By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

Ah, Valentine’s Day gifts. Gifts for the National Day of Love. What does that special someone in your life want? How do you make a meaningful statement? Here are ideas from some of our local advertisers.  

For a wonderful start to your Valentine’s Day, you can visit Crave at 303 Nantasket Ave. to pick up everything you need for a very special breakfast in bed. Crave features acai bowls, smoothies, coffee, and more. Owner Casey Mahoney invites you to come by for some granola which is “homemade with pure love and maple syrup.” Or visit to see what treats she has cooked up for Valentine’s Day. Crave customers call it a “hidden gem for creative healthy smoothies, bowls, and unique flavored coffees.”

If the love of your life is a French toast connoisseur, stop into Sunnyside Up Café on Route 3A in Weymouth and order the café’s signature French toast and delicious buttercream topping to go. Owner Debbie Hale will serve it to you with an extra-special helping of down-home hospitality. If you prefer to dine in, parking is available at Masisons Autobody.

If complementing a late breakfast with brunch cocktails is your thing, Nantasket Liquors at 307 Nantasket Ave. can meet your needs. While you are there, you can also purchase a favorite wine, spirit, or beer to toast your Valentine. John, Pam, Don, and Teri wish their customers a very Happy Valentine’s day: “We wouldn’t exist without amazing customers like you! You keep us going morning ’til night, seven days a week.”

Do not underestimate the emotional value friends and family place on receiving a personal Valentine’s message, especially if it is written in a unique, hand-picked card, attached to a delicately wrapped gift or bunch of balloons. Nantasket Pharmacy at 480 Nantasket Ave. is a convenient one-stop shop for Valentine’s essentials, such as greeting cards, candy, balloons, gift wrap, bags, and more.

Through the ages, the tried-and-true gift of candy and flowers has become the combined symbol of a truly romantic gesture of love and affection.

If you are looking for a fun place to go where you can immerse yourself in an old-style candy shop experience, visit Nantasket Sweets by Swedes at 165 Nantasket Ave. Owner Maria Stolt makes all her chocolates from scratch using original traditional Swedish recipes. She can customize her candy and chocolate for unique offerings, at parties and corporate events, to offer a smorgasbord buffet style of sweets. Stolt invites you to stop by this Valentine’s Day to buy a homemade chocolate heart or heart-shaped candy lollipop for your sweetheart.

For fresh arrangements, bouquets, plants, specialty chocolates, and nautical gifts visit Nantasket Flowers at 293 Nantasket Ave. Terry Anastos, owner of Nantasket Flowers and Gifts, for more than 20 years, is lauded by her customers for being able to turn any idea into a “work of art.” Being a florist has become part of her lifestyle. “My customers are like family and I am proud to have grown to become the ‘family’ florist for so many on the South Shore.  It brings me joy to create arrangements which reflect the essence of the person they are created for.” Longtime customer and Hull resident Jeanne Chalifoux said “Terry takes excellent care of her customers. She listens to our needs and goes above and beyond what we ask for. And the price is always right.”

For the creative at heart, how about gift certificate to one of Seaside Floral Design’s floral workshops, where they can go and let their imagination bloom in a lovely, inspiring location? For your loved one who just can’t be without flowers, get them a floral subscription from Seaside Floral and you can have beautiful floral bouquets delivered to their door bi-weekly or monthly. “Whether you’re in the midst of wedding planning or busy coordinating flowers for a birthday party, Seaside Floral Designs, at 38 A St., will work closely with you to create breathtaking, noteworthy décor,” said owner Kim Cerny. 

For the art-loving Valentine, you can treat them to the gift of art at Gallery Nantasket at 121 Nantasket Ave. Owned and operated by Hull artists, you will always find unique, locally handmade crafts and fine arts. The gallery changes its presentation seasonally, offering a fresh collection of paintings, stained glass, photography, fiber art, jewelry, ceramics, pottery, fused glass items, sculptures, woven and knitted items, cards, and more. To visit the portfolio of current gallery artists, go to hullartists.com/gallery-nantasket.

For unique gifts, apparel, and accessories for the whole family visit Carolann’s at 31-35 Main St. in Hingham Square.  “We are a mini-department store. An old-time throwback to a time before modern day malls and big box stores,” said Jennifer Mazgelis, who is co-owner of the store with her mother, Kellie Dernier. Carolann’s customers agree that the items you find there are not simply “run-of-the-mill.”

Owners Michael and Lorraine Campbell invite you to come in to their family-run business, The Whitney Gordon’s Jewelers, also in downtown Hingham at 39 Main St., to experience the “friendly atmosphere and personal service” which they believe only a local jeweler can offer. They carry items ranging in price from $15 to more than $1,000 to meet a wide variety of budgets. “We carry everything from sterling silver earrings for the littlest Valentine up to diamond earrings for the adult Valentine,” Lorraine Campbell said.

But don’t let the pampering end with a lovely piece of jewelry. Julie’s Pure Bliss Facials, Skincare, and More, is one of Hull’s newest additions, offering many luxurious treatments – all performed by licensed aesthetician Julie Barros. She comes to Hull from the Berkshires, where she has had an “established and coveted skincare spa,” and invites you to “experience one of many treatments in a clean, calm, and soothing atmosphere currently located in the back of Casa di Joseph Hair Salon” at 443 Nantasket Ave. Though take note, her space will soon be located on the opposite side of that same lovely European building. Customers recommend that you “take time for yourself and visit Pure Bliss. The treatments are luxurious, and you will leave feeling fresh, clean, and full of energy.” So, why not take their advice, treat yourself this Valentine’s Day, or purchase a gift certificate for someone you know who needs a little love? See all Julie’s Pure Bliss treatments at www.jpurebliss.com.

Don’t forget to treat your furry friend this Valentine’s Day. Visit Sunshine Pet Parlor, Hull’s only pet place, at 813 Nantasket Ave. Sunshine Pet Parlor offers all-breed pet grooming and pet daycare in a relaxed atmosphere. Your special feline friends are welcome, too. To indulge your pet, the parlor also sells high-quality food, treats, accessories, and toys.

If you wish to start celebrating early, put on your dancing shoes and tap on over to the C-Note at 159 Nantasket Ave. on Saturday, Feb. 11 and join Hull Pride for music and dancing from 7 p.m. to midnight. DJs will be spinning dance tunes from ’70s disco and beyond. Be sure to bring cash for the bar and $10 cover charge at the door. For more information go to hullpride.net.

Whatever the desire, spend time with that special someone and make some Valentine’s dreams come true.