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in Lifestyle &middot February 5, 2018

Your Guide to Valentine’s Day & Galentine’s Day

It felt like January would go on forever, but I’m still surprised that Valentine’s Day is next week. And you know that means that Galentine’s Day is, too! If you’re unfamiliar with Galentine’s Day, it’s a holiday for celebrating the other women in your life. It comes from the show Parks and Rec, but people thought it was such a good idea that it has become a real thing!

If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or both this year, this post is for you. I’ve broken it into different categories ranging from gifts to food, decor to style, and more. I hope you find everything you need for whatever holiday(s) you’re celebrating this year. If you’re celebrating neither and aren’t excited for all the decor and displays everywhere, remember: Valentine’s Day candy goes on sale on February 15.

Are you celebrating Valentine's Day and/or Galentine's Day? Here's everything you need to celebrate either, from gifts to outfits, from decor to food, and more.

Gifts

How To Write the Perfect Love Letter by Darrian Michelle

Pink & Red Valentine’s Gift Guide for Her by Truly Yours, A.

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide by Street Stride

Valentine’s Day with Jeulia Jewelry by What the Clique

DIY Non-Candy Valentine’s Day Gift by An Uncomplicated Life Blog

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him & Her by Just Gigi

Cutest Heart-Shaped Items by Southern Sophisticated

What To Gift Yourself this Valentine’s Day by Lipstick & Vodka

DIY Disney Valentines  by ariel + alder

Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas by Fairyburger

Homemade Sugar Scrub Hearts by 365 Beauty Tips

Disgustingly Adorable Valentine’s Day Gifts 2018 by Happy to Wander

Galentine’s Gift Ideas by The Style Journal

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas by Haute Table

Decor

Mini Valentine’s Day Bouquets by Brighter Bold

Celebrating Galentine's Day? Here's everything you need, including food, gifts, outfits, and more.

Food & Drink

Chocolate Raspberry Heartcakes by Strength & Sunshine

Chocolate Caramel Affogato by Strength & Sunshine

DIY Galentine’s Day Wine Glasses by Ala Keighla

Rice Krispie Doughnuts for Valentine’s Day by Communikait

Healthy Donuts for Valentine’s Day by Kaley Dignen

Creamy White Bean Beet Hummus by Casey the College Celiac (the hummus is pink!)

Allergy-Free Pizzas with PIZZAZ by Casey the College Celiac (you can make it in the shape of a heart)

Style

Valentine’s Day Style: Red Dress by Lots of Sass

Romantic Hair Accessories for Valentine’s Day and Everyday Use by Gypsy in the City

Lilac Dress for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Plans by Southern Sophisticated

Amazing Outfit Ideas for Valentine’s Day by GoodTomicha

What To Wear this Valentine’s Day by Bianca Blogs

V-Day Ready: A Cute and Casual Valentine’s Day Look by Miss Moore Style

Valentine’s Day Prep by diary of she

Valentine’s Day Dresses by Sophistication

What To Wear on Valentine’s Day by Eva Darling

Valentine’s Day Date Night Look Tutorial by The Daily Sash

Valentine’s Day Inspired Outfit by DeAndrea Ashanelle

Things To Do

10 Days To Take Yourself on This Valentine’s Day by Eve Darling

How To Throw the Ultimate Galentine’s Day Party for You & Your Besties by Natalie Inspired

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas by Cecelia Boat

How To Host the Perfect Galentine’s Day Get Together by Pineapple & Prosecco

Miscellaneous

Valentine’s Day Etiquette by Alyssa J. Freitas

Thank you to all the bloggers who contributed to this post!

Like this post? Check out:

All gift guides, 10 Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts, Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. roxyturtle says

    February 5, 2018 at 9:00 am

    This is such a fabulous list of ideas!! Makes my life easy, that’s for sure. I LOVE those mini bouquets you linked to!

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  2. Yag Dalal says

    February 5, 2018 at 11:01 am

    Love letters would be my favourite of all <3 I should send your articles as a hint to my husband 😀

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  3. whattheclique says

    February 5, 2018 at 11:53 am

    Thank you for sharing the love this Galentine’s Day! LOVE this post and I hope you enjoyed my post with Jeulia Jewelry!

    xoxo,
    Erica
    whattheclique.com

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  4. Eva Phan says

    February 5, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Thanks for featuring my posts, lovely! ☺️ All the posts you found are so much fun!

    -Eva
    http://www.eva-darling.com

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    Reply
  5. KaitHanson says

    February 5, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    Thank you so much for including me! This is awesome!

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    Reply
  6. Rebecca @ Strength & Sunshine says

    February 5, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Such a great round-up of so many fun and festive things!

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    Reply

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Dos and don'ts for when someone in your life is di Dos and don'ts for when someone in your life is diagnosed with autoimmune arthritis! What are some that you would add?⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: "So someone you know was diagnosed with Autoimmune Arthritis". Under the Do column (indicated with a green checkmark) is:⁣
"As how they feel about it⁣
Offer specific ways to help⁣
Treat them normally⁣
Ask follow-up questions⁣
Wear a mask around them when sick."⁣
Under the don't don't column (indicated with an x in a red circle) is:⁣
"Say “At least it’s not xyz!”⁣
Say that and not follow through⁣
Assume nothing about their lives has changed⁣
Conflate autoimmune arthritis with osteoarthritis⁣
Pass your cold to an immunosuppressed person".⁣
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#AutoimmuneDisease #RheumatoidArthritis #PsoriaticArthritis #AnkylosingSpondylitis #JuvenileArthritis
Weekj 26 of 2026 Weekly Scenes of a summer week Weekj 26 of 2026 Weekly 

