The annual calendar is punctuated, as I realize more than ever now through the blog, by holidays, events, and traditions that unfailingly return 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. That’s somewhat the case for Valentine’s Day…
Here is a small selection of tips and free activities put in place for this celebration, to make the most of Sunday, February 14, 2016, whether you are in a relationship or not. And as a little bonus, I have a great giveaway at the end of the post…
A little background: Valentine’s Day dates back to the end of the Middle Ages. At the court of the King of England, February 14th was then a holiday for singles, yes really! Men would draw lots for the name of a maiden who would become their “Valentine,” and for 1 week she would receive sweet notes. It was nice, wasn’t it?
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Table of Contents
Valentine’s Day workshops at the Chocolate Museum
The Gourmet Chocolate Museum regularly organizes many workshops where children (minimum 6 years old) and adults can handle and craft their own chocolate with their chocolatiers. Participants then leave with the chocolates they have prepared.
For the occasion, the museum invites lovers to create their own customizable chocolate hearts, lollipops, and bars.
2 workshops on February 14 at 2 PM and 4 PM Reservation required Price (includes admission to the Museum): €40 / person Chocolate Museum 28 bd Bonne Nouvelle 75010 Paris
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Some chocolate treats and other delicacies
The “Rouge Baiser” Heart Box by Sébastien Gaudard (€29.90)
Maison Puyricard offers a duo of chocolates for Valentine’s Day, one milk chocolate with coconut mousse and the other dark chocolate and Baileys
The Valentine’s Day box from Jadis et Gourmande with thin chocolate strips and milk and dark chocolate hearts, filled with praline (€24.80 for 260g, but it comes in several sizes)
The electrons from Jean Galler to experience a moment full of emotion (€19.90 for the special Love box)
The two-chocolate heart (63% dark cocoa and 39% milk cocoa) decorated with a padlock and its key, from Manufacture Cluizel (lover’s heart box in Paris 45g €8.90)
The tip: there are 5 to be won in the giveaway at the end of this article
The Valentine’s Day bar by Le Chocolat des Français (new Milk and roasted hazelnut chips recipe) / at Colette and in gourmet grocery stores €6
Chocolate love nests with a duo of pineapple-eucalyptus and pear-pomegranate tartlets from the Pâtisserie Eugène
The “Pomme d’Amour” from the Pâtisserie des Rêves, a dessert for two, made with a coconut-dried fruit biscuit, a salted butter caramel “crunch,” a smooth caramel cream, a tangy green apple compote, and an apple-scented airy mousse (€19)
Personalized eclairs from the Rock’n’Roll Tattoo Collection by Christophe Adam
Order your personalized eclair on the e-shop and pick it up at La Fabrique (32, Rue Notre Dame des Victoires – 75002 Paris) on February 13 or 14 (minimum order of 2 eclairs / €6 per eclair)
Two surprising jams with evocative names at L’Epicurien, Vieux Garçon (prunes and Armagnac) and Coconut Passion (€4 for the 125g jar and €6 for the 200g jar)
« Le Thé mon Amour » by George Cannon (a brand and a beautiful Parisian address I’ve already told you about several times on the blog)
a Chinese oolong tea with aromas of vanilla, orchid, orange, rose, cardamom, ginger, strawberry, pear, violet, and honey, to which are added freeze-dried strawberry, vanilla beans, ginger, orange peel, cocoa nibs, small sugar hearts, and cornflower, violet, and rose petals
The tip: there are 2 to be won in the giveaway at the end of this article
For Valentine’s Day, Maison Dammann Frères presents Thé des Divas
Composition: green tea, lemon peel, pineapple pieces, aromas (pineapple and mint), and lime essential oil
Price: €9.90 for the 80g ivory metal tin
The tip: there is 1 to be won in the giveaway at the end of this article
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The Collector’s Bubble, the perfect setting for a romantic evening
Unique and unusual, The Collector’s Bubble returns to the heart of the Andalusian Patio of the Hôtel du Collectionneur during the winter season. This year, the hotel partnered with the haute couture house Leonard Paris and SIA, to create a floral bubble.
For Valentine’s Day or for an ultra-romantic aperitif with a loved one, I highly recommend it; I truly spent a magical moment there.
Creation cocktails:
- Wisdom, homemade star anise syrup, sake, fresh pear, and champagne (€26)
- Cattleya, Chambord liqueur, rhubarb juice, blackberry, and champagne (€28)
So of course, price-wise, it’s definitely not cheap, but the setting is well worth this little indulgence for an evening out of time.
