When it comes to Valentine's Day, there are some gifts that are so common that they are basically totally played out at this point. No shade to anyone who still delights in getting a stuffed teddy bear or some gas station carnations, but we're all adults now and maybe it's time to step up the Valentine's Day gift game! Sure, Valentine's Day can be a little on the cheesy side sometimes, but it is also a a chance to give our spouses something sweet (or maybe a little spicy) to show them some love.
But here's the thing about that: It's entirely possible to both give our spouse a gift that they'll love while also being secretly a little bit selfish, too. We're not ashamed to admit that we're down for some carefully chosen gifts for our partners that might also result in us getting to have everything from some better sex to a perfect cocktail to many nights of not having to cook! We've got 12 great ideas for Valentine's Day gifts that are secretly selfish AF and we can't wait to choose the perfect one. For those of us who might have a partner who isn't the best at gift giving and are unlikely to nail it with a perfect VD gift, consider this a shopping list to make sure two people are happy on Valentine's Day.
Sexy Hotel Night
A kid-free night (or even a weekend, if possible) at a hotel is a great gift idea. Not only does it hold the promise of hotel sex, which is always at least 10% hotter than at-home sex, but there is also the prospect of sleeping in and room service breakfast. Yes, please!
A New Toy
A new toy for the bedroom is a fun surprise for him and a stealthy way to make sex even more fun for her! A penis ring, like the gold standard TOR 2 from Lelo, is a great way to let him know that sex is for sure on the menu this V Day!
Cocktail Kit
It can be lovely to end the day with a delicious cocktail, especially one made by someone else! Inspire his inner bartender with a gift like a customizable flasks (High Camp has some great options) or a set for whiskey lovers (Uncommon Goods has a nice starter option) can lead to some tasty drinks for all the adults in the house!
Boudoir Photos
Will he enjoy the gift of a collection of sexy photos from the woman he loves? Um, duh! But here's why it's a little selfish, too: Boudoir photo shoots are designed to make women feel sexy and powerful and who doesn't want that energy in their life? Also, we strongly suspect that a lot of us will enjoy the chance look back fondly on the way we look now as we age!
Couples Massage
A couples massage is the ultimate sneak selfish gift in our world. Not only do we get to have together time without the kids around (side note: anyone who would bring kids to a couples massage really needs to reconsider their life choices), but, hello!, we get an hour of massage time with no risk of getting pregnant!
Outsource It
Is there a household chore that is always a source of tension? Maybe he's supposed to be in charge of mowing the lawn but never remembers to do it without being nagged? Nobody wants to be a nag or have a yard that has grass tall enough to lose a toddler in, so consider outsourcing that chore as a gift? Hiring a cleaner or yard person for a few months gives everyone a break from having to think about it or, even worse, having to add one more task to our already full to-do lists!
Share a Box of Chocolates
For some couples, Valentine's Day isn't a holiday that they want to spend a lot of money on. That's totally valid! A sharable box of chocolates (that includes some of our favorite kinds of sweet treats) can be delicious for both without breaking the bank.
Training for Two
For some people, this suggestion is going to seem like the exact opposite of the couples massage idea! But for others, booking a personal training session for two will be a great way to get quality time with their spouse and to get a great workout in for themselves as well!
Wine Time
Relaxing with a glass of wine and some conversation with our sweetheart can be a nice way of staying connected. A wine of the month subscription (like NPR's Wine Club) lets couples who are wine aficionados have something to look forward to sharing together all year round.
Barbecue Habit
Buying a grill or smoker (like the super popular Big Green Egg) can get pricey, but can also result in some really delicious meals that we don't have to be in charge of cooking! Building a good barbecue habit, including that the grill master has to clean up after themselves and do the grocery shopping, can make life a little easier and dinner a lot more tasty.
Conversation Prompts
It can be easy to think that after years together, we know everything about our partner. The gift of something to prompt more or deeper conversations can sometimes prove us wrong and spark some really interesting connections. There are some fun options out there, including the Best Self deck for couples and Black Love conversation starters box for example.
Grooming Help
We love a partner with a beard, but we love it even more when that beard is well-groomed and we aren't finding beard hairs all over the damn sink. Solve those problems (and save a little sanity) with the gift of a beard trimmings sink cleaner set and/or a beard care kit from Uncommon Goods.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
