💞 We love a traditional Valentine’s Day gift, but sometimes thinking outside the chocolate box is appreciated. In that spirit, we put together a list of our favorite ideas for a new kind of Valentine’s Day gift, which may score you some extra points this year!
ChappyWrap Blanket
What better way to show love than with a big cozy blanket? The company is owned by a mother-daughter duo and the company name is inspired by a town in Martha’s Vineyard – Chappaquiddick, or “Chappy,” to locals. The blanket is designed to be incredibly warm without feeling too heavy.
Made from a natural-cotton blend and high performance fibers, the extra large and beautifully designed blankets will be with you and your family forever. And don’t forget to check out the kids collection for the little ones in your life!
Ballerina Farms Flowers
We have featured this company recently for their mail order meat boxes and their unique story – two city kids meet, marry, and decide to become farmers! Interestingly, Hanna (the former ballerina and owner) says she “was practically born in a flower shop,” because her parents have been florists for over 40 years.
You can preorder their Valentine’s Day box, and shipping is free – perfect when buying for a special someone who lives out of town. Priced at $105, the gorgeous mix of flowers and greens includes 50 stems, which are chosen to last longer than the typical arrangement. Ideal for those in your life who appreciate bouquet design, because each stem is sent individually wrapped and ready to be arranged!
Jigsaw Puzzle
If flowers aren’t your thing, how about a bouquet puzzle instead? This 634-piece puzzle would be a delightful cold weather activity, and something that can be done solo, as a couple, or with the whole family.
This puzzle is $27 from Uncommon Goods.
Or, try this 465-piece NY Heart food puzzle, priced at $35 from Areaware.
Your Table is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D’
This tell-all, written by well-known Maître D’ Michael Cecchi-Azzolina, takes us through the past 40 years of the wild New York City dining scene through the eyes of restaurant staffers. Enjoy a peek into the inner workings of famous restaurants such as the River Cafe, Water Club, and the most recent hot spot Le Coucou.
Get tips on how to score a special table, and which celebrities were legendary diners, terrible (or excellent!) tippers, and who they were eating with 😳. Perfect for a loved one who loves the restaurant scene and doesn’t mind a few scandalous stories about servers behind the scenes!
Chopsticks!
For families who enjoy eating with chopsticks (or want to learn!), this set of six chopsticks from Design Within Reach really caught our eye. On sale for $24, these utensils will make take-out a bit more special and will add fun factor to homemade meals like Yakisoba Noodles, Sushi Bowls, Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry, and Chicken Fried Rice. (By the way, rolling your own sushi surprisingly easy and would be a really fun alternative to going to a restaurant on Valentine’s Day. Ann has done it with her husband and kids, and they always have a ball!)
For little ones who may need more assistance as they learn, check out these unicorn training sticks from Everything Chopsticks, which come in a variety of animal themes!
These unicorn chopsticks are $4.99.
Paint Your Own Pottery
For those who enjoy a good experiential gift, we love the PotteryWorks at 16 W. Orange Street in downtown Lancaster. (Not local? Look for a similar spot where you live.) Go as a couple, as a group, or solo, and choose from hundreds of pieces that are ready to paint. Both practical and therapeutic, painting your own pottery is fun for all ages. No experience required!
A collection of pieces that Ann and her boys made over the years.
Not your usual candle
Maybe you love sandalwood, vanilla, or even citrus – but what about a pretzel-scented candle? Oh yes, Hammonds Pretzels in Lancaster captured the scent of a pretzel and put it in a beautiful candle. What says I love you more than the smell of freshly baked pretzels in the air? 🥨
Hammonds Pretzel candle is priced at $13 and can be shipped. The company also ships their pretzels, which are made daily and are available in regular, no salt, extra salty, and dark. The pretzel dipping sauce is a treat too!
❤️ How do you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Let us know in the comments section below!
Could not print the slow cooker chocolate for valentines
Hi Patricia, It may have been a temporary glitch, as I just checked and the print option seems to be working. Click on the following and try again. If it doesn’t work, let me know and I would be happy to email you the recipe. It’s a good one!
https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/slow-cooker-chocolate-peanut-clusters-with-sea-salt/