Price: 1 glass of Grand Vintage 2006 + 1 platter of 5 chef’s bites = €45 per person / cocktails between €24 and €28
Starry aperitif from 6 PM to 10 PM The Collector's Bubble The bubble is open every day until the end of March 2016 Hôtel du Collectionneur 51-57, rue de Courcelles 75008 Paris
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The Galeries Lafayette Valentine’s Day Parties
The brand’s two Parisian stores (Montparnasse and Haussmann) will offer many events for this occasion. There will also be surprises, as well as a giveaway for a chance to win a magnificent stay in Val d’Isère for 2 people.
Notably through a Valentine’s Day afterwork, on Thursday, February 11 from 5 PM to 8:45 PM at both Parisian addresses, with:
- well-being and beauty workshops
- lingerie fashion shows at 5:15 PM, 6:00 PM, 6:45 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:15 PM
- olfactory workshops
- gourmet buffets
- gifts to be won
- a photo booth
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Big Fernand plays matchmaker for Valentine’s Day
From February 1st to 14th, visit the website www.trouvezvotreameburgé.com and enter your favorite “Hamburgé” as well as your favorite location to discover the person who best matches you.
Couples formed this way could potentially win a meal in complete privacy at their favorite Big Fernand (the drawing will take place on February 14).
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Valentine’s Day at the Hôtel de Sers
I have already mentioned the Hôtel de Sers several times on the blog. For the holiday of lovers, the hotel offers a Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday, February 13 (for lovers who prefer to go out on Saturday J ).
The tip: a couple will have the chance to win a night at the Hotel at the end of the meal… surprise surprise and don’t forget to pack your toothbrush then…
Price: menu excluding drinks €115 / menu all-inclusive with champagne €159
Hôtel de Sers 41 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, 75008 Paris
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A connected Valentine(s) hunt
The dating app Happn is teaming up, for Valentine’s Day, with Videdressing for a connected Valentine’s hunt (#videdressingxhappn) in the streets of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, from February 8 to 14.
How it works:
Clues will be revealed exclusively on the Videdressing app starting February 8 to find your Valentine. The app will also allow you to locate Valentiners around you. At stake, participants will be able to make great connections, but also win treasures selected on the Videdressing site (luxury bags and watches).
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A treasure hunt with Duoo underwear
For Valentine’s Day, the young boxer brief brand Duoo underwear (boxers protecting men’s testicles against smartphone electromagnetic waves), is offering a treasure hunt from January 25 to February 10, 2016, with 10 dream weekends for two to be won. To do this, simply find one of the 10 “treasures” hidden in the Duoo boxer packaging.
Well, I’m mentioning it because it’s a nice giveaway, but especially because the product made me laugh, I admit… So I figured it would make you laugh too.
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HOP! Air France pampers its customers for Valentine’s Day
On the occasion of the lovers’ holiday, HOP! Air France is launching 2 original operations to enjoy a romantic getaway across France and Europe!
- On Tuesday, February 9, in the heart of Paris, HOP! Air France will hang 3 heart-shaped balloons… On their Twitter account, clues in the form of photos will be provided to help the most curious find the hidden balloons. On each balloon, a phone number will allow the lucky winners to win a plane ticket for two people valid on the entire HOP! Air France network for one year.
- HOP! Air France is also launching a special Valentine’s Day offer and is offering flights starting at €78 one-way for two people. To take advantage of this, lovers must make their booking between February 10 and 11, 2016, for travel between March 7 and 24, 2016.
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The Dark Valentine Night at Le Manoir de Paris
If you really want to spend a Valentine’s Day like no other, I advise you to go to Le Manoir de Paris, a place I am particularly fond of, for those who would like to shudder with fear for this special evening.
On the program: the Manoir’s route but in total darkness on Sunday, February 14 only from 6 PM to 10 PM. Shivers guaranteed…
Dark Night at Le Manoir de Paris
Sunday, February 14
from 6 PM to 10 PM (doors close 30 minutes before)
18 rue de Paradis 75010 Paris
price: €25 per person_
Good Morning celebrates love for Valentine’s Day
, specialist in breakfast delivery to your home in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, offers 4 special packages in partnership with exceptional houses, for a breakfast for two on February 14:
- The Good Morning (€40)
- Catherine Kluger’s Breakfast (€55)
- Iberian Brunch with Bellota-Bellota (€65)
- Seafood Brunch with Comptoir du caviar (€110)
4 offers ranging from €40 to €110 for 2 people Order until Friday, February 12 at 5 PM
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Valentine’s Day with Curaprox
For Valentine’s Day, Curaprox is launching the “Duo Lovers,” a limited vintage edition in the shape of a heart of its iconic toothbrush, the CS5460.