Scenes of a summer week in Maine! So glad I work from home, which means I can work from my real home (Maine, if that wasn’t clear)

1️⃣ Lots of Harley time
2️⃣ Working from home means saving my PTO for fun things!
3️⃣ Lots of duck families (📸 my dad)
4️⃣ What a lot of my days look like - Harley and my current project (needlepoint). And, yes, I’m still in a cast.
5️⃣ Learned how to play Mahjong, which my parents love
6️⃣ Lake views on the 4th

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣

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IDs:
1️⃣ Harley the golden retriever on a deck as seen through some plants
2️⃣ Kate takes a selfie
3️⃣ A duck with little ducklings following on a lake
4️⃣ Harley coming up to Kate. Her legs are out on an ottoman, 1 foot in a walking cast, and an in-progress needlepoint project
5️⃣ Looking down at a Mahjong table with the game set up
6️⃣ A kayak on the shore of a lake 

#MaineTheWay #MaineSummer #Needlepoint #MaineLife
Living with chronic pain is really hard. You’re wi Living with chronic pain is really hard. You’re winning every day you’re still here.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: The background image is a lake at sunset. Text reads what's above the first square and also "katethealmostgreat".⁣
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I've been spending a fair amount of time at my foo I've been spending a fair amount of time at my foot surgeon's office this year, and boy has it been messing with my head. ⁣
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I spent a lot of time from 2001-2010 dealing with my left foot. Long story short, it took until this foot surgeon saw me in 2010 after fixing this foot for me to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. But I spent those 9 years going from doctor to doctor, having surgery after surgery, trying to figure out what was causing my pain and to fix it. ⁣
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Was it the tarsal coalition? Did I have another chronic health issue? Etc. ⁣
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I spent from age 10 to 19 unsure what exactly was wrong with me and in huge amounts of pain. We thought we figured it out, and then something else happened. ⁣
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We know exactly what is wrong with this foot this time around: in 2024, I got 3 stress fractures, and no one put me in a boot. They almost fully healed before breaking in 2025, and then the same thing happened in 2026. ⁣
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This is a different part of the foot than I used to deal with, but any problems with my feet and especially my left foot messes with me. While this doctor eventually fixed the problems and even got me diagnosed with RA, every time I go back to his office, I have to fight not to become 17 again. ⁣
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PTSD is a bitch.⁣
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(PS - if you want to know why I'm going back to this guy when it messes with me, it's because I don't trust anyone else to fix my foot.)⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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Week 25 of #2026Weekly Happy to be in Maine for Week 25 of #2026Weekly 

Happy to be in Maine for a few weeks! I didn’t get up to a lot, so another week of very few pictures

1️⃣ IVIG 
2️⃣ Lots of beautiful birds have been coming to my mom’s bird feeder!

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣⁣⁣⁣

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1️⃣ Looking at Kate’s lap. Tubes are coming out from under her shirt and there’s a Kindle
2️⃣ Birds arriving at a bird feeder as seen through a window

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What do you have to do every day for your chronic What do you have to do every day for your chronic illnesses? ⁣
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For context, I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, POTS, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more. ⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: ⁣
Things I Do Every Day for My Chronic Illnesses⁣
Take pills at least 4 times a day⁣
Don’t eat gluten, dairy, corn, soy, or eggs⁣
Sleep 7+ hours a night⁣
Consume 80-100 grams of protein, 120 mg of calcium, 5-10 grams of sodium⁣
Wear a mask whenever I leave the house⁣
Do pilates 4+ days a week⁣
Work from home⁣
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Filmed this back in April (hence the sweater) but Filmed this back in April (hence the sweater) but it applies to whenever I have appointments! 

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There are a lot of medical advancements that I'm g There are a lot of medical advancements that I'm grateful for, but one of them is the ability to do IVIG at home. ⁣
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I'm on IVIG - or, in my case, subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy - because I have to kill the better part of my immune system. There are, in fact, some parts of my immune system that don't attack me, which is why we add them back in. This helps reduce my chance of serious infection and also made my rheumatologist feel comfortable enough to increase my Rituxan dose. ⁣
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This is a weekly treatment that I do, but it's so much better that I can do it at home than going into the hospital. It takes around 2.5 hours from taking my pre-meds to tossing my needles into a Sharps container. While it's another thing that I have to do, because I do it at home, I don't have to risk exposure to infections at the hospital or deal with Boston traffic, which would add another hour to the process. ⁣
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I can finish my treatment and then go about my day, which I'm very grateful for.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣
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ID: A Kindle on Kate's legs. There are tubes for an infusion coming out of her shirt.⁣
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#IVIG #ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #Autoimmune #AutoimmuneDisease
Weeks 23 and 24 of 2026 Weekly! The last two wee Weeks 23 and 24 of 2026 Weekly! 

The last two weeks were prepping for my infusion, having/recovering from my infusion, and getting caught up after. This meant things were very busy but also I don’t have a lot to show for them. 

1️⃣ New glasses! I really like having multiple pairs so I can switch them as I want.
2️⃣ One of my current projects. I got this standing hoop for my birthday and I’m working on an alphabet (uppercase and lower, although I’m still working on the lower) with extra floss.
3️⃣ Infusion time! I got my higher dose so hopefully my symptoms improve a lot in the upcoming weeks🤞🏻

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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 10+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣.⁣⁣

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IDs: 
1️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. Her new glasses are thin silver circles
2️⃣ An in-progress cross-stitched alphabet in a special hoop stand that Kate is sitting on.
3️⃣ Kate takes a selfie in an infusion chair.

#ChronicallyIll #RheumatoidArthritis #AutoimmuneDisease #CrossStitcher
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