Looking for last minute gifts for your galentines and valentines?
This is the ultimate list for salty souls – whether you have an upcoming tropical getaway or live on the coast, here’s some last minute gifts all of your loves, will…well, love!
Coastal Living
This is one of my FAVORITE purchases of 2023. My fiancé Ryan and I live in an apartment, but were able to set this up which allows us to enjoy our waterfront porch year-round in Galveston, TX. Just remember to measure where you plan to put it, since they come in a variety of sizes. And don’t forget, you WILL need a drill to set this one up.
Portable Camping Shower with Collapsible Bucket
This is a must-have for anyone who goes on even one beach trip a year, but even more so if you live at the beach like we do. While our robot vacuum helps keep the apartment clean easily, rinsing off feet and beach chairs makes a huge difference. Plus, this is a great way to keep paddle boards clean if you don’t have a hose accessible (again, the challenge of apartment living).
Luxury Candles
I don’t think there’s anything better than lighting a fresh candle, especially when you know you’re supporting a woman-owned, small business with every purchase. Here are my two favorite brands:
Hotel Lobby Candle
If you’re looking for a candle that will have people running around looking for the source so they can copy your new home scent, look no further than Hotel Lobby Candle. Their candles are inspired by fancy hotels around the world, and do a fabulous job of transporting you to your destination of choice. I’ve purchased all but 3 of their scents, so I can say with confidence that I’ve smelled nearly all of their fantastic scents.
These are my recommendations:
- Neutral: Signature or Linen
- Bright: Miami or Pride
- Cozy: New York or Paris Nuit
Coast and Salt
If you’re looking to make your home feel like a breezy tropical cabana…there’s only one place to shop. Coast and Salt is a woman-owned small business that specializes in luxury fragrances inspired by seaside places. Plus, with every purchase (of any product type), one pound of trash is pulled from the ocean through 4Ocean and one mangrove is planted through Sea Trees, both of which are ocean conservation non-profits.
Four collections are currently available: Classic, Destination, Sunscape, and Sea Glass. The recently launched destinations collection, you’ll be whisked away to the warm, azure waters of the South Pacific and more.
- Neutral: Salt or Sand
- Tropical: Cabana or Fiji
- Cozy: Endless Summer or Java
Every month, Coast and Salt has a Scent of the Month (February is the destination collection scents) which receives a discount of 10% using code SOTM, and you can stack SOTM with code KELLY15 at checkout for a total of 25% off your purchase!
Beach Vacation
I think I found the best beach chair…ever. If you’re like me you love nothing more than to chill at the beach with a good beach read and a cocktail (these are the best cups for beach and boat cocktails, too), you’re gonna want to hit order on this chair immediately.
The Ostrich chairs might seem like any other lounge beach chair, BUT they have a unique face cutout so you can comfortably lay on your stomach while you’re sun bathing – just don’t forget your sunscreen!
If you’re like me and can’t stand that most beach towels take two days to dry, get filled with sand, and take up way too much room when packing for a trip – you’re going to love these packable, quick-dry towels.
Dock and Bay is a B-Corp, which means they meet the highest standards for social and environmental performance (Coastal with Kelly is a BIG fan of B-Corps companies). They specialize in quick-dry towels, but offer other fantastic products like hair towel wraps/turbans (I swear by these).
Bathing Suits
I’ve had my fair share of bad bathing suits – I know I can’t be the only one who had a bikini tie tear off from the force of a wave at the beach, right? We aren’t tolerating that anymore, so here are my top three recommendations for favorite swim:
For trendy, affordable suits: CUPSHE
CUPSHE has been a staple rotation for the last 3 years for me – I think they do a great job offering a ton of styles and color options, and hold up great over the years. I’ve purchased multiple black one-pieces from them (perfect for bachelorette parties), as well as this fun scalloped bikini (one of my favorite bikini tops ever). I recommend sizing up in their suits, but read their description to know what’s best for you!
For matching his and hers: Kenny Flowers
Believe me when I tell you you’ll be OBSESSED with Kenny Flowers once you give them a try. A small business that creates the best, fun beach and resort wear – you’ll be as obsessed as I am as soon as you slip on one of their new releases. Their prints are so fun, and their new release for the Sunshine State is SO cute. If you’re looking to twin with your besties or valentine this year, these are the fits for you.
