Love, Actually

Peep Show Ticket - Easter Printable

2013-03-21T19:21:00.004-04:00

This year on Easter, hubby and I will be with family. For packing sake, we decided to forgo doing Easter baskets for each other and instead just one small Easter treat.

Here's what I came up with:

yup....a ticket to the Peep Show. Hey, don't look at me! I didn't come up with the phrase, I just found a creative way to present it. ;) Either way, it'll be a sure hit with most hubbies!

However, I mentioned we'll be staying with family and I don't want them peeking at hubby's lil' treat ticket. Hence, the need for a disguise.

See, once that ticket is tucked in it's sleeve, it's just an innocent little chocolate chick. No one will ever know that there's sa-more sugar tucked inside! ;)

Aaannyway.... if you have some big Easter shin-nan-a-gans (is that how you spell that?!) going on, feel free to incorporate this printable into your plans:

If you're doing an egg hunt for some-bunny special, roll-up a Peep Show ticket and place in one of the eggs. Hide this one good! (you don't want the kids stumbling upon this little treasure...)

If you've got a basket ready for him, hide a ticket in the grass. Not sure he's gonna care much for those jelly beans after seeing this...

So fun! I love Easter festivities!

Here's your printable. Happy Easter!

Date Knight - Batman Movie Marathon

2013-02-21T09:33:00.005-05:00

Lately, when planning Date Night, I try really hard to think of things that my hubby would REALLY enjoy. It's so easy to get caught up in the lovey-dovey dates that any girl would LOVE...but when I step back and think about what HE would really like, I find myself planning a date centered around Batman. I know, right? What is he.. 5? But seriously... the latest Batman Trilogy is really entertaining and they are one of his top picks right now! So, I now present:

Date Knight: A Batman Movie Marathon

Hubby was welcomed home by a colony of bats hanging out in the entry way...

The others said things like:
You can "bat" it's gonna be a dark knight...
I'm "batty" for you!
This date is going to be a bit "batty"

As he walked into the living room, the bat signal was shining on the ceiling (I took one of my bat cutouts, stuck it to a toothpick, and held it in front of the flashlight at different angles until it showed the way I wanted it to!)

His Batman Attire (a t-shirt from Target) for the evening was laid out on the ottoman with some movie treats. (Batman themed candy and treats are all the rage now...super easy to find if you look! Try Walmart and Target for starters.)

For dinner during the movie, I served... what else? "Bat" Wings from The Wing Stop.

*oh, ps--I was wearing all black with this little batman face mask when hubby walked in. you know, it's those details that count! ;)

And a little later, let's call it "intermission", we delighted in this decadent Dark Knight Chocolate Cake washed down with milk via DIY batman straws. Yum!

Oh, and this movie marathon took place over 3 nights. I can hardly stay awake through even one really good movie, let alone three.

Here's a printable for you if you want to give this date a try!

"Our Love Rocks" Date

2013-02-14T11:41:00.000-05:00

February 13th was our Valentine's Day this year since M had the day off.. I planned a rockin' little day for the two of us!

I presented him with a tube of chocolate rocks (World Market) to declare that "OUR LOVE ROCKS!"

This next little card introduced the first activity of our rockin' fun day together: ROCK Climbing!

(seriously...a ton of fun! We decided that we have got to do this more often! Something that made it even more fun were some [dirty] Rock Climber's Pickup lines from here and here. I memorized a few of my favorites and used them as we climbed. Seriously, hubby was cracking up!)

We worked up quite an appetite and this next card was ready for him as we walked out of the gym....

Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas. mmm...mmmm. (I'm referring to the food and the hunk there in that picture) :)

We headed home after our late afternoon lunch to this.... A Hot Rock Massage. (perfect for sore muscles after climbing)

DIY Hot Stone Massage

Miss Cheapo here didn't want to spend a lot buying a Hot Stone Massage Kit (they're kinda expensive!) so here's my version:

-River Rocks (smooth rocks with no sharp edges. a variety of sizes is best. Mine are decorative river rocks from World Market. I didn't have any large ones like a real kit would have, but these sufficed for an at-home rock massage. You can also search craft stores, your local river, or a rock quarry.

-Massage Oil or unscented lotion

-Crockpot (put rocks in, cover completely with water, heat on high for approx 45 minutes or 140 degrees, remove with strainer spoon, dry with towel, let sit for 1-2 minutes, then rock and rub!)

