5 Romantic & Easy Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for 2021
Valentine’s Day 2021 is definitely looking different compared to last year, when we were all living a blissful pre-pandemic existence. I remember perfectly as my birthday falls on the day after valentine’s day, February 15, so I almost photogenically, in high-def, remember everything that went down during that last month of sheer bliss (or ignorance, maybe the better term) before all of our lives changed.
I think if this year has taught us anything, is that love and our loved ones, are really what matters most. And while, there should be no specific reason or excuse to celebrate one another, it’s nice to have some thematic guidance to inform your expressions of love and affection!
If you don’t personally know me (or follow my Instagram), I recently got engaged (!!!!) and I’m just feeling all kinds of romantic and gushy these days! A bit of back story, we met on Tinder in college seven years ago and after having to endure some long distance time, meeting on weekends around the world, whenever we could see each other for two years, landed together in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Fast forward to our engagement in our new city, the moment was so organic and authentic (see ugly cry face pictured below) and one of our best friends jumped out of the bushes and captured photos of the exact moment he asked — something I’ll always be thankful for!
Since that moment, I’ve garnered a totally new perspective to romance, mainly that any expressions of love and affection have to come from the heart. So it’s not about how extravagant or expensive a gift is, but how much you’re able to blend both of your love languages in the best way possible. So whether you’re planning to muster up the moxy to pop a very important question, to celebrate Valentine’s Day or gift for an anniversary or b-day present, read on for some of my favorite romantic gift ideas for 2021 — because again, why do we need a reason to celebrate love?!
Bouquet of Fresh Flowers
Nothing screams ROMANCE like fresh flowers! Folks, if waiting until the last minute and going to the grocery store to pick up a bouquet of carnations is your way, you are sadly mistaken. It’s time to elevate your floral game and to show that special someone your attention to detail and longevity (a.k.a you’re meant to last). Also, actually knowing which flowers to select for your loved ones based on their preference is a huge turn on!
I get it, we’re all busy so curating a bouquet may not be first on your to do list, that’s why a farmer-focused delivery service is the way to go in 2021! My go to is the team at the Bouqs Company, an online flower delivery service that delivers flowers fresh from eco-friendly, sustainable farms around the world to doorsteps nationwide. Bouqs connects farms and a curated network of artisan florists directly to consumers, and disrupts the traditional supply chain by eliminating overhead costs like warehouses, importers, distributors, auctioneers and more. In turn, this model enables a superior product and redefines the experience and economics for both consumers and producers alike.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I have two very exclusive promo codes to share that you definitely don’t want to miss out on! CLICK HERE and use code “XO10” at checkout for $10 off any Bouqs order before February 14 or CLICK HERE to use code “BOUQSDAY” for 25% Off Sitewide!
Plan a Luxe Picnic
If you somehow skipped the above to get here, I clearly can’t stop talking about my recent engagement and all of the amazing celebratory events that have ensued since.
Funny story, I work a 9-5 fast paced (and high stress) public relations/marketing job that constantly throws things at me at the last minute (client call at midnight? well, of course!). My then boyfriend had finally set the date to propose (FINALLY) and he booked a magical, romantic and amazing beach picnic to pop the big question. Cut to the day before said picnic and I’m freaking out about a work zoom call scheduled at the end of the day — the day of the picnic, overlapping with the time of the picnic (all unbeknownst to me). As client calls never seem to end (and the weather was looking bleak for a beach evening), Mike had to call it quits on the picnic and postpone the proposal. As it was right before Christmas, he sadly couldn’t reschedule the picnic until 2021, but continued with his heart’s mission to propose that weekend, which I’m so glad that he did on December 19, 2020, overlooking the most pristine sunset on the St. Petersburg Pier, a location near and dear to us in the city we love and where we started our lives together.
Luckily for me, that picnic I never knew was canceled would take place exactly one month later, on the day of our seven year anniversary and boy was it perfect!! A HUGE thank you to the team at St. Pete Picnic Co. who worked closely with Mike to curate the spread of my actual mermaid dreams, incorporating romantic moments and dazzling details throughout. I have no idea how my dress perfectly coordinated with the amazing color scheme, but it all worked out so magically and thankfully we had a photographer (the infinitely talented Haley Haman) to capture every amazing second!
