Ah, Valentine’s Day – a time for chocolate and candies and jewelry and panties!  This year, celebrate your love the green way – with these amazing gifts that show you care about your footprint as much as your relationship.

For the Ladies

Nothing gets to a woman’s heart quite like a beautiful necklace or pair of earrings (except for maybe a diamond ring, but that’s a topic for another time).  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I discovered this stunning line of eco friendly jewelry made out of…pieces of broken glass and dinnerware found in the woods!  Bottled Up Designs jewelry is upcycled from broken pieces of old mason jars, cobalt colored Noxema, Vicks and Milk of Magnesia bottles; blue, yellow, amber and clear depression glass dishware; old Coke bottles; amber Clorox, whiskey and beer bottles; ruby colored 1940s beer bottles; olive colored old wine bottles; emerald colored beer bottles; and shards of classic Blue Willow and Pink Willow dinnerware (my grandma used to have a set of Pink Willow dishes in her apartment in the Bronx).

This jewelry is absolutely beautiful. Although it’s hard to choose just a few, my favorite pieces are probably the Cobalt Fused Nugget Earrings for $35 and matching Cobalt Fused Nugget Necklace for $45.  I also like the Ruby Sterling Hoop Earrings for $47, the Mason Jar Closed Spiral Necklace for $49,  the Pink Depression Glass Ribbon Necklace for $60, and the Pink Willow Rectangle Earrings for $45.  But please, browse the entire collection of recycled glass jewelry before making a selection – there are so many nice pieces from which to choose!

Now if you are looking for something more intimate to share with your soul mate, you may want to try these adorable EcoLux Lace Boy Shorts in Aqua Blue for $29 and matching EcoLux Lace Cami in Aqua Blue for $58 from eco designer brand Jonano.  They also come in white, green, raspberry and zebra burnout and are made of fabric blends that incorporate corn based elements with viscose from bamboo and a hint of spandex. Check out all of the eco friendly lingerie from this eco-chic clothing line.

For the Men

What if you are shopping for your hubby or boyfriend?  What better way to say “I love you” than to get your partner a high performance athletic shirt made of recycled bottles?  I mean, guys love to work out and knowing that you support their passion will no doubt make them happy!  And how about a pack of fashion reading glasses made from recycled materials?  OK, not exactly romantic, but when you’ve been married as long as I have, your husband may just appreciate something practical like this.

Want to stick with sweets and chocolate (pun intended)?  Make sure you purchase fair trade chocolate from one of these retailers.

Whatever you do for Valentine’s Day, have fun, stay safe, and be green!