You might be surprised to find out that I love Valentine's Day. In short, I operate on the idea that life is brief so we should tell (and show!) the people who we love that as often as possible.
Valentine's Day gives me an opportunity to build DIY baskets for my kids, to plan special meals & treats, and even to host parties (we held a Valentine-themed party for all of the 8th grade girls at my daughter's school last year).
Sure, Valentine's Day is commercial - but it's also a fun opportunity to make memories and to demonstrate how much you love the people closest to you in tangible ways.
If you are looking for a meaningful and memorable gift ideas for Valentine's Day 2026 (Saturday, February 14), take a peek below.
Stanley is the "it" brand for water bottles. Stylish. Sturdy. Swanky. And - for Valentine's Day - smothered in adorable hearts. Available for a limited time in feminine pinks and bold reds. Exclusively at Target.
We also love the IceFlow 24oz bottles - no straw, easy-clean, perfect size for day-to-day use. They fit perfectly in backpack pockets and car cup holders!
PICTURED (left to right): IceFlow™ Bottle with Fast Flow Lid 24 OZ, Stanley Valentine's Day 30 oz Stainless Steel Frost Heart, Stanley Valentine's Day 30 oz Stainless Steel Pink Heart, Stanley Valentine's Day 16 oz Stainless Steel Transit Bottle Rouge Heart.
Surprise your loved ones with thematic gummy candies by Sur La Table. Sour Gummy Sugar Lips and Cherry Gummy Hearts? Yes, please! Add them to a DIY Valentine Box or scatter them across the dinner table for a festive & romantic flair.
Books are the best gifts - particularly beautiful hardcover books that double as decor. Browse below for some of the best gift titles for Valentine's Day 2026.
If you love both books and art, be sure to keep tabs on HarperMuse. This eye-for-design publishing company has been releasing gorgeous hand-painted editions of classics each quarter. These collectible titles are truly lovely to behold on the shelf and are 100% gift-worthy. No wrapping paper needed!
Available Titles: Anne of Green Gables, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Persuasion, Peter Pan, The Great Gatsby, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Secret Garden, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Winnie the Pooh.
My daughters and I don't read romance. We do, however, love sweeping and evocative stories that are masterfully told and carefully researched with well-developed relational stories that unfold naturally. Ruth Sepetys is an expert at this.
The above books are other ones that are on our to-read list for 2026. I'm about half way throughTheo of Golden and it's a delight so far.
PICTURED (Left to Right): Between Shades of Gray, Beyond That The Sea, Everything Sad is Untrue, Once A Queen, Redeeming Love, Salt to the Sea, The Correspondent, The Fountains of Silence, The Scarlet Letter, Theo of Golden.
Our 16-year-old daughter recently discovered the Girl Defined: Biblical Womanhood blog by Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird and has spent hours poring over the articles. When she shared it with me, I was initially skeptical, but then impressed by the solid wisdom presented.
With three teen girls (ages 19, 16, 13), we've also been doing our fair share of conversations about dating and marriage. As such, I'm trying to read all of the best relationship books to glean insights.
PICTURED (Left to Right): A Chance to Die, Girl Defined, Holding Hands Holding Hearts, Letters to a Romantic On Dating, Letters to a Romantic on Engagement, Love Defined, Made to Be She, Nine Essential Conversations Before You Say I Do, Not Part of the Plan, Ready or Knot, Shine Bright, The Legacy Life, The Let Them Theory, The Sacred Search.
Wordsworth Editions offers an eye-catching collection of delightful hardcover classics! These compact, cloth-bound beauties have embossed gold title lettering and pretty illustrated covers.
Currently available titles include: Alice in Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Oliver Twist, Sense & Sensibility, The Railway Children, Treasure Island, and others.
Shoes in red, white, and pink (or in cozy styles) are one of the very best Valentine's Day gifts because they are sure to be used and appreciated. Plus, it’s relatively simple to get the sizing exactly right. This year, I’m showcasing a few hand-picked footwear options to suit a variety of activity levels, interests, occupations, and styles.