If you're really going to do this, I suggest these two links:
1. Creating Your Own DIY Hot Stone Massage Kit

2. Hot Stone Massage Techniques - a GREAT youtube video showing you how to give a stone massage!

After things get a little steamy with the rock massage, next up is:

There are bazillions of songs with "Rock" in it, but these were my favorites and the most fitting. Seriously, as the words play out, you'll know what I mean.

Rock With You - Michael Jackson
You make me rock hard - Kiss
Rock Me - Great White
Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
Roc Ya Body Mic Check - MVP
Feel like a RockStar - Tim McGraw

Spending a WHOLE day with my hubby was pretty sweet, but there was still room for dessert!

Rocky Road Ice Cream is his faaavorite ice cream so that was a gimme, but I also made these Valentine Rocky Road Crunch Bars (a recipe found at Barbara Bakes). Super rich, but tasted great with the ice cream.

Hopefully this gives you an idea for your own Rock Date. Some other ideas for activities?

-playing rock band
-if you're a guy, take your girl shopping for a new rock (a fasion ring)
-skip rocks down at the river
-watch The School of Rock movie

In case you want to do it the same way, I've got the printables for you!

The first set is for a Valentine's Day date. The second for any date (not V-day specific)

Flower Giveaway Winner!

2013-02-06T17:55:00.000-05:00

And the winner of this beautiful arrangement of Red Roses from 1-800-Flowers

is......

Congrats, Clare!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Valentine Collection from 1-800-Flowers.com!

1-800-Flowers Giveaway: Long Stem Red Roses!

2013-01-30T10:54:00.001-05:00

Okay, people....we are only TWO weeks away from Valentine's Day... I hope you've made some really special plans! I think today's giveaway is going to make one lucky reader's Valentine's Day all that more special thanks to 1-800 Flowers.com

You could be the winner of this BEAUTIFUL arrangement:

Rose Elegance™ Premium Long Stem Red Roses

Long-stem red roses are just the gift for the one you can trust, the one you can turn to, the one who loves you above all else and knows your heart inside out. Give the ultimate expression of romance with this stunning, hand-crafted arrangement of long-stem red roses.

1-800 Flowers has a variety of other beautiful arrangements from their Valentine Collection that you can check out as well. But first, get entered to win!

How to Enter:

1. Be a Follower of Love Actually Blog --------->
2. Leave one comment on this post and include your email address.

Extra Entries:
(leave an additional comment for each entry)
1. Be a Facebook Follower of Love Actually Blog
2. Post a Facebook Status Update about this giveaway (with a link)
3. Follow me on Pinterest
4. PIN the image above to one of your Pinterest Boards

...................................

Giveaway ends on Tuesday, February 5th at midnight EST. Open to U.S. residents only. Good luck!

The Bachelor Premiere Party

2013-01-24T21:53:00.000-05:00

...as some of you may know, TV's The Bachelor season is in full swing. For me, it's a guilty pleasure that I allow myself to indulge in every Monday night with the girls! and I looooove it.

A couple of year's ago, I planned the Bachelor Finale Party (and posted about it HERE...seriously, you gotta click that link and check it out! like, right now.) This year, it was all about the Bachelor Premiere Party!

Of course, the most important part of any party is the FOOD! I provided the mock-cocktails (sparkling white grape juice) to wash down the amazing appetizers everyone brought.

....and I provided a couple of sweet treats including Diamond Donuts, chocolate cupcakes, and heart ring pops! (hit the dollar store or walmart's valentine section now or right after Vday when all the candy and decor go on sale so you can be ready for your finale party!)

Seriously, these little Diamond Donuts are darling. If I were to do them again, I would have made the diamond red though... they're supposed to be gray (I know, it looks lavender!) The idea for these came from EEADesign on Etsy.

There were no games at this party, we just really wanted to focus on Sean and all the girl-drama, you know? ;) BUT, we did make some predictions for the season after we watched the premiere.

Would you believe I put Tierra as my finale winner? What was I thinking?! She's turning into quite the little brat. I'm anxious to see if any of the girls guessed correctly when it comes time for the Finale!

I rolled each blank prediction sheet and secured it with a diamond ring favor (found at Hobby Lobby) so each girl had one. You can snag my free printable below:

Instructions for the Diamond Donuts:

1. Purchase diamond template or create your own using Photoshop (like I did)
2. Print your diamond shapes out on white or colored paper (as desired)
3. Using an exacto knife, cut the "diamonds" out.
4. If desired, spray cut diamonds with light layer of spray glue or brush with modge-podge and sprinkle glitter over. Remove excess. Let dry.
5. Use glue runner or tiny piece of tape to stick the diamond to a toothpick.
6. Stick diamond toothpick through each donut.

