One of the burdens of being a mother in 2026 is that as soon as we finish one hectic holiday-planning season, another approaches. Winter is a great example: Even though you just finished putting away the Christmas decorations, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. (And let’s be honest, for some of us those Christmas decorations are still exactly where they were in December — and that’s just fine.)
Luckily, Atlanta-based mom of two, Lakeisha Drayton, has the keys to making Valentine’s Day shopping stress-free, and her number one tip is to shop her local CVS. “I always try to visit the store when seasonal items first hit the shelf so I can get the best ones,” she said, sharing that her personal favorites range from custom photo gifts, beautiful gift sets, and seasonal candy. “It’s a one stop shop. I always find everything I need to put a thoughtful gift together.”
That’s right, while you’re picking up your third ear infection prescription of the season, you can also fit in Valentine’s Day shopping for the whole family (and maybe pick up a gift or two for yourself while you’re at it. Celebrating love includes self love!) Below, Drayton shares some of her favorite gifts from CVS that will have your friends and family feeling cared for without stretching your wallet — or your bandwidth.
