IT'S ALMOST VALENTINE'S DAY - HOW DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THE LOVE?

I know, I know. You're probably groaning that December holiday merchandise has barely been moved off the shelves, and the Valentine's day goodies are already coming in -the cards, the candy, all of it.

Yes, I know. Valentine's Day is a highly-commercialized holiday.

But ya know what? Who cares! How about having some fun with it this year, and letting a bunch of people in your life know you care about them and love them in fun and surprising ways?
When I was growing up, I never thought of Valentine's Day as a day that was only about being with "that special someone." My mom would spread out a whole bunch of great art supplies on the kitchen table - fake pearls, sequins, doilies, glue, glitter, scissors, stickers, and construction paper. Our family would go to town making cards for our friends and relatives.

To this day, I still send Valentine cards - and usually at least one Valentines care package - to let a bunch of people know that I am thinking about them.

This doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money. You could make cards. Also, there's a section in most drugstores with 99 cent cards that are plenty adorable.

Here's some folks who would probably love to get a fun note or surprise from you:

Great aunt or uncle

A loyal client, customer, or patron

Nieces and nephews

Elderly neighbor

Your mail carrier

Your mom or dad

Grandparents

Your hair cutter

Good friend

Favorite mom and pop store or restaurant owner

So, just for a second, tuck away your curmudgeon tendencies and spread a little love to people who would love to hear that they matter to you!

WHO WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE A VALENTINE FROM YOU?

Thanks to my mom, I never thought of Valentines Day as a day that you could celebrate only if you had a "special someone."

Every February, she would lay out colored construction paper, paper doilies, glitter, sequins, beads, glue, lace, brick-a-brack - you name it! - and let me and my brother go to town making valentines for friends and relatives. So much fun!

Most years, I send valentines to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to express my appreciation for their friendship.

Do you think someone is going to turn down a Valentine card because you are not their romantic partner. Heck, no!

Send a fun card in the spirit of affection, appreciation, and friendship. There are lots of cards out there - like the ones designed for childen - that are not sappy, frilly, or corny.

Who is going to be delighted or surprised to get a Valentine from you? Your great aunt? Your mail carrier? Your neighbor's child? Your favorite teacher from grade school?

Think outside the box and imagine the delight as that person opens your paper gift!

SHOW THE LOVE AND SHARE THE LOVE

Valentines Day can be anything you want it to be.

I think it's the perfect time to show the love and to broaden your idea of who you can show the love to.

Valentines Day is not just about showering "that special someone" with chocolates and flowers. It's about SHARING THE LOVE with all the special someones in your life - grandparents, clients, customers, fans, colleagues, neighbors, shop owners, people who show kindness to you and your children - anyone whose relationship you value.

I sent my brother's family a care package with all kinds of Heart Day goodies in it. His boys are gonna get cool red Snoopy race cars filled with candy. I wrote each person in his family a separate note to let each of them know I love them.

I sent my mom and dad some goofy foil-covered candy in the shapes of fish and lips.

I'm sending simple, hand-made valentines to clients, friends, and family to let them know I am thinking of them.

Who in your circle could use a little show of love in a card, a phone call, a kind word?

Make it happen.

I'M IN LOVE WITH ONLINE STAMP-BUYING

As much as I like to go to the post office to view their array of stamps from a living breathing person, the local post office branches often don't have the stamps that I'm looking for. Because I love stamps, tiny works of art that they are, I am picky when it comes to picking them out for a big mailing. It's just not worth waiting in a LONG line, only to be dissappointed by the selection available.

For my Valentines Day mailing, I really wanted the Love: All Heart stamp and I knew the post office branches wouldn't be carrying it because it's from 2008. So I hopped online and ordered a whole bunch of them from the USPS website.

It took all of five minutes to order the stamps online! I'm gonna remember this in the future.