PRODUCT REVIEW
Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Treats For Yourself & Your Loved Ones
or treats for any other day of the year
Some products were provided for potential review at no cost to myself .
VDAY Ideas For $30 and Under
Renee’s Garden Seeds $2.99 and Up
Do you have a gardener in your life?
If you do and they’re anything like me, they’ll go ga-ga for seeds, especially as we approach early spring. Renee’s sells veggie, herb, and flower seeds and themed collections of mixed seeds, such as a large tube of seeds to attract hummingbirds or butterflies. They also sell limited garden supplies, like pruners and hori-hori digging tools. Did I mention they have cookbooks?
I’ve been ordering from the renowned Renee’s Garden Seeds for years. They have quality seeds and wonderful variety. I get a nice little kickback if you use my link below to shop. Thank you in advance!
“Shepherd’s Garden Seeds [began] in 1985 and later, Renee’s Garden [was established] in 1998 to do what she likes best — searching out the very best seeds from around the world, thoroughly testing them in her own garden, and developing recipes based on homegrown produce to share with fellow gardeners.”
— Renee’s Garden Seeds website
In addition to garden seeds, Renee’s sells an amazingly practical and long-lasting serrated tomato-slicing knife for $14.95. Highly recommend.
Formulary 55 Sparkling Vanilla & Bourban Bath Tablet-$6.00
In a previous roundup, I LOVED the Formulary 55 hand-soap and trinket dish pictured below. This company has the prettiest branding and I like their ethics (verify) Decadent
I’ll confess I’m a cheapskate when it comes to bath bombs. I feel like I get more value from bath salts. I was happy to try out this Bourbon and Vanilla Bath Tablet from Formulary 55.
It comes in beautiful and sustainable packaging. There’s a light vanilla scent. There’s one large tablet which is a tiny bit crumbly. I dumped it in my hot bath. It dissolved easily and continued to smell delicious throughout my entire bath. I have both sensitive and winter-dry skin. This did not leave my skin irritated or too dry.
While I wouldn’t personally buy this for myself, I’d love to receive it as a gift.
Hand-made with pride for over 10 years, our collection includes luxurious botanical shea butter soaps, hand creams, facial treatments, and candles for bath, body, and home. All of these high-quality products are free from phthalates, parabens, SLS, & dyes and made without fillers. Each item is thoughtfully and carefully crafted & wrapped by our talented artisans in Colorado.
Our commitment to cruelty-free and zero-waste ensures that you can indulge without compromise. Our unique botanical line is available online and in over 1,000 retail stores across 25 countries (and counting!).
— Formulary 55 website
Romance Novels by Allison Ashley $15.99 and Up
Ashley is an oncology pharmacist by day and a romance writer in her spare time. She incorporates chronic illness into her books, which is so nice as someone with a chronic illness. I feel seen when reading books by Allison Ashley.
Would You Rather? swept me away and I’m not one to generally read romance books. Ashley incorporates healthy communication, introspection of a variety of characters, and a love of chicken wings. Highly recommend this read for bookworms who enjoy a bumpy romance with a happy ending.
I received an advanced copy-for-review of Ashley’s newest romance novel, Tomorrow Never Comes, and this was a decadent read. Almost like carefully prepping and baking a souffle and digging into the deliciousness. Definitely worth a pre-order (it comes out in April 2025).
Here’s a roundup of all of Ashley’s books:
MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub-$19.99
Mychelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub is a popular product with almost a 5-star review from customers on their website.
This is a gentle exfoliator to use any time you’d like. It left my sensitive skin feeling smooth. Make sure to hydrate your skin after using the exfoliator. Smells lovely if you dig fruity scents. Suitable for all skin types.
“Harnessing the power of fruit enzymes, this exceptional scrub delivers a potent blend of cranberry and licorice root enzymes, working harmoniously to break down dead skin cells and unclog pores. As the enzymes delicately dissolve impurities, they leave your skin feeling remarkably refreshed and revitalized.”
— Mychelle website
Cow Hug Therapy by Ellie Laks $24.95
This animal memoir is written with love by Ellie Laks, the founder of The Gentle Barn, and is a deep read full of wisdom and tons of cuddles with animals, including cows. Yes, cows!
You can also check out the Gentle Barn Website for opportunities like sponsoring animals or if you’re local, making a reservation to hug farm animals.
A Heart On Fire Workbook by Danielle Coke Balfour $24.99
This compassion workbook is beautifully designed and helps the reader/writer reflect on what’s going well in their life while also thinking about joyful and productive goals to grow. “
This workbook balances advocacy goals by breaking them down into smaller steps and your interests and helps combat compassion fatigue by filling your self-love, too. Pretty perfect for VDay!
A Heart On Fire workbook has “100 Activities and Prompts for a Life of Everyday Advocacy and Self-Compassion.”
“Through a series of inspirational and creative prompts, A Heart on Fire Guided Workbook will help readers from all backgrounds embrace their present purpose, no matter where they are on their good works journey.
— A Heart On Fire website
Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created by Rob Janicke $25
This newly released music memoir is especially insightful about the generation coming up in the 1980s and early 1990s. It “is comprised of history, research, and interviews with musicians, industry execs, writers, sociologists, therapists, and Rob’s point of view as a writer, indie-record label owner, and fan” Go straight to the website below to order a signed copy
“Be Limitless, Be Love” Teddy Bear $30
This teddy bear is comfortingly soft and snuggly. If you’d rather not see the branded shirt, it’s easy to remove, which is my preference. I haven’t used a teddy bear since my early college days, but I find myself snuggling with this teddy bear when I’m having trouble falling back to sleep or just desire a comforting hug.
$40 and Under
Lucky Iron Fish $40
Iron Fish $40
I am a firm believer that businesses have a responsibility to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges. And one of the biggest challenges we face today is that of hidden hunger. Over 1/3 of the world’s population go to bed malnourished.
Iron deficiency is the world’s largest nutritional challenge negatively impacting over 2 billion people. Lucky Iron Fish was designed to serve as a simple solution to this complex problem.
We are on a mission to make iron deficiency a thing of the past, one fish at a time.
— Gavin Armstrong , CEO & Founder
My nutritionist recommended I purchase the Lucky Iron Life NGO Iron Fish to up my iron intake. It’s basically like boiling cast iron in water or the food you cook, so you get an extra boost of iron. It’s easy to use and cute.
$80 and Under
Activated You Morning Complete $49.99/$79
“Morning Complete is a powerful daily wellness drink featuring a custom-selected blend of nutrients designed to support regular digestive function, daily energy levels, and overall wellness.”
— Activated You website
Apple Cinnamon or Citrus Medley is currently on sale for $49.99, regularly priced at $79.
30 servings per container (refrigeration needed after opening).
For the health-conscious, Activated You Morning Complete is packed with prebiotics, probiotics, green superfoods, and extra fiber, and is a slightly sweet powder you can add to water or juice to get a nutrient-dense energy boost.
The taste of Citrus Medley in filtered tap water took a while to grow on me, but I now find it tastes pleasant and sweet. My husband liked it from the beginning, especially mixed in lemon ginger juice.
If you or your loved ones struggle to get nutrients from all your foods, gifting this could be a loving gesture.
$100 and Up
Blazy Susan Rolling Tray-$149.99
For those who can legally and responsibly imbibe cannabis, this exclusive limited-edition Blazy Susan rolling tray is full of love for your cannabis connoisseur Valentine. There are cup holders, a middle section for grinding and rolling, and slots to balance rolls and pre-rolls. Removable silicone inserts make it a breeze to clean.
Happy Valentine’s Day, May all your days be filled with LOVE
