This year, I’m updating my kind Valentine’s Day gift suggestions with some new ideas for creating a romantic evening, eco-style!
Make A Card
One of the best gifts you can give is a handmade card with a sweet message, or get your deepest feelings out on there, written by you, not Hallmark- who doesn’t love that? Use photos or magazine clippings to make a unique card or collage. Or, what I do is cut off the front of cards I get and reuse them, it’s the easiest, quickest, most eco thing to do.
You can cut out cards backings from old chipboard (cereal boxes and other food packaging) and glue pictures on them, or draw on them, if you’re artsy. If you’re using glue, you can WeldBond has a great vegan one that you can get here.
If you have the time, these ideas can also work for you mommies who want to help your little one make Valentine’s Day cards for their classmates. This video has some good ideas for mommies.
Organic Flowers
Local, organic flowers are the healthiest choice for you and the environment. Find out where to get them here. You can also look at these sites:
Organicbouquet.com
Californiaorganicflowers.com
If you’re in New York, check out Gardenia Organic Flower Shop. And, if you’re already planning next year’s V-Day celebration, try growing your own! Learn how here.
Sweet Treats
There are lots of great options for vegan chocolates, but Sjaak Organic Chocolates has an extra-sweet heart-shaped box. Their box of assorted Valentine’s Day chocolates are made with rice/almond “milk” chocolate and, best of all, 100% of the proceeds will go to support Farm Sanctuary’s work on behalf of abused and neglected farm animals. What a wonderful way to really spread love this Valentine’s day – you can grab your box through the Farm Sanctuary website (linked).
And of course, you can also make your own V-Day dessert! Try the Coffee Fudge Brownies from my book (p. 181) or make the Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies (p. 187) and cut them into heart shapes before baking.
Sexy Nighties!
Embodies makes lingerie using organic cotton. If you’re looking for a punkier ensemble, Purrfect Pineapples and Urban Fox are cruelty-free options. These companies are a great way to be loving to the environment- here are some different options:
Flying Solo
If you’re single, invite some single friends over for a potluck! tell them each to bring someone new along with their dish- who knows where the night may lead! Or, you can decide to boycott V-Day and just have a good ol’ party. Even better, just curl up on the couch. If you’re in a relationship and you appreciate and love each other all the time, and spend as much quality time together as you can, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a huge deal. But if you are a festive one, go for it!
This year my last day of work on “Suburgatory” is on Valentine’s Day. Thank God I love my husband and baby every day, so VDay is every day just like Earth day is every day.
How do you plan to spend your Valentine’s Day?
Related Stories:
Kind Classics: Natural Makeup
Where Do You Get Eco Undies and Tanks?
My Kind Gift Guide
Sweet and Sara’s Vegan Marshmallows!
