2013 valentine's day gift guide.

GIVEAWAY: Congratulations to Meghan Thoele! She has won a personalized Snuggle Bunny book from I See Me! on February 4th, 2013. Another big congratulations to Luci Schuler, who won a pair of Michael Michael Kors Baby Sneakers on February 5th, 2013!

Linna checking out her
new owl hat from OneLoopyLady.

Ever since she learned how to say the word, our little one has been obsessed with owls. She has owl stuffed animals, an owl decal on her bedroom wall, clothing with owls, etc., etc., etc. So, it was obviously that the "theme" for the little valentines she's giving to her friends and family this year, would be all about the OWL. After doing a little searching, we found some great Valentine's Day gift ideas that incorporate Linna's love for owls. But, if owls aren't your thing, we have some other great gift ideas for the whole family!


Knit Owl Hat by OneLoopyLady

Not only is this designer a talented designer, but she's from Minnesota too! I found one of Jessica Rivera's owl hats on Etsy, and had to get one for Linna. Jessica lets you pick out the colors, and she creatively makes the hat by hand. When Linna's hat arrived in the mail, she stared at herself in the mirror and said "owl" on repeat. You can have your hat made with the owl's eyes open or shut, and we even had the fun "feather-look" done on the top of Linna's hat. We get comments on this adorable hat everywhere we go, and I couldn't be more please with this Minnesota mom's work.

Cookies by Tank Goodness

Holy yum! We had some delicious, warm, Tank Goodness cookies delivered to our home last week, along with some ice cold milk. Talk about making a person's day a little brighter! Instead of sending your loved one flowers that will die in a few days, send them some warm, freshly-baked cookies that they will really enjoy. Tank Goodness cookies are all about sharing the love, because they come in a box with enough cookies to share with family, co-workers, or the kiddos. We always talk about making freshly-baked cookies in our house, because we love the smell and obviously the taste, but having the work done for you so you can indulge, makes cookies that much more enjoyable! The chocolate chip cookies by Tank Goodness are absolutely amazing.


Owl Cake Pops by Bite Size Delights

I thought it would be fun for Linna to hand out little cake pops to her friends and family members this Valentine's Day. So, when I found these adorable owl cake pops on Etsy, I had to order them. The Bite Size Delights cake pops are made by Annmarie Grimmett who is a Minnesota mom with amazing talent. These cake pops are honestly the most delicious cake pop I've ever eaten, and incredibly well-made, with so much attention to detail. She makes all kinds of cake pops, and will even customize orders for her customers. They are absolutely delicious, and come in all kinds of flavors. She makes different varieties of treats for Valentine's Day, including Cupcake Cake Pops, Chocolate Dipped Licorice, and Cake Bites. I'm thinking I'll have to order cake pops from Bite Size Delights for Linna's 2nd birthday party, because I've seen her Sesame Street Cake Pops and they are amazing! Plus, she will ship these treats right to your home, which makes things very easy and convenient for busy parents.

Snuggle Bunny Book by I See Me!

For under $25, you can give your little Valentine the latest personalized book from the I See Me! collection! I See Me! is a Minnesota company, and our family has been a fan since the day we received our first personalized book for Linna from a family member. Snuggle Bunny is the newest book from I See Me!, and whether you get if for your little one for Valentine's Day or Easter, you know their little face will light up for years to come. In this book, an adorable snuggle bunny counts 10 ways their love your child. I am so excited to watch Linna open up this book on Valentine's Day, because I don't think I can wait until Easter to give it to her! You can also order this book set which comes with a cute little stuffed bunny for your child.

Pink HALO Cable-Knit SleepSack

Safe sleep and fashion are married in the cable-knit HALO SleepSack wearable blanket in pink. We received our first HALO SleepSack as a gift from the hospital after Linna was born, and it was one of the reasons we feel Linna was a good sleeper. The HALO SleepSack wearable blanket is approved as "Hip Healthy" by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and its design allows room for kicking, but can't be kicked off by your baby. Your baby stays warm all night, and the sleeveless design reduces the risk of overheating.   A portion of every purchase supports non-profit organizations such as First Candle/SIDS Alliance and The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.  They are 100-percent cotton and available in small (10-18 lbs) and medium (16-24 lbs.), and are less than $35 at Buy Buy Baby.  

Enlarged Photos by Canvas on Demand

Let's be honest, grandparents love receiving and showing off photos of their grand-babies. Before we leave for Singapore in March, I wanted Linna to give her grandparents an enlarged photo of her happiest face ever. I want them to be able to look at this photo on their wall in their bedroom, so they can wake up and start their day off happy! Linna is the joy of my parents' lives, as we live only a couple miles away from each other. They see her every day, so not being able to do so when we move to Singapore is going to be tough on all of us. I found a deal online to get a 16 X 20 canvas print from Canvas on Demand, so I had one made for my parents. They make ordering online super easy, and offer free image enhancements, have a 365-day money back guarantee, have a quick turn-around, and can frame your canvas print for you as well. Taking your own photographs of the little ones is fun, personal, and free! Then you can let the professionals at Canvas on Demand turn your photographs into works of art for your home.

