First off, many of these links are affiliate links that we do receive small commissions from--we really appreciate the support
Another thing to note--if you're like Kyle and I, we share an Amazon Prime account. This is perfect for us....except for when we are ordering each other gifts and don't want the other see. Instead of playing a game of having neighbors order for you or using a guest account, we've found a great solution to be setting up a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime for one partner to use from Black Friday until Christmas. Just be sure to set a reminder in your calendar to be sure your subscription is cancelled when no longer needed!
Apparel:
Nisolo Shoes -
If you've been following for a while, you know we LOVE our Nisolos. Nisolo makes beautiful, timeless, quality shoes while paying fair wages and continually making strides to be the most ethical brand they can be. We each got two pairs of Nisolos last year for Christmas and will continue to add to our collection.
I'm almost two excited for my all my shoes to become too worn so I can replace them all with Nisolos! My current wishlist is pictured below:
We love Nisolo so much that we became brand affiliates and we have always had the best experiences working with them. Purchasing through the links on this blog post does earn us a commission.
Quality Bathrobe-
last year I invested in this Lands' End robe for Kyle. It isn't a fluffy soft robe like mine, more of a thick durable towel. It's been great for keeping warm in our basement, lovely to put on between showering and getting dresses, and essential for those early morning potty trips with the dog. It's definitely not priced as a seasonal robe you'd find at Costco, but we both think it is great quality and will last for many years (you can also get it monogrammed).
*linked robe in picture is similar
Self-care
Elf Moisturizer-
It can be hard to pay full price to try out a new product, and I love being gifted new moisturizers or skincare items to try. This moisturizer is a great price, but also full of great ingredients and I would highly recommend giving it a try. It has the most unique jelly-like texture and seems so universal for all skin types. I think it would make an excellent stocking stuffer or additive to a beauty-themed gift bag.
Honest Cream-
Pricier than the Elf moisturizer this Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream is oh so luxurious but not yet at that uxury price. Again, with great ingredients (like squalane and two types of hyluranic acid) I think this would be a great alternative for dry skin types
Foot Peels-
Okay, these are fairly new to me and something I've really only used in the last year or so. These foot masks are full on insanity. You place your feet into a "sock" filled with some strong chemical exfoliants for a set amount of time, then moisturize and then for the next week you shed the skin on your feet. It doesn't hurt.....but it is INTENSE. Like a peeling sunburn...but only your feet and it's the whole foot. I totally get that these might not be for everyone...but if you're interested in this and think you can handle it--I promise you they really do work. I've used a couple different brands and so far this one here is my favorite.
Ice or Jade Roller-
This is probably just a genetic issue that I face (thanks, dad)--but I can get some epic puffy eyes. Whether it's from dehydration, crying, or some late night salty snacks these sort of rollers can be game-changing. Best of all, they come in a variety of price ranges (here is the one that I currently use).
Melatonin-
Not the normal gift that you might see...but a good nights sleep is a game-changer and with everything going on it's so easy to stress yourself out of sleep. I love the idea of everyone having a little melatonin in a self-care kit. We use a few different types at different strengths; Kyle often prefers these 10mg, but for some reason one of these 3mg gummies (pictured) is way more potent and fast acting for me than a higher dose of the tablet.
Pillow Mist-
continuing with our sleep self care a nice mellow pillow mist can be a lovely additional step to a good nights sleep. We have a couple different ones that we use and our favorite way to use them is a heavy handed spritz about the bed before we go to brush our teeth--it is so magical to come back and climb into a refreshed bed to snuggle up in. I'll link a couple similar to what we use here and in the picture to the right. I also made a DIY linen spray/pillow mist from lavender we picked in Sequim, I'll link the post about it here when it goes live.
Magnesium Spray-
Rounding out our sleep selfcare section we have a magnesium spray. If you struggle with muscle soreness, cramps, or RLS this is worth a shot. Taking an epsom salt bath can be helpful, but it can be time consuming. I have crazy RLS; I've tried exercise, stretching, magnesium supplements (why are they also so large), and so far this seems to be working the best for me. You definitely need to apply some sort of lotion or neutral carrier oil along with this as it is strong and can be irritating to the skin.
Tea-
If you know a tea drinker or anyone looking for some coziness some artful, unique, well-thought out teas. What I mean by this is something other than peppermint and chamomile; maybe some lavender, licorice root, rooibos, etc. Here is a sampler kit to help get you started, also think about local teas or honeys you might find at a farmers market--this is also a great little gift for anyone coming into town for the holidays.
Bath Kits-
First off, I think it's worth it to mention not everyone has access to a bathtub, just something to be mindful oof. That aside, a good bath can be both physically and mentally rejuvenating. Bath kits are sold by many different brands, and of course there's always the route of creating your own custom mix of bath salts, bath bombs, oils, etc. I however, don't think there's anything wrong with a pre-curated bath kit where you know everything will work well together. Shop my favorite bath kit/scent, here.
Journals-
There are so many beautiful journals out there. Bookstores, boutiques, even just online you can purchase journal that you feel would suite the intended receiver and then write a meaningful message on the first few pages. How sweet and thoughtful is that? In addition to the journal linked in the picture on the left, I'll link a few more down below. I've been interested and drooling over these promptly journals for a while--I love how they have ones for individuals, couples, for kids learning about their feelings--definitely worth checking out!
Experiences
Believe it, or not, we're fairly minimalist around here and love experiences. If you're struggling to find a gift for the person who has everything, consider an experience. Here are some of our favorite ideas for all ages and stages of life:
Subscription Services
childrens' magazines-
I think this one is SO creative. If you've got a grandchild/niece/nephew this is the perfect way to giftt something that can be educational and useful vs. regular clutter. It's also a great idea if you yourself are not too familiar with kids and don't know what to get them. There are different magazine/toy subscriptions for all different ages that cater towards the focuses of that developmental phase. Read more about specific subscriptions in this blog post here.