If you’re not a Tampa Bay local and can’t call on the St. Pete Picnic Co. team to help plan a similar picnic, you can recreate a similar experience on a budget as well. If you don’t have a beach nearby or prefer a park setting, a similar picnic vibe can be set-up at your destination of choice with a few key items.
Browse below for picnic staples to help curate a pop-up romantic picnic setting of your dreams!
Candles With a Surprise
Who doesn’t love a delicious and therapeutic candle? Even better, a yummy candle with a shiny surprise inside! That’s why I’m obsessed with Jackpot Candles, as they’re so much more than a light to accent your home, but an experience that doesn’t stop after the flame has died.
All of their hand-poured candles are made with 100% natural soy that creates a lovely, long-lasting flame to fill your home with amazing scents. Using only the best environmentally friendly materials, their candles create bold, distinctive fragrances that fit any mood. But the natural scented candle is only the beginning... Once you enjoy the soft light of the long-burning flame and the aroma of your favorite scent, each Jackpot Candle offers a foil-wrapped jewelry item (like a ring, wink, wink) valued between $15 and $5,000!! So you can actually try your luck (even though you can’t lose) after getting to enjoy an amazing candle — twenty twenty WON! For a limited time get 25% off your order when you sign up for texts by CLICKING HERE!
Cocktails for Two at Home
Yes, going out to a super nice bar and restaurant is a great option (if you’re currently able/open to). But if you plan on pampering your loved one from home this year, consider making a unique drink that not only will taste amazing, will definitely make an eye catching statement like, “drink me, I love you!”
Empress Gin is a unique collaboration between Victoria Distillers and the legendary Hotel Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia. As the gin is inspired by + fused with the hotel’s famed black tea, crafted using botanicals, like juniper, rose, cinnamon bark and butterfly pea blossom, for a blend of traditional citrus notes of gin, with an earthiness and that natural indigo hue. Not to mention, the herbal coloration transforms from blue to pink with the addition of varies citrus, spritzes or tonics.
If you’re looking for recipes to recreate on your own, I opted for savory + sweet, with two delicious cocktails that’ll be the perfect statement piece for your next date night in! Don’t be afraid to try your hand at one of these #thirsty creations. 🥂
❃ Empress Lavender Lemonade
The freshness of homestyle lemonade fused with lavender honey, keeping you coming back for more. Cocktail created at @qattheempress
✧ 2 oz @empress1908gin
✧ 1 oz Lavender Honey Syrup / Lavender Sprig
✧ 2 oz Homemade Lemonade (I used pink!)
✧ Fill stemless glass with crushed ice. Shake lemonade + syrup on ice & strain into glass. Layer gin on top, add more ice + garnish w/ lavender sprig. I added a pink sugar rim for some sparkle! ✨
❃ Empress & Elderflower
✧ 2 oz @empress1908gin
✧ Elderflower Tonic
✧ Grapefruit Slice
✧ Build in copa glass on ice & garnish with slice!
CBD Pleasure Kit
I’ve become a huge fan of LOLA products — founded by women with sky-high standards, LOLA creates sexual wellness products with you in mind and with no icky mystery ingredients that you can’t pronounce. Cozy up with some non-toxic, sexual wellness essentials from LOLA, in collaboration with Undefined Beauty, a clean, conscious lifestyle brand focused on democratizing beauty and destigmatizing “plant magic.” I was so excited when these two brands joined forces to create two exclusive kits to help unwind when you’re in need of a little more physical intimacy and relaxation.
The kit features Undefined Beauty’s new Pleasure Glow Bar, a high cacao, vegan chocolate bar made with CBD, adaptogenic herbs and hazelnuts to help get you in the mood and LOLA’s fan-favorite personal lubricant to melt away the stress. Shop it here for arrival before V-Day for your loved one (or even for your personal stash).
Regardless of what you gift your loved ones, just remember that you don’t need a reason to celebrate love, as it’s a gift to be able to receive it every day!