With Valentine’s Day coming up Feb. 14, here are some out-of-the-box gift ideas to make your special someone feel appreciated.
Malibu Style / By Andrea Park
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and though the holiday is full of endless cliches, that does not mean your gift needs to be one. This year, don’t buy your lover a dozen red roses, a box of Godiva chocolates or a ticket to the Vagina Monologues-your relationship is unique, and your gift should be, too. Read on for a list of cute but quirky gift ideas for your lovers and your friends.
For him
Rope your man into the D.I.Y. movement with something he truly enjoys-beer. The Mr. Beer Brewing Kit supplies everything a beginner brewer needs in order to create his new favorite beer ($39.99, redenvelope.com).
Cross the gender divide and get your man a box of chocolates-they don’t have to come in a heart-shaped box. He won’t be able to resist the combination of sweet, salty and crunchy in the Vosges bacon and chocolate line. The Bacon Truffle collection combines rich chocolate ganache with bacon bits ($48, vosgeschocolate.com), and for everyday luxury, Vosges offers bacon chocolate bars and bacon chocolate chip pancake mix ($7.50 and $12).
Although there is no substantial proof that oysters are an aphrodisiac, they certainly are tasty and can set the mood for a romantic, homemade meal. Order live, raw Wellfleet oysters shipped overnight from New England for a unique and luxurious Valentine’s Day gift. The oysters are a steal at $150 for 100 and $58.99 for 36 (GiltTaste.com).
For her
Put a ring on it with DuePunti’s fun silicone rings ($98 at boutiquetoyou.com). Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and DuePunti’s modern take on the diamond ring is fun and colorful-you can stack the playful rings in various colors or wear them alone.
Love Quotes scarves ($75 to $95, tobi.com) are incredibly versatile and light enough for any weather. The special lady in your life will appreciate the sumptuous Italian linen material and the chic look that can be paired with any outfit. The best part? Ten percent of the proceeds are donated to international love charities and each scarf comes with an inspirational love quote-perfect if your inner poet has writer’s block.
If your lady is technologically savvy, get her a Kindle Fire ($199). Don’t worry that a gadget is too impersonal for your significant other; you can load it up with photos of the two of you, The Notebook and poems by Pablo Neruda.
For your friends
One of the greatest relationships a person could have? A lasting friendship. Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic. Show your friends you care with sweet tokens of appreciation.
Malibu Tails will add a little sparkle to your hair with hair ties and headbands that come in a variety of colors and materials. The hair accessories are made from a soft, elastic material that won’t dent hair, but are durable enough to keep ponytails secure and stylish. They’re a sweet and practical gift your friends will adore; grab them in Valentine’s Day colors for a festive take on the fun accessories. Malibu Tails products are sold at various locations around Malibu and you can also order them directly from malibutails@gmail.com or malibutails.com, which will launch this week.
Forget the friendship bracelets you made at camp when you were in middle school-Ettika makes chic friendship bracelets in pretty, bright colors ($36, winknyc.com). The hand-woven bracelets are twisted with tiny Czech crystals-now that’s a great way to keep a friend.