#AlwaysBeBlooming: A Very Whim Valentine's Day Inspired by BloomNation
In previous years, I hadn't really gone out of my way to celebrate Valentine's Day, especially here on the Whim blog.
After seeing many of my favourite blogs and magazines get all floral and fun in the lead-up to the occasion, however, I decided to just embrace it a little more this year - After all, is there really anything wrong with having a day dedicated to slowing down, spending time with our loved ones, and getting all warm and fuzzy?
I've never been a huge fan of using the day as an excuse to give and receive lavish gifts, however, but I do love taking the time to create handmade presents and cards to remind my loved ones of how much I care about them :) Plus, I'll always love a reason to surround myself with pretty flowers.
Another gentle push of motivation to celebrate Valentine's Day came from BloomNation and their campaign #AlwaysBeBlooming. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of love in your life and how we can celebrate throughout the year, not just on Valentine’s Day. Another element of the collaboration is to encourage select bloggers to talk about how they celebrate love and the gestures they use to show how they care.
So, who is BloomNation? Founded in August of 2011, BloomNation is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and send unique bouquets handcrafted by local florists across the United States. Whether customers are looking for the traditional dozen roses or a one-of-a-kind design, BloomNation lets everyone discover and send the perfect gift to a loved one.
When I spotted these colourful geometric heart boxes by Next to Nicx on Pinterest recently, I knew I had to make them for Valentine's Day. Not only were they quite unisex, but I also thought the boxes could make great gifts - one for my boyfriend Jack, and the other to give to our friends Jess and James who we had planned to spend Valentine's Day weekend with. I wanted to fill mine with heart-shaped, sugar-coated lollies to make the surprise even sweeter!
The four of us had a lovely weekend of beach visits (with some unfortunate blue bottle stings, however!), as well as a delicious tapas dinner and Hunger Games watching (Jack and I were a little late to jump on the HG bandwagon and only recently read all three books!).
Throw in some fish and chips, plenty of fresh fruit and too much Brie cheese (that was just me) and it was a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend.
To further celebrate what the #AlwaysBeBlooming campaign is all about, I've included some ideas below for celebrating love all-year-round:
- Say it with flowers! Flowers are perfect for any occasion, including 'just because'. They also instantly add colour and beauty to any space in the home, whether it be a single flower or a whole bunch of them.
- Get crafty: When you take the time to create something with your hands, whether it be a card, a scrapbook, dinner, or just about anything else, it really is special because of the extra effort you've gone to for your loved one.
- Plan fun outings: Watching T.V can be relaxing, but it's also pretty mindless. When it comes to spending time with your loved ones, why not see what special events are on in your local area. try a new restaurant, or check out an interesting place? That way, you'll have more special memories together!