Buttoned Up » Valentine’s Day

Join in the February #GetButtonedUp Challenge!

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:50:10 +0000

It’s time to get your love buttoned up!

February is all about the heart. Not only does Valentine’s Day fall smack, dab in the middle of the month, but it’s also “American Heart Month” and therefore time to take care of that all important organ. With this theme in mind, we’ve put together another great monthly challenge for you!

By the end of this challenge, you will:

Actually have enjoyed Valentine’s Day because you were prepared for it!
Be ready to remember every important day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc) in the lives of your loved ones in 2012.
Have taken concrete steps to care for your health.
Actually have figured out how to carve out (and enjoy) some me time.

And much, much more!

How the February #GetButtonedUp Challenge Will Work

Each day during the month of February we have a specific organizational task for you to complete. Download the 29 day calendar by clicking on the link below.

Get Buttoned Up Challenge – February

When you complete the task, let the buttoned up team know your status by commenting on the Facebook check-in post for that day and either email or Tweet the picture of your completed task. We will enter anyone who has completed all 29 days of the challenge successfully into a grand prize drawing. All winners will be selected using random.org.

Participating in the #GetButtonedUp Challenge is as easy as 1-2-3:

Let us know you’re in by commenting on this post below AND by heading over to Facebook to comment under the post about being a part of the February Challenge.
Letting us know you completed your daily task by commenting on the Facebook GetButtonedUp Challenge Check-In post each day
Sending a picture of your completed task to Sarah – via email sarah @ getbuttonedup dot com OR via TwitPic to @SarahButtonedUp & using the #getbuttonedup hashtag.

Grand Prize

Grand Prize: $100 donation to the charity of your choice in your name
2 Runner Up Prizes: $50 donation to the charity of your choice in your name

Join In By Commenting Below!

NOTE: All are welcome to join in the challenge.

Tutorial: Create Knockout Valentine’s Gifts Using Our Free Printables

Sarah — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:30 +0000

These Valentine’s Day Cards are cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them.

How? By gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching some candy, or punching 2 holes in the card and slipping in a lollipop. You can even tape or glue the cards onto candy heart boxes. See below for some inspiration!

Click here to download the first set of cards seen below.

Click here to download the second set of cards seen below.

Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

Tool: Free Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Sarah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:29 +0000

Deliver smiles this Valentine’s Day without spending a dime.

Download and print these adorable cards on premium paper stock, cut them out and voilá—you (and your kids) are ready for the big day. They’re cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them by gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching a lollipop (come back tomorrow for a tutorial on this!)

Click here to download the first set seen below.

Click here to download the second set seen below.

Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

Why Valentine’s Day is necessary

Sarah — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:30:58 +0000

I got a little flack this weekend via email regarding my post questioning the necessity of Valentine’s Day.

While I personally fall into the camp of, “I’d rather celebrate the people we love every day,” I’d also argue that for most of us Valentine’s Day is an absolute necessity.

Why?

It drags us kicking and screaming from our daily, just-in-time-scramble to a place of organized thoughtfulness – where we are forced to take a moment to tell the people we love how great they are.

Be honest, if you didn’t have the external pressure to say “I love you” to all of your Valentines – how many months (or years) would pass before you got around to showering them with warm fuzzies?

It takes organization and planning to truly honor the people in our lives. Without the deadline of February 14th, most of us would probably never get around to it.

It got me thinking…maybe we all dislike the holiday in inverse proportion to our overall level of time management skills. The better you are at scheduling your priorities (including those I love you’s), the less you hate the holiday. And vice-versa.

Tell me, are you pro-Valentine’s Day or anti-Valentine’s Day? Why? Do you think you would remember to tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them without a reminder like Valentine’s Day? Would your significant other?

{Feature Photo Credit} – Is there anything better than candy hearts?

Tool: Free Printable Top 5 Things I Heart About You List

Hollie — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:14:19 +0000

I am in LOVE with this free printable.

Whether it be your hubby, mom, best friend, etc., this is the perfect little gift to give someone for Valentine’s Day. Let the ones you love know why you love them so much! I wish someone would give this to ME for Valentine’s Day! (via wants & wishes)

Download here

Why It’s OK to Take A Pass on Valentine’s Day

Sarah — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:00:39 +0000

Why It’s OK to Take A Pass on Valentine’s Day

Ah, Valentine’s Day. Unlike Thanksgiving, which is universally loved, this Hallmark holiday is definitely a love-it or hate-it kind of day. From the red cellophane wrapped heart-shaped boxes of candy to the flowers to the hard-to-get and overpriced dinner reservations, Valentine’s Day is pricy and pressure-packed. Single? It can make you feel like an outcast. Newly together? It’s a damned if you do and damned if you don’t situation. Married? Inevitably one partner feels forgotten while the other feels obligated.

