I have always been a big fan of Valentine's Day. I'm not sure if it's my love of snail mail or my obsession with chocolate, but each year on February 14, I have a wonderful time picking out cards and gifts for the most important people in my life.
I've been sharing gift guides for this occasion for many years, and as I did last year, this year's list will be made up entirely of small or independently-owned businesses. Thank you for supporting the brands and shops that make our communities unique.
Let's start with cards. This popsicle Valentine is just too cute.
I cannot resist a food pun, which is what attracted me to this card by Creative Bao.
Do you have a weekend pancake tradition with your partner? Then this is the perfect card.
Rather than make a last-minute stop at the pharmacy or grocery store for the cheesy, heart-shaped box of chocolates, go with something more sophisticated, like the signature bon bon collection from Cirque du Soufflé. There are five pieces in the box. The flavors are: blood orange clove, chocolate malt milkshake, salted dark chocolate caramel, pecan praliné and passion fruit ganache.
I'm a huge fan of EHChocolatier and I think their Red Hot crunch bar sounds delicious. It's Valrhona dark chocolate with Red Hot candies, Vietnamese cinnamon and cayenne.
Candles are a lovely way to set the mood, and this Montmartre scent from Vessel Candle Co. is my all-time favorite. It smells like stepping into a French patisserie.
To create ambiance for dinner at home, try these tapered candles. They are 10 inches high and made from 100 percent beeswax.
Last year, Mint Julep put together the most fun "love boxes" and they're back at it again this year. There are tons of options to choose from, but I gravitated toward the "Wear Your Love on Your Heel" box, which includes two pairs of adorable socks and a pair of heart-shaped stud earrings.
For additional coziness, gift this luxurious robe from LAKE. This is a bit pricey ($136 dollars), but your Valentine will live in it! It comes in 16 color options.
If you want to spend Valentine's night doing something fun together, grab this pizza stone and up your game in the kitchen.
If dessert's more your thing, gift this cookbook by Monica Holland titled "Lick the Bowl Good."
Last but not least, if you have a puzzler in your life, The New Yorker puzzles are my go-to for gifts. I like this one for Valentine's Day because it looks like the two people in the design are on a date.
Looking for even more Valentine's Day gift ideas? Check out the guides from years past:
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2021
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2019
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2018
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2017
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2016
- Valentine's Day Gift Guide: For All The Single Ladies
*Cover image courtesy of Unsplash, All other images courtesy of vendors.
