People have such strong feelings about Valentine’s Day. They love it, hate it, couldn’t care less about it. No matter my relationship status, I’ve always been a sucker for any excuse to celebrate love. Some years I’ve celebrated the holiday with a group of my best girlfriends, others it’s been a romantic evening just the two of us.
This year we’re doing a combo of both. We’re hosting a ‘Palentine’s Day’ brunch for our friends in the morning and then plan to make dinner together that night and watch our full wedding video (is it bad we still haven’t done that nearly nine months later?). We haven’t decided what we’ll make yet, but I’m thinking the holiday gives us the perfect excuse to recreate one of our favorite meals from Italy.
We also go back and forth each year on whether to exchange gifts. This year we’re nixing them because we’d rather tuck that money away for a future vacation or house. Funny how responsibilities and adulthood change your priorities, right?
But picking out gifts for your significant other can be so fun. I love gifts that reflect a person’s personality — it shows how much thought you put into the gesture.
Whether you’re celebrating with your boyfriend, friends or a pint of ice cream, here are some ideas for the ladies in your life. And the best kind of love is self love, so there’s nothing wrong with buying one for yourself!
- Le Creuset Heart Cocotte
This is the perfect gift for any woman who loves to cook. Le Creuset’s dutch ovens are extremely durable. I love that they work well on the stove or in the oven. And there’s no need to transfer the contents to a serving platter because the cookware itself is so beautiful. I love this playful heart version! - K-Deer Jody Strip Leggings.I know, I know. Is it really necessary to pay $98 for leggings? If you want functional + fashionable, yes. K-Deer is an amazing company that makes leggings you will want to live in. I find that these hold up extremely well from running to yoga. And they’re cute enough to wear outside of a workout class! What I love most is what you see when you go to K-Deer’s homepage — women of all shapes and sizes. It sends a message that needs to be much louder: everyone can be an athlete.
- Sara Happ Vanilla Bean Lip Scrub
I am not exaggerating when I say this lip scrub has been life changing for me. I’ve always suffered from dry skin and my lips take an especially bad beating in the winter. This scrub helps slough off dead, dry skin while leaving my lips moisturized. The Lip Slip balm is also a staple. - ENO Sub7 Hammock
ENO hammocks are perfect for those who love the outdoors. This model is super lightweight and small when packed up, making it perfect for longer backpacking trips or even to keep in your purse. Having one of these hammocks along for hikes or while camping always makes me want to stop and spend more time looking up at the sky or trees. - Oliver Winery Vidal Blanc Sparkling Wine
Who doesn’t love a nice bottle of wine? I like to toast special occasions with a bottle of bubbly and our local winery’s Vidal Blanc is my favorite. It gets its sweetness from a splash of their famous ice wine and pairs perfectly with a good cheese plate. - Stella & Dot Signature Engravable Bar Necklace
This necklace can make for a deeply personal gift because it’s completely customizable. I love the idea of having a person’s initials or wedding date engraved on the bar. Stella & Dot necklaces are meant to be layered, so this can be paired with so many other pieces!