unique valentines gifts | EffortlessCool

Some may argue that Valentine’s Day is a capitalist marketing scheme created to stifle the mid-winter retail slump and give restaurants an excuse to overcharge. Others may relish in the dark history of the day. Me? I’ll take any excuse to shower the ones I love (and enjoy our pizza + champagne on the couch tradition).

While many may opt for flowers and chocolate I’ve put together a list of unique gifts to show the one/S you love just how much you care. Flowers and chocolates can still be added as a sweet bonus!

Adopt an animal.
Okay, maybe you can’t have pets in your apartment or maybe your fiancé has said “no more” after the last stray you brought home. Thankfully, this gift won’t poop on your floor or hog the bed. I recommend the following rescues that allow you to symbolically adopt a cutie.

David Sheldrick Wildlife allows you to adopt elephants that have been orphaned. You get monthly updates and photos as well as heart warming stories of other rescues.
World Wildlife Fund has a wide range of animals you can “adopt” and they give you a plush stuffed animal to commemorate your new family member!
The Sierra Club is known for their conservation efforts, and now you can be too!

Take a Class
In the age of materialism it’s good to get hands on. I love the idea of taking a class together; pottery, painting, bee keeping, a new language…no matter your vibe there’s something you two can do together!

Experiences
Massages are a quintessential v-day gift but this year up the ante. Check out your local Groupon and find something fun to get your S/O’s heart pumping just like it did on your first dates. I recommend sky diving, bungee jumping, growlers and a tour at a local brewery, a concert/show, or a relaxing weekend staycation.

Classic Upgrades
Some classics are around for a reason. Grab a Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair (Spanish and English Edition)“>book of love poems for your love but up the ante by writing a personal inscription in the beginning, drawing hearts on the pages of your favorite poems, or leaving a note of a memory next to one that reminds you of a piece of your relationship. Or, upgrade the scent of your s/o to something that will make them feel special and a new.