Valentine’s Day

As Charles M. Schulz, most famous for his endearing comic strip Peanuts, famously said, “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, when we will be celebrating the love we share with the most important people in our lives, treating them with something special is a must! If you haven’t yet found the perfect gift or date idea, which let’s be honest are a lot of us (unless you’re reading this after February 14th of course), we’ve put together some great ideas to consider.

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Ashley Pavlish
Body Nouveaux Spa

When it comes to options that are perfect for anyone and everyone, consider extending a little pampering to the ones you love.  “Trying to find the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day can be tough!” says Ashley Pavlish, owner of Body Nouveaux Spa (www.bodynouveauxspa.com) . “At Body Nouveaux Spa we understand the difficulty but lucky for you, we offer an array of services that would make the perfect gift for some pre-date night pampering or a spa day! Send your date in for a massage, facial, spray tan, body wrap, wax, or all of the above. We offer gift cards for services or dollar amounts so your special someone can pick out their own ideal spa day! We also offer many different products in our spa; as just one example, Image Skincare products would be great to pair with a facial gift card. And for any single people out there – treat yourself to a spa day because you deserve it! Body Nouveaux Spa would also make for a relaxing ‘Galentine’s Day’ event or gift. To book appointments, order gift cards, or for more information you can check us out at BodyNouveauxSpa.com, give us a call at (402) 476-7855, or stop in and see us!”
Massages are indeed one of the most popular gifts for Valentine’s Day, with a variety of options from gifting a morning or afternoon massage prior to the big date in the evening, booking a couple’s massage as part of the date itself, or extending it as a gift to be scheduled whenever a pick-me-up or some much-needed relaxation is in order.

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Dennis Varley
The Body Shoppe

“At The Body Shoppe, our gift certificates that can be purchased for loved ones on Valentine’s Day are quite popular,” says Dennis Varley, owner of The Body Shoppe (www.thebodyshoppelincoln.com). “They truly make wonderful gifts. We can also help set up a perfect spa experience by coupling a facial with a massage, as our new massage room is right next door to Acacia Linn Aesthetics at the Calvert salon. For a luxurious date night, clients can get their evening started or wind the night down with a nice relaxing couples massage. As Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, many people will be celebrating throughout the weekend, which is nice because there are more times to choose from in arranging all of those special things that you want to incorporate into your date. However, we still expect the weekend openings to book fast so you’ll want to call early to schedule your appointment, particularly for a couples massage.”

As previously mentioned, the spa setting also allows you the option to pair services in order to customize your gift and make it that much more special.

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Tasha Schmeichel
Tranquility Salon & Spa

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit Tranquility Salon & Spa’s brand new location at Wilderness Hills, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to check it out! “We are excited to kick the new year off in our new space, because we have expanded our offerings and have new services to share with our guests,” says Tasha Schmeichel, owner of Tranquility Salon & Spa (tranquilitydayspaandsalon.com) . “Some of the new, exciting features include a blowdry and makeup bar, men’s/women’s locker room with steam shower, relaxation room, couples massage room and new Aveda spa services! For guests who will be going out on a date, or who just want to look and feel their best for that matter, we now offer blowouts in our glam blowdry bar and we can complete your look by doing your makeup at our makeup bar! Or, whether you plan to hit the town and want to freshen up first or you prefer to keep your date a little more low-key, couples massage is the perfect way to spend time together in a private, intimate setting. You could opt for the massage or choose our package, which includes a couples massage and couples pedicure with our new relaxing spa pedicure system. At Tranquility Salon & Spa, we specialize in pampering and full body relaxation and that’s a gift that just about anyone would be happy to receive.  We have Valentine gift cards and a variety of special packages available for purchase; call and let us help you create the spa date your sweetheart is dreaming of!”

With so many unique items to choose from, local boutiques are another example of a wonderful place to find a special gift for that special someone. Whether it’s a “treat yourself” gift card or you’re dedicated to finding the perfect gift, you can’t go wrong! Of course, it’s also where you can find the perfect outfit to ensure that whatever is in store for you on Valentine’s Day, you’re dressed to dazzle. If you really want to go the extra mile, consider putting together an outfit for your partner to wear out on your Valentine’s Day date. It’s hard to beat that paired with a surprise note to get dressed and be ready for an amazing evening.

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Kathy Hagge – The Nines

“At The Nines we carry a selection of items that you can put together for a complete outfit that’s as unique as it is fashion-forward, from dresses and leggings to denim, flowy tops, boots, scarves and jewelry,” says Kathy Hagge, owner of The Nines boutique (www.facebook.com/theninesfallbrook) . “We have a great mix of brands so it’s easy to find inspiration from the current trends while still fitting an individual’s personal sense of style. And if you’re nervous about coordinating a look to fit your loved one, not to worry, because our staff loves putting outfits together—just check out our Instagram and Facebook!”

