15 Valentine's Day Gifts We're Giving Ourselves This Year
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Valentine's Day is such a mixed bag as far as holidays go. Some couples get SUPER into it and splash out big bucks on roses, candy, jewelry, and dinners. Some couples totally don't care about it and happily skip making a fuss. And for other people, Valentine's Day can be a day of either sadness (for the unhappily partnered or single) or a day to celebrate all kinds of love, including kids and friends.
There is no perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day. This also means there is nothing wrong with using it as an occasion to practice some self-love and self-care by picking out some gifts or experiences that we really want this year! For anyone who isn't expecting any gifts this year but know that they deserve some care (hello, that is all of us), consider this the permission slip we all need to be Cupid and spread a little love in our own direction.
More from CafeMom: Valentine's Day Has Become More About My Kids Than My Husband
Deep Quiet
Being a mom can be an overwhelming sensory experience sometimes. It can feel like someone is always talking or screaming or touching us. We love them, of course, but there is a reason float tanks are a hot new self-care trend. Moms who want some deep quiet and a chance to fully relax in dark, warm silence should book themselves a visit to a float tank (also known as a sensory deprivation tank) for an hour of real relaxation this Valentine's Day.
For some of us, movement is our favorite way to show our bodies some love, so why not add a sleek (and functional) new bodysuit to the mix before taking a V-day yoga or barre class? We love the Black Luxe Paneled Unitard from Girlfriend Collection because it is comfortable and supportive. We also appreciate how size inclusive the brand is. This one is available up to size 6X.
Valentine's Day happens to come at the time of year when a lot of us are feeling the drying effects of the winter cold. This kit, which includes Plump To It! Hydrating Facial Moisturizer, Dreamy Drops Hydrating Serum, Surfing Under The Eyes Hydrating Treatment Gel Pads, and a Flo Water Bottle, is the perfect way to get a little DIY spa experience going and to put some moisture back into our skin.
Digital Detox Day
Another new wellness and self-care trend is to have a digital detox day. This means turning off the phone, stashing the laptop, and spending a day NOT connected to all the apps and distractions. To make this happen, moms likely need to make sure their partner is prepared to handle any kid emergencies (yes, it turns out the school nurse can call dads too) and knows that she'll be offline for the day.
What to do on a digital detox day? Anything! Take a walk, read a book, or go out for a slow meal. Just be fully present without technology as a distraction.
More from CafeMom: Mom Puts Entire Family on 'Screen Detox' & Daughter Has Already Jumped 5 Reading Levels
Just because we might be buying a Valentine's Day gift for ourselves doesn't mean that we aren't still thinking about having some sexy time on February 14. This box of adult goodies can help spice things up, and people who sign up for the bimonthly shipment option can look forward to fun surprises all year.
Chocolates are a traditional Valentine's Day gift, but we think we've leveled up and deserve more than just a heart-shaped box from the grocery store. This collection of exotic truffles, with flavors from all over the globe, are decadent, interesting, and not something we have any plans to share with our kids!
For moms who love to journal, a nice Valentine's Day treat is to enjoy an upgraded paper experience. Archer & Olive's includes a journal with super thick, bleed-proof paper, plus some fun washi tape and a nice pen. This is a perfect splash of brightness for a paper-loving person or someone who wants to start a gratitude or bullet journal.
A Night Alone
Look, let's be honest. We always want a night alone in a hotel. We want it for Mother's Day, we want it for our birthday, and we want if for a random weekend when the thought of not having to be responsible for another human being for 24 hours sounds like magic. That means that yes, we'll happily take it for Valentine's Day, too!
Reds and pinks are the traditional colors of Valentine's Day, so we love that we can get the super soft and very comfy Coaster Luxe Recover Sweatshirt from Athleta in this sweet pink shade. It's perfect for a chilly Valentine's Day without being too on the nose. We'll wear this almost all year.
Take a Plunge
Taking a dip in icy water can help with everything from improving sleep to helping with focus and reducing inflammation in the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although some people might shudder at the thought of willingly getting into an ice bath or a cold lake, others (especially those in perimenopause) are embracing this as a new self-care trend.
Is giving ourselves some time to go get really cold an unusual Valentine's Day gift? Probably. But it might be an interesting new way to show some love to our minds and our bodies. Pro tip: For those that don't happen to live next to a frozen lake, there may be options to do ice pools or ice dips in indoor space, so a quick Google can help find a good spot.
For those of us who are more wine and swear words than sweetness and light, here is a perfect self-care kit. With a body scrub, lotion, and a Lemon Eucalyptus Shower Steamer, this is a morning pick-me-up in a box. This could also be a fun Galentine's Day gift to give a friend, if you're feeling generous.
The Everything Shower
There's been a recent TikTok trend that might be a perfect, low-cost gift to give ourselves for Valentine's Day. TikTokers have been detailing how they sometimes take an "everything shower," which is the shower when they do all the things. We're talking face masks and exfoliation and deep conditioning and shaving all the places and just generally taking as much time as needed to make everything clean, smooth, and pampered.
For most moms, the key to the everything shower is uninterrupted time and someone to keep the kids from the bathroom door – which seems like an appropriate thing for a partner to take care of on Valentine's Day.
For those who might want to elevate their "everything shower" game, the Grown Alchemist Giving Me Time set is a luxe way to upgrade. This set includes a gel face wash, super-hydrating cream, an exfoliant, and a skin-smoothing serum that will leave you feeling pampered.
Sometimes self-care is just about making the more boring parts of daily life a little more tolerable. For example, grocery shopping or doing laundry or unloading the dishes aren't our idea of a great time, but if we can listen to a juicy podcast or spicy romance novel while we are doing it? Bam! Instantly 15% less annoying.
For Valentine's Day, we might give ourselves a new pair of earbuds to make that even easier. We like these Marshall earbuds because they have 25 hours of run time between charges and offer wonderful sound quality.