Happy Valentine's Day

Hearts. Roses. Chocolate. Pink. Red. Purple. Valentine’s. Hugs. Kisses. Love.

LOVE!!!

As you’ve heard me mention a few times over the last few weeks, I love Valentine’s Day! I also love finding out the history of special holidays like this, which you can read about here. It’s a day of LOVE and really, what could be better than a day dedicated to expressing how much you love your spouse/parents/children/siblings/nieces & nephews/extended family/friends?! I’m sure there are many critics out there that are not only annoyed with my love of the Love Day, but also disgusted with the fact that I totally, whole-heartedly, 100% give in to another one of Hallmark’s money-making days. I know… I get it… I understand your argument. But I don’t care. I love Hallmark. I love giving cards to my parents, siblings, grandparents, and parent/sibling/grandparent-in-laws. It’s my thing. It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done and will continue to do, hopefully for the rest of my life (assuming I can still continue to afford stamps as the years – and rates – go on and up). I love being a Platinum Card Member at Hallmark and I love walking into that amazing store before each and every holiday, birthday, announcement and event… and sometimes those just-because-you-need-it days. But this Valentine’s Day I’m doing something I’ve never done before…

Yes, I’m still sending cards. But no, they’re not coming from Hallmark. Dun dun duuun!!! This year, I was won over by my beloved Shutterfly. I’m totally guilty of succumbing to the peer pressure of their amazing email discounts. *Side note: Are you a member? I would definitely suggest signing up today so you can start taking advantage of their great online deals and savings (and no, Shutterfly has no idea I’m saying this about them, I just really love them that much)!* Anyway, so I received a great email offer for 10 free photo cards and I knew the second I received it that I wanted to us them as my Valentine’s Day cards this year. Parents and Grandparents love seeing pictures of their children and grandchildren, right?! Plus, all I had to pay for them was the shipping and handling; so I got a killer deal compared to what I would have spent at Hallmark for 10 cards.

Here are the deets. *Another side note: has anyone else started using the term “deets”, as in short for “details”, except add an extra –e and drop the –ails. It makes me laugh every time I read it, and I’ve recently caught myself saying it. Doesn’t it make you chuckle?!* Anyway, here the deets, or details, of the cost breakdown, for those of you that are interested. If I would have purchased the 10 cards from Shutterfly without a coupon, I would have had to pay $2.39 each, plus over $6.53 shipping + handling and tax. If I would have purchased the 10 cards from Hallmark, I would have had to pay $3.00-$6.00 each – we all know how expensive Hallmark cards can be these days, but I still love them! But all of those are a big IF, because after plugging in my handy-dandy coupon code, I paid $0.00 each and $6.53 for shipping + handling and tax. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather pay $0.65 each any day of the week AND have these super-cute cards to send out to our family members!

The front of our Valentine’s Day card:

The inside of our Valentine’s Day card:

So, with a few x’s and a few o’s, I’m wishing you a wonderful and love-filled Saint Valentine’s Day!

XOXOXO,

Kat