I love sharing last-minute gift posts with you. Now, I’m fully aware that you don’t need to buy anyone a gift on Valentine’s Day. Also, it’s not just about saying ‘I LOVE YOU’ to your partner, say it to a friend who’s been there for you in the last year, your parents or a sibling. There are really no rules. I’m not into the soppy stuff but I am very much into letting the people around me know how much I appreciate and care for them. It can be done with a simple text, a card, a home cooked meal, a gift or anything you can think of really. As I said, there are no rules. Just have fun.
I’ve pulled together lots of my favourite things from the last couple of months for this post. Also, here’s a quick link to my post all about last minute e-gift ideas, some of you may find this handy if you want to treat someone who’s a little further away. If you’re still looking for a Valetentine’s day card then check out these fab indie makers.
Right, let me tell you about all the beautiful things in my photo.
If someone loves to cook or a bake then a book filled with awesome recipes or a couple of baking tools will go down a treat. I’ve recently started using The Best Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Baking Recipes book. It’s filled with so many tips and delicious treats and is handy for people who’re new to the free-from world. The Piggy Wiggy spatula is so useful for baking. I’ve used it loads and it’s still in really good condition. I found mine in TK Maxx but you can also find them on Amazon. Just for a little more inspiration I also love Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem and I’ve used this one by Madeline Shaw a lot.
Manuka honey would make a useful and tasty gift for the health conscious folk out there. I find it really good to use when I feel a cold coming on. I make a mug of hot water with a hunk of ginger, spoonful of Manuka honey and a squish of lemon, it’s delicious. You can also use it in cooking or simply on a slice of toast before work.
These whisky truffles by Charbonnel et Walker are delicious, they’re not dairy free so I can’t indulge in them often but Phil is a huge fan. Actually, everything that Charbonnel et Walker makes are really good.
Isn’t this piece of rainbow beautiful? It’s by Natalie Aird and can be found in Cambridge Contemporary Art. My mum got this as a gift for Phil a couple of years back because he loves rainbows. It’s a rather special piece to add to your home and it looks lovely when the light shines in through the window and makes a beautiful rainbow reflection on the desk.
My sister treated me to this Marc Jacobs mascara for Christmas and I instantly fell in love with it. It lasts well throughout the day and makes my eyelashes look longer and fuller. Have a nosey at what your partner uses every day and try to get them a fresh new one, it’s always nice to have a spare.
The Pixi Tripod by Manfrotto is one of my most used camera accessories. I stick my vlogging camera (Canon m3) onto it and carry it around when I’m filming. I’ll also use it to steady my camera if I’m taking photos. I also have a Canon 7D which I use it with to help steady the camera. However, the 7D body is very heavy so I think it’s about time that I invest in the larger size. A tripod is one of the keys to a good photo.
Daffodils are such an affordable way of brining flowers into your home. I treated myself to this bunch on Sunday, they were just £1 in M&S but you can find them for that price in most supermarkets and market stalls. They take a couple of days to bloom but when they do they really brighten up the room.
Personalised gifts always go down a treat. I adore my personalised Marmite jar but you can also get them for Nutella and of course, the creative folk Etsy have lots to offer.
Living Nature are a long-term favourite beauty brand of mine. Their skincare is really good for my dry skin and I particularly like their lipsticks. They have a really nice range of shades and they always last well throughout the day. This soft pink beauty comes in a set of 3 as part of the Living Nature Colour Me Romantic range, you can buy it on its own but I thought seen as the set is on offer I’d let you know about it.
If your looking for a dairy free treat then I’ve talked about lots of my fave dairy free chocolates over on my other blog. I’d also suggest giving Loving Earth a try. They have some interesting flavours and one of my favourites is the Salted Caramel.
If you fancy going all out then an Instax camera is always a lot of fun. The film is quite pricy but if you buy a set of films and use them for one project or a special holiday then you can create a really interesting collection of photos.
Another beauty brand I love is Botanicals, they’re really good for those of us with dry and sensitive skin. This is their Nourish Cleanse Melt which I’ve been using for a couple of weeks now and adore. I use this to remove my make-up after a long day out in the city. It has a lovely scent and it keeps my skin lovely and soft.
I had to include a second honey on this list because everyone needs to try Hilltop Honey. They do a delicious chilli infused flavour as well as this ginger one. Phil, my dad and I love them all. They make a lovely gift for anyone who loves to try something new.
I’m always happy to receive a bottle of gin or whisky throughout the year. The other week my pals over at 31Dover sent this Jasmine Fizz bundle complete with a bottle of Willem Barentsz. I’ve got a cocktail post coming up this week so keep an eye out for that. 31Dover have some really interesting drinks and I’ve personally got my eye on The Bitter Truth’s Violet Liqueur.
I’ve got a nice little enamel pin collection but instead of adding all of them in here I picked out 2 of my newest ones. Enamel pins are everywhere at the moment and I think they’re such a fun way to to show someone you care. Think about what they like and go from there. The kitty one is from PowerUp Pins, it was a gift from Phil at Christmas and the cute little teapot is by my pal Onetenzeroseven – I treated myself to this after a week of working hard.
The folk over at Supreme Shoe Care have got me into taking care of my handbags, at last. Before, I never used to clean or waterproof my handbags which looking back, is very silly. They can get harmed by bad weather and of course, with daily use they’re going to get dirty. Their Supreme Clean spray is a practical gift for any handbag lover.
Finally, this wouldn’t be a list of gifts without an awesome pair of socks. It might sound boring at first but trust me, Happy Socks are not boring. Socks are practical and something we all use daily. So a fun and funky pair of Happy Socks would really put a smile on my face. There are lots of Valentine’s Day ones available and the set I have come in a pretty gift box containing 3 designs. There are also lots of other bright and cheerful designs.
Bonus idea:
I hope this post has given you some inspiration for Valentine’s Day or any birthdays you have coming up in the next couple of months. If you don’t fancy gifting anything to anyone then how about treating yourself? I think it’s so important to do that from time to time.