The UPS man knocked on my door today and left two packages. I love packages. The only thing I don’t love is that it typically means another addition to my pile of work which is horribly backlogged (Dear Kenmore, I have NOT forgotten about you!). But today was special. The first package was one I was expecting… a stash of lovely books I won in  a Valentine’s Day giveaway on Married to My Sugar Daddy (a fabulous site, by the way). Nothing expected of me other than to read and enjoy.

The second package was one I wasn’t expecting, but when I saw a Disney Store return address I mentally ran through my shopping list to figure out what I had ordered. Nothing came to mind, so I knew it was going to be something fun. They didn’t disappoint. Inside was a reusable Valentine’s Day shopping tote with Mickey and Minnie on it. And inside of that was a set of adorable Mickey & Minnie love mugs, and classic Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush dolls. Each doll is holding a felt heart with a Valentine inside that you can fill out for your sweetie. It so happens that I will be at Toy Fair in NY for Valentine’s Day this year (again – Why is Toy Fair always on Valentine’s Day anyway?) and have been looking for a special way to say, “I love you” to my kids while I’m away. Voila!

Yes, I do have a cool job. But before you get too jealous, I have great news for you… the Disney Store has offered to give the same fun box-o-goodies to one of my lucky Quirky Fusion readers. You won’t have it in time for Valentine’s Day, but the recipient isn’t going to care. And who says you can’t say I love you with treats on another day entirely, right? Of course, these great gifts are actually available NOW at the Disney Store, so you can also zip over there and pick them up. The plush dolls are $14.50 each and suitable for kids and adult fans. The 2-piece mug set is $14.50, too. Pull these out of the package and stuff them with your sweetheart’s favorite candy or chocolate before giving them as a gift.

Want to win?

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ THE TWO RULES. IF YOU’RE CONFUSED, JUST ASK!

The Prize: One Disney Store Valentine’s Day gift bag with a reusable  tote, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plus dolls, and a set of two Mickey/Minnie mugs.

To Enter (once per person/household):

1. Leave a comment on THIS post (right down below) telling me who you’ll give these to.
2. Make sure you enter the correct email address in the email spot on the comment form so I can reach you. Please DON’T put your email in the actual comment.

Details:

• Contest will end at 11:59pm Eastern on February 17, 2010. Entries received after that time will not be valid.
• U.S. addresses only (sorry, international friends!)
• Adults (18+) only
• Winners will be chosen via random.org. Winner must comply with all rules mentioned here, or a new winner will be selected. I will have the final decision in this matter.
• I will email the winner who will have roughly 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.

Bonus Entries:

• Subscribe to this blog via email/RSS (once)
• Blog about this contest using the full url *no shortened links* (once)
• Tweet about this contest (max 1 per day)
• Fan/Like Quirky Fusion on Facebook (once)

To claim bonus entries, please post one comment on this post per bonus entry (include permalink or tweet url).

Questions? Contact me.

Related posts:

1. Day 25 – Win Organic Baby Clothes from the Disney Store
2. Day 39–Ultimate 40th Anniversary Disney World Mousketeer Giveaway
3. Valentines, Let’s Reclaim the Day!

Heart-Shaped Shortbread Cookies from Panera

Photo Courtesy of Panera

It doesn’t take much to convince me to grab lunch at Panera. If we had one any closer to my house, I’d risk having to pay rent on a table. And anyone who has eaten there knows that they have some divine baked goods from artisan breads to yummy scones. Unfortunately, I always feel a little bit guilty snagging a dessert while I’m there. This is why these adorable heart-shaped, shortbread cookies would make such a lovely gift. I mean, if someone were to give them to me, I’d have to eat them, right? Plus, they’ve got some new lower-calorie menu items, so you and your honey can lunch guilt-free before you splurge on a delicious dessert.

Enter to win a Panera gift card so you can try Panera’s new healthy menu options and indulge in their yummy baked goods.

Pinkberry Swirly Gram

Photo Courtesy of Pinkberry

Honestly, I can’t imagine many better ways to brighten a boring day at the office than with your own Pinkberry Swirly Gram. You can send yummy Pinkberry frozen yogurt to someone you love for Valentine’s Day (or other special occasions). Swirly Grams are available in original, chocolate and blood orange flavors. And each one has some special toppings to make them even  more decadent. Sure, flowers are  nice and all. But frozen yogurt? Yum. Yum. Yum. If you’re too far from a Pinkberry for a yogurt delivery, you can also send a specially wrapped gift card to your sweetie. Trust me. This is a going to win you bonus points with the recipient.

Enter to win a Pinkberry gift card.

