Oh Valentine's Day. As someone that is currently happily married but that has also gone through more than one January breakup, I understand the love-hate relationship people have with you. Romance is great, but when you're recently heartbroken or hanging out with your substitute boyfriends Ben & Jerry for the umpteenth time, its probably the last thing you want to have on your mind. And this is why I'm all for celebrating Galentine's Day - because there is so much more love to celebrate in life than just the romantic kind. Of course I believe Valentine's Day can also be a representation of that. But why not take the opportunity, regardless of whether or not we're in a relationship, to celebrate our best gal pals?
If you're in need of some inspiration on how to spoil the special ladies in your life, look no further. I've curated a list of some of my favorite extra-girly gift ideas for showing appreciation to all kinds of wonderful women - from your kid's teacher, to your mom, to your hairdresser, your bestie, or your coworker. (There is also no shame in passing this post on to a S.O. should he or she need some pointers and/or not-so-subtle hints of things you might appreciate yourself. Just sayin'.)
Know a woman that would be lost without her planner? She'll probably have way to much fun with this Valentine's Day themed Erin Condren Love to Plan Sticker Pack ($7). These adorable embellishments are as pretty as they are functional, not to mention the nostalgia factor (who else collected stickers growing up?). Erin Condren also has a ton of other cheerful and uplifting goodies to organize and decorate your classroom or office that totally are worth checking out.
Speaking of decor, who wouldn't appreciate a little extra dose of pretty in their workspace? These fashion illustrations from Holly Nichols are seriously stunning, and would make for a really thoughtful gift to give. I mean, really, how cute are these BFF Prints? I'm sure you could easily find one that captures the spirit of you and your squad.
For a something that is equal parts beautiful and inspirational, I can't recommend anything and everything from Dayna Lee Collection enough. Dayna hand letters all of her own designs on everything from notebooks and pens, to key rings and pillows. If you live here in the US you can usually scout out her goods at TJ Maxx or search for them online from Amazon. If you have a friend that loves to journal, write lists, or generally jot things down, this notebook would make a lovely gift!
If your girlfriend is a candle fiend, you may need to consider spoiling her with a bad and bougie Bijou Candle. These candles are just as luxurious as Diptique's, but for legit half the price. The original 10.5 oz vessels are rimmed in 22 karat gold, are made with 100% soy wax and cotton wicks for a clean, luxuriously scented burn of 70 hours. And, if you're having trouble deciding between scents (I wouldn't blame you, they all sound amazing), you can also completely customize a set of 3 oz travel jars with the fragrances of your choice. And if that wasn't awesome enough, Bijou was also willing to give me a discount to pass along to you guys! Just use the code GALENTINE15 at checkout and save 15% on your order (plus shipping is always free to the US) now through 02/28/18.
Speaking of candles, one of my absolutely favorite times to burn candles is while I'm soaking in the tub. When you're having a crazy week, being able to turn your bathroom into a spa for 20 minutes can make a world of difference. One of my current favorite bath time treats is the Live Botanical Oceania Coconut Milk Bath ($22). Handmade with all-natural ingredients, this tropical smelling powder makes for a totally indulgent experience that leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. Any bath addict would probably be head-over-heels to receive this!
For your fashionista friend, you might be able to find some serious gifting inspiration from Mindy Mae's Market, an online boutique that will make anyone with a love of floral patterns totally weak in the knees. Aside from the fact that I totally love their cute and casual styles, I also really appreciate that they show their outfits on women in multiple shapes and sizes to give you a better idea of how each piece looks on someone with a body type similar to yours. Every item not only tells you the names of the models that they're photographing, but also what size their wearing and what their measurements are. Seriously, why can't every website do this? If you're feeling overwhelmed by their wide range of offerings, I can share that I personally already own multiple Doublehood Sweatshirts and find them oh-so-cozy. Just make sure you read the notes carefully on each style for details on the type of fabric used and how it fits!
If you're looking to go a little more traditional with your Galentine's Day gifting, you can almost never go wrong with chocolate (especially when you and your girlfiends can sit down and eat it together). One of my favorite confectioners is Chuao Chocolates, who have some of the most unique and interesting flavor combinations in their chocolate bars. Take Sprinkle Dreams, for example, which has a combination of crisp waffle cones, hazelnut, and rainbow sprinkles in milk chocolate. Sounds heavenly, am I right?
Of course, if your bestie prefers a slightly healthier treat, maybe she'd love to cozy up with a cup of tea instead? I personally have been totally crushing on the entire DavidsTea Valentine's Day Collection, with its super feminine floral motives and springtime color palette. Seriously, how sweet is this Rose Gold Nordic Mug ($25)? Pair that with a tea sampler and you've got a perfect gift. Or, if you'd like to go for something a little more affordable (or that doesn't need the tea strainer), the She Leaves a Little Sparkle Mug ($8.95) from Pier 1 is an equally pretty alternative.
Now, if you're a girl that loves nail polish, you know there is never a thing as having "too many options" to choose from. If her manicures are always on point, why not treat her to a luxury polish that's also pretty enough to display on her vanity? This Smith & Cult Nail Lacquer ($18) is like a little work of art, and has a killer formula to boot. There are some really unique offerings in their shade range, although you never can go wrong with Pillow Pie (a classic opaque ballet pink).
Speaking from the perspective of the beauty obsessed, makeup is pretty much guaranteed to be the way to our hearts (or a gift card to Sephora for that matter). I'm personally all about sampler sets, which let you try out a bunch of different products for a fraction of what they would normally cost individually (not to mention the fact that mini beauty products are SUPER adorable).
Fenty Beauty has received a lot of well-deserved hype in the last couple of months, and the Bomb Baby Mini Lip & Face Set ($23) lets you try two of their best-selling, universally flattering products for less than $25. There's also the Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Set ($25), which has three mini versions of THE most glittery, impactful liquid eyeshadows to ever grace your face. Now, if you have a friend that is always rocking the nudie-pink lip, she'll probably be all about the Anastasia Beverly Hills Nude Matte Lipstick Set ($21). Yes, there are countless shades of nude, and yes, she probably wants them all. And for an all around crazy value, the Sephora Favorites Selfie Kit ($28) has $100 worth of classic beauty staples, including my personal favorite highlighter, mascara, and eyeliner!
And of course, the only other thing a makeup lover would probably go crazy for aside from makeup itself, would be a beautiful set of brushes to apply it with. One of my favorite affordable brush brands is Moda, which you can find at your local Walmart. Their quality is top-notch, all of their brushes are synthetic and cruelty-free, and they come in so many beautiful finishes its kind of hard to pick one. A personal favorite of mine are these Moda Rose Brushes ($19.99), which contain four brushes for face and eyes with gorgeous pink-to-peach ombre handles.
Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day, or a little bit of both this year, remember that YOU are entirely deserving of love, and that you have more power to give love to others than you probably recognize. While gifts are fun and can be thoughtful to give, they're also only one of countless ways to express that sentiment. If these ideas were helpful, awesome! But it's also equally awesome to create shared experiences, send a heartfelt note, or just give someone a hug. As long as it feels authentic to you, I promise you can't go wrong 🖤
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