Oh, and in case you're wanting some more ideas for planning your next The Bachelor viewing party, I've compiled a list of 25 different ideas for you!

You can come check it out over HERE!

Digi-Scrap Love!

2013-01-24T17:46:00.004-05:00

I'm a digital scrapbooker and love capturing all of life's moments, especially ones that are often overlooked and forgotten. Each year we take our Christmas card photo and instead of just letting it go out in those cards and saving one to pop in a shoe box (to be forever forgotten), I'll scrapbook a page with just the two of us. Here was last year's....

I've got a LOT of lovey-dovey digital kits in my files (as you can imagine the creator of a blog like this might have), but Quality DigiScraps helped me find a couple of new Valentine digital kits that can be used for not only digital scrapbooking, but all sorts of valentine gifts, crafts, and projects. They were too cute not to share!

Take a look at these:

from Cinnamon Scraps

from the heartistic project

They're both FREE! Just follow the links to the designer's page to download!

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Pssst..... Have you ordered your Date of the Month Club kit yet? Time's a ticking... ;)

Dead & Breakfast Inn - Halloween Date Night

2013-01-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

You've heard of Christmas in July...but have you ever heard of Halloween in January? No, of course you haven't. That's because no one is SO slow that it takes 3 months for them to get around to posting a Halloween idea... except me. But, actually... I'm just 10 months ahead of schedule. It's never too early to start planning for Halloween 2013. It's gonna be epic.

I was in charge of date night the week of Halloween... and I've been wanting to do a "Dead & Breakfast Inn" theme for quite some time! Here's what I did:

...................................

Hubby was greeted at the Inn's "entry way" with a welcome card asking him to sign the guest book...if he dared!

an upclose look at the "welcome card":

He wasn't the first guest at this D&B....

Decor & Effects

I had our guest room all decked out with creepy Halloween decor, strobe lights, and some skeleton garland lights when he entered. You can bet I found everything I needed at The Dollar Tree: bloody cloths, mini strobe lights, black crows, skeleton head, black cauldron, napkins, foam gravestone, skeleton garland, etc. I used some of the decor from my living room (in this post). My husband agrees that the best part was the dark room lighting up sporadically with the strobes....really gave it a cool effect!

Of course, all the decor in the world won't do much unless I feed the poor guy! This "Dead & Breakfast Inn" served Killer Cuisine that was Drop. Dead. Delicious.

yummm...

Graveyard Greens with moldy dressing & Cauldron Chill-Eee with crumby crackers...all washed down with some Cursed Concoction (of course, it was brewed to imperfection).

And for dessert, a Toxic Mud Slab a la wickedly sweet I-scream. It was to die for...

As if that wasn't enough, the Inn provided these toxic treats (crows bones and earth worms) for late night snacks.

The Inn also had plenty of other activities in store--including a Horror-ibly Hot Bath and a Frightful Film. Just for fun, I threw some green glowsticks into the bathtub (kinda like this blogger did) for a creepy and cool effect. Dollar Tree had some cool glowstick masks, axes, and such too that are fun.

Since you have a LONG time to prep for this, you can make your own printables, right? No? Okay. You can take mine if you'd like.

You can download them HERE---it's a zipped file that you will have to extract/unzip before accessing the individual files.

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PS: wonder why all my images are labeled with lifedesigncraft.blogspot.com? That's my other blog where I primarily post. But, when I have a new date idea, I post it here so YOU can see it! You're certainly welcome to visit me over there, too!

Vday Gift: Date of the Month Club

2013-01-10T21:15:00.002-05:00

Have you realized yet that Valentine's Day is JUST around the corner... Once again, I have the perfect gift on sale for your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance... you get the idea!

It's the Date of the Month Club Kit...a completely personalized, unique gift for your love!

I designed this kit to fit inside a small box (mine is a Godiva Chocolate box). (When you purchase the kit, I will send you the JPEG files so you can size the kit pieces larger or smaller depending on the size of your box.)

Here's an upclose look at each part of the kit, which could be customized for YOUR valentine, of course!

First, the tag for the box:

then.... The Membership Enrollment Card:

then....

