I Shop 8 Hours a Day for My Job, and the Valentine’s Day Gifts I’m Buying This Year Start at Just $10

I’m a big fan of giving gifts to people when they aren’t expecting to receive one. Surprise ‘this reminded me of you’ presents are kind of my thing. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy gift-giving on big holidays, but I tend to prefer the smaller ones—like Valentine’s Day.

On a day that’s generally focused on romantic partnerships, I like to present surprises to friends and family, using the holiday as an excuse to treat myself, too. This year, I chose 13 gifts for everyone on my list.

My picks start at $10, ranging from adorable pajamas I’m buying a friend, to the stand mixer from Drew Barrymore’s line of kitchen appliances that I know my mom would love and use often. For myself, I’m buying some Korean face masks and a cozy blanket. After all, self-love is love, too!

Best Valentine’s Day Gifts

• Ekouaer Waffle Knit Pajamas, $27 (was $30); amazon.com
• Cukbless Set of 4 Stemless Wine Glasses, $18; amazon.com
• Tarsus Pinky Promise Matching Bracelets, $12; amazon.com
• Charlton Home 3-Piece Flameless Candle Set, $25 (was $30); wayfair.com
• Lego Roses Botanical Flower Collection Building Set, $13; target.com
• Beautiful 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer, $59; walmart.com
• Iniu Portable Charger, $18 (was $22); amazon.com
• Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket, $28 (was $80); wayfair.com
• Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Robe, $99; nordstrom.com
• Alaska Bear Sleep Mask, $10 (was $20); amazon.com

Ekouaer Waffle Knit Pajamas

I love giving cozy pajamas to my friends and these PJs are too adorable to resist. Printed in smiley faces and hearts, the lightweight fabric is stretchy and soft. The best part is that the double pockets are large enough to hold a phone, small accessories, or, of course, some Valentine’s Day candy, making this a great option for lounging around the house.

Cukbless Set of 4 Stemless Wine Glasses

I’m a big believer in the fact that you can never have too many wine glasses. These stemless glasses have an iridescent finish that reflects a mix of purple, red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and pink glass. I’ll be dividing the set of four up into separate gift baskets with a bottle of wine, some cozy wool socks, and other goodies.

Tarsus Pinky Promise Matching Bracelets

It doesn’t matter how old you are; friendship bracelets will always be in style. This set has one bracelet with a moon on it and another featuring a sun. The packaging displays a touching poem that perfectly encapsulates my relationship with my best friend. The slip-on, adjustable design is easy and comfortable to wear, too.

Charlton Home 3-Piece Flameless Candle Set

Candles make an ideal Valentine’s Day gift, but if you have a friend who is sensitive to fragrances or smoke, you’ll want to grab some flameless ones instead. Unscented, this three-piece set runs on batteries and includes a remote. Not only will they create a cozy ambiance in your loved one’s home, they’re also handy during a power outage.

Lego Roses Botanical Flower Collection Building Set

There’s no Valentine’s Day gift more classic than flowers. This Lego rose kit was a quick addition to my cart for my Lego-loving friend. I know she’ll enjoy building the bouquet after a long day at work and unlike real flowers, this will stick around forever.

Beautiful 3.5-Quart Stand Mixer

Stand mixers can easily run hundreds of dollars, so this 3.5-quart mixer for just $59 was a quick addition to my shopping list. From Drew Barrymore’s line of kitchen appliances, this has the capacity to mix up enough dough for five dozen cookies at once, and the easy-to-use tilt design makes it easy to add ingredients while it’s still running. It’s the ultimate gift for my mom, and I might just have to grab one for myself, too!

Iniu Portable Charger

A portable charger is a must for my husband, whose phone battery has seen better days. This charger is small enough to fit in his pocket while at work, and it has multiple port options so we can both use it while we’re on the go. It also doubles as a flashlight, which is bound to come in handy in case of any emergencies.

Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket

I couldn’t pass up the deal on this Bedsure Sherpa fleece blanket. At 65 percent off, it quickly made its way into my cart. I’m grabbing the throw size for myself as a gift, but other sizes are also on sale. It comes in a broad range of colors, including some you typically don’t see in blankets—like dark purple and orange.

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Robe

Valentine’s Day is also the week after my birthday, so I tend to use that as an excuse to splurge a bit more on the holiday. I’ve had my eye on this Barefoot robe for a while and now is the time to finally grab it. From the brand with products Oprah described as “the softest I’ve ever felt,” I love that the shawl collar lies flat so it won’t get in the way while I do my hair. The large pocket is great for carrying my phone around, so I can wear it all day.

Alaska Bear Sleep Mask

As an insomniac, I am constantly looking for ways to catch some more shut-eye. This sleep mask is 50 percent off and has an incredible 30,000 five-star ratings. I love that it has an eye contour and is lightly padded to offer breathable comfort. It’s also machine-washable and has an adjustable velcro strap to ensure the best fit.

Threshold Rose Printed Plus Throw

Another blanket I couldn’t resist adding to the list is this rose-printed throw from Target. At $20, it’ll make a great addition to one of the Valentine’s Day gift baskets I’m putting together. The bright red and pink design adds a pop of color to any couch, and the ruffle trim on the edges is an adorable touch.

Beautiful 2-Quart Cast Iron Heart Dutch Oven

I’ve lost count of how many Dutch oven-required bread recipes I have saved to my phone. The problem? I don’t own one—until now. This two-quart, heart-shaped Dutch oven has one of the lowest prices I’ve seen. It comes in five colors, but I’m going with the Merlot option to match some of my other kitchen utensils.

Facetory K-Beauty Best-Selling Face Mask Set

I love gifts that promote self-care, like this K-Beauty face mask set. Since it comes with seven different masks, I can divide them up among gifts for friends, then keep a few for myself. Knowing the masks are cruelty-free is also a huge perk for me and my animal-loving friends.