Jasmine Birtles
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Valentine’s gift guide for pampering yourself and your pals on the big day
Reading Time: 11 minutesWho says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers?
As far as we’re concerned it’s just a great excuse for an indulgent evening for anyone, and a nice way to inject some warm feelings into the cold months before spring.
Of course, if there is a ‘significant other’ in your life then you have a great reason to celebrate in a loved-up kind of a way… or not, depending on what you like.
But if you’re a singleton, or you’d actually like to do something a bit different, then why not treat yourself or your pals to a fun and sweet-filled day/evening on 14th February?
It’s also a great excuse to give yourself a present, or gift a friend who means a lot to you. Maybe you have a friend who really needs a lift. Or perhaps you have a family member who has been really good to you and you’d like an excuse to give them something lovely.
Whatever the excuse, we have lots of ideas for you to make 2024’s Valentine’s Day really special!
- Sweet treats for you and your pals
- Gifts for your Valentine or your friend
- Fun Valentine experiences for you and a special friend
- Have some ‘Me Time’ this Valentines
Sweet treats for you and your pals
If you’re currently a singleton, why not get together with other singleton friends and have your own indulgent party?
Valentine’s Day is a particularly good excuse to overdo the sweet stuff and, as if on cue, Lola’s Cupcakes have a fantastic set of Valentine-themed cakes that anyone would enjoy any day. Their master bakers have lovingly crafted a range of scrumptious sweets such as cupcakes with heart-warming decorations, beautiful layered cakes and decadently indulgent brownies. Choose the cakes that you’d like delivered to your door here.
Also, Creams cafes have some truly indulgent cakes and desserts that you can eat either in 
store (find your local one here) or have delivered through Deliveroo, Uber Eats or Just Eat. Describing themselves as the UK’s ultimate dessert date destination, their cafes have a host of sweet treats, perfect for sharing between two or enjoying all on your own. They also have hot desserts such as the Sticky Toffee Hot Skillet; Spiced Winter Berry Waffle; Caramel Apple Skillet; and Banoffee Hot Pocket.
CROSSTOWN DOUGH BITES
The season of love has arrived at Crosstown, with the creation of four limited edition dough bite flavours for Valentine’s Day. Everything will be available between 8th and 14th February, with two of the new flavours available exclusively online. Vegan and alcohol-free options also available, as well as DOUGH BITE BOXES including:
Valentine’s 15-pack – A selection of 15 dough bites in three flavours: Ruby Chocolate & Cherry Liqueur, Passion Fruit & Chocolate (ve), and Sauvignon Blanc & Strawberry + the option of adding specialty drinks (from £42.45).
Valentine’s three-pack – One each of the Ruby Chocolate & Cherry Liqueur, Passion Fruit & Chocolate (ve) and Sauvignon Blanc & Strawberry dough bite flavours + the option of adding specialty drinks (from £10.95).
…and tons more, so check out their website… BUT be aware, these are now only available for delivery within Greater London.
For nationwide (England, Wales & lowland Scotland) they have a box of six or 12 Valentine’s Day topper doughnuts – their popular Chocolate Truffle and Homemade Raspberry Jam sourdough doughnuts (both vegan) with three different toppers – Be Mine, I Love You and Happy Valentine’s Day.
FATSO’s Love Bundle includes three of its bars: choose from Home Run, Nan’s Stash, Kings Ransom and Morn’n Glory, all wrapped up in one for someone special.
FATSO believes chocolate, like life, should be less savoured and MORE devoured. Bored of the seriousness and restraint of posh dark chocolate, FATSO delivers super chunky, personality-packed flavour combos for uncompromising deliciousness. Each of the bars are made from true single-origin, Fino de Aroma certified cacao from Colombia for the highest quality, 100% ethically made chocolate.
The Love bundle, which is made from fully recyclable and compostable materials, is available to buy online, www.sofatso.com (3 x 150g, RRP £19.50).
We’re big fans of Lily O’Brien’s chocs because they taste good and they don’t break the bank. Right now they have a new and exclusive Desserts Collection, designed especially as a scrumptious gift for Valentine’s Day. The usual price is £12 but they have £9 promotions across a range of stores including ASDA. It’s a 24-piece chocolate box containing classic and limited-edition centres from their Desserts Collection including Hazelnut Torte, Raspberry Infusion, and Crème Brulée. Buy yourself a box or treat your loved-one for less!Spice up your drinks – having the girls around for a ‘we’re single’ Valentine’s evening? Spice up your drinks, whether they are alcoholic or non-alcoholic, with Spice Drops. You can get them in a range of flavours and use them to make fizzy water really interesting!
Relax and recharge with Joe & Seph’s Pamper Night In Box, brimming with luxurious gourmet goodies.
As beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, it comes delivered in Joe & Seph’s signature gold gift box. Comprised of Pina Colada Michel Roux, Strawberries and Cream, Prosecco Popcorn Mini Gift Box, White Chocolate and Raspberry Popcorn Bites and so much more, it promises to delight everyone looking for a little indulgence.
For all lovers of chocolate
For chocolate enthusiasts, the Chocolate Indulgence hamper from Virginia Hayward is sure to satisfy any chocolate lover’s craving. Filled with an array of decadent treats such as chocolate fruit and nut biscuits, glittery chocolate cake, and a warming hot chocolate spoon, this is so moreish, you may not want to share.
If you’re a fan of retro classics then why not try the Valentine Chocolate Bouquet from The Sweet Hamper Company. Containing a combination of luxury chocolate and classics such as Kinder Happy Hippo and Milky Way Magic Stars for some tasty nostalgia.
We’re big fans of Lily O’Brien’s Truffles at MoneyMagpie. They’re tasty, come in nice boxes and are really affordable. Indulge yourself and your friends with a £5 box of milk chocolate or salted caramel truffles. Great with a cup of tea!
The LoveRaw® Starter Mix is the perfect vegan chocolate selection box: with one of each bar, it’s the perfect way to get a true taste of some game-changing vegan chocolate.
The updated Starter Mix includes:
1 x Caramelised Biscuit Cre&m® Wafer Bar
1 x M:lk® Choc Peanut Caramel Bar
1 x Milk Choc Peanut Butter Cup1 x White Choc Cre&m® Wafer Bar
1 x Salted Caramel Cre&m® Wafer Bar
1 x M:lk® Choc Nutty Choc Balls
1 x M:lk® Choc Cre&m® Wafer Bar
Gifts for your Valentine or your friend
Christmas is long gone, but that doesn’t mean we’ve lost an excuse to give nice presents to others…or ourselves!
Valentine’s Day is a great reason to give a lovely gift to someone who’s been good to you, or just give yourself a gift…because you’re fab!
Do you need some new boots, trainers or sandals? Or perhaps you’d just like some snuggly slippers to curl up on the sofa with this evening? The online vegan shoe store Heavenly Feet sells all of these with a big heart attached. The styles are on trend and kind to animals – no leather. They have a range that is particularly light-weight too so that you can skip to your next appointment with genuinely light feet!
- De-stress with this gorgeous aromatherapy handmade necklace. The Hamsa Aromatherapy Necklace (£39) is made from natural Lava & a 14K gold plated hamsa charm. The gift box includes a 2ml bottle of Lavender, Bergamot & Ylang Ylang pure essential oil blend. Simply use the wand inside the bottle to dab essential oil onto the stone to diffuse essential oils throughout the day. Only available from Boostology
Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Miracle Makeover Facial Oil, £16, available from Sephora, is a dual purpose ‘wonder-blend’ of aromatherapy oils ideal to pre-cleanse, hydrate and calm dehydrated, sensitive skins. Formulated with Avocado and Carrot oils, both rich in vitamins, and hydrating Raspberry oil, known for its high Omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids content.
Dr Paw Paw YOUR gorgeous SKIN 4 in 1 face serum is the ultimate multipurpose superhero 4 in 1 treatment. This vegan formula effectively delivers multiple skin benefits by combining four serums into one – saving you time, space, and money. £15 from Dr PawPaw
For a new look hairstyle, the Revamp Progloss Hollywood Curl Automatic Rotating Hair Curler will do just that at the touch of a button. We love the right and left handed rotation buttons which alternates the direction of your curls for a true Hollywood look. Available from: revamphair.com and Boots
Homedics 2-in-1 Nail Polish Dryer is easy to use for a quick, fuss-free manicure. Suitable for use with gel polish, nail polish and acrylics, giving nails a flawless finish. Available from homedics.co.uk and Argos
Time for some pampering? The Awesome Hamper Company’s Valentine’s collection has a range of pamper hampers such as its Treat Yourself Gift Box which includes Lavender Essential Oil and Aromatherapy Candle to truly relax and unwind, or The Awesome Pamper Hamper, a luxurious hamper packed with everything you need for rest and relaxation, from scented candles to luxurious body scrubs.
The luxury lingerie brand Xintima has a marvellous range of sexy nightwear which you can wear for yourself or for your squeeze. It’s also a great range for presents for girlfriends. This mini satin dressing gown, for example, makes a great gift for anyone.
For a more humorous touch and one for the mum’s, this bespoke art print apron features Frank Canvas’ artwork and is available from
Art Merchandise at £29.99.
Fill your kitchen with the aroma of your favourite pizzeria with the Just Spices DIY Pizza Kit. Just follow the simple step-by-step instructions to make pizza the way you like it. The kit includes all the equipment you need, plus a helpful booklet and a range of spice blends to season your sauces and toppings!
