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Hallmark’s favorite holiday is coming up, and whether you think it’s the sweetest day of the year or roll your eyes over the gimmick of it all, Valentine’s Day will be here soon and you better be ready. Not to worry though, because AE is here to warm your hearts and make sure you have the perfect gift for your lady. Use this guide to make sure your girl knows you love her this Valentine’s Day, or send the guide to her and let her know you want something sexy and sweet! Lez get started. For the Sweet Tooth For some of us, myself included, the way to the heart is through the stomach. These sweet treats are for that girl who has been really kicking that nutrition and exercise plan’s ass since Christmas and needs that little excuse to indulge as a reward. You can’t really go wrong with something that melts in your mouth, am I right? Chocolate Covered Strawberries I’ve come across few people on my life who don’t love chocolate covered strawberries, and I don’t trust any of them. The fruit is the perfect excuse to eat more than you’re supposed to, and there’s something about opening up a box of these sweet treats that just makes you feel a bit luxurious. Edible Arrangements does the hard work for you here. All you have to do is decide if you want the box of 12 of 24, priced at $55 and $110, respectively. I Love U Heart Puzzle image via Sarris Candies
When I lived just south of Pittsburgh for a couple years, I was right up the road from the Sarris chocolate factory, which was both dangerous and delicious. If you don’t want to go all in on chocolates as a main gift or you’re on a budget, keep it affordable with these chocolate puzzle that spells out “I Love U”. It’s only $10.50. Too Faced Chocolate Gold Eyeshadow Palette Maybe your sweetie doesn’t necessarily love to eat chocolate, but perhaps she likes to wear it? This eyeshadow palette looks like a giant, gold coated candy bar, just be sure nobody actually tries to eat it. The array of eyeshadow hues in this collection are shimmery pops of bold color, so make sure she gets it in time for date night. (price $49) For the Activist Times are tough in this country right now, and chances are if you have an activist for a partner, she has so many causes she wants to help it makes her head spin. Give her your support and let her know you care too grabbing her one of these gifts that make a difference. Donate to Her Favorite Cause So many organizations and charities out there are doing amazing work, and so many people need our help. Chances are, your girl might rather you take the few bucks you’d normally spend on a bracelet or flowers and donate in her name to a cause that lights her fire. A few humble suggestions are the Ali Forney Center, Planned Parenthood, The Trevor Project, and the ACLU. Several Congress members are also up for reelection, so you could give a couple dollars to the campaign of her favorite Senator or House Representative candidate too! The Power of a Woman T-Shirt image via The Green Box
The Green Box Shop is a social justice apparel company whose mission is “to uplift, educate, and inspire others through our products and be a strong voice for issues that matter.” This online shop is full of shirts and swag that deliver an array of powerful messages. Each cause has a category to make browsing easy. This tie-dyed tee comes in a variety of colors and is a perfect follow-up to the Women’s March. (price $18.99) The Future is Female T Shirt by Otherwild
The original “The Future Is Female” T-shirt design was made for Labyris Books, the first women’s bookstore in New York City, which was opened in 1972 by Jane Lurie and Marizel Rios. The photographer Liza Cowan took a picture of musician Alix Dobkin, her girlfriend at the time, wearing it in 1975. The photograph was done for a slide show she was working on called: “What the Well Dressed Dyke Will Wear.” – Otherwild A Feminist Read
We are working to reclaim our time now more than ever as woman. Empower the fierce feminist in your life by snagging her one of these important, influential page-turners, as suggested by the experts at the Vancouver Women’s Library.
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
“Nelson’s text has been called ‘philosophical poetry’ and ‘autotheory.’ It is about the color blue, and many other things. Too many things to recount now. It is harrowingly beautiful, to not read it, would be murderous to beauty.”
Blood, Bread and Poetry by Adrienne Rich “A feminist classic, a beautifully woven collection of essays including the famous ‘Compulsory Heterosexuality’ as well as lesser known essays, such as an essay on the poet Elizabeth Bishop.”
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit “The term ‘mansplain’ has become a part of discourse. Rebecca Solnit may be responsible for this. A collection of essays that discusses Virginia Woolf, Susan Sontag and the #yesallwomen movement. Solnit’s weapons are her words.”
Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles “New york city in the 70s. Lesbians. Rock n roll. Drugs. Sex. More sex. Poverty. Poetry. Eileen Myles’ coming of age memoir about trying to remain authentic, fed, loved and creative within the miasma of New York city in the 1970s and 1980s.”
Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy “New Yorker staff writer Ariel Levy explores third wave feminism and queer culture, specifically the phenomenon of queer/trans culture of today’s youth. Discussions of pornography, individualism, boi culture and female masculinities mediated through a critical lens.”
Gender Trouble by Judith Butler “Butler’s magnum opus of postmodern queer theory, that discusses the performativity of gender (it’s not as simple as it sounds! Trust us!). The text is written quite academically and is not necessarily accessible. Definitely worth grappling with.”
