The annual calendar is rhythmic, and I realize it now more than ever through the blog, with holidays, events, and traditions that return tirelessly on the same dates every year. Some of these dates are eagerly awaited by some, while others dread the arrival of these hated celebrations like the plague. This is somewhat the case for Valentine’s Day…
That is why I am going to split this article into two, so that everyone can find something for them. First, I will share with you some tips and gift ideas for lovers who want to celebrate with their better half, and for those who feel like vomiting at the mere thought of Valentine’s Day, I have also selected a list of activities that should still allow you to have a good day and/or evening on this occasion.
For Valentine’s Day Lovers
An original gift idea for Valentine’s Day with Cewe, a Swiss brand that offers personalized photo albums. The website livrephoto-cewe.fr provides a personalized editing service to create a unique, fully modular photo book. Options range from the book format and paper quality to, of course, the choice of photos and layout.
I remember a Valentine’s Day where my then-boyfriend gave me a book like this, but handmade, with photos that were meaningful to us (printed on a photocopier, it was more rustic) and which reflected our two years of long-distance relationship. It was a wonderful gesture, and it remains a memory I keep preciously and, in the end, one of my most beautiful Valentine’s Day gifts.
The little extra: to help you create your photo book, the brand has a YouTube channel offering numerous tutorials in several languages, which can be very useful.
You can even create your book using an app for tablets and smartphones, which is a very practical solution. As for pricing, it remains very accessible, obviously depending on the volume of the book you want to create. But basically, the price range goes from €7.95 to almost €100 for luxury editions. Amidst all this, you will definitely find what you are looking for.
For my Swiss readers, there is also a Helvetian version of the site: livrephoto-cewe.ch.
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For foodies, a lovely box of chocolates from Henri Le Roux.
The "Ensemble" gift box (€12.20) contains 11 tasty and surprising chocolate candies to share with your loved one. It will be available from February 1st to February 15th, 2014, in the 4 Henri Le Roux boutiques in France and on the brand’s website.
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Autour du Saumon celebrates Valentine’s Day with a "love box" (€99) for him and her, available in all the brand’s boutiques, which contains:
- 1 jar of 20g Sturia Vintage Aquitaine caviar
- 2 Scottish "organic" salmon hearts 300g
- 1 half-bottle of Deutz rosé champagne 37.5cl
- 1 Carla "Je T’aime" jam (strawberry, champagne) 270g
Created in 2006 by Didier Trentacosta, Autour du Saumon is a must-visit destination in the capital (5 Parisian boutiques) for all lovers of Nordic products!
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In the slightly naughtier gift department, I have selected a massage candle from avenue-privee.com and the new Lovers Connect pleasure gel from Durex, for a more playful Valentine’s Day…
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For Valentine’s Day, Weleda accompanies its customers on their romantic getaways by offering a natural and organic weekend kit with the purchase of 2 face care products, in the colors of Pomegranate, the fruit of seduction par excellence.
Composed of 3 essential care products for a short break, for a weekend: – 1 Shower Cream – 20 ml – 1 Firming Day Cream – 7 ml – 1 Regenerating Oil – 10 ml.
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From February 6th to February 14th, 2014, Casinos Barrière is organizing a major "Russia special" contest, with an exceptional trip for 2 people to Saint Petersburg to be won (4-star hotel, 4 days, 3 nights including breakfast and transfers).
There will also be entertainment in their establishments: Russian folk groups, decorations with giant "Matryoshka" dolls, staff in costume…
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The coolest app in Paris, Urban Pulse, is organizing a contest for Valentine’s Day featuring a selection of shops and merchants perfect for finding a romantic or original gift for Her or Him.
The concept: hand the Merchant Form – Urban Pulse to the merchants and shops you love and want to share with as many people as possible before January 27th! Don’t forget to write your first and last name on it. Up for grabs: a gift set for a duo massage in a Parisian beauty salon!
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Next One, a specialist in restroom advertising in France, is launching a participatory operation: "For February 14th, loosen your tongues".
Until January 31st, internet users are invited to send a declaration of love on the Facebook page and/or the Twitter account of Next One. After a vote, the 2 most unusual and creative declarations will be graphically reworked and will benefit – from February 6th to 27th – from an advertising campaign in the restrooms of bars and restaurants in Paris, Nantes, Grenoble, Metz, Rennes, Caen, Rouen, Lyon, and Lille.
