You know that 5 Love Languages book? In case you don’t (or you weren’t one of the billion people who got it as a wedding gift), it’s this book that talks about how people give and receive love in different ways.

 

The five languages are Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Quality Time and you can take a quiz at the end to see which one(s) is most important to you. And if you learn to speak your partner’s  language, and vice versa, your relationship can be strengthened and more loving. Matthew and I were one of the billion people who got this book as a wedding gift and every once in a while we’ll take the quiz to see how/if our languages have changed. And steadily over time, Receiving Gifts has been inching closer and closer to the top for me.

And I know what you’re thinking. That’s the lame, shallow one.

But Receiving Gifts doesn’t cover it! I really love to give gifts; that’s how I show love, too. And my favorite kind to give and receive are sentimental ones. They can seem like a lot of work or intimidating so I’ve come up with a list of more meaningful gifts that anyone can put together. Enjoy!

Photo Books

 

Photo books are great because they are so versatile. You can use a service like chatbooks or make one yourself using a journal (find my photo book diy here) to put together pictures of a favorite trip or memories or just special pictures together.

Framed Lyrics

You can do your wedding song or a significant movie lyric or choose a love song that expresses how you feel.

Monogram

My love for monogrammed things is part of the foundation of my curated life philosophy. I’ve gotten Matthew a monogrammed wallet and he’s gotten me necklaces with the kids’ names and his initial, all from Etsy so you can start there.

Write Your Love Story

This can be as detailed and creative as you want it to be. You can write it like a real book or just make a timeline or tell funny or meaningful anecdotes about the story of your relationship.

Baked Goods

Honestly, what is better than a delicious sweet treat?! On our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple, Matthew got me a box of Dunkin’ Donuts and it was perfect. I think a plate of cookies, with maybe a hidden note written on the plate is a lovely gift.

Jar of Notes

 

This is actually a Christmas present my younger sister did for all of us a few years ago. She put little strips of paper into mason jars and on each strip were things she loves about us. I’ve been saving mine, pulling them out when I’m having a self-doubt moment or a tough day. It’s a really thoughtful gift that is easy to put together and you can decorate the mason jar to make it even more personal.

Love Letter

The simplest and maybe the hardest of all: a heartfelt, handwritten love letter. There are few things more powerful than a sincere declaration of love. You can do beautiful stationery or not, learn calligraphy or not, seal it in an envelope with perfect little vintage stamps or not– if the love is there, that’s all you really need.

xo

eb