Grandparents

Bless my dear grandparents! As they are in their 80's, buying gifts for them has been getting harder. I find that my gifts tend toward the sentimental or practical. I recently made them a scrapbook, so this year I decided to get them a luxury plush throw from Restoration Hardware. I received the cream one last year from one of my girlfriend's and have loved it ever since! It's a great size and is super comfy-- Also machine washable which I love love love! On sale from $59 to $29, not kidding.

Father/Wife

As I've said before, it's a difficult thing to shop for a man who doesn't want anything and doesn't need much, but the one thing my father can't say no to is COMFORT. That's why this year, I got him and his wife sheepskin lined slippers. I find that UGGs are super comfortable and last a long time, but there are cheaper options out there as well. LL Bean does a good job at the slipper thing too! Below you'll find pictures of UGG's Byron slipper for men and Dakota slipper for women.

Gift for Girlfriend

One of my best girlfriends loves vintage looking jewelry; I always troll around markets and shops with her to find pretty beads or pieces. That's why when I saw this necklace at J. Crew, I knew it'd be great for her! The link doesn't take you to the exact one I saw in the store because I couldn't find it online, but it's similar and J. Crew always has new pieces coming in. Here's a picture of one that's similar in style.

Gifts for Uncles

This year, I gave all the men in my family different products from The Art of Shaving. This company does a great job of elevating an every day activity to something luxurious... I love the lavender scent but picked a neutral scent for others!

Gifts for the Ladies

It's great when I'm able to give gifts that I've personally used and loved. This year, for the ladies in my family, I've filled their gift baskets with:

- A cute holiday paper pad to jot down their shopping lists. Everyone can always use a list pad, Expressionery has great ones that are good for any occasion!



- Too Faced shadow insurance from Sephora, it's an amazing shadow primer that makes your eye shadow stay put and stay crease-free ALL day! I can't live without it now.



- And a skinny patent leather belt from J.Crew. I have a few of them and you can dress them up or down and wear them with just about anything! It can work for any aged lady in my family!

Xmas Gifts for Girlfriends

This year's gifts: a cute colorful pashmina, matching lace undies from Victoria's Secret and a fruity lipgloss!

Wedding Gifts

I've been to a slew of weddings recently and thus have had to give my fair share of gifts celebrating matrimonial bliss.

Contrary to most other gift-giving occasions, weddings are NOT the time to get super creative. Generally, it is advised to go off the couple's gift registries. Should they not be registered, money is also appreciated. Other times, the couple may suggest a favorite non-profit organization so that donations can be made instead of receiving gifts/money.

Although the main gift should follow the general rules above, you can always add a personal touch! Go ahead and put a cute picture of the couple in the sterling silver frame you purchased off their registry, or add an inside joke to the card, or even knit them a trivit in their favorite colors. Touches like this make even the most mundane of gifts somewhat personal and ensures that the couple is still receiving what they want!

Xmas Gift for my Mother

My holiday gift for my mother had many pieces to it, but her bigger gift was a coffee-table photography book of the Beatles (her favorite). Barnes and Nobles has great bargains on coffee-table books during the holidays so be sure to check them out! This gift can readily apply to anyone with a favorite band, topic, or hobby and it's also gender neutral. This can also apply to a couple who has a shared interest!

Xmas for Uncles

It's always difficult for me when I know I have to give a group of men a gift, knowing that they'll be opening them in front of one another. Being the gift-giver that I am, I'd love to personalize the gifts but alas, I don't want to offend anyone in thinking that some gifts are better than others.

This year, I went with some very handsome scarves. The prints were varying and the colors were different as well, and I took note to which uncles wear what colors the most. Water color blues for my pastel-color loving uncle, and masculine navy/grey stripes for my black wearing uncle, etc.

Banana Republic always has good ones during the winter that fit well within the budget of any savvy shopper!

BF's Parents' Gift + stocking stuffer

My friends recently introduced me to a really great game called Settlers of Catan and I knew that would be a hit with my bf's parents because we love to play board games when we're together!
I got it off Amazon and also got them the expansion pack which is well worth it, because the game works the best with 4 players. As a stocking stuffer, I got them the #1 Pet ornament from Pottery barn with a picture of their family dog, Archie!

BF stocking stuffer

Another great stocking stuffer from the Personalization Mall! As this was the first set of holidays my bf and I split between our two families, it was the first Christmas we'd spent together. I wanted to commemorate the occasion by getting an engraved ornament that said the date and the #1. I hope to give him a new number each Christmas so that we can travel round the tree to count the years!

BF's X-mas Gift + Stocking stuffer + Groomsmen gifts

As mentioned in a previous post, my BF currently goes to school in Michigan and it can get quite chilly there. It's unfortunate that my X-mas gift was backordered and didn't arrive until March, but they're so deliciously warm and good-looking that I'll forgive LL Bean for their gaffe! Did I mention they have these in women's sizes as well? Also, check out the multi-functional titanium collar stays (sweet stocking stuffer!) from Bonobos that are also bottle-openers! Can't get more festive than that. Update: husband bought these for his groomsmen and had a short inside joke engraved on one and their initials on the other.