Happy Holiday Season! The older I get, the more I enjoy gifting. It is a gift in itself to bring a smile to the faces of the special people in my life, and I appreciate that more and more with each passing year. This year, more so than years past, I’ve decided to turn my process of “Christmas shopping” into an experience that I will enjoy in an effort to lose the stress and select even more intentional gifts.
Online vs. In store Gift Shopping
The convenience of online shopping is always enticing, and for a few select people I know exactly what I want to get them and exactly where I’ll find it – often online. Along with this, there are a few tried and true brands I know and love that I can only access online, so for those I’ll continue to “add to cart”! I’ve linked such brands in my gift “idea guides” below in case you’re looking for this convenient route as well!
That being said, some people on my list are not as easy to shop for and will require a little more thought and effort. I’ve decided to do the bulk of my Christmas shopping for these recipients in person at a few of my favorite local spots, for a few reasons. 1. It will be enjoyable to do, and an enjoyable experience yields a more intentional gift selection! 2. Gifts from a small, local boutique or shop are unique, unexpected, and often more personal! Plus it makes shopping for stocking stuffers more fun and convenient. 3. It supports the local businesses in my community at a time when they need it most!
Ideas instead of Items
This year, I’ve decided to forego listing links upon links for you. Rather, I’ve decided to provide some general ideas & directional suggestions to help you decide on gifts for your people! One reason is that many of these “gifts” are not linkable. But second, I find myself looking at gift guides not specifically for the products, but for the ideas. So while some of my below suggestions are accompanied by recommended product links, most are simply formative ideas for you to consider!
Some of the links below (not all) are affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission off a sale! If you do choose to use my links for your Christmas shopping, thank you so much for supporting my small business!
Ladies
(Idea List Below Image)
For Mom/MIL
- A 4-piece set of glasses (whatever their favorite fun beverage is, margarita/martini/mule copper mugs/coffee mugs/lemonade tumblers), accompanied by a written recipe you love for that beverage (& bonus to include the ingredients)!
- If they like to cook: your current favorite cook book with a few tagged recipes you love (shameless plug for the recipes on my blog… checkout my recipe index on my blog menu!)
- A fun dish: buy them a new pretty casserole dish and attach a recipe you love (bonus to include ingredients)!
- A mani/pedi date (a gift for you too!)
- Basket of winter goods: a winter candle + some vintage stick matches, some local coffee beans + a mug, a book you love (for the reader), or an Amazon video gift card with a movie rec for a movie night in, some popcorn with assorted popcorn seasoning & sea salt, a new set of wood cooking utensils (wood spoon & spatula for stews & soups), maybe top it off with a cozy throw blanket!
- For the woman who is excited to start/continue her fitness journey this new year: a nice new water bottle, some good workout socks, bala bangles (the cutest wrist/ankle weights), a yoga mat, etc.
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon idea list here!
For Sister/SIL/Friend
- I believe any of the “Mom/MIL” gifts are equally great ideas for a sister/friend (see above list)!
- For the busy mom/boss babe, HopeFuel “faith-based” planners are my favorite and would make an excellent gift before the new year! I’ve used them for years and look forward to getting my new one each new year!
- Dainty meaningful jewelry – hopefuel also released a jewelry line this year which provides subtle meaningful reminders of faith in the form of dainty feminine jewelry pieces 🤩 (pictured above) – I have the “New Creation” necklace and love it!
- Coordinate with their spouse/sig other to plan a surprise spa date with you and her!
- You can never go wrong with a nice pair of leggings – esp. The kind that one would normally forego for a cheaper option (my favs are beyond yoga spacedye and lululemon align)
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon (under $20) idea list here!
Gentlemen
For Husband/Boyfriend
Matt and I have kept it simple for Christmas for the past several years. In lieu of traditional “big gifts, we stuff each other’s stockings (sometimes setting a small budget for each other which that challenge makes the task even more fun and meaningful) & we plan a holiday date night (or weekend getaway if we’re feeling extra fancy)! I love that my stocking is stuffed by him and would much rather spend our gift budget on a babysitter + a nice meal than items on a wishlist we’d send each other!
