Dr. Cupid, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Celebrate Valentine’s Day Anyway (Part 2)

If you’ve come across this, it’s safe to say that you’ve already read Part 1 of this series, where I shared the importance of gifting based on Sun/Moon signs and expression of gender identity.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be intimidating, and expressions of love should be genuine. Knowing who you’re buying for helps a lot in both regards, so ease your mind, read on, and allow me to be your gifting fairy godmother .

For the Starry Femmes Among Us:

Aries:

Nomadix

Aries kicks off the Zodiac with fearless independence. As a cardinal fire sign, the ram needs to get off the couch and move her body. She’s fluid, vibrant, the type to take off for a hike in the woods and strip naked and skinny dip in the hot spring she stumbled upon. This is where Nomadix comes in. Their ultra-absorbent towels pack small, and light, and are perfect for the one who’d rather have a day out than a day in. Want to go big this Valentine’s Day? Give her a hint about where the next hike is with Nomadix’s National Park Collection, and start planning the trip together!  

Taurus:

Fab Slabs

Taurus on the other hand is your “cheese and wine” date night, especially if she gets to pick the spread. A true lover of all things sensual, this sign would not shy away from feeling worshipped and being fed a few bites of decadent brie, especially off the stunning grain of Fab Slabs wooden cutting boards. Even better is when she finds out that cutting board is now hers for every future opportunity to entertain. Made in Australia from camphor laurel, the boards are naturally (and permanently) antibacterial. Every good cook knows wooden cutting boards are ideal for knife care, but take a bit more effort to maintain than plastic. Thankfully, Fab Slabs sends you all the information you need to care for the new board, not to mention how damn sturdy the board is to begin with.

Gemini:

unwilted | A Couple Puns

What better way to tell the Gemini you are thinking of her, than to play to her strengths and weaknesses? Strength being her light-hearted intelligence, weakness being her flighty attention span. Unwilted’s crêpe paper floral arrangements are as adaptable as the Gemini herself, and while she’ll appreciate the beauty of a traditional bouquet, she’ll likely have so many other things on her mind that she’ll forget to water them to make them last.

So why not get her a bouquet that says “I see your limitations, and adapt to them with you!” She’ll have this bouquet for as long as she desires, and since unwilted ships with the vase, she won’t have to worry about her favorite pint glass breaking when the cat inevitably climbs on to the bedside table and knocks the flowers around. But we all know flowers aren’t always enough, and channeling your inner Roger Rabbit (How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!) with a quality-made, punny greeting card is sure to make her heart swell.

A Couple Puns cards come as along with the purchase (You’ve Stolen a Pizza My Heart.) And don’t forget, whatever the outside of the card says, it’s what’s written inside that truly counts.

Cancer:

Jaf Tea | Tea Runners 

The only difference here is whether or not your Cancer S.O. has a loose-leaf tea steeping device, (In a pinch, a French press works great!) but the point is Cancer is the nurturer of the Zodiac, and giving her the gift of tea for Valentine’s Day acknowledges that she deserves time to nurture herself, too.

The only difference here is whether or not your Cancer S.O. has a loose-leaf tea steeping device, (In a pinch, a French press works great!) or not.

With Jaf Tea and Tea Runners, their gift boxes give your Cancer giftee the opportunity to discover a new flavor, or take comfort in what she already knows she likes, as she so desires. Jaf Tea and Tea Runners alike pride themselves on quality and variety, and rightfully so, but where Tea Runners excels in appealing to the connoisseur, Jaf Tea is great for the curious novice who doesn’t know where to start.

Either choice will make a compassionate gift for your Cancer, just make sure she knows it comes with “me time,” too. 

Leo:

Admire My Skin

Oh, Leo, my favorite diva of the stars! Leos seem to make fame and beauty feel effortless, and for them, it is. My best friend is a Leo, and her innate knowledge of what goes into maintaining that effortless beauty is baffling. Where I as a Taurus have an innate knowledge of what goes into the perfect charcuterie board, she has everything “~*aesthetic*~” down pat. If Leos are anything alike (they are), you know exactly what I’m talking about! What better way to celebrate that self-love than with fabulous skin care! 

I mean, the third heading on Admire My Skin’s website is “Learn to Glow.” If that doesn’t scream Leo, I don’t know what does. Now a word of caution, this is not one of those gifts you give as a surprise, this is a gift of researching WITH her, so she gets exactly what she wants and needs. Leo is still a fixed sign, and she only has the reputation for being a diva because she knows what she likes, and that’s that. She’ll appreciate you understanding that far more than surprising her with something she won’t use.

As much as Leos seem impervious to the world’s criticism, they’re really big people-pleasing softies inside and want to make you happy by loving your gift, too. 

Virgo:

Ivory Paper Co.

