Last Minute Valentine's Day Gift Ideas (For Him) | Just Add Ginger

When it comes to buying gifts for Boyfriend, I'm not ashamed to admit hat I do find it a bit of a struggle. It's not that he's difficult to buy for, just that I like to buy gifts with either special meaning, or that he will get a lot of use out of. 

This Valentine's Day I had to think long and hard about what to get him. He is such a good egg that he really does deserve to be treated like a king! 

Finding just the right gift can be a bit tricky, but I think as long as you know a little bit about your guy, ideas will fall in to place. All you may need is a little spark of ideas first. 

Food-related gifts are a good place to start. A lot of the presents that I have bought for Boyfriend have been food, drink or cooking related and he has really appreciated and got a great deal of use out of them. The best ones have been a personalised whisky tumbler (he likes an occasional Friday night tipple,) and two wooden heavy-duty cheese and antipasti boards. We are very social creatures, and whenever we have guests over, the boards are always taken out and put pride of place in the middle of the dining room table adorned with yummy treats.

Is your man a fan of keeping facial hair? A shaving set or luxury skin product could be ideal. I found a great shaving kit from ESPA and the Boy really likes to use it (he smells fab afterwards too.) 

If you are confident that you know his taste, be brave and go down the fashion route. A great shirt, a lovely watch, or a luxurious jumper will not only show you've put a lot of thought in to recognising his personal taste, but will also be something that will make him instantly think of you whenever he puts it on. 

The Boy and I love to travel. At the moment we are constantly trying to think of exotic and romantic places we could go to for our Honeymoon (literally every time we think of one place, one of us will suggest another and we're back to square one.) If you're like us and constantly have itchy feet, why not indulge in a world map for Him and use it to plan out all the places you want to or have travelled together. Over time you'll be able to cross places off the map, add photos and memories. 

Gifts that last a lifetime and build on hopes and dreams are really romantic, don't you think? 

Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gift Ideas (For Her) | Just Add Ginger

With Valentine's Day being less than a week away, it seemed only fitting that I put together a little Valentine's Day Mood board. 

As I am getting a bit older, I am quickly discovering that it is the more personalised gifts that mean more, For example, Boyfriend this year is getting me something that I have been longing for for ages. It ties in completely with one of my biggest passions in life, and I am going to get so much joy out of it. For me, it is the most thoughtful and romantic gift because it means he knows me. 

But if you are in a bit of a pickle trying to think of what to get for that special lady in your life, then here are my thoughts. In my honest opinion, you can never go wrong with flowers, chocolates (Charbonnel et Walker are my absolute favourite special occasion chocolates,) and - if you are of the appropriate, legal age - a lovely bottle of bubbles. A candlelit, romantic, home-cooked meal is another great gift. So what if you can't wrap it up in a box, and tie it with a red, sparkly bow, but it will be a memory that you can both look back on with love and happiness. 

If you are confident you know your girl well enough, a carefully selected beauty or fashion themed present could be a good option. Try looking on the ASOS website for some ideas - ASOS is my go-to place when I'm looking for a certain dress, bag, or pair of shoes, and they never fail me! It is  really good place to hunt for an affordable gift that you know she'll love. Jo Malone is also a good place to look if you're on the lookout for a perfume that is completely luxe. They do an extensive range of fragrances, and if she's not really into perfume, there are home scents and candles to boot!

Something home-y can be spot on too. At the moment, I am obsessed with home décor, and the rose pictures above epitomise what Valentine's Day is about, and also fulfil my love for all things pretty for our home. Of course it won't be to everyone's liking, but you can always find the piece of art you know she'll appreciate. 

Whatever you do for Valentine's Day, I hope you have the most amazing day. It's a day for sharing and celebrating love in all shapes and sizes - new, old, love between friends, family....and ultimately, taking time out to celebrate the love you have for yourself. And that's the greatest love that we all should praise. So even if you don't have an exclusive Valentine this year, make 14th February a day about pampering yourself and taking some time out for an indulgent bit of TLC. 

Valentine's Day Gift Guide - For Him

Valentine's Day will be upon us in just a few short weeks.

If - like me - this is the first Valentine's Day you'll be spending with a new special someone, then chances are you may be sitting there racking your brains about what to get them as a gift.

With this in mind, I decided to put together a small selection of gift ideas that may provide you with some inspiration.

1. Pampering: For our first Valentine's Day together, Boyfriend & I are going to be taking a trip to the LUSH Spa in Liverpool for a double treatment (don't worry, he knows we are already.) He works really hard in his job, and deserves to be pampered so I thought I'd take a chance and book us both in for something special so that we both get some "me" time but spend quality time together.

Having a spa day/break will help you both get uber-relaxed and wash all outside stresses away. There are so many wonderful spas and treatments out there that no doubt you will find one that suits both you & your boyfriend/husband.

2. Champagne: If he likes to indulge in  some yummy bubbles, selecting a really beautiful bottle of champagne/prosecco could be the perfect gift. Especially if it comes in one of those very chic and fancy wooden boxes or plush bottle-jackets. It's something you could share together to toast your relationship, or save for another special occasion.

Ps. Don't forget to save the cork as a keepsake of this special day!

3. Love Letters: If you want to create a really personal gift to give to him, then why not make a special token of your love that can be kept forever. Simply find a jar (mason/jam etc...) make sure it is clean, and fill it with pieces of paper that say something special that you love about your man. They could be attributes he has, memories of amazing adventures you've had together, or photos with captions. You can keep adding to the jar so that it is jam-packed full of love letters for him to look at.

4. Clothing: If you have been together for a little while and you are confident you could shop for your man, then clothing is a great option as a gift - especially graphic print t shirts. You can make the choice really personal to his taste, and he'll be really impressed that you've listened to him talk about his favourite band/TV show/film.

5. Books: Again, this gift idea will depend on how long you two have been together and how well you know his tastes. Even if you aren't sure what to go for, you can go in to your local bookshop and ask the staff what their recommendations would be. Keep a look out for book-signing events that may be happening in your area from authors he may like, or go to antique book shops or fairs and look out for a really rare book he may enjoy looking at. Then sit back and watch him smell the musty, aged scent of the pages, or cheekily flip to the back to read the ending.

PS. You could also write a personal message of love in the front of the book to make it really sentimental.

6. A Watch: He may not be in to jewellery, but having a classic, timeless timepiece on his wrist could make him feel extra-chic and professional. Buying a watch for him doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. There are some great ones out there for really reasonable prices that will instantly add a little something extra to his office wear/everyday attire. He could even keep it as an accessory he brings out on special occasions when he wants to feel dapper.

Ps. Some shops will even have the option for you to get the watch engraved with a meaningful message.

7. Plan A Trip: It doesn't have to be anywhere fancy or overseas. It could be a night recreating where you first met, or had your first date, or knew you were in love. Or it could be simply sitting down together and planning a special trip for later in the year. Either way, it'll be an adventure you can go on together and create new, happy memories.

Let me know your plans/gift ideas for Valentine's Day this year in the comments.