Every once in awhile it’s good to let the people in your life know how much they’re loved.

Use this printable to jot down seven specific things you love about someone. Then cut along the dotted lines and deliver it to them along with a big XOXO.

Click here to download.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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.

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love, and not only love for others, but love for yourself as well.

Loving yourself and living your life to the fullest is so important. Below is a roadmap of sorts to remind you not to get so caught up in the silly, unimportant, stressful things of life:

(via Joie De Vivre)

It’s that time of the year again — Valentine’s Day!

So I’ve decided to design these 4 little Valentine’s Day Cards for you 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!

Create personalized treats for loved ones this Valentine’s Day with these Message-in-a-Cookie Cutters by Williams-Sonoma.

Customize the cutters by sliding in letters or pre-made words to form a name or message. When you press the cutter into the dough, your lettering is imprinted on the cookie. The set includes three cutters, seven pre-made words (Welcome, Happy, Birthday, Holidays, Thank You, From, I Love You), three sets of alphabet letters (plus extras of vowels and other commonly used letters) and a dishwasher-safe mesh bag for easy cleaning and storing.

Unfortunately, they are no longer available on the Williams-Sonoma site; however, if you’re desperate to have these, you can bid on them here.

We all have bad days and good days, bad weeks and good weeks.

If it’s one of those bad times for you (or someone you know) and you just want the week to be over, here are some important things to remember that should help you get through the day/week and make it a little brighter. Enjoy. (via Half-heartedly)

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.

3. The only reason everyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.

5. Every night, someone thinks about you as they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. Without you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique, in your own way.

9. Someone that you don’t know event exists, loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned it’s back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won’t get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.

13. Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will fell much better when they know and in the end you’ll be glad you did.

14. Always remember compliments you received, forget about the rude remarks. You will go through this life peacefully without grudge.

Remember when you could, on a whim, pack up and take a vacation, or even a little weekend break?

Sigh…once you have kids and school and work and grandparents and everything else, having a vacation like you used to have may seem like an impossible dream. Not only are there too many things to take care of beforehand, it seems like you’ll end up being so stressed while you’re gone that the whole point of going on vacation in the first place will be lost.

Not to worry. Taking a couple’s vacation is more than just possible; it can be relaxing and rejuvenating as well. By doing a little bit of organizing now, you’ll be able to enjoy yourself without guilt, worry, or phone calls home every twenty minutes.

Sarah on ‘Remembering Why You’re Together’

‘It’s funny how quickly the hectic push and pull of everyday life engulfs you. Whether it’s picking up or dropping off kids, keeping your house in order, or crossing tasks off a ‘To Do’ list, you end up so wrapped up in doing things all the time that you rarely have time to appreciate things, specifically, your partner. When life gets crazy, that’s when you relay on them the most, but there’s never enough time to sit back and remember why you chose them to be your partner in crime. That’s the best and most important part of scheduling a couple’s vacation. There’s really nothing better than sitting somewhere, holding hands with the one you love, and feeling thankful that you’re on this wild journey with someone so special.’

Alicia on ‘Your Holiday Can Be a Grandparents Dream’

‘They bothered you for years, asking for grandchildren. They bother you now wanting to see their grandchildren. Well, going on a couple’s vacation provides the perfect chance to make your parents dreams come true. Even better, it’s free! When I think back on my childhood, I remember how much fun it was to stay with my grandparents, since not only was I getting a break from the usual nagging of my parents, but they would spoil me rotten! I’m even more appreciative that the times I spent with my grandparents was a chance for me to forge a relationship and memories with them that I continue to share until this day.’

Here are a few practical things to take care of before you pack your bags and head off on that second honeymoon.

#1: Prepare The Babysitter
Whether it’s your parents, or someone else taking care of the kids, make sure to put together a list of things you’re kids like to eat and do, where they’re allowed to go or not go, and any other dos and don’ts. If your children have sports practices, play dates, or other activities planned ahead of time, prepare a schedule that lays out where and when they need to be somewhere. Basically, think of all the different reasons why someone would interrupt your vacation to ask you a question about your kids, and answer it before they have to call.

#2: Prepare Yourself

If this is the first time you’re going on vacation and leaving the kids behind, you may have a few pangs of guilt. It’s natural. Just think back to that first night you left your child at home with someone for a night out. That was hard, but you made it through. Depending on your kids, they’ll either send you off with a smile, or a tear, but just as it was when you went to dinner that first time, everything ends up being just fine.

