Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic love, after all, there’s more than one kind of love in the world. According to the Ancient Greeks, there are eight: agape (spiritual), eros (romantic), philia (friendship), philautia (self), storage (family), pragma (enduring; think people old married couples), ludus (crushes), and mania (obsessive).
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While a gift for an obsessive love is probably not something you should entertain, giving a Valentine’s gift (or Galentine's Day gift) to your philia love is a wonderful way to let them know how much you appreciate them being in your life. As Aristotle wrote in The Nicomachaen Ethics, “Without friends, no one would choose to live, though he had other gifts.”
Here’s a collection of thoughtful, sometimes funny, and hopefully special Valentine’s gifts for your platonic friend(s).
Chock full of food and drink recipes, DIY decoration instructions, and party activity ideas, this Galentine’s Day book is all you need to plan and celebrate your friendship – all in grand "Parks and Recreation" style.
Most of us probably share a love of the cookie. Taylor Chip Cookies, based in Lancaster, PA bakes theirs with simple ingredients from some of the best farmlands in the country. Their Cookie Club Subscription delivers (for $60 per month) a dozen freshly made cookies every month. You can change your cookie flavor preference anytime via the app. To give the cookie club to your friends, employees, or clients, email joyful@taylorchip.com.
For that friend who complains about the coffee in their work break room or travels regularly (for work or otherwise), this mini Keurig brewer ensures that they’ll always be able to whip up a good cup of coffee. It’s available in a variety of fun colors, too, including poppy red and dusty rose.
If your caffeine-dependent bestie enjoys camping and hiking and often finds themselves in electricity-deficient environments (like a forest or mountainside), they’ll love this instant coffee travel kit from SaturnBird. Sugar and additive free, the coffee grounds (freeze-dried with “zero-loss” extraction technology) dissolve within three seconds in iced water, milk, or soda water - while still maintaining substantial flavor.
We all have that friend who is always cold, even when sitting out on the porch on a balmy summer evening in California. Designed to be worn over the shoulders, this Comfort Spaces heated blanket has a sherpa lining and three heat settings, ensuring your BFF will always feel cozy and warm.
A canvas tote is one of the most useful gifts there is and the L.L. Bean version is one of the sturdiest. They’re available with regular or long handles for those who like to swing them over their shoulder. For $8.00 (and an extra one day processing time) you can get your best pal’s initials monogrammed.
Spending time together is always a gift, especially when most of our lives are entirely too busy. While your best friend will likely appreciate any manner of hanging out, consider booking a cool, fun experience to mark the special Valentine’s occasion. In this one, you’ll both get to make two to six pieces of pottery that you’ll be able to keep afterward (they’ll be professionally fired and glazed and available to pick up within three weeks) as mementos of your friendship.
My Nana crocheted and I’ve always wanted to learn but have never gotten around to it. If you have a friend like me, this beginner crochet kit would make a wonderfully thoughtful Valentine’s gift. Plus, it shows you how to craft little whales, and who doesn’t love whales, little or otherwise?
For your alcohol-sipping, wine-aficionado buddy who cares deeply about things like what temperature-specific wines should be served at, this personal wine chiller is just what they need. It fits a variety of stemmed glassware and actively chills one glass of wine for over an hour inside and 45 minutes in the outdoor heat.
Sometimes you just have to throw up your hands, say F all y’all, and spend time with those friends that love you no matter what and end up being much happier for it. Here’s a candle to celebrate those kinds of friends that remind you that you don’t have to fix every problem and please every person..
I’m a bit obsessed with the idea of a smartphone-controlled paper airplane and I’d wager there’s someone you know who would be too. This kit includes paper templates that you fold around a propeller and motor rod to fashion a flying machine. To fly, charge the little motor via the included USB cable, connect your plane to your phone via Bluetooth and off it goes. A 30-minute charge gives you 10 minutes of flying time at up to 20 MPH!
Why give live plants that your busy pal will have to take care of when you can give this cool Lego succulent set instead? Inside are the pieces to build nine, different, colorful artificial plants to use as decoration in the office or home. And they never need watering.
For me, root beer reminds me of early summer evenings on a porch shooting the breeze with a friend when it’s too warm to do much else. If you have similar memories of yore, this root beer-making gift is an excellent way to recreate them. Each kit includes ingredients to make two gallons of root beer – enough for you and your bestie to chit-chat well into the wee hours.
This beer cooler is a perfect gift for your golf-playing, beer-loving buddy. The pack holds six twelve-ounce cans and keeps them cool for six to eight hours – and it conveniently fits discreetly into the side pocket of most golf club bags.
This little HP printer allows you to print photos from your smartphone – perfect for instantly sharing all your best friend's selfies. The Sprocket doesn’t use ink; instead, the paper contains crystals that heat up to produce color when it goes through the printer (similar to a polaroid).
Yes, it’s a bit cheesy; okay, a lot cheesy but, sometimes cheese is good – especially when it reminds your best friend just how special they are. This book contains fill-in-the-blank lines all pertaining to the things you love about your ride-or-die pal.
Speaking of cheese… Nothing says I’m so glad you’re my friend like a sequined pillow cover sporting an image of the two of you doing something epic. These covers fit pillows 16 by 16 inches and you can choose the sequin color that best represents your friendship.
It seems everyone these days could use more relaxation and self-care time. These aromatherapy shower steamers are a perfect gift for anyone who deserves to be pampered (which is all of us at one time or another). Mimicking a spa experience at home, these steamers will help even your most stressed friend unwind and relax.
Friends are some of the most wonderful things in life and we all likely forget from time to time to let the ones we have to know just how much we appreciate them. The good news is that with one (or two) of these gifts, you can easily remedy that this Valentine’s Day.