Envirosax Shopping Bags

Photo Courtesy of Envirosax

Everyone knows someone who has everything, yet has space for nothing. These people are nearly impossible to buy for. That’s what I chose these beautiful, yet practical Envirosax reusable bags. They don’t take up much space at all, but their cheerful prints are bound to make even mundane errands more fun. The bags hold up to 44 lbs and retail for $8.95 from the Envirosax website. If you’re giving one to that special someone, fill the bag with groceries to cook her a romantic dinner. For kids, choose a Sesame Street character bag and fill it with books or art supplies. For a crafter, try filling it with yarn and some knitting needles. See? They can double as gift wrap!

Paperblanks Journal from Levenger

Photo Courtesy of Levenger

I’m a writer and have been for as long as I can remember. While I am also a techie, I have a long-time love affair with paper. There’s just something about writing your ideas down in a physical form and taking them along with you. This Paperblanks peacock journal from Levenger is lovely (honestly, just about everything Levenger is fabulous). It has a magnetic flap closure, a ribbon bookmark and a pocket for storing trinkets. I think all journals should have a pocket! To make this a special gift, write a thoughtful note and tuck it into the pocket. The recipient will always have a memento to remind them of you.

Levenger has a wide assortment of sumptuous gift items, including quality pens, desk accessories, and even iPad and laptop stands. If the journal isn’t quite right, you’ll definitely want to take a peek and see if anything else catches your eye.

Phone or Gadget Skin from SkinIt

You didn’t think I’d make it through this whole list without something related to tech, did you? You can give a whole new look to a cell phone or gadget by applying a skin to it. Choose a favorite sports team, animated character, or make a custom skin with a special photo. This Mickey Mouse skin on my old Blackberry is from SkinIt. People would regularly ask me where they could get their own Mickey Mouse Blackberry phone! A gift like this shows that you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, and that you’ve been paying attention to what he or she is interested in. That’s what a Valentine’s Day gift should be!

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be an expensive holiday. With a little thought and time, you can make an impact and show your Valentine just how much you care.

Disclosure: I received samples (in the form of gift cards) from Panera and Pinkberry for the purposes of crafting a review, as well as gift cards for giveaways. There was no promise of a positive review and the opinions contained in this post are my own.

Related posts:

1. Valentines, Let’s Reclaim the Day!

Hannah Chapman/stock.xchng

Do you believe that Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday designed to steal your money and stress your relationships? Do you refuse to celebrate each year? Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about flowers and gifts and restaurant reservations. Reclaim the day as a day of love without all of the “stuff.” It’s a nice reminder to hug the people you love and treat them with some extra special care.

Here are some ideas for celebrating the wonderful people in your life without buying into the holiday hype. They are broken into categories for reference, but don’t let that restrict you.

Everyone

• Create a “love” jar for family and/or friends. Write all the things you love about each person on slips of paper and place them in their love jar.
• Bake cookies or make chocolates and share them with your favorite people.
• Call up the people you love and make sure they know about it. Elderly relatives will especially enjoy a call or visit.
• Make cards or send notes to the people you care about. Send them via good old-fashioned mail!
• Skip dinner that night and go straight to dessert.
• Buy some decal (tattoo) paper for your printer and design your own love tattoos for friends and family.

Friends

• Rent favorite movies, make popcorn and have a movie marathon.
• Have a video game marathon. Give out prizes!
• Have a worst ex contest. Compare stories and decide who had the worst ex. Be glad they’re gone!
• Band together with friends to do some renovations, finish a painting project, donate time to charity or learn a new skill.

Couples

• Spend Valentine’s Day planning your ideal date night and schedule it for a later day when the Valentine’s Day drama is over.
• Put on some music and slow dance together.
• Buy some scented oils and treat each other to a massage.
• Revisit an old, but silly, argument and make a compromise.

Married Couples

• Renew your wedding vows or add a new vow each year.
• Watch your wedding video, go through your wedding photos or reminisce about your honeymoon. Guys, take one for the team!

Parents

• Use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to do something special together, even if it’s a movie at home.
• Make a special breakfast for the kids or have the kids make breakfast if they’re old enough.
• See if someone will take the kids for the night. Do whatever you want as a couple, even if it means lounging around and sleeping in.
• Put the kids to bed, get dressed up and have a romantic date at home.
• Make heart shaped pancakes, sandwiches and hamburgers to surprise the kids and your spouse.
• Read a special book or watch a movie as a family.
• Have a “yes” day – say yes to anything that isn’t dangerous, inappropriate or illegal.

Whether you’re planning something low-key or something outrageous, try out the springpad date planner. It can help you organize recipes, shopping lists, itineraries and more. And, if you’re desperate for a creative boost, you can browse for more ideas.

Related posts:

1. Valentine’s Day – Romantic and Inexpensive Valentine’s Day Gifts
2. Not Celebrating Earth Day