Call me a sap, but I love Valentine’s Day, not just because of my sweetheart but because of other loved ones and friends.
When I was growing up, my dad made Valentine’s a big day for my mom, my sister and me, so I enjoy carrying on the tradition. I give my mom a few special things and send cards to my sister and friends. My husband, daughter, and I exchange small gifts and have a special dinner whenever she is able to join us.
If you like to give gifts for Valentine’s Day, too, here are a few of my favorite things to spark some last-minute ideas. These gifts also work well for birthdays and anniversaries, or any occasion, really.
If you see something you like, just click the link and check it out.
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Cards
These Valentine cards are perfect for loved ones and friends.
These Glimsen cards work well for Valentine’s or any occasion, and the Spring ones will soon be in season. Check them out here in the Shop.
Gifts for Anyone
I am a pen nerd and both Staedtler and Le Pen are my current favorites. They are smooth, fine, and colorful.
My daughter, on the other hand, loves Mujis. They seem to be popular with the younger crowd.
Candles are always a good choice. The lavender Capri Blue may be small but it’s packed with a tropical fruit and sugared citrus fragrance. Perfect for a bathroom or for travel and it comes in other colors.
The pink Inspire Love candle combines two scents, rose and vanilla, that make a perfect fragrance for Valentine’s Day.
These fuzzy socks are soft, cozy, warm, and non-skid. Great for cold toes from winter temps.
I have several pashminas in my closet, including this red one. They are soft and warm without being heavy, and they add a level of elegance to an outfit. I’ve worn mine to formal dressy events as well as to the theater and to church. They’re available in many colors, although I do love the red.
Gifts for the Palate
I know, who needs another mug? But these are such fun! And the Jane Austen one has one of my favorite quotations on it: “If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”
Tea
Harney and Sons English Breakfast is by far my favorite brand and flavor of hot tea. A pot of this made me give up my life-long devotion to iced tea, and now it wakes me up every morning.
Loose tea carries more flavor than tea bags or sachets, which means this Chocolate Mint will be rich and fragrant, perfect for Valentine’s and many days after.
Coffee
I can’t talk about coffee without mentioning Bellwood Coffee, co-founded by my nephew-in-law. They have a great mail order business, and for you local folks, they have a few welcoming locations. We’re proud of Bellwood and the folks who started it.
At home, when Mart’s not drinking Bellwood, he enjoys a K cup or two and cold brew. I love to buy him flavors that sound good to me, so I will often get him peppermint, cinnamon, or chocolate raspberry. In fact, I have a flavored bag waiting for him for Valentine’s but just in case he reads this, I don’t want to spill the beans…
Chocolate
Confession: If you know me, you know I love chocolate. It is my weakness, especially milk chocolate.
That being said, I have two favorite brands: Hershey’s and Lindt/Lindor.
This bag of Nuggets has something for everyone and is big enough to share.
The Lindt bag with its red packaging is devoted only to milk chocolate, but they have several flavors, including Mart’s favorite, dark chocolate, in blue packaging. I love Lindt Truffles so much that we filled a punch bowl with them at our wedding reception. They were a huge hit with only a few leftovers.
Books
In our house, our favorite gifts are books. With a title like 66 Ways God Loves You, Jennifer Rothschild’s book is not only encouraging but it’s also gorgeous little gift book.
My book, Glimmers of Hope: Meditations on a Life with Jesus, is filled with meditations drawn from my journey with Christ, beginning with the Gospel through our hope of heaven. There are also meditations on beauty, plus beautiful photos, making it a wonderful gift for others or for yourself.
And Finally…Flowers!
Artist Claude Monet said, “I must have flowers, always, and always.” Not everyone feels the same, but a gift of flowers always lifts my spirits, no matter what day it is.
I hope this list has been helpful to you. If so, let me know in the comments. And if you have anything you think I should add to a future gift guide, email me at glimsenblog dot com.
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