Feeling the February Love (List)

Remember when Valentine’s Day was exciting? I loved covering a shoebox with construction paper and doilies, writing “Dana” on it all fancy, and narrowly avoiding impaling myself with scissors as I cut a mail slot in the top of the lid. I loved coming home with a full box of cards, especially if those cards came with lollipops or fake tattoos or best of all, Fun Dip.

This will be the thirty-first Valentine’s Day Matt and I spend together, although we really haven’t celebrated it in many years.  I don’t mind; I’d rather celebrate small, everyday loves all year long than pour all my expectations into one cold day in February.

It is with everyday loves in mind that I resurrect my woefully neglected Love List, which I have not shared since January 2019. For the record, I still use and love every item on that list – check it out here.

Disclosure: The Amazon links in this post are affiliate links, although I haven’t received a dime from Amazon in years.

Phone Soap

I cringe at the thought of how germy my phone gets, but wiping it down with a Lysol wipe leaves a film on my screen. Enter the Phone Soap, which uses UV light to kill all the germs, COVID-19 and otherwise. My daughter asked my parents for one as a Hanukkah gift, and I copied her and asked for one too. It looks like a little coffin for your phone; just plug it in, pop in your phone, close the lid, and in ten minutes your phone is germ-free. Experts say it works, and it makes me feel much better to use it. Right now the website says buy one/get one free, but I don’t know how long that will last.

Coco & Soy candles

I burn a candle almost every day, especially in the winter, and especially when I am home ALL. THE. TIME. I’ve transitioned away from paraffin candles, so when another small, woman-owned business (Moody Sisters Skincare, which is I also love) shared Coco & Soy’s products in a joint giveaway, I gave her candles a try.

I didn’t win the giveaway, but I fell in love with the candles. They burn clean, smell amazing and are environmentally friendly. I’ve taken to lighting one and then carrying around with me as I move from room to room in the house. Bonus: Each candle comes boxed and ready for gift-giving, although I have yet to part with any of mine.

USB lighter

When candles get down low, it’s tough to light the wick without tilting the match and burning my hand. This nifty gadget solves that problem! Charge it with your USB cord and you’re good to go. It’s long enough to get down into a deep candle, and the wand is flexible so it works at any angle. There are tons on Amazon, but click HERE to see the one I bought. I’ve had it since December and have only had to recharge it once.

Shaker and Spoon

I became quite the mixologist in 2020; I think I missed my calling as a bartender. I bought Matt a box from Shaker and Spoon for his birthday last May, and since then we’ve received three other boxes. Each box has all the ingredients for twelve cocktails (four each of three different ones); you just need to provide the alcohol. Each box is $50, and the suggested alcohol is typically around $30, so for less than seven dollars apiece you have delicious cocktails as fancy as the ones you’d get at a bar. And you don’t have to leave a tip! I just pay as I go, skipping the months I don’t want. Here’s my referral link which gets you $25 off your first box. Cheers!

Strongback camp chair with lumbar support

I spent many years unpacking and packing up my camp chair to sit at my kids’ games, and I assumed those days were over. But that crappy chair was my seat at all social gatherings from March to September, and my back was not happy. I invested in this new chair, and it was worth every penny. It is much better quality than the $20 chair I had, but more importantly, I don’t sink down into the seat and my back doesn’t slump forward. The model I purchased is for people under five foot eight, but there is one for people taller than that as well. 

Yes, ninety bucks is not cheap for a foldable camp chair. But a chiropractor or physical therapist isn’t cheap either. I have no regrets; it’s one of the best purchases I made in 2020.

The Spice House

When I recently ran out of the dried parsley I bought at Costco more than five years ago, I decided to up my spice game. Matt and I visited The Spice House during a food tour in Chicago, so I knew they were reputable and carried high quality products. What I love about their website is that their flatpacks ship for free, so I can order one or two at a time as I need them. I’ve only ordered parsley and garam masala so far, but I will definitely be a repeat customer. Even if you don’t order, check out their Instagram account (thespicehouse) for gorgeous food pics and new ways to add spices to your dishes.

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I hope you find something new to discover on my Love List! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours, and remember to celebrate the everyday loves…those are the ones that really matter.