Column: Valentine’s Day Gifts & Pizza Class

[Opinion column written by Agathe Holowatinc]

Valentine’s Day is coming up!

Whether you’re in a romantic relationship or not, this is a great time to celebrate love in all of its forms. Feel free to think outside the box and celebrate the love you have for your parents, siblings, children, best friends, anyone else close to you, plus the love you have for that wonderful person you see in the mirror every day – you!

I love celebrating Valentine’s Day, no matter what my relationship status is. I even treated myself to a hot red and black Honda Scooter specifically for Valentine’s Day a few years back, and it has brought me so much joy over the years.

Scooters aside, I thought it might be helpful if I sent over a list of 25 healthy Valentine’s Day gift ideas [read: won’t put a dent in your loved one’s New Year’s resolutions] for your significant other, for yourself, and even some for those you love and appreciate outside of the conventional romantic relationship:

Flowers. This classic and beautiful gift has no calories and brings sunshine and positive energy into every relationship.

Coffee or tea mug. Cute as can be, practical yet decorative, this will have them thinking about you every morning as they sip on their favourite hot beverage.

Dark chocolate. Also a classic gift, it’s best to buy 70% or darker chocolate, organic if possible, without any additional ingredients that might include toxins, except for simple and clean extras like sliced almonds, orange zest, sea salt, cayenne pepper.

Dipped fruit. Make your own organic chocolate dipped strawberries, bananas, pineapples or other fruit, or pick some up at a local grocery store. This oh-so-charming gift is great for those who have a sweet tooth and appreciate the creativity, but do not want to indulge in something really caloric just because it’s the 14th of February.

Couples massage at the spa. If you or your loved one has been working hard at the gym to shed a few pounds or build more muscle, a massage will be a welcome gift. Why not make it more romantic and create an experience for two? Lovely and indulgent, this gift ensures both of you are relaxed and pampered at the same time.

Silky nightgown or boxer shorts. Whether fun and playful or downright sexy, this gift teases a bit and makes everyone feel like a total hottie.

Card and a poem. If you can write well, then a hand-written poem or love note, plus a card, are one-of-a-kind keepsakes that allow you to express your feelings better than you can with any store-bought gift.

Scented candle. Vanilla, leather and cigar scents are great for the man in your life, while something sweeter is nice for the ladies. This gift lasts a while and is a lovely reminder of the giver every time it’s lit.

‘Thank you’ notebook. I once filled every page of a beautiful notebook with ‘Thank you for…’, noting all of the big and little things that I was grateful for this person doing. The recipient treasures it to this day. From the big things to the little things, it’s nice to read about exactly what we do that’s special to someone.

‘What I love about you’ notebook. Fill in every page with one thing you love about your special person – go funny, frisky, or heart-felt and watch them light up.

Stuffed animal. Another classic gift, this one is cute and playful, cuddly, and innocent in the sweetest way.

Rose essential oil and fiffuser. This gift is outside the box, but will bring hours and hours of pleasure to your special person. And if the recipient doesn’t love the scent of rose, or if it’s out of budget, then lavender or wild sweet orange are great scents also. If they do not own a diffuser, then make sure to gift them one as well.

A couples [or not] cooking class. Treat yourself to a fun cooking class or invite a friend, family member, significant other or your new crush to join you on your culinary adventure! See below for info on how to sign up for my super Covid-safe Virtual Valentine’s Day ‘Build a Healthy Heart-Shaped Pizza’ class!

Outdoor adventure. Play tourist and book an outdoor adventure. Check out what’s available to book in February [Jet skis? Private fishing tour? Parasailing?], and see what excites you the most. Or pick a part of the railway trail that you don’t normally walk along, pack some rain gear and boots, or whatever is appropriate that day, invite someone you care about, and get outside for some fresh air, great conversation, bonding time and almost effortless exercise. Other ideas include a bike ride, sailing, cave exploring, picnic on the beach, and swimming.

A homemade coupon book of chores. Give the gift of time to your sweetie by committing to do extra chores around the house so that they can take extra time to go to the gym, take a much needed nap, or plan and prep meals. This means that your loved one can focus on getting healthier with less stress in their lives. That’s invaluable.

Jewelry. A bracelet for him, an ankle bracelet for her. A necklace, ring, watch or pendant. Timeless and long-lasting, this classic gift is a little extra for those who delight in big things that come in little boxes.

A framed photo of a fabulous time you spent together.

A dark brown leather cardholder or wallet. For the sophisticated businessperson in your life, this is an essential.

Funky patterned socks.

Organic perfume or cologne. Check out what’s available at Salt + Cedar. Note: a scented body oil would be a great idea [for her] if perfume seems too hard to select.

A soft and fuzzy heated or faux fur blanket for those cold winter evenings.

The book ‘The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small’.

Wireless headphones. For those naughty phone calls you have with your sweetie, or for their workouts and runs.

A sexy card game. For your lover and you to play one night.

An all-access pass to Masterclass.com. With an annual subscription to MasterClass, someone can enhance their guitar skills from Carlos Santana or pretend they’re a master chef like Gordon Ramsey. And who knows, maybe you’ll reap the benefits!

A new cooking class is coming up on Sunday, February 14th. I would like to invite all singles, couples, and families to enjoy building a homemade heart-shaped pizza on Valentine’s Day with me.

Fun for all ages, kids and adults alike. Bonus: if you cook along, you get to devour your healthy, hearty, homemade treat afterwards. Plus, you learn how to actually make a healthy pizza, which is a skill that will serve you for the rest of your life. I mean, pizza is one of the most beloved foods on the planet and your skills will win the hearts of people everywhere.

Each login is $35, so if you’re a couple, or have a whole family on your end, it’s still just $35. Ingredients are not included, but the ingredients list will be emailed out to you before the online event.

• When: Sunday, February 14th
• Time: 5-6:30 PM
• Where: Online on Zoom
• Cost: $35
• RSVP by: Sunday, February 14 at 4PM [but sooner if you’d like to get your ingredients ready and cook along]

Book now or book your private pizza party with me here [$150/hour].

Feel free to share this post with someone you care about!

- Agathe Holowatinc is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach [services covered by most private health insurance companies], co-founder and director at FUELLED Bermuda Ltd., published author, health food private chef and health industry entrepreneur. She is a passionate advocate of real food, holistic approaches to health and communicating big ideas in a simple way. Visit fuelledlife.com or call or WhatsApp on 532-0426.

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