{"id":5282,"date":"2025-02-05T16:45:12","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T20:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/?p=5282"},"modified":"2025-02-05T16:45:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T20:45:12","slug":"made-with-love-valentines-day-gift-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/2025\/02\/05\/made-with-love-valentines-day-gift-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Made With Love: Valentine&#8217;s Day Gift Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Roses are red, violets are blue, check out this guide we made just for you!<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s almost Love Day\u2014the perfect time to show your loved ones just how much you truly care for and appreciate them. Whether you\u2019re celebrating with your partner, family or friends, everyone deserves to feel a little extra special on Feb. 14!<\/p>\n<h2>A Pinch of Sugar: Basic but Sweet<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cIf it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d You can never go wrong with a traditional gift! Bring on the romance and corny knick-knacks.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Flowers:<\/strong> To elevate the usual bouquet, make your own! <a href=\"https:\/\/locations.traderjoes.com\/\">Trader Joe&#8217;s<\/a> has the best selection of cheap yet beautiful florals; grab some greenery, some baby\u2019s breath and a pop of color. To gift it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@maya.and.hunter\/video\/7358232976418688299?lang=en\">take your TJ\u2019s bag and some ribbon, and wrap<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Candy:<\/strong> Everyone needs a sweet treat sometimes. Instead of the typical heart-shaped box of truffles you can pick up from any old grocery store, pick up some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Trader-Joes-Chocolate-Cookies-Valentines\/dp\/B01AN7CWUK\">Trader Joe\u2019s Mini Heart Cookies<\/a>, or order a gift box of Swedish candy from <a href=\"https:\/\/bonbonnyc.com\/collections\/gift-boxes\">BonBon<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stuffed Animal:<\/strong> You can never be too old to enjoy the comfort of a fluffy friend! For optimal relaxation, consider splurging for a <a href=\"https:\/\/us.jellycat.com\/collections\/valentines-day?mtm_dummy=blank&amp;utm_campaign=Search%20-%20US%20-%20Brand%20-%20Core&amp;mtm_cid=105615429011&amp;utm_content=kwd-309932220715&amp;mtm_kwd=jelly%20cats&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;mtm_group=search&amp;mtm_placement=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAkoe9BhDYARIsAH85cDP7Dav1idy6ThMSd_pGIEC1jnnN3sqYiEx_1B11ZcePFZJ0XENCV5EaAq0bEALw_wcB\">Jellycat<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=weighted+stuffed+animal&amp;hvadid=557158465642&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9005169&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvrand=2554264977385820532&amp;hvtargid=kwd-26571014800&amp;hydadcr=25333_13465400&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_22mnepfxjd_e\">weighted stuffed animal<\/a> or, better yet, a <a href=\"https:\/\/warmies.com\/\">heatable stuffed animal<\/a> (especially perfect for the cold weather or easing that time of the month).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Double Batch of Dough: Luxurious and Lavish<\/h2>\n<p>Perhaps you\u2019re in a long-term relationship and looking for a way to one-up last year\u2019s V-Day gift. If that\u2019s the case, and you\u2019re willing to spend a little extra dough, here are some ways to spoil your sweetheart.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Perfume\/Cologne:<\/strong> Transitioning from the body spray\/Axe phase to\u00a0 elevated fragrances is a rite of passage. T.J. Maxx has a lot of good <a href=\"https:\/\/tjmaxx.tjx.com\/store\/shop\/womens-perfume\/_\/N-944410246\">perfume<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/tjmaxx.tjx.com\/store\/shop\/mens-cologne-grooming\/_\/N-2679402345\">cologne<\/a> options (I\u2019d recommend checking them out in store so you can give them a sniff in person). Target also has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.target.com\/c\/fragrances-beauty\/-\/N-5xu0o\">wide selection of fragrances<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Tech:<\/strong> If you really want to spoil that special someone, consider upgrading their current tech\/devices. Perhaps they could use some new noise cancelling headphones (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=amazon+noise+cancelling+headset&amp;hvadid=557139478764&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9005169&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvrand=3925586228558227227&amp;hvtargid=kwd-846645980851&amp;hydadcr=7441_13183977&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_66v38aoxq_e\">Amazon has a wide range<\/a> of price points) or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=amazon+fast+chargers&amp;hvadid=636788870540&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvlocphy=9005169&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvrand=14002273875121215041&amp;hvtargid=kwd-859221207016&amp;hydadcr=7668_13589685&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_59it138n1e_e\">fast charger<\/a>. Or maybe they&#8217;re a die-hard reader who might enjoy a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/b\/?node=6669702011&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;hvadid=453973924243&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=11229442239872351342&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9005169&amp;hvtargid=kwd-295921612250&amp;ref=pd_sl_6itck04ygw_e&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtYy9BhBcEiwANWQQL6WJjtFPSJ4vaMHHOMMKkLOE9v1vYpjOjUijKDGzDsLZdUnbvBm1FxoCIUsQAvD_BwE\">Kindle<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Specialty Jewelry:<\/strong> A little something shiny tends to be a safe option. To make sure your valentine can savor it for years to come, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gorjana.com\/\">Gorjana<\/a> for some waterproof, tarnish-resistant jewelry, or take them to <a href=\"https:\/\/rosencojewelry.com\/\">Rose &amp; Co.