❀ Brigitta Pasztor ❀

 Dear beautiful souls,

As cupid prepares to shoot his arrows, love is in the air! Whether you're celebrating with a significant other or cherishing the bonds of friendship, Valentine's and Galentine's Day provide the perfect opportunity to express affection and appreciation. This year, skip the clichés and surprise your loved ones with thoughtful and unique gifts that go beyond the ordinary. Here's a curated gift guide, complete with product recommendations, to help you spread the love on this special day.

• Self-care essentials 

Encourage self-love with skincare products, scented candles, bath bombs, or some cozy decoration. Show your loved ones that their well-being is a top priority with this thoughtful and indulgent gift.

• For a rejuvenating skincare experience, consider the Green Tea Enzyme Powder Wash from Wishtrend. This all-in-one daily cleanser and exfoliator purifies the skin, eliminating impurities while providing a refreshing, moisturized finish.

• Indulge in a pampering session with Hey Bud Skincare's Australian Hemp Clay Mask, a best-selling detoxifier that clears congested skin with the nourishing properties of hemp seed oil, kaolin, and bentonite clay.

• The Loving Tan Rose Collection presents the ideal solution for last-minute date night preparations or for those seeking to infuse the delicate fragrance of fresh roses into their beauty regimen this Valentine's Day. Originating from Australia, Loving Tan has captivated influencers and A-list stars alike for over a decade. The collection features the Loving Tan Rose 2 HR Express Mousse and the Loving Tan Rose Deluxe Gradual Tan.

• Cozy home essentials

Indulge in comfort and style with these must-have items for your home and yourself.

• Unwind in style with the cozy sleep and loungewear offerings from CACHIA, an online Australian brand based in Melbourne. The brand is dedicated to delivering quality, affordable sleepwear that reflects the latest trends. They have such cute patterns like this:

• Transform your bedroom into a haven of love and comfort with this Heart Pattern Printed Duvet Cover Set. Crafted from soft, high-quality fabric and adorned with charming heart motifs, this set is sure to enhance the cozy ambiance of your sanctuary, inviting you to snuggle up and unwind in style.

• Personalised treasures

Nothing says "I love you" like a personalized gift. Consider the customized jewelry or engraved photo frame. These thoughtful touches add a personal flair, turning ordinary gifts into cherished keepsakes. I got my boyfriend and myself a bracelet and a necklace with our first date's day, you can find more info in this blog post about them.

• Handwritten love notes or DIY treats

In a world dominated by technology, handwritten notes stand out. You can also print out some pictures or make polaroids. It's a timeless gesture that adds a personal touch to your Valentine's or Galentine's Day celebration. Whip up some love in the kitchen with a heart-shaped cookie cutter set or a DIY cocktail kit featuring premium ingredients. These DIY gifts showcase your effort and thoughtfulness in a delicious way.

• Subscription services

Treat your loved ones to the gift that keeps on giving. Consider the monthly book subscription for avid readers, beauty boxes for make up enthusiasts, or snack assortments for gourmet snack lovers. These monthly surprises will keep the joy alive throughout the year. 

• Experience over possessions

Gift an unforgettable experience with art exhibitions, pottery classes, or a relaxing spa day. Shared experiences bring people closer together, creating lasting memories. Some inspiration: Titanic: The artefact exhibition or Marshmallow laser feast: Works of nature (picture from ACMI's Instagram)

This Valentine's and Galentine's Day, go beyond the ordinary and surprise your loved ones with gifts that truly reflect your appreciation for them. Whether it's a personalized treasure, a shared experience, or a simple handwritten note, the thought and effort you put into your gifts will make this day extra special. Celebrate love in all its forms and create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come.

I'd love to hear from you! What's the most memorable Valentine's or Galentine's Day gift you've ever given or received? Share your stories and gift ideas in the comments below. Your experiences might just inspire someone else to make their celebration extraordinary!

With love from B ♥

Nowadays there is so much hate on the Earth and when you see something magical you stop a little and wonder how it could be so beautiful. When I first saw the Notebook inspired photos I needed to show them around, because they looked so real and so gorgeous. These pictures can bring back your faith in real love, because unfortunately our relationships are sometimes more real in the online world, than in the actual life. Every love story has its own difficulties and own fairytale times. Loving each other for 57 years has probably many memorable moments and it's still counting.

Please enjoy the interview with the Notebook-inspired love photographer - Mary Evelyn Photography by Stacy Welch-Christ. Check out her work on her Facebook and Instagram accounts.

• LifeLightsmag (LLm): Welcome! Everyone saw the result of the Notebook inspired photoshoot. Did you think it would get such a lovely and obviously huge feedback?

Stacy Welch-Christ (SWC): The feedback from the Notebook inspired shoot was totally a shock and surprise. We did the shoot for family and were hoping they would love it and cherish it, so seeing the whole world respond to it the way they did was so inspiring.

• LLm: Tell us a little bit about your experience on that photoshoot. For many people it has a great message about true love, as it looks like you’ve just captured the endless love.

SWC: The photo shoot was memorable. They were so natural in their love and the way they showed it and each moment we captured was authentic. You could see and feel how much they loved each other. It was one of the sweetest moments to be a part of and I'll forever cherish that they allowed me to do it.

• LLm: How has this photoshoot influenced your career?

SWC: As far as how the photoshoot has influenced my career....well, I am a deep hearted person, so my wish would be to have a shoot like this every single day. I think having this happen has helped me realize that it's okay to take a moment in the midst of the shoots I do every day and do a shoot that inspires people. I think I realized that even though I'm just a regular person in this world, there is always something we can do at any job to move people to be better or to remind them of what is important. Each little influence can make a difference.

• LLm: What is your next project?

SWC: I do have another project in the works and it's very special. I don't want to say yet, but I'll try to remember to share it with you when it happens. In between though, I'll just be capturing moments from the family, children and senior shoots that I do.

• LLm: What is your message, what do you want to say with your photographs?

SWC: I think the message that I want to say with my photographs differs from shoot to shoot, but mainly, I want to capture them authentically as they are and show as much love as I can through each photo. I think sometimes in this world we start running and forget to stop and enjoy the simple things. When we do a shoot, we (my husband and I) try to make it fun and enjoyable and encourage them to just love on each other.....to just be the best of themselves in that moment, so when they look at the photos, it's almost a reminder to remember how they felt in that moment and to apply that to every day.

• LLm: Tell us one thing from your bucket list, what you’ve already done and one which is your biggest dream to achieve.

SWC: My bucket list is really simple these days. I think when you are young, you have all of these things that you want to do for you and for me right in this moment, I don't want anything for myself. I really do wish to just be a good person and for that to simply be my goal or my check off of my list. This viral shoot wasn't even on my list....haha....and it happened because of the authenticity of what I try to do in my life and because capturing those two sweet people and their love had an impact. So I would say that my bucket lists consists of being the person God created me to be, being a good person and continuing to capture moments.....and if that creates something else super special for someone, then my goal has been met. Really, there is not a thing that makes me happier than seeing how happy people are when they see their photos or videos that we have created. There is so much goodness all around us and it just takes us taking a moment to capture it in our hearts.

Thank you.

Thank you Stacy for the interview!

All photo rights are reserved to Mary Evelyn Photography by Stacy Welch-Christ.