Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas – Romantic Ways to Say “I Love You”
Saying “I love you” on Valentine’s Day is easier than you think with these romantic gift ideas! Most of 
Before the tips, a quip:
“Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ” ~ Robert Browning.
Inscribing a bit of romantic poetry on a bracelet or ring is a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. The tri-tone gold open hearts necklace (pictured) isn’t inscribable — but it’s a gorgeous way to say “I love you.” Click the pendant for more info, and read on for ten Valentine’s Day gift ideas…
10 Romantic, Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Remember — the best way to express your love is by everyday loving acts. Read Romance Tips – Easy Ways to Show Your Love for ideas!
1. Write a love poem on biodegradable seed paper. Paper is the most common form of waste and accounts for almost 35% of landfill garbage. A great Valentine’s Day gift idea is to say “I love you” with a seed-embedded card that, when planted in soil, grows wildflowers. More tree-free alternatives include hemp, bamboo, banana stalk and sugarcane paper.
2. Send eco-friendly wild-crafted flowers. Eco-friendly florists use organic greenhouses and farms that support sustainable, chemical-free growing practices. Green florists also recycle and use minimal packaging in their shops. Ask your neighborhood florist about eco-friendly wildcrafted flowers, native potted plants, and local bouquets – or visit Ecoflora.ca or SierraEco.com to place an online order.
3. Indulge with fair trade, organic chocolate. Many mainstream and health food stores sell eco-friendly bonbons made without preservatives or chemicals. The TransFair Canada logo certifies that cocoa products are directly traded, fairly-priced, environmentally-protected, and worker-friendly. If you’re looking for less traditional, more romantic gift ideas, you’ll find Romantic Gift Ideas for Him or Her helpful.
4. Dig for conflict-free Canadian diamonds. “Canadian mining standards are higher than most countries’,” says diamond geologist Bruce Kienlen (my husband!). “Diamond mines in Canada’s North offer huge economic benefits for aboriginals.” Some jewelers, such as Brilliant Earth, donate profits to underdeveloped communities, shield eco-systems, and treat indigenous peoples fairly. Giving diamonds is a traditional romantic gift idea for Valentine’s Day.
5. Explore vintage shops for chic recycled jewelry. When improperly obtained, new jewelry can damage land, impact ecosystems, and harm miners. To celebrate an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day, say “I love you” with antique sapphires, emeralds and rubies from vintage stores – or ask elderly family members if they’d willing to recycle their classic treasures.
6. Tantalize your tastebuds at a classy green restaurant. Some restaurants boast cloth napkins, low-flush toilets, and energy-efficient lighting – but even better are their regional, seasonal, and sustainable gourmet meals. Google “eco-friendly restaurants” to find one near you – or experiment with vegan or vegetarian fare at home. Since most meat production isn’t environmentally friendly, stick with meat-free recipes for an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day.
7. Toast your love with organic wine, beer or liquor. Organic grapes produce wine made with minimal sulfites and processing. Biodynamic wines come from agriculture that maintains biodiversity through nature’s cyclical rhythms, crop rotation and homeopathic sprays. For a healthy brew, swill organic potato or hemp beer – or go hard with organic vodka martinis.
8. Sip organic champagne from recycled glass goblets. “Real” champagne is sparkling wine (sometimes organic) from the Champagne region in France. To reduce transportation pollution, toast your love with a local favourite such as sparkling organic apple cider. A great Valentine’s Day gift idea are funky recycled wineglasses or goblets.
9. Give eco-friendly bath salts, creams and fragrances. Bathing can be nontoxic, cruelty-free, sustainable, natural for lovers, and even green (if done occasionally). For an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day, use concentrated bath salts because they last longer and use less packaging. Try edible massage oils, shea body butter, or sandalwood fragrances from Lush Cosmetics or The Body Shop.
10. Get romantic with soy candles and organic lingerie. Want to improve female libido? Avoid regular wax candles, which are made from petroleum that, when burned, unleashes the equivalent of diesel exhaust. Natural soy or beeswax candles set the mood without polluting the air. Light the fire with bamboo lingerie, hemp camisoles, and stylish organic cotton underwear – now sexier than ever!
This is an excerpt of an article I wrote for Reader’s Digest. To read the whole article, go to Go Green on Valentine’s Day.
If you have any tips for or questions about romantic Valentine’s Day gift ideas, please comment below!
And if you’re looking for creative date ideas, you might find 300 Creative Date Ideas helpful.
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Comment by TexasT on 4 January 2010:
Why go for store bought jewelry? The memory wears off. Here is a site that offers as unique gift as you can get online. I bought the My Story Collection necklace for my wife for Christmas, and she was shocked that I came up with something so close to her heart. Marlene (the seller) asked me about significant events in my wife’s life, and she took that info and created something I could never come up with on my own. The end product was a real tear jerker (in a good way). Thought I’d pass the word on to readers…it will make a great gift for any occasion.
http://www.simonandlucy.com
Comment by Paul on 5 January 2010:
This is my first Valentine’s Day with a girlfriend, and I’m already looking for gift ideas! I want to show my love without being too corny. Do you have any ideas for me? Like, how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a new girlfriend?
Comment by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen on 6 January 2010:
Thanks for your comment and link, TexasT. The jewelry you suggest for Valentine’s Day looks gorgeous — it’s a great romantic gift idea!
Paul, I’m happy for you — Valentine’s Day is much more romantic when you have a girlfriend
Here’s an article I wrote about saying “I love you” to your sweetheart:
80 Ways to Show Your Love on Valentine’s Day Without Spending Money
I hope it helps — let me know if you need more ideas.
Laurie