My Valentine's Day Heart Exploded (and maybe my budget too hahah) – Why I Go All Out for Love!

Okay, you guys. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. I realized after setting it up that I went a little overboard this year with the Valentine's Day stuff. Like, a little little. But also, I can't lie, I LOVE Valentine's Day! Like, sm. My heart just feels so full thinking about it. And honestly, when it comes to celebrating the people I love most in this entire world, is there really such a thing as 'too much'? I mean, maybe Tanner would say yes sometimes hahah, but idc. My heart says no! :,)

I feel like for so long, Valentine's Day felt like it was just for couples, you know? Like, if you weren't in a relationship, it was just another Tuesday. And I h8 that about myself sometimes, that I used to think that way! Bc now, with my girls, and with Tanner, it's become this whole new thing for me. It's not just about romantic love anymore, it's about ALL THE LOVE. The love I have for my sweet Stella, my wild Ozzy, and my precious baby Cherry. The love I have for my amazing husband, who still gives me butterflies after all these years. And even the love I have for my mom, who taught me everything about what it means to love fiercely and unconditionally. It's just a day to soak it all in and make everyone feel extra special.

Why I Can't Help But Go All Out (Even If Tanner Rolls His Eyes)

So, the picture you saw on Instagram? Yeah, that was just a tiny peek into the explosion of pink and red that took over our house. And yes, Tanner definitely gave me 'the look' when he walked in and saw another heart-shaped balloon. But then he saw the girls' faces, and he just melted. That's the thing, isn't it? It's not about the stuff, it's about the feeling. And those feelings? They're priceless.

I think part of it comes from my own childhood. My mom, bless her heart, she always made holidays feel magical, even when things were tough. She was a single mom, and she worked so hard, but she always found a way to make us feel celebrated. Whether it was a handwritten card or a special treat, those little gestures meant everything. So now, with my own girls, I just want to create those same kinds of memories for them. I want them to look back and remember how much joy we found in the little things, how much we celebrated each other.

And honestly, it's just FUN! I love picking out cute little decorations, finding sweet treats, and planning a special meal. It's a creative outlet for me, I guess. It's a way to pour my love into something tangible for my family. And seeing their eyes light up? That's the best reward in the world. It makes all the 'overboard' totally worth it.

Our Sweet Valentine's Day Traditions (Big and Small!)

We've started a few little traditions over the years that I just adore. Some are simple, some are a little more involved, but they all come from the heart.

• The 'Love Bomb' Breakfast: This is probably my favorite! I try to make a special breakfast for everyone. Sometimes it's heart-shaped pancakes, sometimes it's just their favorite cereal with a little extra love. But the key is that we all sit down together, and I'll have little notes for each of them. For Tanner, it's usually something cheesy and sweet. For the girls, it's about what I love about them – Stella's kindness, Ozzy's adventurous spirit, Cherry's sweet snuggles. It's just a moment to tell them how much they mean to me.
• Decorating Extravaganza: Okay, this is where I might go a *little* wild. But the girls love helping! We'll hang streamers, put up balloons, and scatter heart confetti. It turns the whole house into a giant hug, and it just makes everything feel so festive. It doesn't have to be expensive stuff, just cute little things from Target or the dollar store. It's about the effort and the fun we have doing it together.
• Homemade Cards & Crafts: We always make cards for each other. Sometimes they're masterpieces, sometimes they're just scribbles, but they're always full of love. I love seeing what the girls come up with, and Tanner's usually pretty good at making me laugh with his. It's a sweet way to express our feelings without having to buy something.
• A Special Dinner: We don't always go out, sometimes it's just a fancy-ish dinner at home. Maybe I'll make Tanner's favorite pasta, or we'll order pizza and eat it on a picnic blanket in the living room. The important thing is that we're all together, just enjoying each other's company. We'll light some candles, put on some music, and just soak in the family time.
• Small, Thoughtful Gifts: I'm not big on huge, expensive gifts for Valentine's Day. For Tanner, it might be his favorite candy or a new pair of socks he's been needing. For the girls, it's usually a new book, a cute hair bow, or a little toy they've been eyeing. It's about the thought, not the price tag. Just something to say 'I was thinking of you.'

It's Not About Perfection, It's About Connection

I feel like sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make holidays perfect, especially with social media. And I totally get it, bc I'm guilty of it too sometimes! But honestly, the best moments are never the perfect ones. They're the messy ones, the ones where Stella is covered in pancake syrup, or Ozzy is trying to feed her chocolate to Cherry (which I obviously stop immediately hahah). Those are the real moments, the ones we'll actually remember.

It's about creating a feeling of love and warmth in our home. It's about making sure my girls know, without a shadow of a doubt, how incredibly loved they are. And it's about reminding Tanner how much I appreciate him and everything he does for our family. He's my rock, my hype man, and the best dad to our girls. I couldn't imagine doing any of this without him.

So yeah, maybe I went a little overboard this Valentine's Day. Maybe there were too many balloons and too much glitter. But when I saw Stella's huge smile, and Ozzy's excited squeals, and Cherry just looking around with her big, curious eyes, my heart just swelled. And that, my friends, is worth every single heart-shaped decoration and every bit of 'overboard' effort. It's all for them. All for love. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Valentine's Day, friends! I hope you felt all the love today too. ❤