Explanation: (You'll give your Valentine a list of 12+ dates on this card. A few more than 12 would be nice. Keep in mind, these don't all have to be fancy dates from Love Actually Blog. Guys like simple dates, too...like, throwing a frisbee at the park. Put some of his interests in there as dates with you. Then, he will choose which date he wants for which month. Then, it's up to you keep that card and plan those dates each month (Hence, "date of the month club")

then...

Explanation: Give at least 2 vacation cards, but only give as many as you can handle having to plan throughout the year! (remember--these don't have to be REAL vacations...they can be "homestyle vacations" or recreations like mine).

then....

Explanation: These are "love coupons" of sorts...the trick is actually honoring them when he/she decides to use them throughout the year--no backing out! And, make sure you really personalize them (make them lovey-dovey, sexy, or whatever you want...well, whatever your valentine wants, that is!)

Finally, add your Hershey Kisses, (each redeemable for the real thing...a kiss!) along with this bag tag.

And there you have it! A year's worth of romance and fun....all tied up with a bow for Valentine's Day!

You can have a fully customized version of this kit for
$19.99!

Custom options include:
- Specific names on the To: and From: lines on the box tag

- Adding a name after "Congratulations" on the Membership Enrollment Card

- Your choice of 2 different Vacation Cards and related image (you can use the ones I gave for examples or your own!) Colors of text customizable. (each additional @ $2 each)
- 5 different Tickets with wording of your choice (each additional @ $1 each)
- the Kisses bag tag will be as shown

If you would like further customization, I'd be happy to let you know if it's included with the package or if it will be an additional cost.

How to Order:
Email lifedesigncraft@live.com

I'll send you instructions for getting started..it's a simple process!

How fun would it be handing over this unique, personalized gift for Valentine's Day? And the best part is all the fun to come out of it! Email me and we'll get started!

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Below are examples of wording to get your mind thinking of what you'd like included in your kit. Again, these are just options...you can completely make up your own if you want!

Vacation Card wording options (color & design will vary based on your custom requests) (*remember, these don't have to be "real" vacations or they can be....whatever you want!)

Ticket wording options (color & design will vary based on your custom requests)

Date Card wording options: (just common examples....you can make up your own, too!)

Don't forget that I have other fun digital kits for Valentine's Day including:

Love Checks
Valentine's Day Countdown Calendar/Advent
Spa Night Package

"Plane Crazy About You" Date Night Out

2012-12-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hey y'all! Here's a fun little date that I posted on my other blog a while back. It's a date that you may have to remember for spring or summer...unless you live where it's warm like us!

............................................................

When it came to doing regular date nights, the craziness of Dental School kept us "grounded" for the past little while.... Tonight, it was all about letting our love take flight again.

DFW Airport has a really cool observation area known as Founder's Plaza where you can have a picnic, listen to air traffic control communications from the FAA tower, and watch airplanes land and take-off. Most airports have some sort of viewing area, so if you live in a town with an airport, this is an easy date for you to recreate.

Folks, we've been cleared for take-off...it won't be long before Love is in the Air. (okay, no more cheesy lines, I promise. maybe.)

Airplane Tunes

As we drove to the airport viewing plaza, I had cued up a few songs to play in the car that fit this date's theme. This website has a ton of categorized songs about airplanes, but I chose these 4 for the ride:

1. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me

2 - Train - When I Look to the Sky
3 - Leaving on a Jet Plane - Chantal Kreviazuk
4. Train - Counting Airplanes

Dinner/Picnic

Our in-flight service included:

Airplane Wings (in two delicious flavors from The Wing Stop)

Mile High Breadsticks (from Pizza Hut)

Blue Sky Puff (blue cotton candy)

Jet Fuel (soda pop)

I can always get away with my "cutesy stuff" with hubby when it involves food.... I get to be creative. He gets food. Win-Win. :) Oh yeah, and you can grab the free printable at the end of the post. Win-Win-Win.

If you don't have time for a whole dinner/picnic thing, you can go the simple route--- serve yourselves up a bag of "prop-corn" along with some refreshing "Jet Fuel" soda.

Paper Airplanes

I saw this picture one day while browsing the web....

...and thought I could recreate it for our date. Wrong. My picture turned out nothing like theirs...granted, they had a photographer and were dressed up for an engagement shoot, but still! We enjoyed our little paper airplane contest regardless. It's a good thing we don't build planes for a living, though, cuz both of ours crashed and burned.