VISTAPRINT
Everyone loves photos, collages and albums, and VistaPrint are offering a bunch of great deals that make it easy to treat a loved one to showcases of their own photos, or an album or framed
picture or two of someone or something that will make them smile. From mugs and blankets to calendars and cushions, create a memorable moment with photo gifts that won’t bust your budget. There’s deals on wall calendars, custom mugs and canvas prints. Photo books, cushions and wall art. They’re currently offering 40% off across the range, so there’s bound to be something you can create for your loved one.
Giving and receiving beautiful flowers is such a joy. If you’re looking for a flower gift with a difference, the LEGO® Flower Bouquet (10280) is an inspired choice. Perfect for treating a loved one, this flower bouquet model building kit lets you relax, unplug and create something wonderful. With adjustable stems to tailor to the arrangement for any vase or container, this impressive flower display brings a touch of fun and colour to any room.
Fun Valentine experiences for you and a special friend
The Two Together Railcard entitles you and your BFF to ⅓ off rail travel when you travel together by train – which is more fun anyway! Forget Valentines, this year it’s all about our besties, and Railcard.co.uk can be the perfect easy and affordable Galentine’s gift for you and your fave friend to share.
It’s not just a card for couples – together you can save on practical everyday journeys, fun Galentine’s day trips or relaxing weekend breaks – as many times as you like, saving a 1/3 on rail travel each time you make a trip together.
Have some ‘Me Time’ and Stay Warm this Valentines
The Hoodie Blanket from kudd.ly has a breathable MicroCool™ teddy fleece exterior and a soft sherpa fleece interior. 30% longer than other hoodie blankets, it’s just what you need for relaxing on the sofa. Available in various colours and patterns and currently on special offer, what’s not to like.
OHS has a fab range of cosy comforts including weighted blankets (from £12) , Fleece Onesie Jumpsuits (from £9) and the return of their popular Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle Foot Warmer (£13). Shop the range here
The Beverley Women’s Waterproof 3-In-1 Jacket – faded pink – teams a fully waterproof coat with a detachable quilted jacket. Layer up and wear this versatile combo as your warmest of winter coats, or use each one separately. The 3-in-1 concept makes it so easy to adapt to changing temperatures and conditions, so you’ll never be caught out at any time of year.
Tallard Womens Funnel Neck Microfleece – faded pink – is a super soft, comfortable microfleece roll neck jumper that looks great with just about anything, designed to feel fantastic against the skin with a buttery smooth finish on the outside. This is made for cosy days a t home as well as for walks, hikes, camping trips, and meals out at the pub.
Preparing and serving your culinary creations will always be a success when you use this cherry-red coloured mini cocotte from STAUB.
The 10 cm mini cocotte is excellent for preparing small portions of gratin or soufflé. You can serve food in style during romantic events using the heart-shaped mini cocotte. The small dish is suitable for use in the microwave as well as in the oven. The top-notch ceramic ensures the perfect distribution of heat for the best results.
- Ideal for preparing and serving in portions
- Versatile
- Easy to clean thanks to enamelled surface
- Suitable for use in microwave and oven
Ploov is a cordless heating cushion with infrared technology and rechargeable battery. The Original fabric is super soft and fits every style. The cushions warm you efficiently with battery powered heat and infrared technology. This warmth is felt throughout your body and does not heat the entire air unnecessarily, but only you.
Love yourself and your partner
Give yourself ‘Heavenly Feet’
Heavenly Feet have a great range of shoes and 
boots and Valentine’s Day would be a good time to show your pins some love by buying them some new boots. I did! I got these Weston2 boots in the sale for just £48.95. Check out their range and see what’s on offer!
Pamper yourself
Pamper yourself with Grace & Stella’s fabulous VGP’ Day collection bundle filled with all your selfcare essentials. The moisturising Pink Eye Masks are formulated with plumping fructose, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which are both hydrating and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles; the Rose Spray has anti-inflammatory properties and refreshes the skin leaving behind a beautiful floral scent. The Rainbow Bath bomb nourishes your skin whilst helping you unwind. The smoothing Berry Lip Masks leave lips pillowy soft. These four products are the perfect combination for gifting. Valentine’s is for the Gals and Pals, show your appreciation to those you love by providing them with the self love products they never knew they were missing.!
Get sexy nightwear!
Step into enchantment with the sexy mini satin dressing gown from the amazing brand X Intima.
This mini gown is a delicate masterpiece destined for an elegant Valentine’s Day. The cute little number is adorned with full soft lace and 3D crystal stone embroidery on the shoulder, which exudes sophistication, creating an atmosphere of refined romance. Your every movement will be a graceful dance thanks to the charming, tasselled sleeve. It retails at £166.75.
This is such nice stuff! I legit just ordered bits for my girlfriend and my bestie – amazing taste and so nice to not see the usual Amazon affiliate guides – nice one Magpie