By Gloria C. Falach
Department stores transition from Christmas to Valentine’s Day in January and February. Many have experienced Valentine’s Day in their classrooms by putting handwritten valentines and candy in their classmate’s mailboxes that were decorated the day before.
As a college student, Valentine’s Day looks very different. Whether you celebrate with your significant other or your best friends or by yourself watching romantic comedies, here is a list of gifts to give others or treat yourself.
A gift basket can always go right if you struggle to find a gift for a girlfriend, best friend, mother, or sister. For her, flowers and chocolate are classics. If you feel extra, a basket filled with their favorite things is like a restock of their everyday self-care products or makeup. Sugar scrubs, lotions, under-eye patches, lip gloss, chapstick, blush, or a new eyelash curler can be basket fillers. Or blankets, books, Squishmallows or Jelly Cats, candles, coffee mugs, fuzzy socks, room decor, or PJ sets. For a girlfriend, oversized sweatshirts, T-shirts, and first initial necklaces are presents that will last longer and act as a constant reminder.
Most people say shopping for a boyfriend or brother can be more difficult. Restocking their favorite everyday items, like cologne or body spray, replacing something they wear every day, a new sweatshirt or sweatpants, and a new water bottle or gym bag are all classic items for him. Think of their hobbies: a new basketball, a fishing pole, a game controller, or a new helmet, which are easy and simple. For a boyfriend, buying things both of you can enjoy can be very memorable and sentimental. These items can be the Lego flower bouquet sets you can build together, hammocks for a day out, or a new button-down and tie for date night.
Chocolate is a big part of the gift-giving process for Valentine’s Day. For chocolate sweet tooth lovers: Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Hershey Kisses, Reese’s Hearts, Lindt Lindor Valentine’s Strawberries, and Cream White Chocolate Truffles, Ferrero Rocher Valentine’s Chocolate, custom M&Ms found on their website, and Godiva Chocolate boxes are all limited edition favorites.
For gummy candy lovers: Haribo Be Mine Mix Gummi Candy, Haribo Gummy Bears, Fun Dip, Branch’s Jelly Hearts, Dum-Dums, Jolly Ranchers, Sour Patch Kids hearts, Trolli Sour Brite hearts, Nerds Gummy Clusters, Welch’s Heart Shaped Fruit Snack, and Sweethearts are all great sweet and sour additions to a Valentine’s Day basket.
For Valentine’s Day movie nights, snacks like cookie decorating kits, frosted sugar cookies, mini cupcakes, Rice Crispies treats, trail mixes, Garden Veggie Mini Hearts, chocolate-covered strawberries, pretzels, or popcorn can add more festivities to the night. Chick-fil-A sells heart-shaped containers from January 29 to February 24. Pizza Hut also makes heart-shaped pizza available on Valentine’s Day only. Both Dunkin and Krispy Creme sell a variety of new limited-edition heart-shaped donuts.
Valentine’s Day is about spreading love to the people we love. However you celebrate it, I hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with love and chocolate.