#3: Leave The Cellphone on Vibrate, and The Computer At Home

When you’re away, you want to be sure that everything is OK at home. There is a limit, however, to how often you can check in without it being disruptive to both you and your kids. Schedule a check in with a nightly phone call, and during the day, leave your phone on vibrate. And please, please leave your computer at home. If an email truly needs to be sent, you can find an Internet café near you and do it from there.

Ah spring — what a beautiful time to be in love — and what a beautiful time to get engaged.

At first blush, proposing might appear to be a relatively straightforward process: a nice restaurant, a rock in her champagne glass and, voila! Right? Well, while every proposal is memorable, a little creativity will go a long way to making your special moment even more so. So if you’re thinking of popping the question soon, we have some ideas to help you organize an unforgettable proposal.

Sarah on ‘Getting Creative’

‘Nicolas Garraeu of ApoteoSurprise (www.apoteosurprise.com), a company that arranges romantic wedding proposals for tourists in Paris, quoted a survey that found 80 % of women felt their proposal was less romantic than they had hoped for. The same study also revealed that 20 % of women actually swallowed the ring when their groom-to-be dropped it in a glass of Champagne! (That gives a whole new meaning to ‘choked up,’ doesn’t it?) The best way to get beyond the obvious is to spend a little time thinking about how you might weave a special detail about you as a couple into your proposal. If you’re stuck, try to think of ways to link the big moment to how you met or your favorite activity to do together. And if you’re just not the creative type, ask other creative types like ApoteoSurprise, for a little help.’

Alicia on ‘Ditch Perfection’

‘There is no such thing as the ‘perfect’ proposal. It sounds so obvious, but a lot of people get caught up in trying to create a proposal moment that lives up to some external ‘perfect proposal’ benchmark. There is no rule that you must get down on bended knee, no ‘optimal’ time of day to pop the question, no must-have background music, no specific lighting requirements, no specific wardrobe needed… The only thing that matters is that your proposal come from the heart. Stay true to that, and everything else will fall into place.’

Here are a few tips on how to get ready to pop the question.

#1. A Little Advance Planning Goes a Long Way
While you are in the throes of daily life, it can be difficult to find the time to plan. But a few minutes spent mapping out the details a few weeks in advance is likely to make all the difference. If you and your beloved are highly spontaneous people, you might resist the thought of planning. But the fact of the matter is that it’s hard to create a truly out of the ordinary proposal experience when you’re flying by the seat of your pants. A little planning does indeed go a long way.

#2 The Ring is the Thing
The central feature of any proposal is the ring. There is obviously some leg work required on this front. Things to try to plan ahead for as best you can: her exact ring size, preferred metal (platinum, gold, white gold, silver), and favorite cut (princess, Marquise, etc.). If you don’t have a clue where to start, check out the online diamond experts at www.bluenile.com. They have a wonderful online guide that walks you through ring basics.

#3 A Family Affair
Most women want to tell their close family and friends the news right away. So you may want to think twice about popping the question before dinner plates arrive. You might be on the phone for the next hour, or even have to leave to tell her family/friends in person. One idea is to arrange for her family and closest friends (which you will need to plan for—see above) to meet at a pre-arranged place, like a restaurant. That way, once you have proposed, you’ll have the makings of a ready-to-go engagement party.

Why is it that the day we’re supposed to celebrate the person who makes us feel the most special ends up being the day that makes us feel the most stressed?

What should I get them? What will they get me? Is this romantic enough? Should we go somewhere fancy or spend an intimate night in? Whatever the stresses are, it usually ends up being about expectations, and whether you or your special someone meets them. What ends up on the sidelines is the reason for the holiday in the first place. Love.

Alicia on “Managing Expectations”

“Even though it may sound like you’re angling for a better gift, bringing up Valentine’s Day before the actual day can help get everyone on the same page as far as expectations. One of the ways to have a stress free day is to share ideas about what you may want to do, be it if you want to go out to dinner or have a romantic night in, or setting a price limit of gifts. Phrasing is key: ‘What should we do for Valentine’s Day?’ Good. ‘What are you getting me for Valentine’s Day?’ Not so good.

Sarah on ‘The Gift’

‘A friend of mine once said ‘For Valentine’s Day, I get my wife the thing she really wanted but didn’t get for Christmas.’ That’s one not so romantic way to go about it. We prefer the idea of getting something you both can enjoy. Whether it’s tickets to a concert, a couple’s massage, or something as simple as buying a nice bottle of wine to share, the fact that you’re spending time together doing something special is what true love is all about.’

To avoid another Valentine’s Day horror story, here are a few simple tips.

#1. Keep It Simple
What are the things you keep as mementos of love? No, not chocolate, or flowers, or massage oils. (OK, maybe massage oils) It’s letters. Sometimes we forget this holiday is about our expression of love, and the simple act of telling your loved one how you feel will communicate your love more than a dozen roses ever could. The perfect gift? It’s you.

#2 His Valentine’s Day
Maybe we’ve seen too many movies, or read too many cards, but Valentine’s Day seems like it’s built around men showing their love to the women in their lives. By making the day a two-way street, you not only take some of the pressure off of him, but you show him that you appreciate him just as much as he does you.

#3 Schedule A Monthly Valentine’s Day
Why wait until Valentine’s Day to show how much you love your partner? Take some of the stress off of February 14th, and make the 14th of every month Valentine’s Day. Plan a nice dinner, write a love note, exchange a list of the ten things you love about the other person. Whatever it is, it’s all about spending time together. We’d say make every day Valentine’s Day, but, c’mon…who are we kidding?

The high season for weddings is fast approaching. According to statistics posted on TheKnot.com, the majority (51%) of couples get married between May and September. But no matter the date you select for your big day, one thing is certain: planning for it can be a full time job in and of itself.

The only problem? The rest of your life doesn’t stop going a mile-a-minute just because you’ve gotten engaged and have a wedding to plan! Don’t let the stress of managing a few thousand wedding details (in addition to the details of your regular life) turn you into one of those “Bridezillas.” The secret: keep it all in perspective.

Alicia on “Getting Married in the Real World”

“The best trick to staying sane is to ditch the notion that your wedding must be a fairy-tale occasion with every detail executed to perfection or you’ll be miserable. I know we all grew up envisioning something out of a bedtime story, but the fact is we live, work, and get married in the real world. And you know what: that is actually better! So, embrace the idea that things will be imperfect and relax. You are getting married soon and even the time spent planning should be a positive and warm part of your life.”

Sarah on “Focusing on What is Really Important”

“Moving forward, your focus should be on the handful of things that will make your wedding special. That priority list is going to be different for everybody. For me, it was getting my grandmother’s farm, an already special location, ready to handle lots of good friends and family, picking meaningful readings, and securing a fantastic band that would get everybody out on the floor. Before you start following someone else’s checklist (and there are lots out there), take the time to answer the question: what three to five things really matter to us on this big day? Having that clear from the start will make it a lot easier to spend less time worrying about details that aren’t as important to you, so the rest of your life stays on track. It also makes it much easier to take the inevitable “mistakes” in stride.”

Here a few tips to help you stay focused but relaxed.

#1 Start a Binder

Go out and get a binder, preferably with tabs, and start tracking what you have done and what still needs to be done. Divide it into two main parts: one-third for what is really important and the other two-thirds for what you would like to do if life gives you that time. Next, divide both sections into subheadings: the church, the reception, clothes, pre-wedding events, etc. This might seem like a lot of work but extra time spent preparing will mean a lot less time later trying to remember everything. That way the 20% that is essential gets handled in plenty of time and then you can do any of the extras if and when life allows.

#2 Dedicate a Calendar.

There will be a lot of dates to track so make your life easy by setting a calendar strictly for this event. This way the dates will jump off the page at you: put the deposit down for the hall; go in for first, second and last fitting, pick up mom and dad at the airport etc. Write the important dates with a sharpie and the rest with a pen. You should also set aside a pocket-size calendar to carry with you so that you can cross off items while you are out or add new ones as they come up; just remember to add them to the home-base calendar.

#3 Keep It All in Perspective

Every so often, take time to stand back from all the planning and remind yourself that as long as you and your husband look into each other’s eyes and say “I do” everything is small potatoes. This is one of the happiest moments in anybodies life and the days or times that you spend thinking about it should be happy to.