The brushes are available in duo packs of 2 brushes. Half a heart is drawn on each brush, and when they are side by side, a whole heart is formed (isn’t that cute!).
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Another tip, to have white teeth in 2 minutes to be irresistible on the big day, try the Black Is White toothpaste, sold with a special edition.
The innovation primarily concerns the bristles of Curaprox toothbrushes, which are made of synthetic silk and therefore do not retain water (unlike nylon). Furthermore, the innovation also concerns the Black Is White toothpaste… it’s the first whitening toothpaste… that is black… (unusual, right?).
Because it is made with activated charcoal. And therefore non-aggressive to teeth or enamel as other whitening toothpastes on the market can be (which contain triclosan and abrasive whitening agents). Yes, for Valentine’s Day, we can also learn useful things!
The tip: there are 2 Curaprox sets to be won in the giveaway at the end of this article
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Book: 50 Shades of Massage
This book “50 Shades of Massage,” dedicated to massages for couples (so a bit erotic, I won’t draw you a picture…) was written by a massage specialist, Isabelle Trombert. It is a very beautiful high-end book, which is about 400 pages long (price €29).
For each of the 50 shades detailed in the book, you will find:
- a description of the movements to perform
- the accessories that will accompany this massage (scarf, honey, mango, feathers…)
- tips for preparing your oils and candles
- musical suggestions to perfect this intimate moment
The tip: there is 1 copy of the book to be won in the giveaway at the end of this article
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VALENTINE’S DAY GIVEAWAY:
Since I wanted to spoil you for this occasion, I’m offering a lovely giveaway with 4 very cool prizes to be won thanks to my partners, Manufacture Cluizel, Georges Cannon teas, Curaprox, the “50 Shades of Massage” book, and Dammann Frères teas.
I propose you win 4 different lots with a total of 10 winners in all.
- Lot #1: 5 lover’s heart boxes, the creation from Manufacture Cluizel for Valentine’s Day (value €8.90 per box). You can go like their Facebook page while you’re at it, it will please them.
- Lot #2: 1 box of Thé des Divas from Dammann Frères (value €9.90 for the 80g ivory metal tin)
- Lot #3: 2 boxes of Thé Mon Amour from the tea house George Cannon (value €15 for the 100g box of tea)
- Lot #4: A super Curaprox set with a special and limited Duo Lovers edition (value €11.90) and a Black Is White kit (value of the kit €27.50).
- Lot #5: 1 copy of the book “50 Shades of Massage” (value €29)
To participate, simply leave a comment below this article telling me how you plan to spend this Valentine’s Day and also which lot(s) you are participating for?
A random drawing will determine the winners of the prizes from among the participants who answered the question. Good luck to everyone!
Whether you are for or against, single or in a relationship, in love or happy alone (and yes, that exists too), waiting for a meeting or at the beginning of a relationship, in the warmth of an exchange that lasts, I wish you all a very beautiful Valentine’s Day.
Rules:
– Giveaway limited to Metropolitan France
– + 1 chance if you are a fan of the blog’s Facebook page; + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s Twitter page; + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s Hellocoton page + 1 chance if you follow the blog’s Instagram page + 1 chance for each share of the giveaway (don’t forget to leave your username in your comment if you want to benefit from extra chance(s))
– 1 entry per IP address
– giveaway start date Tuesday, February 02, 2016 – deadline to participate Wednesday, February 10, 2016 and result the next day on the blog in an edit of this article.
EDIT of February 11, 2016:
Following the random draw, I announce the list of the 11 winners:
- Lot #1: nymphee, Claire7799, Bonnefoy f, tuan bao and leu sandra
- Lot #2: Lili
- Lot #3: Kpi and GLADEZ
- Lot #4: Célou and Juliette
- Lot #5: MARINA
Congratulations to you all, I will quickly contact you by email so that you can give me your contact details. Thank you all for your participation and for sharing your plans for Valentine’s Day here!
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization mandatory before any use