Online services-
Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, Adobe--if you have a loved one who loves these platforms consider paying for their subscripttion. Whether it be 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, etc. it can show that you know them well and want to support their interests.
Zoo membership-
This is a classic and most perfect giftt for grandparents to give to families. Whether it be the zoo, aquarium, childrens museums, local museums, a membershipi can help support these non-profits and make familiy memories. Consider also adding a "coupon" for a one-on-one zoo date with grandma/grandpa/etc.
Local Attractions-
I've chosen to separate this from a museum membership because while similiar it's a little more unique. It's also a little harder to describe, so I'll just use an example: We recently visited the historic Smith Tower in Seattle (more on that here). We paid an entrance fee to go up and dine on the 34th floor while walking around and taking in full 360 degree views of Seattle. Smith Tower offers essentially a membership where you have unliimitied visits to the top of the tower in a 12 month period. This would be a great gift for a couple and I would recommend looking around your area for something similar. Remember, you don't need to gift a full membership, you can also gift one time use tickets or certificates of a value that fits your budget.
While not quite the same, also look for groupons to gift. Bowling, spas, theme parks, restaurants, etc. tickets and certificates can really give people a reason to go out.
Movie Tickets-
We're not big movie people, and with COVID this might not be for everyone, but when in doubt movie ticket vouchers and gift cards can be a great gift for teens and young adults. Remember to look into what theaters are in the recievee's area (AMC vs. Regal etc.) so you can be sure they can use it without traveling too far. Consider also pairing with their favorite candy. For parents or those 21 and older look for a local theater that also serves dinner, this is generally a top contender idea when it comes to gifting my parents (here is a theater North of Seattle that serves dinner).
Beauty Subscription kits-
Yes, another subscription idea, but for the beauty lovers you know. There are several beauty and apparel subscription kits out there like Ipsy, Boxy Charm, Scentbird, etc. What I love about subscription kits is that right coompany will provide a lot of flexibility for how many months you'd like to give and what levels or sizes of "kits" you'd like to purchase; I also love how it's a gift that comes after the holidays as a sweet little surprise.
One last little mention: car wash gift certificates. I don't feel like I need to say much more.
Personalized Gifts
Etsy paintings -
There are some beautifully talented artist on etsy that can create custom paintings at a variety of different price points. A painting of a sentimental memory; a home, a pet, a childhood toy....Holidays can be hard, especially after a loss and this is can be an opportunity to lovingly remember those in our hearts and grow that love through a thoughtful gift. When we were engaged I gifted Kyle a small sketch of his childhood dog, so that wherever we ended up we could always have him in our home. After he unexpectedly passed I painted some watercolors of him and it was a really emotional gift to give/receive.
Video Collage-
If you're on a budget, this is a great way to give your time. We once hosted a baby shower for sweet friends who moved not too long before Covid. We secretly reached out to all their friends fromo their previous home and asked them to record a message and send it to us. We took all the videos and edited them together to a beautiful video that made us all tear up. This might be a great idea for a college student to create for grandparents or parents to bring the whole family together. I'm currently working several video collages and they have been taking me a long time, if you don't feel you have the time of skills there are lots of apps and programs that can put videos together for you in seconds
Photography-
A great gift for parents or grandparents is to take a photo of kids/grandkids and personalize a mug, a magnet, a mousepad, etc. Shutterfly ALWAYS has a deal going and there are many other companies out there that do similar things at a better quality.
Digital Picture Frame-
In addition to our above idea, get a loved one a digital picture frame. We've given multiple people these and we love how compact + easy to set up they are. They come in variety of prices points, storage, and sizes. Be sure to be prepared with some photos to start the frame off with, often I think the easiest way to do this is just have a compatible USB drive or memory card to just plug in. Another great idea is to update/add photos every year.
Calendar-
This is definitely a "know your audience" type of gift. Not everyone likes a physical calendar, not everyone uses a physical calendar--but, if you know a grandma who uses a calendar...consider personalizing a calendar of all the grandkids...a pet lover? Pet calendar. It can be as time consuming as you make so make sure you know what you're willing to put into it beforehand.
*bonus points if you add funny holidays
No money gift ideas
Cookies-
There is nothing wrong with sharing some of your favorite cookies with a loved one. Some people also love having the recipe shared too (I'll admit there is nothing as quaint as sharing a handwritten recipe).
Babysitting Coupons-
This is a fun one that we like to gift to some of our family friends. We have lots of friends that have become family and we are firm believers in spending time together one-on-one as a couple. It can be hard (and this is true sans covid) to find a babysitter you trust, can afford, and then to coordinate a datenight.....We try to be as flexible and giving as possible (and hope that one day we're on the other side of this sort of gift).
Car Detailing-
Kyle did this for his sisters for years and they still talk about it almost everytime we see them.
Plant Cuttings-
if you are a crazy plant lady like me take some snips a few months ahead of time and set them aside in some water to propagate. It's a fun little gift that is personal and still low maintenance.
DIY Sugar Scrub-
a cute jar, sugar, some nice oil, and a few drops of essential oils--TA DA! A lovely little exfoliater, especially during the winter it's a huge win.
Custom Bath Salts-
you might have some regular epsom salts lying around. In a jar layer the bath salts, a little spoonful of coconut oil, a few large spoonfuls of baking soda, and your favorite mix of essential oils (I love a nice citrus blend of grapefruit with bergamot).
For more ideas, here is our Christmas present vlog from last year--we went WAY overboard and loved our first Christmas together.
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