By Susan Seliger
Haven’t gotten your sweetie something for Valentine’s Day yet? I’m not saying it’s easy to find gifts that are loving, sexy, decadent – not outrageously priced — and still kind to the planet.
But just because it’s a hard combo doesn’t let you off the hook. This is one holiday where it’s more than the thought that counts.
There’s still time — for sweet stuff your favorite is sure to love – and love you for giving. And always, there’s the gift of the gods, chocolate.
1. CHOCOLATES: Fudge, truffles and caramels – all completely vegan and luscious, from Allison’s Gourmet. Shaman Chocolates offers chocolates that will please the taste buds and ease your conscience – the bars are organic, free trade and 100% of the profits go to the Huichol Indians – which Sherman says is the last Indigenous Tribe in North American to maintain their pre-Columbian tradition. As if chocolate couldn’t get better — Navitas Naturals takes organic cacao nibs – the legendary Food of the Gods – and blends it with raw organic cacao paste (liquor) and organic sugar cane juice.
2. BODY, BATH AND CHOCOLATES: Pomegranate & Chocolate Love Kit – This love-kit, packaged in a pink bag, contains three bath and body products sweetly fragranced with organic pink guava essence and Fair Trade 70% cacao dark chocolate hearts. From Shea Terra Organics.
3. SWEET SMELLS AND MORE: Heart-shaped, cinnamon (yes, that and vanilla are sexy scents) candles – and a host of modestly priced organic love gifts from Pristine Planet.
4. DIRTY YET SOMEHOW CLEAN: Want to get a little edgy? Try these soaps with personalized or naughty messages, like, “Damn, I wish I was this soap.” Each soap is said to be hand-made: from Soapcard.
5. SUSTAINABLY-GROWN ROSES – AND CHOCOLATE FREE: Organic bouquet, which provides sustainably-grown flowers from its partner farms, has a special – a FREE box of organic truffles with every Valentine bouquet — all organic.
6. DIY LOVE POTION — SHAKE IT UP: Make your own Organic Mint chocolate shake with this organic recipe, offered by Navitas Naturals:
Mint Chocolate Chip Shake (by Jill Morgyn)
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Navitas Naturals Cashews
2 TBSP Navitas Naturals Sweet Cacao Nibs
1 TBSP Navitas Naturals Hemp Powder
3 Cups Water or 2 Thia Young Coconuts of water with flesh
1 TBSP Organic Soy Lecithin
3 Pitted Medjool Dates
2 Drops Mint Oil
1TBSP Coconut Butter
1 Tsp Flax Oil
1 Tsp. Superfood Green powder (powdered grasses)
1TBSP Green tea (matcha) powder (optional)
1 Dash Sea Salt
Add ice to preference
Directions:
Blend on high speed until frothy and serve.
7. Check out this video for more ideas: Tired of reading? Well, iVillage has more great eco-friendly Valentine ideas.
Photo credit: See more great photos from Osvaldo_Zoom on Flickr