Y’ALL.
The last blog post I wrote was in November, and it was about singleness (you can read it here).
Now it’s February, and I have some exciting news… I have a boyfriend!
God’s timing is perfect and good. The wait has been so hard, but now that I get be pursued and pursue the man that is in front of me, I get it.
Anyway, if you are dating someone like me, engaged or married, this post is for you!
Valentines Day is quickly approaching and coming up with gift ideas for loved ones can be hard. I’ve spent hours on Pinterest looking for unique (but not cheesy) gift ideas and have come up empty handed. I know I can’t be the only one.
If this describes you, look no further! I am going to share with you how I put together a thoughtful and unique gift basket for my boyfriend that you can easily tailor to your man’s interests/taste.
Let’s get started!
Items to Include in a DIY Gift Basket for Him
Here is a list of items to include in your gift basket:
a basket
1-3 personal care items
his favorite snack
an item to brighten up his living space
a card (especially if his love language is words of affirmation)
Personally, my boyfriend and I are not a huge fan of clutter, so I chose items for his gift basket that I knew would be useful! Obviously, this is not an extensive list of items you could include.
Other ideas to consider: something personalized (bracelet, keychain, etc…), a picture frame (with a picture of you guys in it), and a gift card.
Now that I’ve given you a general list of ideas, lets talk about each item in more detail and WHY you may want to include it.
Item #1: Non-toxic Self-Care Products
Again, I specifically picked out a candle that is made with clean, natural ingredients since we are trying to avoid toxins in our daily life. However, if this isn’t a priority for you, any candle will do!
Not sure where to start? Farm Kitchen Candle Co. has lots of great smelling candles. I discovered their brand earlier this year and purchased their 14.5oz Forest scented candle. They have a lot of different scents, so you are likely to find one that you and your s/o will enjoy. My boyfriend likes citrus so I purchased the 14.5 oz Pomegranate Cider scent for him.
Item #3: His Favorite Snack
This one is pretty self-explanatory! Whatever your person enjoys snacking on, go ahead and throw it in the basket (unless its messy, of course)! My boyfriend loves popcorn, so I picked up a bag from Target made with healthy ingredients (like coconut oil instead of inflammatory seed oils).
If you and your significant other like snacks, but are also looking out for your health like we are, Target has a couple of brands that do a great job of using better ingredients.
Other snacks you could include: Dark Chocolate, Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, or Chips.
Item #4: A Card
I LOVE this beautiful watercolor card from Lana’s Shop. If you want to get the same one I am linking it here.
In general, I like including cards with gifts. It’s an opportunity to share how much you love your person, so why not take it?!
Dr. John and Julie Gottman, leading clinical psychologists in the field of marriage and couples therapy, discuss how important it is to “share fondness and admiration” for your partner to maintain the relationship. This can be as simple as writing down a complement for your partner on a sticky note for them to find, or sharing something that you appreciate about them in person.
So, even if you aren’t the best with words, consider stepping out of your comfort zone this year and writing a card to your significant other!
Pro Tip: If your basket is super deep, consider adding some decorative paper shreds to fill up the bottom and make the basket more aesthetically pleasing! I used some I already had from PaperSource that you can buy here.
So, for the perfect gift basket, I would include 1-3 self-care items, a candle (or another meaningful decoration of your choice), your man’s favorite snack, and a card with a sweet note inside! Keep in mind your man’s preferences for scent, and any allergies he may have when picking out your items. Once you have everything, put it in the basket and you are good to go!