Also keep in mind that there are some local retailers, such as The Nines and Gary Michaels Clothiers, which carry a selection of items for both men and women.

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Gary Novotny
Gary Michaels Clothiers

“Valentine’s Day is typically an occasion where we give smaller gifts as tokens of our affection,” advises Gary Novotny, owner of Gary Michaels Clothiers (www.garymichaels.com) . “This often involves gifts for men such as neckwear, sport shirts and sweaters. However, our Gary Michaels Black cologne has been a big hit over the past years. Even nice socks with a fun pattern are great gift items. There’s a tendency to gravitate towards the color red for Valentine’s Day gifts, and even though here in Nebraska it’s quite the popular color, it’s not necessarily perfect for everyone so consider the person’s style and taste accordingly. Although many of our shoppers are looking for gifts for men, we have a nice selection of gifts for ladies as well. Tops and blouses in black and red are always a good selection.”

You might have the initial reaction to avoid a boutique if you don’t know the exact size or style preference of the target of your affection, but here’s why you shouldn’t:  Even boutiques that are popular for their stylish selection of clothing also likely carry a decent selection of accessories.

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Cherie Travis
Rachel’s Boutique

“Whether it is for someone else or yourself Rachel’s is a great place to shop for Valentine’s Day,” says Cherie Travis, owner of Rachel’s Boutique (rachelsboutiquelincoln.com) . “When you purchase $100 of Brighton you will receive a FREE Brighton Love Tote (while quantities last)! We have great Brighton heart necklaces, bracelets and earrings. You can buy them each by themselves or they can be purchased as a set. Also, we have beautiful red Brighton handbags, organizers and wallets. And as always, we will gift wrap your purchase for free!”

For those who are looking to step up their gift-giving game, consider hitting the local boutiques yourself to find something sassy, sexy, romantic, or whatever style suits your personality and then schedule a boudoir photography session featuring you in your brand new looks!  Your significant other will certainly be in for a pleasant surprise not to mention impressed with your confidence, creativity and thoughtfulness.

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Jaime Incontro
Purple Sky Productions

“Your mate loves you just the way you are, so why not surprise your one and only with a sexy spread for Valentine’s Day this year?” says Jaime Incontro of Purple Sky Productions (www.boudoirboutique.com) . “You’ll feel like an absolute bombshell and it’s definitely a surprise that catches a person off-guard in a good way.  Boudoir photography is one of the most personal gifts because it’s something no one else could ever give.  Every woman is special and beautiful in her own way–I’ve found that women not only love giving the images to their guy, but they walk away from the experience feeling empowered and sexy.  It is a great confidence boost as well as a great gift, no matter the occasion.”

Giving the gift of entertainment with a dose of the arts and culture is yet

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Bill Stephan
Lied Center for Performing Arts

another way to treat your loved one, as it’s a memorable experience and may only happen once in a lifetime. “Tickets make the perfect gift because they provide the recipient with an experience that will be remembered long after Valentine’s Day is over,” says Bill Stephan, Executive Director of The Lied Center for Performing Arts (www.liedcenter.org) . “Flowers wilt and jewelry can go out of style, but the memories created at a live performance will stay with your loved ones forever. If you’re not sure which performance your receiver will love, the Lied Center also offers gift certificates. Taking it one step further, a season ticket package would make an unforgettable Valentine’s gift. The Lied Center’s season ticket packages allow patrons to build their own season with four or more performances of their choosing. With a wide variety of the greatest artists in the world in every art form, there is a Lied season ticket package for everyone. A season ticket package also earns you the best value with discounts of 10-20%!” He adds, “The Lied Center is presenting a very special concert by nationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Jackie Allen in the historic Rococo Theatre on February 13. Jackie will perform an evening of love songs backed by her national all-star quintet – the perfect date night for you and your Valentine!”

 

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Barb Ballard
From Nebraska
James Arthur Vineyard

Speaking of spirits, whether you’re planning to stay in for a relaxing, romantic date night or looking for a nice gift idea, a bottle of wine will certainly fit the bill. James Arthur Vineyards has a great selection of award-winning wines that can be picked up on-site, or for a more convenient option in Lincoln, at From Nebraska Gift Shop in the Historic Haymarket. There are also plenty of other gifts you could choose that are all made with love right here in our home state. Or if a mini getaway for an afternoon or evening is on your agenda, whisk your Valentine out to James Arthur Vineyards for a little wine tasting fun!  “For a special Valentine’s Day treat, we can also recommend the perfect pairings of wine and cheese or wine and chocolate found in the store,” adds Barb Ballard, owner of James Arthur Vineyards (www.jamesarthurvineyards.com and From Nebraska Gift Shop (fromne.com) .

Valentine’s Day calls for gifts from the heart, so no matter what you pick for your sweetheart or how you celebrate together, as long as it’s thoughtful you’ve nailed it!