I also highly recommend their resort wear – the linen shirts are phenomenal (Ryan has both the short and long sleeve option; short sleeve shown below), and I get compliments every time I wear my Napa style maxi dress from their Belle Glos collaboration (below – the collaboration is over, but this dress style has different prints available on the Kenny Flowers site).
Best overall: SummerSalt
I absolutely ADORE SummerSalt. I was hesitant to buy into the hype about the sidestroke suit and coverup, but I PROMISE YOU it’s true.
I went through 3 different white coverup styles in the last year because I couldn’t quite find what I was looking for, and snagging this one on sale finally ended my search. Plus, the sidestroke suit has the perfect amount of compression, and the white suit is NOT see-through! I couldn’t believe it, and I’m so glad I bought it before going to the Bahamas for the 2023 holidays. If you’re in your bridal era like me, this is a suit you should have in your arsenal for beach trips this year.
This makes such a fantastic gift for someone who loves spending time on the water…even more so if they have a tendency to lose their sunnies. While they won’t ship in time for Valentine’s day this year…put your order in now for future gifting, or order without the monogram for faster shipping! The leather feels so nice in your hands, and they last forever.
Travel
Listen…if you’re looking to REALLY shock your special someone this year, gift them some fantastic luggage. I’ve had my Away Bigger Carry-on since 2020, and she comes with me on every trip. I can’t get over how smooth the wheels are, and how much you can stuff into the suitcase even though it’s a hard shell (pro-tip, sit on it to zip when super full). Ryan got his Bigger Carry-on this year and he absolutely loves it – the green looks so good.
Shop with this link for $20 off your order!
When I tell you this is the FIRST thing I put in my luggage every trip…I mean it. This comes with me everywhere, because you look so much more put together when your clothes are steamed instead of wrinkled. This collapsible steamer was another one of my all-time favorite purchases in the last two years.
You’re probably thinking that you can just use the hotel iron…but I’ve had the horror experience of ironing a dress two hours before a wedding, only to realize there was some sort of residue on the iron I didn’t see until I put the iron on the dress. Trust me, I’d rather use the space for a steamer than have that happen again!
Yet another example of me not believing the hype until I tried it myself…I absolutely adore these travel containers for trips. They’re leak-proof and have magnets in them so the containers stay together, and you won’t lose the lid since it can magnetize to the container side too!
I’ve switched to a loofah body soap from Coast and Salt (don’t forget KELLY15 to save 15%) for traveling, BUT I still use liquid products like sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner, etc. These helped me save SO much space in my Parallelle toiletries bag for my 2 week trip over the holidays, and I’m so glad I finally invested in them. I love them so much more than the travel bottles I used to buy from Target, and I’ll now have these to use forever!
This is one of my travel must-haves. I always get cold on the plane, so this is my favorite way to say warm without ruining a cute airport fit. They’re thick and cozy, and large enough to be used as a blanket if that’s what you need. I love that they come in multiple colorways (and even multiple fabrics now!) so you can keep it classic with an oatmeal or horizon blue, or switch it up with a color block pattern.
Feel Pampered at Home
I think we all need a little more spa-at-home action, so if you’re looking to help your loved ones feel pampered this valentine’s day, here’s my top five recommendations:
- Detox Me Face Mask: a luxurious whipped kaolin clay mask with notes of lemongrass and lavender, stress and breakouts simply melt away
- Under-eye Mask: who doesn’t love a little pampering? These eye masks feel luxe due to their ability to depuff and brighten, and the gold coloring just makes me feel fancy. I always keep some on hand for when the girls come over, and in my toiletries bag for post-flight puffiness.
- Luxurious Robe: honestly this is something I LOVE to find at a hotel – a luxurious white fluffy robe, so why not bring this luxury home? Check out this luxe robe, as well as this cute waffle exterior option.
- Bath Tray: This is such a simple way to make a little spa moment at home. I love that it has a place for my kindle, a Spa candle, and wine glass.
- Epsom Salt Soak: I swear by the Eucalyptus and Spearmint soak, but love all of Dr. Teal’s salt soak products. I always feel so relaxed after!
