So anyway, I have this theory that we're all walking around with these tiny computers in our pockets spending way too much time looking at screens and not nearly enough time telling the people we actually live with that we love them. And Valentine's Day seems like it should fix this, but instead we've turned it into this once a year panic fest where everyone runs out to buy overpriced roses and chocolate covered strawberries and makes dinner reservations three weeks in advance, and then February 15th rolls around and we go right back to not saying I love you nearly enough.

I'm not saying don't do the roses or the dinner. I'm just saying what if we also made Valentine's Day a little more everyday? What if instead of one big gesture, we spent the whole month of February leaving little love notes all over the house? And here's the part where I tell you that you can do this with Chalk Ink® markers on literally any surface in your home, and yes, I sell these markers, but I also genuinely believe this is one of the best Valentine's ideas I've ever had.

The Bathroom Mirror Valentine Strategy

A few years ago I started writing little notes on the bathroom mirror for my kids before they woke up on Valentine's Day. Nothing fancy, just "I love you" or "You're the best" or sometimes just a drawing of a heart. And what I noticed was that those little messages seemed to land harder than any card I'd ever bought them. There's something about seeing a note written just for you, in someone's handwriting, in a place you see every single morning, that feels really personal and really intentional.

So this year I'm making the case that you should cover your entire house in Valentine's notes. I'm talking bathroom mirrors, kitchen countertops, the coffee maker, the fridge, anywhere someone you love is going to look on February 14th. Use Clown Nose Red if you want full Valentine's traditional, or Piggy Bank Pink if you want something softer, or the Chalk White if you want to keep it simple and classic. We've got gold and silver metallics too if you're feeling fancy. The point isn't the color, the point is waking up on Valentine's Day and finding love notes everywhere you look.

Why Valentine's Cards Get Shoved in a Drawer

I'm not anti-card. I've bought plenty of Valentine's cards in my life. But here's what I've learned from decades in retail and also just from being a human who forgets to do things. Valentine's cards get read once, maybe displayed on the counter for a day or two, and then they end up in a drawer or the recycling bin. They're lovely in the moment, but they don't have staying power.

A message on the mirror that someone sees every single time they brush their teeth? That has staying power. You can leave it up for the whole week leading up to Valentine's Day. Or write a new note every morning for the entire month of February and turn Valentine's Day into Valentine's Month, which honestly sounds way more fun and way less stressful than trying to nail one perfect day.

Here's what I love about this. You can start on February 1st. Write "14 days until Valentine's Day" on the bathroom mirror. Then the next morning write "13 days" and add a little note. "I love how you always make me coffee." Day 12, write something else. "You're my favorite person to do nothing with." Keep going. By the time Valentine's Day actually arrives, you've already said I love you thirteen different ways, and your partner or your kids or whoever you're writing to has felt seen and appreciated every single day.

What to Actually Write

Don't overthink this. "I love you" is perfect. "Happy Valentine's Day" works great. "You're my favorite" is absolutely sufficient. The point is that you wrote it, and they're going to see it, and they're going to know you were thinking about them.

If you want to get a little more specific, write something true to your relationship. "I love how you always laugh at my terrible jokes" or "Thanks for being patient with me when I'm grumpy" or "You make ordinary days feel special." Write inside jokes. Write things that only make sense to the two of you. Write "Remember that time we got lost on our first date and ended up at that weird diner? Best mistake ever."

For kids, keep it simple and sweet. "You make me so proud." "I love being your mom." "You're going to do amazing things today." Little kids especially love seeing their name written in bright colors on the mirror. It makes them feel important and seen and loved, which is really the whole point of Valentine's Day anyway.

The Legal Graffiti Concept

I keep saying you can legally graffiti your house for Valentine's Day, and what I mean is that Chalk Ink® markers write beautifully on mirrors, glass, windows, sealed countertops, and they wipe off completely clean with just a damp cloth. So you're not permanently defacing anything. You're temporarily decorating with love notes. And honestly, what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than turning your entire house into a love letter?

Write on the bathroom mirror. Write on the kitchen window. Write on the glass door of the shower. Write "I love you" on every mirror in the house if you're feeling ambitious. Make Valentine's Day the day your family wakes up and finds messages everywhere they look. Make it impossible to miss the fact that they are loved and appreciated and noticed.

I think we've gotten so caught up in doing everything perfectly and making sure everything looks good on social media that we've forgotten how powerful it is to just be nice to the people we live with. To leave a note. To say I see you and I'm glad you're here. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love, and love doesn't have to be complicated or expensive or perfect. Sometimes love is just a note on the bathroom mirror written in red marker that says "You're my favorite person."

Here's Your Valentine's Game Plan

Go buy some Chalk Ink® markers. You can get them on Amazon or directly from our website at chalkink.com. Get red for classic Valentine's vibes, pink for something softer, white if you want it simple, or grab the whole rainbow because once you start doing this you're going to want options.

Then start writing on February 1st. Or start right now, because honestly who says you have to wait for Valentine's Day to tell people you love them? Write a note every morning. Write a note every few days. Turn your house into this ongoing conversation of little messages and reminders and inside jokes.

And here's what I think is going to happen. I think the person who finds your notes is going to feel seen in a way that's different from the roses or the dinner reservation. I think your kids are going to remember the year you wrote love notes all over the house way longer than they'll remember any Valentine's card. I think you're going to create this tradition that maybe keeps going past February, because it turns out that telling people you love them never gets old.

So that's my Valentine's pitch. Stock up on markers. Write on your mirrors. Cover your house in love notes. Make Valentine's Day the day everyone you love wakes up and knows exactly how you feel about them. And if you're wondering whether this is too cheesy or too much, I'm here to tell you it's not. It's exactly enough.

Go write something. See what happens. I think you're going to like it.