Couples Massage at Zen Experience at Massage & Wellness

My husband and I have had couples massages at a couple different locations in the Twin Cities, but one of the best couples massage we have ever experienced was at the Zen Experience in Edina. On Valentine's Day, there are few things more intimate than spending some quality time alone with your significant other, while being completely pampered during a massage. The atmosphere at Zen allows you to completely relax and be absolutely pampered. I received (and my husband agrees) one of the best massages I have ever received at Zen. Our massage therapists listened to each one of our individual needs, and let us be the "silly" couple that we are. AJ fell asleep during his massage, so his experience must have been amazing. I love that Zen is on our side of town, but even if it wasn't we would make the trip for another massage. A couples massage is the perfect way to surprise your honey on Valentine's Day... or any day for that matter! 

Get Maine Lobster

I love going out for dinner, but on crazy-busy holidays such as Valentine's Day, it's always nice to stay in with your loved one for a romantic meal at home. How does a lobster dinner, straight from the icy waters of Maine, sound? Oh, and you can enjoy this amazing dinner in the comfort of your own home, and the comfort of your own lounge-wear. One of the best, easiest, most romantic, and tastiest dinners AJ and I have ever eaten, is the Lobster for Lovers dinner from Get Maine Lobster. For about $100, they shipped us filet mignon, Maine lobster tails, crab cakes, lobster stew, and dessert. Yum! We're thinking about doing this for Valentine's Day this year, and possibly taking a trip to Maine in the coming years.  Yummy!

Michael Michael Kors Faye Flat

I can't get enough of these adorable shoes for the little ladies by Michael Michael Kors. I got a pair of the black Quilted Faye Ballet Flat for Linna, even though she won't be able to wear them for about a year. This is her first pair of shoes with hardware! Every little girl needs to have a pair of shoes with hardware, right?! I love that they are slip-on, and have a rubber sole. Plus, they're under $50, which makes a pretty cool "splurge" gift for your little fashionista. I love when little girls look like little ladies, without going "overboard" with a high heel, or something along those lines. These ballet flats are the perfect happy-medium, when your little lady is ready to grow up, but not ready for the heel quite yet. These flats fit toddler feet, all the way up to little girl sizes.

Michael Michael Kors Baby Sneakers

I wish I would have discovered the Baby Ivy Sneak when Linna was smaller, because they are too cute! They're pink, monogrammed with the MK logo, and let's face it... babies look so sweet in little sneakers. They're not necessarily practical, but they are oh so adorable! These little shoes can fit newborns, all the way to 18 months.

Owl Always Love You Cards by CafePress

Linna will be showing her little friends and family a little love this Valentine's Day with some adorable "Owl Always Love You" cards by Cafe Press. Not only do I think owls are very sweet, but the "Owl Always Love You" phrase makes me melt. These cards come on a thick card stock, and they have other owl phrases available such as "Owl Love You Forever" and "Whoooo Loves You". Super cute!

Pink Swimsuit Cover-Up by Echo

Unless your wife or lady friend is a fitness or swimsuit model, I don't think it's the best idea to buy her a swimsuit for any holiday... especially Valentine's Day. However, you can get her thinking about the warm weather which should be right around the corner (one can always hope anyway), by getting her this flattering Status Ropes Butterfly cover-up by Echo. I love how stylish, yet comfortable this dress is. It's very bright, classy, and I really dig the empire waist draw-string. It cuts every woman at the most flattering part of her body. This is the perfect gift for a busy mom-on-the-go, who is planning a spring or summer get-away this year! This cover-up dress adds a pop of color to your "beachy" look, and it's so incredibly soft and comfortable. Plus, it's under $50, so this gift won't break the bank!

Large Heart Hoop Earrings by Maggie's Jewelry

If I'm not really in the mood to put makeup on and do my hair, my "go-tos" are big hoop earrings and sunglasses. They help distract from the places we didn't spend as much time on in the morning:) When I found these Heart Hoop Earrings on Etsy, I tossed them right into my check-out basket. The designer of these cute hoops is from Seattle, and she makes them in copper, sterling silver, 14k gold-filled, and she also has some designs with pretty beads on them. Each earring is hand-made, an they have a unique "artsy" look to them. They are sure to draw attention, and have become the topic of conversation whenever I wear them. I always appreciate a piece of hand-made jewelry given to me on Valentine's Day... especially jewelry that I  can wear daily!

GIVEAWAY QUESTION: What is the worst Valentine's Day gift you've ever received???