar, Printable Calendar, Printables, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Free Printable February Calendar, Printable February Calendar

What to write in a Valentine’s Day card

January 27 By American Greetings

 

What to Write in a Valentine's Day card

Thoughts from American Greetings Writing Studio Creative Director Rochelle Lulow…

Real Love…Real Life

We’ve been creating Valentine’s Day cards for a long time–and along the way, we’ve seen the words we use to talk about love have changed, too. Today’s romantic relationships are about “real love” and “real life.” Being in love isn’t something that you are in, or fall into – it’s something that you do. It’s about everyday living, and the little things you do for (and with!) each other that mean the most. Like a goodbye kiss as you head out the door, and saying “I love you” when you say goodnight… it’s the little ways you share love every day!

Love is Ever Changing

Our romantic relationships start out new and evolve into stronger bonds as time goes by. That means we may say, and feel, different things as our relationship grows. From playfulness to passion, to commitment and endurance, and everything in between – from how it all started to what it has become – that’s the where the things you want to say in a card come from.

What to write in a Valentine’s Day card–

When it comes to what you want to say, these ideas might help…

  • Think back to when you first met, maybe a special time you’ve shared, or look at favorite photos, and think about how these things make you feel…try putting that feeling into words…that becomes the “story” you write.
  • Try playing songs that make you think of that person…it’s a great backdrop that can set the mood for writing.
  • Create a list of words that describe the person or special things about him, or her, that you love – those words are great ideas for what you might want to say.
  • Think of it as a conversation… like you would be talking to that person…the words will come easier that way, and will be said the way you would say it.
  • Just before you sign it, try writing your own ending, like “Forever in love with you,” “I love you, and I love us,” or “You’re my everything”…it brings a meaningful wrap up to your thoughts.
  • Write as much, or as little, as you’d like…it’s not about how long it is…it’s about how meaningful it is…a few simple sentences that describes that person, how grateful you are, and everything that you love about that person is what matters!

Love and life go hand in hand. You’re in it together–caring, sharing, hugging, holding, laughing, crying, trusting, supporting, and loving each other through it all… Because that’s what real love is!

Wishing you love, Rochelle

Still need some help? We’ve got you covered. From funny to sweet, romantic to risque, we have a great selection of Valentine’s Day cards you can print at home. Click here to view our collection!

Printable Valentines

 

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Filed Under: Valentine's Day, What to write Tagged With: Valentine's Day Cards, What to write, what to write in a Valentine's Day card

Free Valentine’s Day Printable Quote

January 27 By American Greetings

 

Free Valentine's Day Printable Quote

Valentine’s Day is coming up on Sunday, February 14th and to celebrate, we created this free printable Valentine’s Day quote just for you! This free printable artwork is perfect to frame and give as a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift or display in your home as holiday decor–and a lovely reminder of what’s really important in life!

Download and print this free Valentine’s Day quote PDF HERE to make a lovely gift they can display all year round!

Looking for other great ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Click here for date ideas, sweet treats, crafts and more! 

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Filed Under: Downloadables, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Free printable quote, Love Quote, printable quote, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day printable quote

Free Valentine’s Day Desktop Wallpaper!

January 24 By American Greetings

Free Valentine's Day Desktop Wallpaper

Hello, friends!

With winter weather and record-level snowstorms blowing across the country, we thought we would help you make your computer, phone or social media just a little more cozy–just in time for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy this set of free Valentine’s Day desktop wallpaper as a little gift from us to you.

Desktop Backgrounds:
Click here for our Valentine’s Day desktop wallpaper (2560×1440)
Click here for our Valentine’s Day desktop wallpaper (1680×1050)
Click here for our Valentine’s Day desktop wallpaper (1440×900)
Click here for our Valentine’s Day desktop wallpaper (1280×800)

Cell Phone Background:
Click here for our Valentine’s Day phone wallpaper

Facebook Cover Photo:
Click here for our Valentine’s Day Facebook Cover photo

Need help installing this? Click here!

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Our favorite romantic movies

February 13 By American Greetings

Our Favorite Romantic Movies

What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with dinner and a movie? But this year, give a twist to this old standby date by mixing it up a bit. Choose an exciting new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try instead, or plan a fun picnic (complete with candles, if you like) in your own living room. Then carefully select just the right film—one that best suits your relationship—to perfectly round out the evening.

Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a mischievous imp, our diehard, movie-loving Valentine’s Day crew want to help by offering up a few suggestions. And if you’ve got any other favorite movies to add to our list, please let us know in the comments below!

