February is here and that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Coming up with gift ideas should be fun but like most people, for me, getting a special someone a gift can be nerve-racking. Whether it’s my partner, a friend, a co-worker, a family member, or even my own kids I am ALWAYS second guessing myself. I’ll start out so excited with a bunch of ideas but then the “is this enough, would they even like it, this is lame, what if they hate it” thoughts will set in. I’ll seriously walk aisle after aisle and scroll page after page of online shops for hours just to end up with little time to get it all together. UGH, what a pain.
Sure, the basic card and flowers or box of chocolates can do but it’s just not my thing. I just love giving the personal, fun, and creative gifts. That stuff is just too simple and rushed for me. Coming from experience and before you say anything. OF COURSE I love every single thing I’m gifted and always appreciate the gesture.
BUT, to be honest, as beautiful as a bouquet of flowers can be, the flowers will eventually dry up, and chocolates are great but they’re usually followed by the guilt of overindulging, the occasional tummy ache, or even just forgotten in one of too many junk drawers, the pantry, or at the bottom of my purse, squished. Giving a special gift should come easy when you think of them and be fun and really show the relationship you have with your person. That’s why I wrote down a small list of ideas I think are great for Valentine’s Day, check them out below!
HIS
When it comes to the men in your life, they are by FAR the easiest gifts to shop for. This, to me, is because they’re a little less complicated than their counterparts. That means it doesn’t really matter too much what it is as long as they can use it, eat or drink it, or wear it. At least that’s my POV. My go-to gift-giving hack is a creative gift basket. All you need is a little bunch of everything in one. Something sweet and fun, but also something they can use and enjoy, and also get a good laugh from. That kind of stuff is more personal and should reflect a passion or personality. Pre-made baskets are SO great for this. There are so many options out there to choose from, and you can always customize it but still stay within a budget, or even DIY the whole thing and ACE it.
Think About….
The things he likes and list them down, take a few items from that list, and bring them together. You can find a super cute wooden box at your local arts and crafts store like my fave MICHAELS or even a cute basket filled with tissue paper or straw. Make it Manly with a bucket from a hardware store for those blue-collar guys in your life (fun, cute, and useful lol). You can pair the items with “in the moment” stuff that can be enjoyed that day (in a moment) like favorite snacks or small single-shot bottles. You can actually get custom-packaged snacks. Imagine a cute and funny picture together with a sweet note. That’s so cool and definitely will make a moment.
The plus is that this can also be great for fathers, brothers, friends, or even a son. The bottles can make a great nightcap you too can share together (Spicy!). The great thing is there’s so many things you can put together. Does he like to grill? A custom apron or monogrammed spatula will be great. Does he like cars? Then an air freshener with your face on it, duh. A custom t-shirt or pair of boxers is so fun and can be done at different budget levels in local print shops or online.
HERS
Now for the ladies! PSA: if you’re a guy reading this, it’s definitely on the more romantic side. But if you’re a girl and this is for a sister, mom, friend, coworker, daughter, girlfriend, or anyone else, then going useful but seriously thoughtful and funny won’t fail you, I promise you. When it comes to romance, flowers are beautiful. And yes, I know what I said earlier about it (which I still stand by). I mean, c’mon, they do dry up! And I am way too much of an emotional hoarder sometimes, so having to throw them out gets to me.
Anyways, yes, they are beautiful, but they are even better when they’re creative and personalized. I’m talking about a bouquet of photos shaped into roses or arranged with them. And I absolutely love this paired with forever roses. You can make your own with a bunch of faux flowers from a local craft store and a small cute decorative box. Covering random flowers with glitter takes it up a notch. If you do go with live plants, try an actual plant and not just a bouquet. I say this because they last way longer and really add a decorative vibe to a space. For this, try painting or decorating the actual pot yourself to add a more personal touch.
As a woman myself, whenever I think of the perfect gift, I think about something thoughtful and something I can actually use. There are so many customizable options out there. I’m talking about a beautiful necklace with a custom name or a small photo (yup, you can now get necklaces with an actual small photo in them, eek!) or a customized mug, journal, robe, tee, SO MANY!
Really, we just want to feel like someone really put thought into it. I mean, am I wrong? That’s like the best feeling. Take this as an example: If your mom is into drinking tea, don’t just get a simple mug; pair it with a bunch of tea options from different places and flavors, especially with a custom mug. Is a friend or sister artistic, a writer, a planner keeper? A cute journal, sketchbook, or planner is a beautiful way to show love and appreciation. You can edit it yourself online or even using a print shop like Staples is super easy. Making a small personal note inside the cover makes it even better. You can also NEVER go wrong with a self-care kit.
And So..
Let’s bring the basket idea back around. Fill it with masks, oils, fragrances (sprays, perfumes, or candles), lotions, personal care products. Adding headbands, beauty tools, or a custom robe to put it all together. Seriously, I can’t say it enough, but gift sets are bulletproof. You can get them already set up or DIY it. I love doing at least one big item that is more fun and creative if I’m doing a general gift theme. Sets can be a bunch of samples or your or their favorite products. You can even place it into an actual bag, like a shopper or tote. That will literally make it so everything about it is thought out. So many options!
Thinking about your work mom or bestie, everything listed above works, but I personally have been loving small desk supplies or decor. It’s sweet and useful, cute, and just so easy to make sure they actually love it. I recently stumbled across the brand Fucculent. The message is simple and super funny, literally no faster way to get the message that you give a F*ck across! Plus, it’s really cute, right? Definitely Check it out. Bundled with cute pens and note pads, this will make a cute office gift (depending on the office, for the plant, haha). If you want to check out pre-made gift boxes, check out: designityourselfgiftbaskets.com. You can pull so much inspiration from them too if you’re on a budget. They literally have something for everyone and are loaded with cool stuff.
You can never go wrong getting a little personal and creative. Regardless of what you decide on, the small things you do will probably leave the biggest impression. Listening to your special someone’s interests and putting something together from that will get you so far in your gifting game. I hope some of this has inspired you and fired up some creative gift ideas. Leave a comment below about some of your favorite tips and ideas; it’s all love here.
See you in the next post and don’t forget to sign up for our email list for extras!
XO, Analynn