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Two evenings around Valentine’s Day at chef Juan Arbelaez’s restaurant, Plantxa:
- Thursday, February 13th: the "Antis" evening with a tapas menu, music, and cocktails
- Friday, February 14th: the "Lovers" evening with an intimate atmosphere and a gourmet menu
Restaurant Plantxa, 58 rue Gallieni / 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt
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For its first Valentine’s Day, the Beaugrenelle shopping center offers to fill up on good deals for the occasion.
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On the occasion of the lovers’ holiday, Aubade will slip a cocktail shaker and its recipe booklet into your shopping bag (while stocks last, of course)…
Another great deal: during lunch, the Exki brand will offer all its customers a chocolate bar to enjoy immediately or to give to your Valentine (foodies take note!).
All day on February 13th, Beaugrenelle will offer a gift wrapping bar to wrap your Valentine’s gift in a beautiful package.
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This year, Nissan comes to the rescue of "overbooked" Valentines by creating the #QASHQAI #SOSsaintvalentin tour. Indeed, on Friday, February 14th, the New Nissan #QASHQAI will drive through the streets of the capital with a precious treasure on board to offer head-to-head dinners at the best tables in Paris…
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Throughout a tour with several stops in the heart of the capital of lovers, the Nissan QASHQAI will tweet in real-time each of its parking locations. To join them, just follow them on Twitter @NissanFrance or by searching for the hashtag #SOSsaintvalentin. Each busy Valentine will then be able to choose their table from those selected for the occasion by Nissan, with guaranteed reservation and dinner for two offered. Plus, a rose will be given to them "just in case"! A really great deal if you have the time for a little game of hide and seek.
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For Valentine’s Day, iDBUS is launching "Love Bus" and is offering return trips for two to Amsterdam and Barcelona from February 10th to 20th via the "Love Bus" contest on its Facebook page. For one weekend, from March 14th to 16th, 2014, 69 couples will be able to travel aboard the "Love Bus", specially chartered for the occasion, to Amsterdam (from Paris or Lille) or to Barcelona (from Lyon).
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For Anti-Valentine’s Day and/or Singles
Go see Fuck l’Amour, the new crazy romantic comedy at Comédie Saint-Michel in Paris, which is aimed at a rather female audience between 16 and 30 years old.
The Deal: thanks to the code "LOVE" my dear readers will have access to tickets at €10 by booking directly at 01 55 42 92 97.
Every Saturday at 8 PM until 02/15 and then Fridays at 9:30 PM from 02/14
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From February 5th to March 8th, 2014, BHV Marais launches a seduction operation to celebrate Valentine’s Day and bends over backwards so that its customers can have some fun in its grand Parisian department store!
- Love Post operation: BHV Marais and the Post-it brand are partnering by offering a heart-shaped Post-it note at the entrances of the department store to show that you are in search of your valentine… and who knows?…
- an artsy wrapping workshop, customize your objects with Decopatch, Toga, and Masking Tape (4 workshops per week from February 17th to March 8th, on the 2nd floor).
- small cardboard furniture design workshop days "ça va cartonner" to learn to recycle, assemble, wrap, and leave with a new piece of furniture of your own creation (in the basement, from February 12th to March 7th).
- in the kitchen, also learn how to wrap with culinary workshops based on wrapped recipes: papillotes, casseroles… (on the 3rd floor).
- On February 12th, the favorite grandma of the French will hide at BHV and asks for only one thing: to be shopped for the "Shoppez Lucienne" operation with adopteunmec.com.
The goal: build your team of two girls to find Lucienne in the department store by solving a series of riddles. At the end, €10,000 worth of shopping! Registration and conditions on shoppezlucienne.com
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Just because it makes me giggle, here is a quirky idea from the online florist BeBloom.com, which offers a breakup bouquet, literally prickly (made with yellow roses and cacti), for Valentine’s Day (what a charming idea!…). Price: €29.
The florist does not lack humor and points out about this bouquet that it is seriously harmful to the health of couples and that it cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by sending this bouquet…
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As per tradition, the Manoir de Paris offers a Dark Valentine Night (single rate of €25) on the evening of February 14th from 6 PM to 10 PM, for those who would like to shiver with fear for Valentine’s Day. An experience in the total darkness of the Manor, which I highly recommend!
Whether you are for or against, single or in a couple, in love or happy alone (and yes, that exists too), waiting for a meeting or in the beginnings of a new relationship, in the warmth of a lasting exchange, I wish you all a very beautiful Valentine’s Day.
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