valentines day

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Treat.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

No matter how hard I try, I can never get snail mail out on time.

Here is what gets me every time–stamps and envelopes!  I have the best intentions, get a nice handmade card written or even actually get myself to the store and buy a card, but then I find I’m out of stamps or can’t find an envelope.

This is why Treat.com is my new best friend.  This online service is not only going to save me the hassle of shopping for cards and finding a stamp, but they will also make it a breeze to create a personalized, one-of-a-kind greeting card.

Create your Treat card using your PC or your iPhone.  Treat will print it out and mail it for you.
My fear with using online services is feeling like what I send might feel impersonal.  Not so with Treat. The wide selection of greeting cards make it easy to choose the perfect card for each individual person, and you can make it super fun and personal by adding photos and editing the text.

Here are a few more reasons to use Treat:

~ you can create your card anytime, anywhere

~their mailing service mails it for you

~they offer a reminder service so you never miss a special occasion

~you are able to add a personalized Photo Gifts or gift card to any greeting card

Really, this service is genius, especially for those who have large families.  My mom and I were just talking about this…how keeping up with family birthdays can be such a daunting task.  She said she had just got everyone’s birthdays written down on her side of the family and on Dad’s side of the family.  That is A LOT of birthdays!  I can’t wait to tell her about this service, where she can just add the dates, get reminded, and even give a gift along with the card. Treat makes gathering birthday dates super easy allowing you to add your Facebook friends and email contacts.  No more shopping multiple times a month.  Think of all the checkout lines she won’t have to stand in!

I made a few Valentine’s Day Cards and had a blast doing it.
I made a card for my mother-in-law, my little niece, my little nephew, my husband, and my sister.

The process was so easy and so fun! I loved finding cards that fit each individual’s personality.

I can see myself doing this on my phone while waiting at doctor’s offices or sitting in my car waiting while picking up my girls from school.  What a time saver!

Here is a way you can send some love and try out Treat:

Use the code #SENDMORELOVE.
With this code, you can enjoy 3 cards for $6.  Send them to your self for free, or send them to a recipient for the price of a stamp.  Be quick!  Offer expires 2/28/2014.
If you are sending Valentines, make sure to get your order in by 11:00 PM Pacific time on 2/10/2014.Which of your loved ones deserve a card?
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How about a walk down memory lane?  Here are a bunch of valentines/love themed posts from the New Nostalgia archives.  Enjoy!

Our family tradition is for the kids to wake up to a breakfast table full of treats and small gifts.  Sugar for breakfast on Valentines day!!  Todd gives the girls a few bucks to spend on me for Valentines Day.  They get so into it, I always love to see what they chose for me.

This mosaic Valentine coloring pages post is one of the most popular with google search engines.  It has been viewed many, many times on the blog.  Who would have thought it would be so popular?  My youngest just came in the room and said “Ooo, I remember that!  I want to color that when I get home from school.”  For the link and 4 more designs to choose from, click here.

White Chocolate Raspberry Valentine Bites–this is the perfect snack for little ones to have on Valentines Day, or even for a loved one to wake up to for breakfast!

Healthy Valentine Chocolate Mudballs.  They make great gifts for co-workers or

the neighbors

!  My youngest girl had so much fun helping me make these last year.  It is an easy, 6- ingredient recipe

no bake

recipe!

Healthy Chocolate Mudballs

1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup chocolate chips 
1/4 cup sesame seeds

A reminder of what you don’t feel.

A reminder of a desire that has not been granted.

A reminder that even if you have a love, they will never fulfill the void.
A reminder of a heart that is broken.

If you are one of those people, I want you to know that

YOU ARE LOVED

Creator God

wrote

you many, many love letters.  Here is one that puts a few of His many words towards you and me, into one.   Below is a taste, click through to read and listen to the entire

Fathers Love Letter.

…You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb. 
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. 
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love. 
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 
1 John 3:1…

Going Green Valentines Holders.  These are made from paper grocery sacks.  They are really cute, and once the stencil is made, quite easy for little ones to trace, cut and make a little work of art on the inside.  For older kids, it is fun to tuck a dollar bill or 2 inside.  For co-workers or teachers, a gift card fits!

Homemade Valentine Gift Bags made from envelopes!  These are really cute, perfect size for little treats or gift cards.  You can send the envelopes through the printer and print whatever your heart desires on them.  Use any fun ribbon for the handles.

Homemade Valentine Treat Containers.  These are so fun and my girls LOVED making them.  Pretty printed paper and stickers make this a super easy project.  Put toys, money or treats inside.  Even just a little love note would be great, too!

Last but not least, Chocolate Fudgy Buttons!  We make these whenever a quick, sweet treat is called for.  They taste amazing, you would never know they only take minutes to make!

Fudgy Buttons

4 Tbls butter or margarine

3 tsp. baking cocoa

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. milk

4 Tbls creamy peanut butter

In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from heat.  Add cocoa and mix well.  Stir in sugar. (will be quite thick) Add milk and stir until smooth. (you will feel like you should add more milk- don’t.  The peanut butter will make it creamy and perfect) Add peanut butter and mix well.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper; roll into balls and flatten with your thumb.

What are your Valentine’s Day plans?  Traditions?

Awesome Valentine Ideas

1. A Valentine surprise in their lunch

2. Valentine pancake hearts for breakfast.

3. Heart-shaped melons kabobs. This would be cute done with cheese, too!

4. Need a heart-shaped cake but no heart pan? No problem!

5. Valentine garland. So whimsical!

1. I {heart} U card. For Valentines day or any day!

2. Valentine cupcakes-kisses and hugs.

3. & 4.How to crochet a heart

5. Kiss stickers – Staples sells stickers that fit kisses perfectly and they have a free template you can download so you can print out stickers at home. Cute table decoration.

1. Wear and make a Valentines hat!

 2. Free printable pie box template.  Recipe included.

 3. Yogurt with strawberry flowers.

 4. Valentine popcorn bags.  Simple!

 5. Valentine boiled eggs.  Too cool.

1. Frozen pink milk hearts.  When they melt, the milk will turn pink.

2. Tissue paper roses.

3. Homemade window clings

4. Pretty in pink cupcakes. Use pink frosting, sliced strawberries, use red sprinkles!

5. Valentine math!

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Update: if there is no link, it means the site no longer exists…so sorry for any inconvenience!

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!