We had a great evening watching the planes, enjoying the cool breeze (which is sort of a big deal in Dallas), and dreaming of where we'd fly to if given no limits and a moment's notice.

And, that's it. Gee, time sure does FLY when you're having fun. ;)

Oh, here's your free printables if you want 'em:

*oh, and a tip: Put a strip of wax paper underneath the soda pop label...it protects the paper from getting soaked!

"Date of the Month Club" Christmas Gift - Now Taking Orders!

2012-12-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

I am now taking orders for customized "Date of the Month Club" kits!!

If you weren't a follower of this blog or Life. Design. and the Pursuit of Craftiness last Christmas or Valentine's Day, allow me to introduce you to a one-of-a-kind homemade Christmas gift. Perfect for your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or fiance, it's a gift that lasts throughout the year!

Enroll him (or her) in the Date of the Month Club!

(this is the Valentine's Day Version, all assembled... of course, yours will be the Christmas Version as shown below)

I designed this kit to fit inside a small box (mine is a Godiva Chocolate box). (When you purchase the kit, I will send you the JPEG files so you can size the kit pieces larger or smaller depending on the size of your box.)

Here's an up-close look at each part of the kit, which could be customized for YOUR sweetheart, of course! You'll receive the DIGITAL kit by email (no physical product will be shipped to you!)

First, the tag for the box:

then.... The Membership Enrollment Card:

then....the "Date" Calendar Cards

then...

then.... the Romance Reward Tickets

Finally, add your Hershey Kisses Tag with a baggie of chocolate kisses (each redeemable for the real thing...a kiss!)

And there you have it! A year's worth of romance and fun....all tied up with a bow under the tree!

(again, this is the Valentine's version pictured above...but you get the idea)

You can have a fully customized version of this kit for
$19.99!

Custom options include:
- Specific names on the To: and From: lines on the box tag

- Adding a name after "Congratulations" on the Membership Enrollment Card

How to Order:
Email lifedesigncraft@live.com

I'll send you instructions for getting started..it's a simple process!

How fun would it be to give this unique, personalized gift for Christmas? And the best part is all the fun to come out of it! Email me and we'll get started!

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Below are examples of wording for the vacation cards and tickets to get your mind thinking of what you'd like included in your kit.

Here are some more examples from an older version of this kit... just to give you more ideas for wording...

(the below vacation card examples were designed using a previous template. Yours will have the updated look as you saw in the post above!)

Datevitation Giveaway & Smart Phone Date

2012-05-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

This is a guest post by Alex Karpman, founder of Datevitation.com, the web’s first custom love coupon platform where you can create a one-of-a-kind gift book full of fun things to do with your sweetie, or send electronic love coupons via email or facebook.

We are so excited to have the opportunity to guest post on this wonderful blog. While our signature product at Datevitation are custom love coupons, my fiancee Olga and I are dedicating a ton of energy to our video blog, where we offer free step-by-step video guides to date ideas and romantic gestures that we hope you can use to help keep your relationship fresh and exciting. We hope to someday offer the quality and breadth of posts that Cher has created here at Love Actually.

Today, I thought I’d share with you what I have discovered to be a fantastic resource for great date ideas... the Apple App store. I guess it shouldn't be all that surprising because, as the saying goes, there is an app for everything! While technology isn’t typically viewed as very romantic, it turns out that there are many applications that provide the perfect springboard for a great date. For example, in the video below, Olga and I show you how we spent an afternoon

together at the beach snapping fun photos with our iPhone camera, and then used a few photography applications to turn those pictures into something truly special and unique.  We had a blast taking the photos, and even more fun playing around with the different filters and effects.  If you are not an iPhone user, don’t fret.  There are applications in the Android App Store that can accomplish virtually the same effects.

While your Smartphone’s app store can be a great source for date ideas, it can be a daunting task to research and select appropriate apps. Indeed, as of the time of this publication, there are over 500,000 apps in the Apple app store! We decided to do the hard work for you, and created a free video series on 7 fantastic dates you can have using your Smartphone from dining out to movie night to working out together. You can get the video series for free on our homepage at Datevitation.com.

As mentioned above, one of our products is our e-Date platform -- where you can send custom love coupons electronically via email or facebook. We charge $12 per year for an e-Date membership (which allows you to send unlimited love coupons), but we have created a completely free e-Date for the Love Actually community relating to the Smartphone date that is the subject of the video above. We encourage you to use our e-Date to invite your special someone on this wonderful date!

