I like Valentine’s Day, but I don’t love the gifts pushed on us by the commercial marketing machine. Please, no heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, red roses, or lingerie for me.
What I do like is a small thoughtful something that I can use and enjoy every day: a gift that says, “I know you, I know what you like, and I like you the way you are.” I especially love gifts that last far beyond Valentine’s Day and will bring my loved one to mind whenever I see them.
Shown above:
1. Valise leather journal, $14.95.
2. On Target necklace, $22.
3. White poppy vase. $20.
4. Scharffen Berger chocolate squares. $14.17/50
5. Infinity X Infinity diamond earrings, $99.
6. My Ideal Bookshelf. $14.95
If you have something to say to a friend or loved one, don’t find a greeting card to say it for you. Go with a handwritten message in a nice card. I like these.
Not sure what to get the man in your life? Try these ideas. (If I were you, I’d go with the pie. Definitely the pie.)
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I love that journal! I currently have three sitting on my desk, however–all with different purposes, and my thankful-list journal was a gift from a friend serving in the military in Turkey last year. It’s pretty sweet.
Anyway, I went back to that posts on gifts for men you wrote last year. I think I just might make my hubby a pie for Valentine’s Day. 
Thanks, Anne!
I really loves those anthro vases.
My mother-in-law got two for mother’s day, and she’s crazy about them too.
The journal is not available online anymore. I am looking for a journal just like this but black or brown.
Well, darn–because I wanted one! I’m kicking myself for not grabbing one last time I was in the actual store because they were so nice. But here’s what to do if you do really want one: call Anthro at 800-309-2500 to see if any stores in the US have it in stock in your preferred color. The operator will let you know what stores have it and you can then call those stores and have it shipped to you for free (since they’re sold out online, they won’t ship just anything for free!)
What a fun list. I haven’t heard of My Ideal Bookshelf… I think this will right on to my Valentines’s wish list!
It’s on mine
The library wait list for that one is forever long!
Love those anthro vases! I have one… but I might fwd your post to my husband
Really like that red one!!
I like the man-gifts you linked, Anne, but I could go with a crate full of number 4 from today’s choices as well!
I knew you had good taste, Tim.
Very cute! My boyfriend and I are celebrating International Book Giving Day, which happens to fall on Feb. 14, cause we’re nerdy like that
I love that International Book Giving Day falls on Valentine’s Day this year! That’s going to work out beautifully for a whole lot of bookworms
I love non-traditional Valentine’s gifts that show that my man really gets me. The best Valentine’s gift he’s ever given me was a Kindle, so much better than roses and chocolates. Although after seeing number 4 above, I could really go for some chocolate!
Here’s a great gift idea for your man I just had to show you: Trunk Club. It’s like Stitch Fix for men.
http://www.trunkclub.com/
Ahhh! It IS like Stitch Fix for men! Thanks for sharing