Gentleman, this one is for you. We’re not saying that men are bad at buying Valentine’s Day gifts. But we know that there’s no shortage of men who, at a loss for what to do, simply buy the “expected” Valentine’s Day gift. The problem with that is that most pre-packaged and traditional Valentine’s Day gifts aren’t very eco-friendly or even socially conscious. Plus, let’s be honest. Buying yet another heart-shaped box of candy doesn’t really tell her that you took the time and effort to think about her and what she might really love [full disclosure: one of us wants only heart-shaped boxes of candy]. Today, we’ve got five ideas for creative Valentine’s that are earth-friendly and that will make you adorable and irresistible in her eyes.
Learn to Make Homemade Bath and Skin Care Products
Instead of going to your local department store and telling the woman who works at the skin care counter to pick out something your honey will love, learn to make her a homemade facial, body scrub, lotion or even lip balm. You might be surprised how easy many of these things are to make (and you may find that you have a hidden talent!). An hour of research on the internet for recipes and a couple of hours at home in your kitchen can result in a handmade, eco-friendly, sweet-smelling and romance-inspiring gift. We’ve even got some of our favorite recipes for homemade facials to get you started. Want to up your game? Apply her facial and serve her a nice, chilled glass of white wine while she enjoys it.
Learn to Give a Massage
Sure, you could always give your partner a gift certificate to the local spa, but wouldn’t it be more personalized if you gave her a massage yourself? It would certainly be more eco-friendly than supporting the water-rich, electricity rich infrastructures of huge spas – and it likely has a more romantic ending then sending her to the spa. The internet isn’t always evil, and it’s a vast resource for learning techniques to give a good massage. If you had your hopes set on both of you getting a massage at the same time, we have tips on budget-friendly massage alternatives. Make sure to keep your massage eco-friendly by either making your own massage oils or buying massage oils that come from earth-friendly companies. Also, if you’re setting the mood with candles, be sure to be aware of the most environmentally friendly candle options.
Go Vintage Shopping
Buying your partner a gift at the local department store is fine – if you like the idea that a hundred other women have received the same gift. Where can you find completely unique gifts that are also good for the planet? At a vintage store. Unless you’re particularly familiar with women’s fashion, we don’t necessarily recommend trying to purchase clothes for a Valentine’s Day gift – especially when it comes to vintage purchase. How items are sized has changed dramatically over time and you may find that an item that’s “exactly her size” doesn’t fit her at all. Look for accessories like handbags, jewelry or even hats. All of these items will be completely unique and, because they’re vintage, won’t require a new carbon footprint impact for your gift.
Buy Her a Plant
Cut flowers are nice, but they come with a carbon footprint and no long-term value. Why not opt for a potted plant instead? Everything about potted plants is good for the environment. Thinking of taking it out-of-the-box? What about herbs or tomatoes that she can grow in a pot? These days, many stores and nurseries have individual year-round bulbs that you can purchase and pot for beautiful flowers that regrow each year. Finally, if you really, really want to up your game here, plant a tree with her. You can celebrate the event by enjoying a nice glass of wine with her while you’re planting the tree and each year you’ll have something that represents the time the two of you have spent together loving each other.
Bake!
Yes, we said bake! It’s more complicated than making her skin care products (unless, perhaps, you went big and attempted lip balm). But it is delicious and she’ll definitely know that you put your heart and soul into it. If you want to make it the ultimate fun, bake while she’s in the kitchen with you – just don’t let her do any of the work. Sit her down, give her a glass (or a bottle) of wine and let her watch you put the work in. Just be prepared if she gives you “hints” for success along the way.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about single-use, wasteful gifts. In fact, it’s better when it’s about intimate gifts that you put time and effort into. Why limit yourself? Give her all five of the above gifts!
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21 Eco-Friendly and Romantic Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day
Photo Credit: Bobby Acree via Flickr