  • Traditional: Perfect for the romantic at heart in your life, these films capture the essence of everlasting love.
    • Casablanca, Say Anything, Hope Floats, The Notebook, Dirty Dancing, Titanic, When Harry Met Sally…, Ever After
  • Guaranteed Laughs: Equal parts flirty and fun, a good romantic comedy offers a lighthearted way to celebrate love in any stage, whether you’ve just started dating or been together for decades.
    • You’ve Got Mail, Pretty in Pink, Valentine’s Day, Never Been Kissed, Sweet Home Alabama
  • Going to the Chapel: Getting married soon? There are a ton of fabulous movies about this special time in your life that are filled with twists, turns, and best of all–weddings!
    • The Wedding Planner, 27 Dresses, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Confetti, The Wedding Singer, Bridesmaids, Our Family Wedding, The Wedding Date
  • We’re Not Weird, We’re Quirky: If you describe your movie-going tastes (or your sense of humor) as a little off the beaten path, try one of these fun flicks.
    • Harold and Maude, Punch-Drunk Love, Annie Hall, Away We Go, If Lucy Fell, Moonstruck
  • Young at Heart: Looking for something sweet to watch with the kiddos? These family-friendly favorites are sure to warm everyone’s heart.
    • WALL-E, Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White

What’s your favorite romantic movie?

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Filed Under: Romance, Valentine's Day Tagged With: date ideas, Romantic movies, Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Valentine’s Day sweet treats

February 12 By American Greetings

Valentine's Day Sweet Treats

It has been said that the fastest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. While we might argue that it’s a wee bit more complicated than that, it’s surely a thoughtful (and tasty!) way to express love and adoration.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we pulled together some fun ideas for creating the perfect Valentine’s Day sweet treat!

1. Valentine’s Day Oreo Pops by Makoodle

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2. Homemade Strawberry Valentine Snacks by Modern Parents Messy Kids

Simple strawberries and grapes modern parents messy kids

3. Easy Valentine’s Day Cookies by Family Fresh Meals

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4. Easy Cupid’s Arrow Pretzels by One Little Project

Heart arrows by one little project

5. Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Hearts by 1 Fine Cookie

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6. Valentine’s Day Candy Cake from All You

Conversation hearts cake by all you

7. X’s and O’s Cupcakes from Martha Stewart

xo cupcakes by Martha Stewart

8. Homemade Valentine’s Day gumdrops by Mom on Timeout

Homemade-Gumdrops

Want to try any of these yummy treat ideas?

Click here to print out our super cute Valentine’s Day shopping list. This sweet printable includes a shopping list so you won’t forget anything you need, and open notes section to write down extra reminders, and adorable little love notes you can cut out and leave in lunch boxes, school folders, or around the house for your sweetie.

Free shopping list printable

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Filed Under: Recipes, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Valentine's Day snacks, Valentine's Day Sweet Treats

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

February 11 By American Greetings

Valentine's Day Date Ideas

It’s the most romantic night of the year—and also the one date you want to be perfect. Whether you’ve been together for four weeks or forever, Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate what makes your relationship so wonderful and unique. However… trying to plan a great Valentine’s Day date that will not only be fun and romantic, but also memorable, too, can be quite a challenge.

No more worries. This year, we asked some of our creative, romantic geniuses to help steer you in the right direction. Here are some of their fun Valentine’s Day date ideas, catered to each stage of a relationship:

  • If you’ve just met (or have just started dating), set up a cozy double date. Get to know each other’s friends a little better and see that other person in a more relaxed environment.
  • If you’re crazy about each other and your relationship is growing, plan simple “mini dates” leading up to a nice romantic night out on the 14th, which falls on a Saturday this year. Ideas include:
    • Wednesday – Take an evening stroll.
    • Thursday – Play your favorite board or video game together.
    • Friday – Watch a favorite movie.
    • Valentine’s Day Eve – Lovely dinner out at a new restaurant!
  • If you and that special someone have committed to each another, hop in your car and visit a nearby city you’ve both been wanting to explore.
  • If you’ve been together for as long as you can remember, recreate your first date. The nostalgia will have you reminiscing about that special night, plus all the other fond memories you’ve made along the way, too.

What’s the best date you’ve ever been on? What made it so special? Tell us about it in the comments!

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Filed Under: Romance, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Valentine’s Day gift wrap ideas

February 10 By American Greetings

Valentine's Day Gift Wrap Ideas

You’ve shopped thoughtfully for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, but then comes the time to give it to your friend or loved one. But first, why not give it an extra special touch with a pretty presentation they’ll never forget?

We scoured Pinterest and pulled together some of our super fun, super crafty Valentine’s Day gift wrap ideas that we just had to share with you:

1. Confetti Bomb by Oh Joy!

Oh Joy Good Housekeeping - confetti dots

2. Pennants on white wrapping paper by Annixen

annixen washi tape and twine pennants

3. Pinks, Kraft Paper and A Hint of Blue by A Creative Mint

a creative mint - craft paper and heart

4. Rolled Paper Roses Tutorial by Creations by Kara

Creations by Kara - King of Hearts

5. Heart cut-out gift wrapping by The House that Lars Built

the house that lars built - heart cut outs

Happy wrapping!