You can check out Jocelyn’s article for the complete list of recommended must-reads, and here are a few we found on our own: For the Sex Kitten Valentine’s Day is when we strap up and strap it on when it comes to our inner sexy. Life gets crazy, and we never want the pesky little lesbian bed death sneaking up on us. Bring out your inner meow by either wearing or buying one of these hot gifts for your girl. The Union by Wet for HerThe Union is a Wet for Her best-seller, and it’s amazing if you and your partner are both into penetration and don’t like the hassle of a strap-on. Plus, we love this company because the toys are created by women for women, and they offer an array of lesbian sex toys made from 100% silicone. French entrepreneur Alice Derock, the mastermind behind Wet For Her, is breaking the sex toy stigma as only a French woman can. Read AE writer Lily Khuu’s candid personal review first, and check out their complete line of toys HERE. Women’s White Tuxedo Boxer Briefs image via Foxers
With all of this talk of toys and getting “wet for her,” it feels right to have a little chat about lingerie. Some of us love it, some of us don’t. This crazy cool thing about slipping into something sexy is that lots of lingerie brands are starting to realize that it isn’t always about lace and a g-string. Foxers has a line of women’s boxer briefs that add some serious sex appeal without conforming to the ultra femme standard of traditional lingerie. (price $30.00) Kiss My Body Oil Wet For Her doesn’t only sell fun, fantastic sex toys for you and your significant other. They also have a massage line full of oils to take your night together to the next level. So slide on those tuxedo briefs, grab your Union toy, and slather this two in one lubricant and oil on your partner to spend some serious time between the sheets. (price $26.17) The Lesbian Kama Sutra
You read that right. Lesbians, welcome to your holy bible. Author Kat Harding explores the sexual intimacies between women in this guide that closely parallels the original version, equipped with photo guides and all. Set an evening aside to try out some new moves, and come back here to let us know your favorites! (price $16.95) For the Luxurious Lez You know these girls. They live for the art of being pampered, whether it’s a candlelight bubble back, a medi and pedi, or an afternoon on the massage table. The luxurious lesbians want the best of the best, and they want it to feel silky and smooth on their skin. Here are the perfect gifts for the delicious diva in your life. Whole Lotta Love Bath Bomb If you aren’t following LUSH on Instagram, you should probably do that before reading any further. Behold below, and this isn’t the only time the shop features same-sex couples.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bebup_hgbjt/?hl=en&taken-by=lushcosmetics
LUSH has a whole line of silky smooth, 100% vegetarian, handmade luxury bath products that will please your senses and your partner. Fill her up a hot back, pour her a glass of wine, and drop in this bubbleroon made to smell like apples and cinnamon. (price $8.95) Laguna Bath Robe What’s an cozy, warm bath without an equally cozy bath robe to wrap up in after you step out of the water? Sure, you could try to get away with swiping the one you snuggled up in the last time you and your girl went to the Marriott, but why not go ahead and splurge on something that will make her think of you every time it touches her skin? Serena & Lily carries all things luxury bath, and their classic styles are a timeless win. (price $148) Goddess Provisions Box Subscription boxes have become insanely popular over the last few years, and you can pretty much get them for any interest, hobby, and passion. Goddess Provisions stands out in the crowd for their claim that this is the box that “lights up your soul”. If you have a partner who loves to foster that spiritual side, let her inner goddess shine with a box full of soulful goodies like crystals and aromatherapy. (price $33 per month) For the Traveler Getty
If your parter is the adventurous type, you can bypass the traditional candy and flowers this Valentine’s Day, because she can’t take them anywhere. Instead, gear her up for her next trip. Whether it’s with you or a solo vacation, male sure she’s traveling in style. Cameron Street Travel Passport Holder No one says chic and classic quite like Kate Spade, and anything with the pretty little spade on it is bound to be the envy of fellow travelers across the globe. Keep her passport safe in this stylishly simple passport holder. I can guarantee some great hotel sex as a thank you. You’re welcome 😉 (price $88) Wit & Delight Travel Journal Set image via Target
Along with her passport holder, she’s going to need a way to catalogue all of the sights, smells, and sips along the way. Lucky for you, Target has it all under control, of course. This travel journal comes with a gorgeous map cover, pen, and 80 dot grid pages so that she never forgets a single moment. (price $14.99) Everyday Hobo Tote Bag Passport? Check. Travel notebook? Check. Cell phone? Depends on what kind of trip she’s taking. The point is, she needs something to carry all of these essentials in for her trip. This everyday hobo bag is a patchwork of gorgeous prints that will both stand out and blend in no matter where she lands. Not to mention it’s durable and handmade. (price $38)
For the Butch/ Boi/Androgynous Getty Images
If your partner identifies more along the lines of a butch lesbian, chances are the more traditional Valentine’s Day gifts just aren’t going to cut it. Now is the time to use this is an opportunity to buy her something out of the box just because you love her. Pintail Longboard I don’t know about you, but I have an athletic wife whose constantly itching to get back to her playful roots. She’s been asking for a longboard for about three years, and this one is on the shortlist. For some reason this just feels a bit more sophisticated than skateboarding, so why not? (on sale for $114) Personalized Leather Cord Holder Let’s have some real talk here. Butch lesbians tend to be the more practical one in most relationships. How much more practical can you get than a classic leather holder for your earbuds and phone chargers? This line from an awesome Etsy shop also lets you personalize them, which makes for an extra thoughtful V-Day gift on a budget. (price $9) Gender is a Drag Shirt by Otherwild
‘REPLICA’ Jazz Club Travel Spray image via Sephora
Maison Margiela’s ‘REPLICA’ scents are the perfect blend of androgyny bordering on masculinity. This line of sprays were created to transport you anywhere from fresh scent of a barber shop to a breezy walk on the beach. The jazz club travel spray is the perfect size to test our your new signature scent, with notes of musk, vanilla, and tobacco leaves. (price $28)
Ladies, what are you gifting your girl this Valentine’s Day? Let us know in the comments!