You can find the free e-date HERE!

We hope you’ll visit us on our blog for more great date ideas and be sure to check out our books! We’re happy to offer free shipping on our books this week only to Love Actually readers. Just enter the code -- loveactually - at the checkout page, and you’ll be discounted the $3.50 that we normally charge for shipping if you order by May 27.

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How FUN! Thanks, Alex for some fun inspiration and a great freebie! Alex wanted to leave you with a chance at a terrific giveaway from Datevitation.....a free Datevitation gift book. Seriously, these books are REALLY cool and so easy to make online! So, get yourself entered!

To Qualify:

1. Be a Follower of Love Actually Blog ----------> 2. Comment with your thoughts on the video and/or suggestions of SmartPhone applications that you think could be the basis of a great date

Extra Entry: - Post a Facebook status about this giveaway and leave one extra comment saying you did.

Random Giveaway ends on 5/29/2012 at midnight EST.

YouTube Date Night

2012-05-09T18:22:00.001-04:00

Meet Camille & Jacob Whiting.

They love their Friday Night Date Nights. and...even better, they love sharing their ideas on their blog, Friday We're In Love. They created a collection of hilarious YouTube video clips to share with YOU for your next stay-at-home date night.

The collection is free, clean, and funny!

They also provided some awesome suggestions for dinner and a movie treat!

Check out their blog post HERE and the YouTube Channel HERE.
{Thanks for sharing, Camille!}

Awewahoo! Hawaiian Themed Date Night at Home

2012-05-02T21:30:00.000-04:00

warning: If you tend to blush at the thought of anything of the romantic risque sort, then turn around, my friends. It's not too late to hit the "back" button. This idea is meant, as with many of my other ideas to bring a little spice and romance to the everyday married life. This idea, from an anonymous follower, has been adapted for use on this blog.

I sent hubby out of the house for an hour or so to create a little bit of Hawaii right at home. I'll give you those details in a bit...

When he got home, I was dressed in my best Hawaiian get-up (a flower lei from the dollar store, Hawaiian flower wrap, and a Hawaiian flower clip in my hair... no coconut bra for me. (but that's an idea for you!)

I presented him with his flower lei and a boarding pass for Awewahoo Airlines (get it...Oahu? Awewahoo..? Funny thing. When he first read it, he said "A-we-hoo!" seriously?) and showed him to his seat. Take a look at the boarding pas below... and you'll see why you'll have to create that scene for yourself... *ahem*

Then, the plane landed and I presented him with his Island Welcome Card:

Oh, and in case you're wondering:
Ho'i Hou Ke Aloha means "Let us fall in love all over again"

Here's how I pulled the rest of the date off:

The Island's Natural Hot Springs:
(aka: the tub) Remember those plastic scene setters from this date? I used those again...but I tinted the water blue-green with food coloring and had a pineapple sipper cup on the ledge filled with punch (see pic below). I found that at Dollar Tree. We were supposed to be "deep in the jungle" so I dimmed the lighting. On my iphone, I had Pandora playing the Hawaiian genre station...

Warm Sands Beach
(aka: my living room) I took a tan sheet and laid it out to create the "sandy beach". I overlapped it with a blue fuzzy blanket to create the shore line. Again, low lighting since it was an evening on the beach... with music playing from Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole and ocean sounds from my iphone (free app). This is where we enjoyed some "delectable Hawaiian BBQ" of Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, Cilantro-Lime Rice, and Thick-Baked Bacon Sticks. Our drink was a homemade punch (with white grape juice, raspberry seltzer water, and fresh raspberries).

(okay, I KNOW that is hardly hawaiian at all... but, it was the easiest thing to cook with what I already had in the house!) If you really want to be authentic, try this recipe for Kalua Pork (that I got from friends of ours that live in Hawaii):

ooh, it's delish!

Message in a Bottle
After dinner, we participated in this island tradition...

This was actually a lot of fun... we were allowed to use our phones in case RhymeZhone came in handy, or whatever... we read our messages to each other before rolling them up into the bottle and shipping it off to sea. :)

A great theme to get you started on your message:
I "shore" do love you...Who needs Hawaii when loving you is "paradise"?