If you’ve been following my column since the start of the year, this name may ring a bell. If not, a quick recap, then: Ivory Paper Co. makes the most beautiful, practical, versatile planners I’ve come across. And I hate planners…but only because I haven’t found one that worked for me before now. I can only IMAGINE how “kid-in-a-candy” store the Virgo would feel on their website, hence placing Ivory Paper here. Virgo is known for doing whatever it takes to succeed, forming a plan and sticking with it. 

As we all know, Beyoncé is the HBIC Virgo, and may we honor her by being only half as driven, and half as regimented in our schedules. The HBIC Virgo in your life will appreciate that effort from you as well.

Libra:

Pang Wangle Clothes

Pang Wangle’s vibe, and Libra’s vibe are so identical, they’re interchangeable. Easy, breezy, beautiful…with the added benefit of being deceptively intelligent. Spoken another way, beauty and brains, woohoo! Pang Wangle gets its brains from the utility of its ethereal clothing engulfed in their trademarked Insect Shield bug repellent. 

Based in Louisiana, the apparel the company sells doubles as a replacement for bug spray. I think it’s genius, if you ask me…just like the Libra herself! The sign of the zodiac smart enough to know that brains and beauty work together flawlessly. And getting to enjoy the outdoors, while being perfectly polished, and never suffering a bug bite? Sign Libra up!

Scorpio:

Birth Chart Analysis

Anyone who knows anything about astrology thinks Scorpio = Sex. The truth is, Scorpio = Transformation of the Shadow. And what is more misunderstood, more in the shadows in society than our own psyche? But more specifically, what is more transformative than true and complete acceptance of what makes us individuals? THAT is what Scorpio is about.

Naturally, your Scorpio femme-friend is definitely looking forward to slowing down, and igniting that couple-y intimacy, after the other Valentine’s festivities have been exhausted. I recommend taking some time to really dive into the nuances of each other, as shown in your natal charts.

Come prepared with your birth date, time, and place of birth, and enjoy uncovering your occult natures together, elucidating your relationship strengths and weaknesses, and empowering them.

Sagittarius:

Makeup Junkie

I’ve known many Sagittarians, masc and femme, and they absolutely have chaos in common. I say that with the utmost love of their energy, truly. But girl, sometimes you gotta control the chaos, you know? I’m admittedly awful at it in my own life, but wow, Sagittarius has me beat! I’ve also never known a fire sign that didn’t have a love of makeup, the brighter the better.

I’m willing to bet your Sag fits this description, too.

As someone who lives with a Sag, I’ve learned that we get through the chaos better if I don’t try to fence him into organization, so much as just a place to put whatever fits there (no, throwing everything in the closet does not clean the apartment, babe). 

And that is where Makeup Junkie comes in! Truthfully, it’s an awesome bag that fits way more makeup than I thought possible, but it’s definitely not for the makeup aficionado that wants her eyeshadow palettes in their own pocket away from her lipsticks. It’s the perfect bag to control chaos by just shoving in whatever fits..

Capricorn:

Dr.’s Remedy Nail Care

I’ve never known a Capricorn who wasn’t polished. Excuse the pun, because I’m being serious here! If Virgo is the “work harder” type, Capricorn is the “work smarter” counterpart. And a Capricorn knows exactly how to get it all done, without ever breaking a sweat. As an Earth sign as well, Cap also knows looks can be deceiving, and that’s an advantage.

Down to the last detail, the goat is ready for battle, whatever the battle is. A flawless mani is absolutely a part of that, and Dr.’s Remedy is perfect here. 

Founded by podiatrists, each of the products is vegan, non-toxic and (obviously) created based on the knowledge of actual physicians. She is one to defer to expertise, your Capricorn, honor that by allowing expertise to complement her “polish.”

Aquarius:

The Threads of Fate Oracle Deck

The rebel of the zodiac, Aquarius needs a complete lack of judgment to feel secure in a relationship. The world already kind of “doesn’t get her,” and sometimes, neither does she. Gifting her this alluring, gilded tool of self-discovery and universal comprehension is a great way to say “I see you, I want you to see you.” As an owner of this deck, this is one of the few oracle decks (i.e. NOT a tarot deck) that I find true value in, that can’t be found in a tarot deck.

And for the slight skeptic that Aquarius is known to be, appealing to the “new” will get you a lot further than her skepticism of the “established.”

Pisces:

Pintar Art Supply

Fun fact: my mom and I are both Taurus Suns with Pisces Moons, and my middle sister is a Capricorn Sun with Pisces Moon. Weirdly, they got the Pisces painting skill, and I did not. Or perhaps they didn’t get the absurd self-criticism that keeps me from painting, but I digress.

Pisces is drenched in creative talent, and she needs to express it. The supplies Pintar provides covers any and all media your particular Pisces is partial to. 

Who knows, maybe what she creates will be a gift she gives to you in the future?

Now that you’re now perfectly equipped to take care of your femme friends, family, and special someone’s for Valentine’s Day, check back for part 3 to learn what to give the masc-presenting loves of your life!

 

Feature Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash