Holiday Gift Guide
I imagine that upon seeing the title of this blog post, you felt one of two emotions: a deep, unending dread, or utter excitement. As someone who adores the holiday season (especially gift giving), I fall into the latter category. However, I fully understand why some of you dread this time of year. Shopping for your friends and family can be difficult. Personally, I find shopping for the men in my life nearly impossible. Despite being with my boyfriend for two years, I still struggle to get him gifts that he will genuinely like. Whether you are a gift-giving master or a newbie, this gift guide will help with all of your holiday struggles. I broke it down into seven categories, from “the health queen” to “the world traveler” (my personal favorite.) Happy (early) Holidays and happy shopping!
for mom
candle / slippers / mugs / spa / perfume
My mom is constantly busy and on the road with work, so I tried to center my gifts around self care and relaxation. I particularly love the idea of giving a spa certificate, as it allows you to give an experience rather than an object. I also asked my mom for gift suggestions, and she said that agendas were a good idea for on-the-go moms. I adore this planner from Anthropologie. She also suggested gifting classes, which is such a good idea! In my area, we have Skillpop classes available in a wide variety of topics, from how to build a charcuterie board to how to use Adobe Illustrator. This is such a fun gift idea, as it doubles as an experience as well as a chance to learn something new.
for dad
wallet / knife 1 / knife 2 / beard oil / face wash / fitbit / mini fireplace
Dads can be notoriously difficult to shop for, but I’m quite happy with the collection of gifts I have put together here. My dad actually already owns most of these items, so I took inspiration from some of his most used and favorite pieces. For instance, I swears by the ColsenKeane wallet pictured above. He is also a huge fan of Best Made Company, the makers of the two knives shown above. Perhaps my favorite gift idea, though, is the mini fireplace. My mother and I impulsively bought one at the Indie Craft Parade and we are so glad that we did. Not only are they fun, they add a bit of warmth to our front porch now that it’s getting colder outside.
for the boyfriend
shoes 1 / shoes 2 / peppermint bark / hoodie / basketball / cologne
Shopping for my boyfriend is always difficult, but I think I’m getting the hang of buying gifts that he will actually like. I love the idea of giving him a hoodie or a sweatshirt, because then I can just steal it later! All jokes aside, I don’t know a single guy who doesn’t love wearing hoodies. I’m pretty sure it’s a staple of the teenage male wardrobe. I also don’t think you can go wrong with food related gifts. Whether it be homemade cookies or some yummy peppermint bark, your man will love some holiday sweets!
for the beauty lover
pillow case / glossier / nail polish 1 / nail polish 2 / mask / reusable makeup removing pads
This might be one of my favorite collections I put together for this gift guide, particularly because I SWEAR by some of these products. Firstly, the Origins mask shown above has saved my skin time and time again since I have been in China. I have been using Origins products for as long as I can remember, as they use all natural ingredients that are good for your skin. This mask is focused on hydration, and makes my skin so soft and dewy! I also love the idea of gifting reusable makeup removing pads, as it’s an eco-friendly alternative to constantly purchasing cotton pads.
for the health queen
essential oil / body brush / vitamin gummies / water bottle / headspace
There are some gift ideas in this collection that I absolutely adore. I particularly love the idea of gifting a Headspace membership. Mindfulness is such an important part of staying healthy, and incorporating meditation into your daily routine can be incredibly beneficial. Along with this, gifting Olly gummies can be a unique and fun gift idea for any health queen in your life. I particularly love the sleep vitamins, but Olly also makes vitamins for beauty, digestion, and more.
for the world traveler
portable charger / journal / eye mask / fanny pack / book / passport cover
This collection was so easy for me to put together because I use these items on a daily basis! Now that I’m a seasoned “world traveler,” I consider myself an expert on this topic. I have been loving the fanny pack I have (the one I use is from Patagonia) because I use it as a purse. Instead of carrying around a traditional bag, which can be prone to pickpocketing, I wear my fanny pack across my chest. All of my valuables are easily accessible for me. I have also been reading David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day, which is an amazing book. He talks about his struggle to learn the French language as well as his experience living in a foreign country. Needless to say, it’s the perfect book for the world traveler in your life.
for the fashionista
necklace / sweater / sunglasses / bandana / phone case
It can be difficult to shop for someone who adores fashion. Oftentimes, people like this are picky with what they wear, leaving the people in their life unsure what to buy them for the holidays. Trust me, I know— I’m the impossible-to-shop-for fashionista. I think that these pieces will be loved by any fashion lover, particularly the Free People sweater. I own it in a coral pink color and LOVE it. It is one of the softest sweaters I own! I also love the idea of a custom name necklace. It is such a simple accessory and the personalization feature makes it a special gift.