Massage on the Beach
Every beach-goer needs sunscreen rubbed on their backs... so, offer a little shoulder and back massage right there on the beach! ....followed by dessert... no, really. dessert. I served peach cobbler. :)

And, I think you can figure out the rest on your own! Be creative and take a look at your local Dollar Store/Craft Store/Variety Store. Hawaiian/Luau things are a dime a dozen right now...

Of course, if you like the date elements I created, they're yours. You'll just have to write it the key elements for the airline ticket. Download HERE

Aloha!

Creative Couple Photos

2012-04-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you ooh and ahh over the latest couples photography these days, but I do. Makes me wish I could go back to our dating/engaged days and capture it all in a whole new way. But, just because we are "old married folk", doesn't mean we can't act like newlyweds and capture some great moments of life in creative ways.

Often times, it's planning how to pose for pictures that is the hardest. Having a plan of what you want is a good idea. {Trust me, our biggest arguments usually occur during our annual couples photo shoot. Sad, but true. We are smiling, but we usually aren't happy for those few minutes..ha!}

So get your your camera, tripod, and favorite editing software ready.... here are:

Lauren from Busy Bee Lauren and her hubby on a picnic with a polaroid.
I really really really want a picture like this.

Hostess with the Mostess shows you how to MAKE this flashy little heart prop...this could be cool (and a little less "valentiney") in black & white, too!

This would be an AWESOME photo for any of you married/engaged college-goers or college alums! My friend, Rhiannon over at Hey Gorgeous featured this photo from Onelove Photography. In my case, hubby and I would both be holding true-blue BYU signs... :)

I-love this I-Phone Kiss... Did you even know there was such a thing? There is now. I found this HERE through SugarDoodle. There are other versions floating around the web in color...this was just my favorite!

Fairytale Photo...I think so. (found via Tumblr) And guess what? You can snap this one right in the middle of your Bookstore Date. And then you'll live happily ever after...

Barefoot & Fancy Free.... I really love how playful this picture is! If I couldn't see their feet on the ground, I'd think that their shadows actually are leaping into the air for a kiss... (source)

Groom Sold Separately spelled this one out for us, but it's an easy photo to take for yourself. Just grab your scrabble game and a mini tripod...oh, and while you're at it, how about a little Scrabble Date?

You can make each other happy, when skies are gray... How sweet is this? (super sorry...I have no credit to this photo? anyone want to help me out?)

My husband is always asking for pictures where we don't just "stare at the camera and smile". He would like this one from ISPWP Wedding Photos. It's gonna be a tricky one to shoot, though!

I looove photos that capture a real-life story about a couple. In my case, we'd have a bottle of Pepsi and a bottle of Coke side-by-side to showcase our our ongoing battle over which beverage is better. You can draw inspiration from many other sweet, fun-loving shots from Ashley Therese Photography.

...too cute for words --- from Candice K. Photography

From Post Cards & Pretties, this one's a little nerdy, retro, funky....and perfect!

You do the math. Brilliant photo found via Perfectly Practical Bride.

...this Sunset Smooch comes from my own collection of photos (yup, that's me and the Mr.) Sunsets are perfect opportunities for candid, lovey-dovey photos.

AND, finally....this one from sj2 photography, how simple and sweet with the ampersand prop! It's a perfect photo from engagement through 100 years of marriage to celebrate you & the one you love!

This photo session is over... time to start yours! Good luck!

The "Posh" Winner!

2012-04-23T14:08:00.000-04:00

Well, Well.... we have a Winner! ..and a posh one, at that! :)

Thank you again to April Johnson from Perfectly Posh for such a fun giveaway last week.

Our winner is.......
KRISTIN.

Not wanting the fun to end, April set up an online shopping event just for you!

1. Go to: GoGetPoshed.com
2. Click on "Shop Now"
3. Click on the blue "shop now" link next to the "readers of Love, Actually" event.

Hurry! The party ends at: 4/27/2012 12:00:00 AM.

His & Hers Heart Pillows

2012-04-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

There are times I see something so cute that I just can't pass up the chance to share!

This is one of those times.

How DARN cute.

A Beautiful Mess blog has a tutorial and more pics for you!

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Have you entered the giveaway yet? do it now!

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Date Night - Nerf Gun War

2012-04-16T09:51:00.001-04:00

Looking for a little action on your next date night? Why don't you give this one a shot?

Click HERE for the full date!

(I'm sending you over to my other blog)

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Pssst: Have you entered the giveaway yet? You'd better do it, HERE!

