February is the official month when love is in the air, and sweethearts everywhere are publicly and privately declaring their love for one other and showering their special “someones” with tokens of their affection. And so on and so forth, you all know the deal. At Strictly Business, we believe that the best gifts are personal and unique…and found at local businesses! If you are stuck this year, look no further for inspiration as we have included some ideas to get you moving in the right direction!
Whether you are looking for a gift for a loved one or trying to find the perfect outfit for a hot date, Shanti’s Boutique provides a variety of clothing and accessories that you can’t find anywhere else in town. As it can be a little tricky to find and is relatively new on the Lincoln scene, Shanti’s Boutique is located immediately behind daVinci’s at 29th and Pine Lake Road. Marion Bryant, owner of Shanti’s Boutique, is dedicated to providing fashionable items for women of all sizes at many different price points. She says, “We have plenty of great items that make perfect Valentine’s Day gifts. We also provide gift certificates, which offer the chance for women to come check out what we have to offer and find something special that they really love. Many of our items are also great gifts for mothers, daughters, co-workers and friends—basically anyone who is special in your life and whom you want to show a little extra love and appreciation to on Valentine’s Day. You can find us online at shantisboutique.com as well as our boutique location. We are offering some special discounts both places especially in honor of Valentine’s Day on special, brand new inventory including bracelets, watches and seasonal clothing items. We are carrying more of a selection of plus sizes as well, and these items are also offered in different price ranges from more affordable choices to more expensive, luxury pieces. Shanti’s Boutique strives to be a place where women can find beautiful, versatile items that fit their unique style and body type, for any budget, and that transition from day to night looks effortlessly.” If you are going out on the town or want to wear something special, stop in and see what Shanti’s Boutique has to offer! Their new winter store hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., so plan accordingly to snag some great finds.
When it comes to looking and feeling great, pampering and spa services also make for a great Valentine’s Day gift. This type of gift not only offers the service itself; it offers a little special downtime to relax and de-stress at the same time. Body Nouveaux Spa is a staple in the Lincoln community, and offers a variety of services including massages, facials, waxing, spray tanning, chemical peels and their incredibly popular slender body wraps. Additionally, they will soon be offering BOTOX treatments! You can purchase a gift card for a specific service, or for a certain dollar amount so that special someone can choose the service(s) he or she wants the most. Body Nouveaux owner Ashley Pavlish adds, “Our gift cards are very popular Valentine’s Day gifts, and can be purchased at our location (5600 S. 48th Street, Suite 118) or online at www.bodynouveauxspa.com. This way you can stop by and see us if that is the most convenient for you, or you can purchase your gift certificate easily online and print it off at your home or office!”
If you are looking to treat your sweetheart this year, Nothing Bundt Cakes is the home of the most delicious bundt cakes ever! Their luscious cakes are handmade with the finest premium ingredients including fresh eggs, real butter and cream cheese and offer the warmth of nostalgia with a fresh, modern approach. Sharon Hansen, co-owner of Nothing Bundt Cakes, says that their most popular items for Valentine’s Day this year are their Bundtlet Towers and the decorated cakes. “The Bundlet Towers are such a great gift and can be put together with any combination of our 10 flavors. They are available as a single, two or three high tower that are in a great price point between $6 and $14 dollars. The larger 8” and 10” cakes are available with several different Valentine’s Day decorations. Both can be pre-ordered and picked up at a time that is convenient for you. However, we always have a great selection of items that are ready to go in the store for those last minute shoppers out there!”
If your plans include both a gift and a date, which is pretty standard, you can knock both out with a visit to The Corky Canvas. They are offering Valentine’s Date Nights on February 14th and 15th for couples who want to try something new. Angie Lewis, owner of The Corky Canvas, explains, “At these special classes, you will each paint a canvas that is part of one painting. Once each side is painted, you can hang them on the wall together, which makes for a great memory! The two couples paintings that we are offering are titled ‘Hand in Hand’ and ‘Love in the Rain’, and the cost for the classes are $35 per person. Reservations can be made at corkycanvas.com, just click on the calendar tab and get signed up!” She adds, “For the single ladies out there, we invite you to come paint during our Mimosa Morning class on February 15th. We will be offering a really cute ‘First Comes Love’ painting! Or if you prefer to stay in for Valentine’s Day or do something more traditional, then consider giving your loved one a gift card to The Corky Canvas. Gift cards can be conveniently purchased on our website—just purchase, print and give! The best part is that all Valentine’s Day gift cards include a FREE drink! I hope to paint and sip with you soon!”
Another great idea for a Valentine’s Day date is the Valentine’s Blendvitational, an evening event hosted by Top Shelf Beverage Services and Wine Concierge. Jeremy Schafer of Top Shelf says, “The Valentine’s Blendvitational is definitely going to be a unique event that you won’t want to miss. The cost for each couple covers a glass of champagne, four varietal wine tastings and a blending seminar. Our blending seminar will allow you to mix different flavors in order to create your own signature bottle of wine, which will be corked and sent with you as a souvenir of the evening that you can enjoy later. As an additional treat, we will be offering appetizers and desserts from Chef au Chef.” He adds, “I also recommend a membership to our Wine Concierge or Wine of the Month Club, or even one of our monthly wine tastings, as a great gift idea for your significant other or even to treat family and friends. These can be enjoyed by anyone–couples or single ladies and gentlemen.”
For the sparkly and shiny gifts that women adore, or other pretty things, you can be sure to find something great at Rachel’s Boutique. They feature many Brighton pieces, whose trademark is the open heart. Cherie Travis, owner of Rachel’s Boutique, adds, “The great part about Brighton gifts for Valentine’s Day is they capture the essence of the holiday by their signature heart design, and there are a lot of different heart jewelry collections that have the matching necklace, bracelet and earrings. Additionally, every Brighton handbag has a heart hanging on the strap. And if you are not a heart fan, there are just as many jewelry collections to choose from without them. We also have Brighton charm bracelets that can be added to throughout the year. Another wonderful gift we offer is Pandora jewelry. The Pandora line features sterling silver charm bracelets and necklaces to which you can add beads or dangle charms and create a memory for that special someone. Valentine’s Day gift sets are also available at a special price, and we always offer free gift wrap. We also offer gift certificates, which are great for ladies who like to shop as we have a great selection of clothing and scarves in addition to jewelry and handbags. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with buying your own Valentine—it’s a great reason to treat yourself!”
As far as women go, you really can’t miss with pretty things, items you can use on a regular basis, a special treat, or services that make you look and feel great. For Valentine’s Day, it is important that your gift is also thoughtful, meaningful and shows love and appreciation. So this year, let local businesses assist you with making sure your loved ones feel as special as they are to you!