The sentiment, which really is about expressing love for the important person (or people) in your life, is a great one. So why limit it to just one day? We’re saying it’s fine to take a pass on the Valentine’s Day hoopla, as long as you celebrate the meaning behind it throughout the year.

Here are Five Ways You Can Feel the Love All Year Long

1. Be Honest.

Skipping Valentine’s Day has to be a joint decision, so definitely have a talk about it or you’ll be in the dog house. Have an honest conversation when you have time together (not when you’re running out the door to soccer practice) and see how the other person feels. If your spouse or significant other wants the pink-filled candies and the mushy candies, then so be it.

2. Be a Little Selfish.

No, we don’t mean the kind of selfish where you scarf down all of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream without sharing. A recent New York Times article showed that the happiest married couples were those who were selfish in the sense that they refused to lose themselves completely in a relationship and, conversely, allowed the other to express themselves as individuals. In other words, it’s true love is not really about a date night escape, but rather about being respected and loved for your unique traits (all of them) and reciprocating. So if you’re married to someone who can’t see a snowflake without dreaming of ski lifts but you’re more of a hot chocolate in the lodge type, go along for the ride (and bring a book). You’ll be happier as a couple for it.

3. Play to the Other’s Strengths.

Our differences are often what make us so powerful as couples. But it can be easy to lose sight of that when her tendency to type-A cleanliness clashes with his inability to find and put clothes inside the hamper, rather than on top…or next to. Find ways to play to each other’s strengths. For example, assign chores on the basis of each other’s strengths. And when planning activities, let the creative one come up with a list of things to do (museum trips, a painting class, jazz concert), while the type-A one actually follows through on all of the details and bookings.

4. Pick a Card, Any Card.

Is there anything better than opening the mailbox and finding a fun piece of mail rather than the latest cell phone bill? Buy four cards that make you laugh (or cry) and send them throughout the year, rather than just the one day.

5. It’s a Numbers Game.

This is a game better for those who’ve been together longer, but surprise each other with a list according to the number of years you’ve been together. Married for five years? Give each other a list of five reasons why you love them or they are special.

Valentine’s Day roundup

Sarah — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:14:23 +0000

Four Sites to Check Out This Weekend

I know it’s Super Bowl Sunday and all…but if you have a spare minute or two this weekend (or are not into football and are looking for something productive and fun to do while others you love veg out in front of the TV), we’ve got some projects that will make your Valentine’s Day that much more special.

For starters, head on over to MCP Actions, an amazing resource for any budding photographers out there. Jodi Friedman has put together some absolutely beautiful – and FREE – templates for Valentine’s Day photo cards. They are the perfect thing for grandparents, siblings, and even classmates.

Once you’ve got your cards under control, check out the little Valentine’s Day contest going on over at TheNotSoBlog.com. I don’t know about you, but I sure could use a $100 gift certificate from Red Envelope.

If you missed our post about getting your good intentions for the year buttoned up during this month of February, you’ll definitely want to read it this weekend and get started!

Finally, if you’re dreaming of entertaining this month – you must see the chocolate dessert party featured on Design*Sponge. Even if you choose to make only one thing on their menu, it would be a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

What about you? What are you planning on doing (or not!) to celebrate the loves in your life this month?

Tool: Free Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Hollie — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:00:25 +0000

Last year, I designed these Valentine’s Day cards. I love them so much, I have to share them again with you this year.

Here are 4 little Valentine’s Day Cards to give to your loved ones. Print out on regular 8.5 x 11 paper or cardstock, cut on the dotted lines, feel free to add a personal note on the front (or back), and give out to the people in your life that complete you (whether they are the peanut butter to your jelly, or the bacon to your eggs…) — intentions are to put smiles on their faces and add warmth to their hearts. Click here to download.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February: A Month of Thoughtfulness

Sarah — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:47:45 +0000

How do you truly build your “thoughtfulness muscle?” It’s critical to get ahead of the chaos. We’ve mapped out one thing you can do each day in February so that by the end of the month, your good intentions for the entire year are planned and ready to execute.

Cool Find: Love Calendar

Hollie — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:00:41 +0000

How interesting would it be to measure your days in love?

Then, at the end of the year, you could see if there are any patterns: less “love” during your menstrual cycle, more during summer, etc. What a fun experiment that could be and possibly a way to improve your love life! Get it on Etsy here.