Perfectly Posh Giveaway (His & Hers Massage Soaps)

2012-04-14T08:44:00.005-04:00

Hey y'all!

I'm coming at ya today with a super fun giveaway from April at Perfectly Posh (also the newest sponsor of Love Actually!)

Perfectly Posh offers unique products that are made purely for pampering, whether for an evening off to spoil yourself, or even to add a touch of romance for you and your hunny!

Let's go with a posh giveaway to match that last option! Allow me to introduce you to....

Cajoles.

These are SOAP Massagers that smell amazing on their own...but they were designed to smell even better when combined! I'm thinking, "Forget about the smell....I get a massage!" ....either way, sign me up.

You KNOW you want them, too! You just might be in luck!

Here's how to enter the giveaway:

<---------- 1. Be a FOLLOWER of Love Actually

2. Check out the Spring/Summer Catalog and comment with another product you love and your email address.
(one comment only, please.)

Bonus Entries:

3. "LIKE" Perfectly Posh on Facebook HERE

4. Post a Facebook status update about this giveaway with the link to this post

(comment for each separately)

Okay, you know what to do! Good Luck!

Giveaway ends Saturday, April 21 at midnight EST.

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Oh, ppsst...here's a little secret. When you "like" her facebook page, you'll be automatically entered for a giveaway of all 3 Footsie Products when the page reaches 100 likes! SWEET!

Smart Cookie: Exam Treat for the Student Spouse

2012-03-03T20:06:00.001-05:00

I posted today on Life. Design. and the Pursuit of Craftiness about my hubby taking his final clinical board exam of dental school this weekend... He's been pretty nervous about it.

This morning, I sent him off with a hug and a little edible encouragement...

For more ideas for student spouses....you should study up HERE!

Handbag Winn-uh!

2012-02-19T14:46:00.000-05:00

Where I live, there are no winners. only winn-uhs. (Gotta love that Boston accent).

...and, I'd like to announce the Cents of Style Handbag Winn-uh!

Alli from Cupcake Diaries

(Alli, please email me your address (lifedesigncraft@livecom) so Cents of Style can send you your prize!)

We're actually all kinda winn-uhs, because she's got a blog full of great recipes and fun ideas! Nice!

Many thanks again to Cents of Style for such a great giveaway. Be sure to check out all their fashion accessories...starting at just $6.60!

Hungry for your Love: Romantic Dinner at Home

2012-02-15T13:38:00.003-05:00

Hey y'all!

I know you know I'm dabbling in my other love interests over at Life. Design. and the Pursuit of Craftiness these days... but I didn't want you to miss out on a fun idea for creating a simple, but romantic themed dinner at home!

...for when your HUNGRY for a little love...

Come check it out and grab my free printables HERE!

Handbag Giveaway - Cents of Style

2012-02-09T12:56:00.007-05:00

How about another giveaway?!

....maybe a new handbag to accompany you on your next date? And when hubby asks how much you paid for it, you can smile and say "not a dime!"

Shari John, a stylist from Cents of Style, is giving away this gorgeous handbag to one lucky winner!

It's called The Rosette and retails at $26.60. Its a black handbag with a pink zipper rosette!

Cents of Style sells a variety of stylish fashion accessories (handbags, bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, shoes and hats) with prices starting at only $6.60.
They live and sell by two mottos that:
One: You do not have to spend a lot to look great!
Two: When you look good, you feel good!

Here is a little promo to save you some money!

Use Promo Code: 0514 at checkout for 10% off and FREE SHIPPING!

*The first 3 people to order with that promo code get a free centsible collection item with their order! Sweet Deal!

Okay, on with the handbag giveaway!

To qualify:

1. Be a Follower of Love Actually ---->
and leave comment with your email.

Extra Entry:

2. Post about this giveaway on Facebook and comment.

Giveaway runs through Thursday, February 16th at midnight EST.

Winner Winner!

2012-01-31T13:32:00.003-05:00

I won't drag it out.....

The winner of this little beauty....

is Tabitha Mahoney!!

Congrats, Tabitha! Please email me at lifedesigncraft@live.com so we can get you your personalized necklace from A Gracious Plenty!

Thanks for entering everyone and a special thanks again to A Gracious Plenty for this generous giveaway!

Valentine's Day Gifts for YOUR Valentine!

2012-01-30T14:15:00.000-05:00

I've got openings to personalize a few more kits before Valentine's Day...
order now!
You can get all the details HERE!