Five Valentine's Day Gifts That Pay the Love Forward

When you get love right (trust me, it's been a long time coming) the whole yearning to receive overly cliche, romantic gifts from someone special somewhat fades away. The new objective? Seeking and swooping up perfect gifts for all the other loves in my life. These gifts won't break the bank, but it will fill your heart to know you're paying the love forward this Valentine's Day.

Heart Is Hot

The concept is simple: buy one of these recycled glass hearts ($24.99), register the serial number online, tell your story, and pass it on to someone else. They log on tell their giving/receiving story and the love is continuously passed on. You can log on to heartishot.com at any time and track the number of miles your heart has traveled.

Organic and Fair Trade Theo Chocolate

There's a reason they say chocolate heals matters of the heart. Organic and Fair Trade Theo Chocolate (theochocolate.com) is donating 100% of the purchase of their 45% Classic Milk ($3.99) and 70% Classic Dark Chocolate ($3.99) bars to CARE, a humanitarian nonprofit fundraising for the Haiti relief effort.

Hands Up Not Hand Outs

Hands Up Not Hand Outs (handsupnothandouts.org) is an organization that mentors women of the world in design and production of unique one-of-a-kind goods. 100% of proceeds go to the women and their families. Collection includes hand-embroidered bracelets from Palestine ($45) and handmade earrings from Rwanda ($45).

Embroidered Map of Haiti

I have fallen hopelessly in love with this hand embroidered map of Haiti ($22) created by Etsy whatisallthisstufffor (etsy.com/shop/whatsallthisstufffor) Following the Earthquake in Haiti, Etsy designers created a collective called Heartsforhaiti.etsy.com where 100% of the proceeds from items sold are donated to Doctors without Borders and they are offering free shipping too.

PACT

Who doesn't love cheeky pair of underwear? PACT (wearpact.com) manufactures premium organic cotton underwear for men and women ($20) Each pair is inspired by a social or environmental cause and 10% of every sale goes to their non-profit partners. Nothing says "I love you" like matching undies.

 

Follow Stacie Krajchir on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebungalowpr

Comments

[mrtomk102]

05:07 PM on 02/12/2010

Thank you Stacie for the great ideas for V-Day gifts. Really helpful!

[Lanzi20]

03:57 PM on 02/12/2010

Always so nice to get some great ideas for v-day gifts! So hard to shop for guys on v-day, but those PACT undies with a cause are a great idea. Thanks for giving me some gift inspiratio­n! I love all of it.

[Lanzi20]

03:56 PM on 02/12/2010

Always so nice to get some great ideas for v-day gifts! So hard to shop for guys on v-day, but those PACT undies with a cause area a great idea. Thanks for giving me some gift inspiratio­n! Love you ideas.

[adgrandma]

11:12 AM on 02/12/2010

Heart is Hot has given me the opportunit­y to let people know how I feel about them and how they have positivedl­y impacted my life. Recently my mother passed away. I am so grateful that I had given her a heart two years ago and she knew in detail what a powerful influence she had been on my life. I read her heart story at her memorial service as she had asked me to do. HIH provides a unique way to connected with friends and loved ones.

[MerrieWay]

11:48 PM on 02/11/2010

Heart is Hot...is fantastic. I have one for a blessing, another given to me in honor of my beloved son. And, I love giving them as gestures of thank you, hugs, appreciati­on. Magical hearts filled with Love.
Thank you for sharing them with our HP community. I'm thanking it forward on FB...Hugs.

[SaharaDamore]

11:26 PM on 02/11/2010

Thank you for your kind words Tim and "babytomat­a". I am thrilled to hear that the hearts have had an impact in your life as they have in mine. And cheers to all the gifts posted here that give back (and give forward). Thank you for creating from your own hearts....

[T H Douglas]

10:30 PM on 02/11/2010

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!! I happened upon Sahara and the HIH Community a few years ago and am humbled by Sahara's and her experience that inspired her to create the HIH Community. Sahara and the growing HIH Community is lighting, lifting and connecting the whole world, by playing hearts and love forward, one heart at a time. Sahara humbles and inspires me with her endless generosity of spirit, deed and forgivenes­s, is a Treasured Friend and has imoved me to walk by fewer moments and opportunit­ies where a smile, a few kind words or a modest hand up can lift and light up the whole world, if even just for a moment. I know I am a kindler and gentler person because of Sahara and the HIH Community and this Valentines Day I am playing 10 Hearts forward in gratitude and appreciati­on for Sahara's LIGHT, LAUGHTER and LOVE!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDE­D, IT WILL MAKE YOU A MORE LOVING and VIRTUOSU PERSON!!! RENAMASTE!­!!

[babytomata]

05:11 PM on 02/11/2010

HEART IS HOT is a really lovely concept. Was given one for Christmas and it's been passed on twice already.

[KarNuge]

04:57 PM on 02/11/2010

I am too in love with that embroidere­d map of Haiti, it's simply gorgeous!