the month of love and...a giveaway!!!

Valentine's Day.  I have vivid memories of the holiday in my elementary school years.  Painstakingly decorating a paper mailbox for my desk (always a class project), selecting just the right character themed valentines for my classmates, deciding which of my friends would get the coveted larger cards in the box and then the fun of tearing open all of the sticker seals or tiny envelopes handed out that special day and deciding which were the favorites. And, of course, conversation hearts!

Then the angst of middle and high school Valentine's Days.  The anticipation of wondering whether a crush would reveal himself by passing along a card, candy or the most meaningful single red rose.  In young adult years and in longer relationships, the day was about nice dinners out, and the tightrope mushy cards that communicated that we cared but, not quite saying "I love you."

Now, Valentine's Day is a fun excuse to send a sweet sentiment to loved ones and friends. My husband and I exchange cards but, skip gifts and overpriced restaurant dinners.  We don't need this one assigned day to express our love for one another when we do it all through the year. February is our month anyway with the emphasis on our February 28th wedding anniversary!

Having George sets the Valentine timeline in motion again.  The next few years will just be fun for us, dressing him a cute outfit and taking sweet photos to share.  But, before we know it, we'll be taking him to shop for paper valentines. This year, I'm planning to send out some holiday cards to a few of our nearest and dearest - a very fun excuse to share how big our boy is getting. We ordered our Christmas cards from Shutterfly and were so thrilled with their selection and results that I have brand loyalty but, which design?  I'm loving both of these.  Which I choose will depend on the orientation of the final photo :)

So darling!!!  If cards aren't your thing, I've also ordered photo gifts and mugs from Shutterfly and have been very pleased. 

Okay, you've read this far so here is the GIVEAWAY!  Shutterfly is generously offering 25 FREE Valentine's Day photo cards to one of my readers (s&h is not included).  Want to win? 

Here's how to enter:

1) Leave a comment on this post telling me and Shutterfly what Valentine's Day means to you this year (Mandatory entry).  Make sure you enter your e-mail when commenting so that I can reach you in the event you are the winner.

2) Share a link to this blog post on Facebook AND leave a separate comment telling me you've shared (one extra entry)

3) Tweet a link to this blog post AND leave a separate comment telling me you've shared (one extra entry)

I will draw a random winner after 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, February 3rd.  Good luck!!!

*Standard disclaimer: Shutterfly is providing me with 25 cards, as well as the giveaway, in return for this post.  However, I only accept giveaways from companies that I trust and have used in the past with excellent quality results.  The end.