Treats for the Sweet

While I’m not a big fan of grand gestures, nice gestures are always welcome. If you want some last minute gift ideas, read on.

Still at the top of my list is a bottle of champagne or a nice sparkling wine, and some freshly made french fries. Baked or airfried is fine, but there is a reason the fast food fries are so good-they’re done in oil. If you don’t have a deep fryer, use a high sided pan or dutch oven. The trick is to get the oil to 350 so they crisp up fast and don’t absorb the oil. Sprinkle them with a little salt and some cajun seasoning, and you’ve got love on a platter. And if your SO likes to cook, but doesn’t have a deep fryer, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about my Waring Pro fryer.

Also high on my list are good chocolates, and my current favorites are by Vosges Haut. They transform confections into sensory expeditions by blending fine cacao with rare botanicals, exotic spices, and herbs. Founded by chocolatier Katrina Markoff, the brand is famous for its exotic collections using unconventional ingredients like wasabi, Mexican chillies, and even bacon. Different and delicious, be still my heart.

Need something to coax your Valentine to come over and play? Try Codenames, it’s a team-based word guessing game where two rival "Spymasters" give one-word clues to their teammates (Field Operatives) to identify their team's secret agents from a grid of codenames, avoiding the other team's agents, innocent bystanders, and the instant-loss assassin word, all while racing to cover all their agents first.

Another game recommendation is Exploding Kittens. Exploding Kittens is essentially a high-stakes game of "Hot Potato" played with a deck of cards that looks like it was illustrated by a frantic, caffeinated toddler. The premise is simple: you draw cards until you find a kitten that spontaneously combusts, at which point you lose the game and, possibly, your dignity. Your only defense is a "Defuse" card—which involves distracting the kamikaze feline with things like laser pointers or belly rubs—or by being a strategic jerk and "Shifting" the impending explosion onto your friends. It’s a chaotic exercise in betrayal and feline-themed pyrotechnics that can turn a peaceful game night into a room full of adults screaming about "Tacocats" and "Beard Rabbits" while praying they don’t get vaporized by a ginger tabby. Bonus points, it’s easy to take on the road with you.

What’s better than liquid love delivered to your door? Vinebox is the ultimate solution for anyone who wants to feel like a sophisticated sommelier without the commitment of a full 750ml bottle—or the subsequent headache. They specialize in shipping sleek, glass vials that look suspiciously like high-end laboratory samples but are, thankfully, filled with world-class wine. It’s "by the glass" for the homebody or the introverted couple. A curated flight allows you to sample a crisp Rosé from Provence or a moody Italian red without having to pull a cork. It’s perfect for the person who suffers from "Bottle Anxiety"—the paralyzing fear of opening an expensive Cabernet only to find out it pairs terribly with their Tuesday night frozen burrito—offering just enough of a pour to feel cultured, but not enough to regret your life choices the next morning.

Finally, there’s the Accoutrements Horse Head Squirrel Feeder is the gold standard for backyard absurdity. It is a hollow, vinyl horse head that you hang from a tree and fill with treats. When a squirrel leans in to eat, it looks like it is wearing a giant horse mask. And it gets treats, lots and lots and lots of treats. Squirrel so hungry! Me highly recommend (Oh dear, ignore that last one. Looks like someone needs some outdoor time and less Rumple Minze in her coco.) Have yourself a lovely Valentine’s Day, enjoy!