Dream Pairs and ALLSWIFIT are sister brands that put out affordable shoes in all the latest styles. Whether you're looking for brand name look-alike slides, ballet flats, slip-in sneakers, cowboy boots, or heels, these two brands are ones to keep an eye on.
PICTURED (left to right): Slip On Stability Walking Shoes, Foldable Ballet Flats, Women's Cowboy Boots.
Struggling with plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, bunions, or Morton’s neuroma? KURU's got your...feet! These groundbreaking shoes, which come in a variety of different styles, offer heel-hugging technology and generous insoles to cushion, stabilize, and support your feet.
PICTURED (left to right): APOGEE and DRAFT Lahti.
Searching for the perfect "personal item" travel bag with a laptop sleeve? Check out the Nik by MZ Wallace! This ultra-stylish, highly-versatile over-the-shoulder bag has all of the extras she will need for air travel. The roomy interior fits up to a 16-inch laptop and this smartly designed bag also boasts 7 exterior pockets, 9 interior pockets, a phone pocket, and a key ring strap. Plus, it also easily fits on top of most rolling luggage and/or underneath your seat on airplanes!
I've said it at least fifty times and I'll say it again. Janie & Jack is my all-time favorite clothing brand for ages 0-13. The clothes are polished, of premium quality, and at the peak of style. Because they are well-made and of a timeless nature, the pieces can be handed down between siblings and cousins or even preserved for the next generation.
PICTURED (left to right): French Terry Hooded Sweatshirt with The Stripe French Terry Jogger, The Bow Sweater, Wide Leg Jean, Knit Sneaker, Linen-Cotton Cuffed Pant, The Linen Shirt.
For high-quality layering pieces, lingerie, and professional pieces, I almost always check White House Black Market (and sister company Soma) first. They offer work-to-dinner-to-playtime separates that work well for college students, 9to5ers, and moms (who work 24/7).
PICTURED (left to right): Glamgetter Tee, WHBM FORME™ All Ways Stretch V-Neck Cami, Lace Cami, Button Envelope Neck Sweater, Emme Wide Leg Trouser Ponte Pants.
ALSO! Soma has the most stunning lingerie for 2026 - Velvet Camisole with Velvet Tap Short, Tattoo Embroidered Perfect Coverage Bra.
Do you have a favorite sock brand? I do! And so do my daughters! Bombas' socks offer supreme softness and stretch. Magically lightweight while also being supportive.
PICTURED (left to right): Women's Lightweight Bow Quarter Socks, Women’s Ruffle Lace Quarter Sock 3-Pack.
Have you ever admired the gorgeous photo walls at your friends' homes, but been overwhelmed by the logistics and tools needed to pull one off at your own house? Worry no more! Mixtiles is the solution you have been looking for! You can order framed prints or canvases in all shapes and sizes - and then *stick* them to your wall without nails! Best of all, the sticky or magnetic frames are repositionable so you can rearrange them with ease around your house. You've got to try them to believe it and, when you do, you won't want to go back to hammers, nails, and holes in your walls!
Warm him or her up for Valentine's Day with a luxe blanket from Cozy Earth! Their premium-quality options are ideal for throwing over a couch, snuggling under for a movie on a rainy afternoon, draping over a guest bed, or cocooning yourself under after a stressful day.
Considering a Valentine's gift for a teen girl in your life? I've got just the thing! Nail polish in pretty colors and pedicure/manicure tools! Butter LONDON's line is made with clean ingredients and good-for-you formulas that will help nourish and heal (rather than harm) your nails.
Pictured (left to right): Signature Glass Pedicure Foot File & Callus Remover Tool, Cakes & Cuppas 6-Piece Nail Lacquer Set, Rose Petal Nail Polish Duo, Soho Show Mascara.
Happy Valentine's Day to you & the people you love!