Don’t Forget Your Man: Six Valentine Ideas for Him

The little holiday of love is coming up in t-minus one week, and if you’re like me, you’ve helped the kids write their classroom valentines but have spent zero time thinking of ideas for your man. Graham and I usually avoid cliche holidays altogether and certainly don’t compete with the rest of Charlottesville for reservations at the best restaurants during Valentine’s week. (I’ve also told my husband to NEVER buy roses this time of year. Let’s save our money on those overpriced, dying plants and treat ourselves to something more sustainable.) In any case, I’ve rounded up a handful of last-minute gifts (a few just for you local Charlottesvillians) to make next week a little more special. Because not every holiday is about the kids. Wink.

I’m always nervous to invest in grooming products for Graham because I’m just not sure he’ll be into them. Will he actually use exfoliator, moisturizer, or a lip treatment? Thanks to Birchbox, he can try it out before I invest. The BirchboxMan subscription is an easy $10 a month and comes with samples of all the best grooming products for your guy. Buy a 6-month subscription and save with code MEN54.

One of the best gifts I ever got my hubby was a leather satchel for his computer and papers. He takes it on all his business trips and considers it his modern briefcase. This laptop pouch from Hearth and Hand reminds me of that but at a fraction of the price. Zip over to your local Target and find a toiletry bag in the same canvas and leather material.

My guy’s got a sweet tooth and loves making things with the kids (because he also happens to be an amazing dad). This Cuisinart ice cream maker from Williams Sonoma is going to be a gift for the whole family this Valentine’s Day. Cookies ‘n Cream, coming right up.

Another kitchen item any husband can appreciate is a Monolith knife. This Charlottesville-based company is not only hand-crafting sick kitchen knives, they’re also into field and utility blades, cutting boards, and even oyster shuckers. A lifetime investment to be sure.

Sometimes I walk into Marie Bette Cafe and feel like I’ve been transported to another land. This place has my heart, and after introducing Graham to the Petit Kouign-Amann last year, I thought he had died and gone to Paris. I’m either grabbing another of these heavenly treats for him next week or buying a gift card so he can snag his own. P.S. February is Hot Chocolate Month and Marie Bette is taking flavor liberties and making their own homemade marshmallows (as per usual).

If Graham and I are going anywhere to eat this month, it ain’t gonna be fancy. Since Three Notch’d Brewery opened in downtown Charlottesville, IX Park is now our number one destination for meal hopping. We’ll start at the brewery for a hoppy IPA, then walk down the hill to Brazos Tacos for my favorite This is My Yam, and finally end up at Sweethaus for one of their lavender cupcakes. Sounds like a perfect Valentine’s to me.