Love language

Love From Me to You love from me to you

When it comes to shopping, having a goal is key By Zöe Lucas

It’s the holiday season, otherwise known as the absolute best time of the year for some. While gifts are a staple characteristic of the time, it can actually be very difficult for some people to come up with gift ideas that they feel will be greatly appreciated (Yes, socks are enough).

An easy way to avoid the hassle and anxiety of gift-giving is by observing the people around you. Love languages are a wonderful way to work with people and their interests as well as ensure that they feel appreciated and, well, loved. There are five main love languages and I’ll break them down below ( with a little help from Vogue ) along with some gift ideas to help the inner shopper in you fully debut.

QUALITY TIME: This is, not surprisingly, one of the more favored love languages among many people. Senior student Grace Holst said, “I would say quality time for me!” Fellow senior Kati McShea echoed the sentiment. “Quality time is extremely important to me.”

While it is popular, it falls under the difficulty category when it comes to gifting. The main aspect of quality time is spending uninterrupted time with the people you love and adore. Keeping this in mind, the following gifts would be an excellent purchase:

* A cute dinner set, perfect for intimate nights spent in * A picnic basket, complete with plates and utensils * New bed pillows ( Yes, pillows. Sleeping is actually a bonding activity for many. )

ACTS OF SERVICE: Sometimes last but certainly not least, we have acts of service. Individuals with this love language often think of others and their needs, so the best way to ensure their happiness is to do the same. While things like making dinner or breakfast are super thoughtful, not every person has the wall space for a fire extinguisher nor the ability to have the fire station on call. To minimize damage, here are some presents that don’t necessarily pack a… punch:

* A cooking set ( for the controlled fires ) * A set of wonderfully soft sheets ( make the bed to complete the gift! ) * Meal prep a favorite dish

GIFT-GIVING/RECEIVING: Hark the heralds angels sing! Glory to the biggest misunderstanding! I’m going to keep it crystal: this is my love language so I’ve got her back. When it comes to gift-giving and receiving, people tend to think that means huge and luxurious or give the label of shallow and materialistic. While there would be an appreciation for a Bottega bag with a book in it (we can be materialistic and intellectual), there would be an even bigger one for the gift of a simple baby tee from one’s Shein wishlist.

The main theme of this love language is attention, as in paying attention to the little things. You don’t have to take out a loan to give something meaningful to someone who shows love through this avenue. Some simple and affordable gifts include:

* A scented candle * A vase with faux flowers ( or authentic, just… maybe not wrapped ) * A lounge-wear set WORDS OF AFFIRMATION: This form of love is a hard one to touch, at least physically, though it’s a close second in popularity. Mountain View teacher Matthew Bello said, “I would say words of affirmation are high on the list when it comes to me.” The basis for this is kindness and praise, and surprisingly there are a lot of gifts you could give to match. Some ideas are:

* Engraved jewelry * An annotated novel or book of poetry * A cultivated playlist with specially chosen songs

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PHYSICAL TOUCH: In a pandemic???? Kidding! Kind of. Covid etiquette aside, this love language tends to be a little lower on the list for some people. This could be because of a variety of things, but the more important topic is gifts for the people who do adore it. You can most definitely be on the more creative side when it comes to picking a present, but there are few things you can find in a store or online if you put your mind to it. Some wonderful discoveries include:

A cozy throw to cover you both Creative coupons ( think a well-needed back massage, hugs, etc. ) Couple Mittens (a couple is not required) to hold hands as you walk in the winter weather