Welcome to one of my very first blog posts! To celebrate the launch of my blog, I am doing a countdown to Valentine’s Day — a post every day for the next 7 days — starting with this Classic Gift Guide for Her.
There’s nothing wrong with the classic flowers, chocolates and love notes; take it up a notch with some of my favorites below.
Cards + Love Letters
To me, cards have gotten so generic. Does anyone even read them anymore? I found this unique greeting cards at Urban Outfitters and Francescas. They for sure won’t just be opened and forgotten about. All of these cards are blank on the inside, so you can write your own handwritten note with love. xoxo
{1. You Are My Favorite Thing To Do 2. Love You More Than Pizza 3. You Don’t Suck 4. Let’s Make Babies Without the Babies}
Another thoughtful idea is to write a letter and send it to your loved one in the mail. It’s much more personal and thoughtful than a Hallmark card and you can tell her how you really feel on this day of love. It also shows that you planned ahead and thought about her to send it in time to be received on V-day.
If you live in the Omaha area, a local calligrapher, Cheryl Dyer, is offering a special to hand-personalized love letters {$15} or hand write a love letter in full calligraphy {$40}, including a hand addressed envelope complete with matching vintage postage, all sent in time for Valentine’s Day. *this is only going on until tonight at midnight, so they are finished and mailed in time ORDER NOW*
Staple Jewelry
Dainty, classic jewelry is always in style. I absolutely love a piece of jewelry that I can wear with anything. I bought the Tiffany pendant for myself a couple years ago and I almost never take it off. Here I have included pieces in several price ranges, from $40 to $1,000+, depending on your budget. You don’t have to spend a lot on jewelry to get some nice staple pieces.
Some of my favorite places for simple jewelry are Iconic Style {based in Sydney, Australia, they have the cutest stackable rings and simple necklaces, bracelets and earrings for an affordable price}, Kendra Scott {popular necklace here}, Tiffany and Co {iconic heart pendants and key necklaces} and Monica Vinader {middle range staple bracelets here}. And, if you have a larger budget, I’m just going to leave this Cartier Love Ring right here. RT to drop a hint if you know what I mean…wink wink, Dan. If we’re being honest, this whole guide is full of things I would want.
If you don’t know the back story on the Cartier LOVE collection, I just want to talk about it for a minute because it’s super sweet and cute. The Cartier LOVE bracelets have been an iconic symbol of love and commitment, created in the 1970s. The bracelet is studded with screws and locked to the wrist. Because you can only open the bracelet with a special screwdriver and the help of your lover, it symbolizes the inseparable bond of love. It is also rumored that the company wouldn’t allow anyone to purchase one for themselves, you had to purchase the bracelet as a couple. While Cartier may be a symbol of luxury and wealth, the LOVE collection stands for much more. Read more about them here.
Wine, Chocolates + Sweets (for your sweets)
It’s okay to indulge a little, especially around Valentine’s Day. It’s pretty simple: everyone loves chocolate.
Around the holiday, they make the cutest gift boxes for any kind of candy you could want. My personal favorites are chocolates from Godiva, Ghirardelli and Lindor.
Another idea for a more personal gift is to hit up a local bakery and order a personalized cake or pastry. A couple of good ones in the Omaha/Lincoln area are Goldenrod Pastries, Scratch Baking Co. and Nothing Bundt Cakes. They make the best and cutest cakes, cupcakes, donuts, cookies, etc. Goldenrod is especially my favorite, they offer a wide range of unique and REALLY PRETTY cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macaroons and more. I would really be in trouble if they were based in Omaha, but I only get to visit when I’m in Lincoln. Sad.
Every year these bakeries have a special running where they make V-day themed treats and box them up special for bae. Make sure to order ahead of time, as they will probably be busy with orders.
Pair your sweets with a nice dessert wine to top it off!
Love Books + Movies
Tell her that you’ve had the time of your life and you owe it all to her.
For some of my own gifts over the years, I have gotten Dan a few different books where I explained all the reasons I loved him. One year I did 50 reasons, each on a card of a playing deck, and another year I made him a book with all the reasons I love him — paired with illustrations — from Love Book. With Love Book, you can write your own reasons and then choose from 100s of illustrations from their archive. He really loved this.
If you want something easier and less time consuming, you can get a simplified version from Urban Outfitters and just fill in the blanks. Or a book of notes to pass to your lover.
{More links: 1. One Question a Day for You & Me 2. The Little Book of Flirting 3. Love Poems 4. This Modern Love}
Men and Cats, AKA two of the best things in the world. This hilarious and unique book pairs photos of sexy men with photos of adorable cats in similar poses. It’s a super fun and funny gift for any cat lover (or dog lover) in your life. I mean if it were me…you could just get me a real kitty…just sayin. There is also a version with dogs, if you’re into that.
Flowers
My boyfriend is growing tired of spending money on flowers that just shrivel up and die a week later. So when I found the flowers at Venus Et Fleur I was shook. I love having flowers around and, with these, now I can for a whole year without replacing them. Between their special solution and color treatment — and a bunch of other stuff — these REAL roses will magically maintain their look, feel and smell for at least a year. They offer a variety of rose colors, arrangements, box sizes and materials. They’re a little pricey, but it’s an investment for sure. Read more about the specifics here and order here. {I swear I’m not being paid for this I’m just kind of obsessed}
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s gift guide for guys!
xoxo
Jess
