Ask A Woman: Make it a romantical holiday. Yes, it’s a word.
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Strangers in the niiiiiighttttt, doo de doo de dooooo. That sound you hear is LOVE IN THE AIR. What? You don’t hear anything? Listen harder. Valentine’s Day is two weeks away, and here to remind you of that fact, and give you some gifting suggestions is yours truly. Though this list was compiled with women in mind as the gift recipients, about half of these items would also work if your sweetheart is a man. Happy Valentine’s Day!
As You Wish – $15.60
(hardcover)
This book came out last year, written by Cary Elwes, who played the main male lead, Wesley, in The Princess Bride. We are big TPB fans in my household, so I read it right away. Elwes shares the story of being cast in the movie, meeting his fellow actors, and details of shooting many of the scenes. Though Elwes is perhaps sappily earnest in his telling, it’s a charming read, with commentary from all the other actors, too. If your gal is a TPB fan, pick up this sweet, simple book for V-day.
Umba Box
Umba specializes in handmade goods made by independent artists from the U.S. and around the world. Sign your other half up for the Discover box ($25-30/month) or the Delight box ($49-56/month) subscription and each month she’ll receive something unique and lovely, like a hand-dyed clutch, scented artisan soap, or a beautiful candle. Pricing varies depending on how many months you order. I love this choice because it supports independent artists, plus it’s so fun to get a gift in the mail and have no idea what it might be.
Missoni scarf
I’ve been admiring the Missoni brand lately, and I’ve found 6pm.com to be a great source for discounted Missoni scarves. Above at left, the Teresa – $81.99 ($150) option is as cheap as these scarves come, and this one features orange, pink, and purple tones (very appropriate for the holiday o’ love), in that iconic Missoni zig zag pattern. But if you have a little more to spend and your gal likes earthier tones, I love this Mustard/Emerald – $114.99 ($190) version that features blues, yellows, and browns. Missoni is a great Italian brand; their scarves typically have a silky texture and are easily styled.
Lukewarm Balloons – $12
I love the idea of giving these hilarious balloons as a gift to your sweetie if you’ve been together a long time. Especially if the two of you aren’t particularly into V-day, sentiments like “You’re all right,” “We’re not bad together,” “I could do worse,” “I’m not sick of you yet,” and “I love tolerating you” are a funny way to acknowledge the holiday without taking it too seriously.
Tory Burch Maquis Sunglasses – $175
If, on the other hand, you and your gal are big on Valentine’s Day and go all out, these sunglasses are fabulous. A splurge, oh yes, but fabulous. They have the Tory Burch logo on each arm and really attractive blue-brown mottling detail around the frame. This particular frame–square–looks best on someone with an oval face. If your gal has a round face, try these; if she has a square face, try these.
B.T. McElrath Chocolate Bar – $6/bar
Hey you–in the candy aisle at Walgreens. Put down that Whitman’s sampler. If you’re a traditionalist when it comes to Valentine’s Day, I applaud you. But don’t go to the drugstore and buy that waxy junk. Buy your sweetie really good chocolate. My favorite is B.T. McElrath. You don’t know joy–or severe gastrointestinal distress–until you’ve eaten a whole Prairie Dog bar in one sitting. It hurts so good. They also make truffles. Swoon.
Orchid Plant
For a twist on the traditional gift of flowers, buy an orchid plant. They range in price from reasonable to ridiculous, so don’t overspend, but these beautiful, temperamental, and unusual flowers bring a touch of exotic grace to the room. Especially if your other half loves to garden and feels cooped up in winter, this would be a thoughtful gift. They’re pretty easy to find–my grocery store carries them, and Trader Joe’s sells them for a steal. The trick to keeping them alive and well is plenty of sunlight and letting them dry out in between watering. Red Roses, while classic, are completely predictable. If you love getting your sweetheart flowers on occasion, go with red roses in, oh… mid April. Or early November. Valentine’s Day? Mix it up gents!
Amethyst Slice Necklace – $40.80 ($48)
Well, we did candy, we did flowers, might as well do jewelry. February’s birthstone is amethyst, so I did a search on Etsy, my favorite place to find casual jewelry, and found this beautiful necklace. This style of finish for a precious stone where the stone appears glittery and crystalized is called “druzy” and it’s been a big trend over the last year. This affordable necklace is just one of many pretty items made with amethyst (it also comes in green) and available on Etsy.
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