Gift-giving has always been tough for me. I want to find the perfect gift, and it just never seems to exist. Fortunately, my family is a “list family”. We share our lists with each other, generally have an idea of what people want to spend, then execute. So easy, and everyone is happy.
For the people outside my family, I’m left to fend for myself. We always do tons of research and don’t write anything down, so each year we’re starting from scratch. This year, I’m jotting these down as I’m going through my Christmas lists. If you’re needing some random ideas for the season, or if you’re family prefers the element of surprise over the lists, here are a few ideas I’ve thrown together. It’s not long because Christmas is 20 days away, and I’m in panic mode.
For the hostess…
One Hope Wine – I haven’t purchased anything from this website yet, but this is what I’m hoping to do for any holiday parties I’m attending. Alcohol is always a go-to, but this is alcohol for a cause which makes it even cooler. They even have little gift boxes if you want to make it even more personal/specific… My favorite is a celebration box with champagne flutes and confetti! (NYE anyone?) The glitter bottle also makes it extra festive!
Nora Fleming – I’m pretty sure it was my grandma who introduced me to Nora Fleming years and years ago, and it’s still one of my favorites. The mini ornaments are adorable and a really cute way to add a little extra decoration to any kind of party. I have a bunch, but here are the pics of the ones I used for a Euchre party last year…
They have some non-platter options too, like a bud vase, so that’s a good option if you don’t want to mess with someone’s party platters. The little ornaments can be swapped out and used with any of the dishes.
Magnolia Market – I feel like it’s safe to say that everyone loves Chip and Joanna Gaines. (And if they don’t, they really should) Their website has a million things on it that I’m obsessed with, and it’s all nice stuff. You could grab anything, even their quarterly magazine or an ornament, as a little gift for someone.
For someone else’s kids…
Kiwi Co Crate – I really struggle buying gifts for friends’ kids, especially if they have multiple. It’s next to impossible to know which kid has what toy, so I usually try to go for something that’s somewhat “disposable”. Usually that involves some sort of craft or outdoor fun, like bubbles.
Currently, I’m a fan of the Kiwi Co Crates. It’s a monthly subscription, but you can also buy one “crate” as a gift. The box includes all the pieces and instructions you need to build something, and that something is usually really fun to play with once the building is done.
This isn’t the best photo, but it shows the bird costume that they made from one of the boxes. So cute!
A White Elephant…
A white elephant gift exchange can be amazingly fun or incredibly awkward, depending on the group. The amazingly fun scenario is when it involves a group of close friends that you’re 100% comfortable around. The incredibly awkward scenario usually involves coworkers or new friends that you don’t know well at all. Whose going to steal a present they want from the boss’s boss, am I right?
Wine Condoms – Wine condoms can pretty much be used in either scenario (at least where I used to work). I love these things so much. They offer just the right amount of comedy without going too raunchy. You can also pair them with a bottle of wine to make it a gift that people actually want.
And they don’t just offer a good laugh. They’re also really useful! They’re great on a champagne bottle since the cork doesn’t go back in, or it’s nice when traveling with wine of any kind.
For grandparents or really anyone close to your kids…
Photo Keychain – Photo gifts aren’t new by any means, but this specific one is new to me. I came across this keychain on Etsy, and I love it so much! It’s simple but beautiful, and anything personalized with a photo is a win.
Skylight Frame – This frame is genius. It’s one of those digital frames with the rotating photos, but what makes this frame even more special is how the photos are populated. There’s an email address associated with the frame, and anyone who has that email address can send pictures directly to the frame. We got this for my parents, and it’s always fun to surprise them with new photos now and then.
For the Traveler…
Push Pin Map – My husband and I got this as a gift for each other because we’ve always wanted to document the places we’ve traveled. We went with a huge one, but they also have smaller sizes if you’re not looking for a statement piece. This shop on Etsy shipped it crazy fast, and the quality is awesome!
Globe Ornament – I’ve been constantly checking to see if this ornament is back in stock because I NEED this as a small gift for someone who absolutely loves to travel. I’m still holding out hope that it will be back before Christmas, but I’m not above sending a late gift with an apology note:)
All their ornaments are adorable, so you could really use any of them as a gift idea.
Go Chair – This was another fail on timing, but again, I’m holding out hope that these chairs are as cool as I think they’re going to be. I found it on Indiegogo, and it’s a new chair that folds down to the size of a water bottle. As a brand new family of five without a minivan, compact items are KEY to saving trunk/car space.
We are planning on taking the kids to Disney in February, so I thought these chairs would be genius. Then I received the email that the production was delayed, so we won’t receive them in time. I was depressed for a hot second, but I can still think of at least ten other scenarios where these will be incredibly helpful!
For your significant other…
This gift idea isn’t something you can buy online, but it was one of my favorites, so I had to give a shoutout to Joe. Our first Christmas together, Joe went with a “five senses” theme. Candles for smell, massage gift card for touch, NSYNC and Taylor Swift Christmas cds (amazing!) for sound, wine and chocolate for taste, and movies (from our first date night) for sight. If you’re struggling to come up with a gift idea, it’s a genius way to give a thoughtful gift that also is totally useful. Who wouldn’t want any of those things?
On that note… Happy Holidays!!!