<\/a> for some permanent jewelry.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Time to Bake: Experience Over Final Product<\/h2>\n<p>Material goods aren\u2019t your thing? If your love language is quality time, I\u2019ve got some suggestions for you!<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Tickets to an Event:<\/strong> Good memories are one of the best gifts you can give. Rather than a physical item, surprise your valentine with tickets to an upcoming event, whether it\u2019s a musical or play at the <a href=\"https:\/\/landmarktheatre.org\/\">Landmark Theatre<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syracuse-theater.com\/shows\/comedy\">comedy show<\/a> with their favorite comedian, a <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/concerts\/location\/5140405-Syracuse-NY-US\">concert<\/a>\u00a0or even an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.regmovies.com\/theatres\/regal-destiny-usa-1733?date=01-16-2025&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAkoe9BhDYARIsAH85cDNvZ6XQFuWnwlAOej1_s4T6CiSE6xaX79W2DhKZdf6W9ItYJyFh8isaApBpEALw_wcB\">upcoming movie<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Take a Class:<\/strong> Spending quality time with your loved ones is the best way to celebrate the season of love. Whether you\u2019re into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vincesgourmet.com\/cooking-classes\/\">cooking<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandhealing.com\/adult-art-class\">arts and crafts<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fredastaire.com\/syracuse\/calendar\/\">dance<\/a>, there&#8217;s a hands-on learning experience in the area that anyone can enjoy!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dinner and a Show:<\/strong> What\u2019s better than a simple dinner date? A delicious meal followed by some karaoke! If sushi is your jam, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/oceansushisyracuse.com\/\">Ocean Sushi Syracuse<\/a>, decked out with private, soundproof karaoke rooms. Or grab a bite at a restaurant of your choice, then head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singerskaraokeclub.com\/\">Singers Karaoke Club<\/a> when you\u2019re done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Try a New Recipe: Unique and Different<\/h2>\n<p>Finding a way to make Valentine\u2019s Day special year after year can get tricky. If you\u2019re looking for a new way to express your love and appreciation, try something a little untraditional.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Try a New Recipe\u2014Literally:<\/strong> The key to anyone&#8217;s heart is through their stomach! If you have a passion for baking, find a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/search\/pins\/?q=valentines%20treats&amp;rs=typed\">fun recipe on Pinterest<\/a> and gift your loved ones with some festive sweet treats. If cooking is more your style, rather than making a reservation somewhere fancy, play restaurant: decorate the dining table with candles and Valentine\u2019s decor and make that special someone a nice homemade meal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pressed Flowers:<\/strong> While a fresh bouquet of flowers always does the trick, try surprising your valentine with a long-lasting floral arrangement. Etsy has some gorgeous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.etsy.com\/listing\/1394430809\/suncatcher-pressed-flower-art-botanical?ga_order=most_relevant&amp;ga_search_type=all&amp;ga_view_type=gallery&amp;ga_search_query=preserved+flowers&amp;ref=sc_gallery-1-3&amp;pro=1&amp;sts=1&amp;plkey=8c83f7a75f5e652e36a06d535cb457ba360337ef%3A1394430809\">pressed flower decor<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.venusetfleur.com\/products\/mini-round-black-classic-rose?variant=39774367088684\">Venus Et Fleur<\/a> has a few cheaper, long-lasting alternatives.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personalized Candle:<\/strong> Instead of running to Bath &amp; Body Works, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/homesick.com\/?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A17301991849%3A142621480251%3A730699289958&amp;nb_adtype=&amp;nb_kwd=homesick&amp;nb_ti=kwd-296497393420&amp;nb_mi=&amp;nb_pc=&amp;nb_pi=&amp;nb_ppi=&amp;nb_placement=&amp;nb_si=%7Bsourceid%7D&amp;nb_li_ms=&amp;nb_lp_ms=&amp;nb_fii=&amp;nb_ap=&amp;nb_mt=e&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAtYy9BhBcEiwANWQQLxFLozmOkSWYY5b5wGXUR1SlWGTaTtK3_wRyknsIX03dJ_Qq0xPdVxoChy4QAvD_BwE\">Homesick<\/a>. They have a large variety of scented candles to cater to your loved one\u2019s unique personality.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Sweet talk aside, we hope you have a happy Valentine&#8217;s Day!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Written By Maggie Anderson<\/strong><span>\u00a0<\/span><strong>\u201925, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>This article is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by Syracuse University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roses are red, violets are blue, check out this guide we made just for you! It\u2019s almost Love Day\u2014the perfect time to show your loved ones just how much you truly care for and appreciate them. Whether you\u2019re celebrating with your partner, family or friends, everyone deserves to feel a little extra special on Feb.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":324,"featured_media":5283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[500,499,416,86,425,426],"class_list":["post-5282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beyond-the-hill","tag-gift-guide","tag-gift-ideas","tag-gifts","tag-tips","tag-valentine","tag-valentines-day"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/324"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5282"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5285,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5282\/revisions\/5285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/experience.syracuse.edu\/the-peel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}