Luv.

Oh, the things I’ve done in the name of love, like in the 5th grade, when I used to make my grandfather wait until my crush walked out of school (while I ducked in the front seat, of course) before we could pull away.  Or the singing candygram I sent to Karrie’s boyfriend when I was in the 7th grade…  whoops.  (LLLISTEN:  in my Hester Prynne defense, no one knew you guys were going steady.)  Or just the countless “dumb girl” moves I’ve pulled against my better judgment – exactly the ones “smart girls” like us preach against.  Eh, I say whatever.  You only live once, and sometimes you just gotta let it all hang out.  – Steph

On Valentine’s Day in 8th grade, during a period in my life in which the term “awkward” just doesn’t do it justice, I was delivered a gigantic teddy bear with heart shaped balloons from my “Secret Admirer”.  My heart jumped out of my chest as I hypothesized on the identity of my special admirer.  Boys didn’t talk to me.  Heck, they didn’t look at me.  It wasn’t until two days later when I would find out my grandpa had been the culprit.  God bless him.  He knew his granddaughter needed a little boost on this special day.  That’s true love.  – Karrie

♥ “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. And that’s what you’ve given me. That’s what I’d hoped to give you forever.” – The Notebook

♥ “If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.” — Maya Angelou

♥ “I dust [your photo] carefully every morning, for to do so gives me the pleasant feeling that I’m caressing you as in the old days. I even touch your nose with mine to recapture the electric current that used to flush through my blood whenever I did so.” — Nelson Mandela to his wife, Winnie

♥ “Out of the depths of my happy heart wells a great tide of love and prayer for this priceless treasure that is confided to my lifelong keeping. You cannot see its waves as they flow toward you, darling, but in these lines you will hear…the distant beating of its surf.” – Mark Twain to Olivia Langdon

♥ “Love is everything it’s cracked up to be … It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.” — Erica Jong

♥ “We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.” — Ellen Goodman

♥ “You should marry that Travis Stork on the TV.  He sure is cute…  and I think he’s single.  Or go on that Bachelor show.” – Steph’s Grandma Ruth

Happy Valentine’s Day!

xoxo,

and

* photos via pinterest and the bottom of the ironing basket