An anniversary honors commitment. February 14 honors the spark. Whether you’re dining in, staying in, ordering takeout, or just sitting on the couch in sweatpants, here are some last-minute touches that add polish without turning the day into a shopping marathon or an argument about effort.
I have long believed that Valentine’s Day is not primarily a gift-giving holiday. It may involve a gift, of course, but the point is not to put on a show worthy of a jewelry advertisement. It’s a playful celebration of the original attraction, the initial tension, the reason they started circling each other in the first place.
At a certain point in a relationship, grand gestures feel like theater. What matters most is quality time, meaningful words that sound like they were composed by someone. in the relationship and not a copywriter, and the small act of service of booking an evening and saying, with your calendar and your attention, “the spark still matters.”
And as we move toward the event horizon of the February 14 black hole, this guide is being built over hours, not weeks. Everything here is Prime-able or locally sourced. Think of these as amplifiers that add a little sparkle to whatever you’re already doing, little additions that make the whole evening feel more complete.
Use an instant photo printer and put your favorite photos in places where they can be found
You could review your camera roll together or print out 10 to 15 photos and leave them in unexpected places: the coffee maker, the nightstand, tucked into a book you’re reading. An instant photo printer converts a digital memory into a physical object in about thirty seconds, which seems almost suspiciously efficient.
Choose your favorite photos of you together. Choose the ones where they are silly and not sexy. Choose those that highlight the draw instead of the ones you would put in a frame. That’s romance as light mischief.
Fujifilm Instax Printer on Amazon / Available locally at Walmart either Best buy
Some fancy new glasses for your homemade drinks.
If you’re staying in for a low-key night in, you can make things a little more like a cheap, expensive cocktail bar by surprising yourself with better glassware. It changes the tone of the evening almost effortlessly. A coupe glass elevates even a screwdriver to something that looks deliberate. He notes that tonight is slightly off the usual Friday night beat. You are not giving them a drink but rather giving the evening a bit of ceremony. At less than $13, it’s a solid return on the environment.
CB2 Eve Coupe Cup$6.50 $8.95
A discreet bracelet for everyday use.
Jewelry on Valentine’s Day has a reputation for being eye-catching and dramatic. This is not that. A simple chain or cable bracelet is the type of piece someone can wear every day without feeling like they’re wearing a Christmas ad on their wrist. It works as a complement because it is modest, personal and long-lasting.
One of the first pieces of jewelry I owned, and still wear almost every day, was a bracelet she gave me for my birthday, when I was still figuring out how to make jewelry feel like me.
Left: David Yurman Box Chain BraceletGood: David Yurman Micro Cable Flex X Bracelet (available at Nordstrom and DY stores [locater])
Something light, new, refined and low ABV.
A bottle of something like a low-alcohol amaro invites you to linger instead of going upstairs. Encourage a second round of conversation instead of a second round of apologies. As a complement to dinner at home, it becomes the “let’s sit down for a while” moment, the part of the evening when the pace slows down and you remember how you talked when you first met. It feels curated and fun without being flashy or clunky, which, to me, is the really sexy Valentine’s Day vibe.
Faccia Brutto Alpine Amaro [stockist locater]
Premium candles but as an atmosphere, not as a gift.
High-end candles as gifts are a meme. Already lit high-end candles when they enter the room feel like you just dropped the needle on a cheer up. The difference is subtle and important. Lighting a few well-chosen flexible candles before dinner transforms the room in about three minutes. This is the Hollywood set getting dressed for the same room the cat threw up in this morning. Plus, for a real playlist to drop like a needle, this one is energetic but ambient.
diptique Nordstrom or Diptique stores [location finder]