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Filed Under: Gift Wrap, Valentine's Day Tagged With: gift wrap ideas, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day gift wrap ideas, Valentine's Day wrapping paper, wrapping paper ideas

Throwback Thursday: Vintage Valentine’s Day cards

February 5 By American Greetings

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Happy #ThrowbackThursday!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d share some of our favorite vintage Valentine’s Day cards from the 1940’s, 50’s! Share with your friends to share the love this Valentine’s Day, retro-style!

Puppy Love Vintage Valentine

Just Peekin’ in to say “Hello” on Valentine’s Day!

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1940’s Puppy Valentine

I’m sweet on you, my Valentine.

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Shrinking Violet Valentine from 1942

I’m a little shrinking violet

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Puppy Sweetheart Valentine – 1944

Why, Sweetheart, there just couldn’t be two…That’s why I’m glad I married you!

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1950’s World’s Dearest Mother Valentine

For the world’s dearest mother

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1950’s ‘How Do You Do’ Valentine

A Valentine “How-Do-You-Do”image

Children Valentine – 1950’s

With friendly thoughts…image

1960’s One Swell Boy Valentine

Hi Grandson! Here are 3 ponies to ride on Valentine’s Day. This Palomino Pony wants to ride the West with you because he thinks you’re one swell boy – and that’s certainly true!image

Vintage Romantic Valentine for Wife

With love to my wifeimage

Retro Valentine from Child

…a valentine from me!

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Sweet Vintage ‘Be My Valentine’

Be my Valentine! Becuz…image

Vintage Flower Scene Valentineimage

1940’s Tugboat Valentine

Have fun on Valentine’s Day, son!image

Cupid Flowers Vintage Valentineimage

Love Birds Valentine – 1960’s

Valentine Greetings to a swell personimage

Share the love this Valentine’s Day with someone you adore by posting your favorite vintage valentine with them. Happy vintage Valentine’s Day!

Love Vintage Valentines? Check out our selection of retro-inspired cards that you can send digitally!

Vintage Valentines Card with Puppy and Hearts

Vintage Valentines

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Filed Under: Valentine's Day Tagged With: Vintage Valentine Cards, Vintage Valentine's Day cards

The history of Valentine’s Day

February 3 By American Greetings

The History of Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is the one day a year dedicated to all things love. But as all of the red and pink hearts and flowers begin to appear, it begs the question–how much do you really know about the history of Valentine’s Day?

Surprisingly, the origins of the holiday are a little unclear. Most people will agree the modern holiday arose from the religious observance of the Feast of St. Valentine. While February 14 is now celebrated around the world as a day of love, here are some little-known facts about the evolution of this love-filled day:

Connections to the Feast of St. Valentine

  • The mid-February date may have ties to the pagan festival, Luperchalia, during which there was a ceremony to bestow fertility on women. To counteract this, Pope Gilasius declared February 14 as the feast of St. Valentine in 498 A.D.
  • There were several Saint Valentines, but the one who stands out most is St. Valentine of Rome. He was a priest during the reign of Claudius II (who banned marriages in an effort to keep his army strong). St. Valentine is credited not only with secretly performing marriages until he was caught and sentenced to death, but upon his execution, supposedly passed a note to a love interest that was signed “from your Valentine.”
  • Early references to Valentine’s Day having romantic connotations appear in works by both Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare.

Traditions and Icons of Valentine’s Day

  • Cupid started out as the Greek god, Eros, who then became the bow and arrow-clad Roman god of love.
  • The tradition of personally exchanging valentines began in the 1700s. By the 1800s, when postal service became more affordable, mailing valentines (sometimes anonymously) became a more popular tradition.
  • The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately 1 billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas.

International Observances of Valentine’s Day

  • Throughout most of South America, Día del Amor y la Amistad (or the Day of Love and Friendship) is observed by showing love toward romantic companions and doing acts of kindness for friends. A similar holiday called Ystävänpäivä (or Friend’s Day) is celebrated in Finland.
  • In Slovenia, Valentine’s Day marks the date to begin working the fields and vineyards again.
  • In Japan and Korea, it is customary for women to give chocolates to men on February 14. One month later, on March 14 (referred to as White Day), men are expected to reciprocate with their own gift.
  • Valentinsdag is celebrated in Denmark and Norway by sharing a romantic dinner and sending a card or red rose.

Continuing this centuries-old tradition simply reaffirms the importance of recognizing the love we share with friends and family. It might just be one day a year, but it is one that means so much to them to hear how you truly feel.

 

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? We’d love to hear your unique traditions!

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Filed Under: History of..., Valentine's Day Tagged With: History of Valentine's Day, Valentines Day History

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