If you do want to go with a traditional gift, here have been a few of my best ones (according to Matt) in the 11+ years we’ve been together:
- Personalized humidor
- A flight in a cool small plane (check your local small airports for novel flight experiences)
- A fishing trip (while we lived in Houston, I once gifted Matt morning of bay fishing through a service and it was such a fun experience for both of us! The boat held up to 4 people, so I also invited a good friend of his and his dad, which made it even more fun for him!)
- Tickets to a game or concert
- Beer brewing class &/or kit (check out local breweries for classes)
- Grill accessories, golf accessories, hunting accessories, fishing accessories…. So many good options for each specific hobby that I cannot possibly begin to cover them all!
- Growler + a brewery “bucket list” of local brews to try together in 2022, accompanied by a local 6 pack of course!
- Nice work shoes with sneaker bottoms – Matt loves these crossovers between sneakers & nice shoes!
- Golf round at a local course he’s never tried
- Cigar subscription trial (I did this for my dad one year and Matt loved the idea/wanted to do it himself!)
- Matt seemingly always needs new T-shirts, and I always get him these by Tasc performance (available on amazon). I discovered them in a brick and mortar store in New Orleans and bought them as a gift for Matt at that time, he loved them so much he wanted more and I was so excited to find them on amazon!
- Big ticket winners: yeti cooler products, pellet grills (pitboss is a good competitor to traeger for much less $$$)
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon idea list here!
For Dad/FIL
- Most of the above list applies to dad/FIL also! Especially golf round, cigar subscription, beer brewing kit, and anything YETI!
- Consumables they’ll love but haven’t tried – I always grab my dad some of my favorite local beef jerky! Matt’s dad is a coffee drinker, so we like to pick out some new blends for him to try. A variety pack of local brews or whiskey is always a good option also!
- My dad retired recently and plans to spend a lot more time at the beach in the years ahead, so last year we got him a pimped out beach chair complete with all the fishing attachments, cupholders, storage, and comfort!
- The Ancestry kit is also a fun idea for the history buff dad with a curiosity about his lineage!
- I’m leaving out the typical sweaters, slippers, jackets, shoes… but if your dad has a specific style you know he’ll love, I’m sure you cant go wrong! But also, if that’s the case, you certainly aren’t reading this!
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon idea list here!
For Toddlers
**Many of the below ideas are linked on my amazon idea list!
- Easel
- Play dough sensory kit (I love the kits by Houston mama “young wild and Friedman”)
- Stem science experiment kit (love the kits by kiwi co – kits for any age!)
- Modular wood balance beam (This is one of our “big gifts” for the kids this year – just got it in the mail and LOVE it!)
- Trampoline
- Wooden Baking/Mixer Set (I bought this one for Shea this christmas and can’t wait to give it to her!)
- Play tent
- Activity table + chairs (this is another gift we bought for the kids – a friend of mine had it and we loved it! Can’t wait for them to see it set up on Christmas morning!)
- Balance bike
- Doll house
- Zoo pass (or similar membership)
- Giant world wall map
- Play kitchen
- Push stroller/shopping cart/wagon
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Here is my Toddler/Baby Wood Toy Amazon List, and here is my general toddler amazon idea list!
For baby
- Push toys if near walking age
- Name Puzzle (I’ve gifted this one by Smiling Tree Toys to many of my nephews/friends children!)
- Black and white stock of image/shape cards
- Teethers + gum relief gel
- Board books (I love the slumberkins board books that go with a cute stuffed animal!)
- Fun bath toys (bath lights, bath water colors, bath crayons, bubble bath, etc!)
- Cute paci clips – many moms can’t have enough of these!
- Dolls/loveys from a local boutique (uniqueness makes these gifts the best!)
- Stacked cups
- Bows for baby girls!
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon idea list here!
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Stocking stuffers (for her)
- Tiny cast iron skillets (for a single egg, single serve cookies or small sauces)
- Reusable aluminum straws
- Copper spoon
- Small candle + vintage matchsticks
- Nice pens (everyone loves new pens)
- Hand written recipe
- Small pack of stationary
- Hand-made soaps
- Essential oils
- Chocolate, coffee
- Beauty blender sponge/jade roller
- Looking for something convenient on Amazon? Shop my amazon idea list here!
…I don’t have many idea’s “for him” that don’t involve something consumable. Candy, cigars, lighters, socks, business card holder… I think you got this?
For the person who is impossible to shop for
Don’t shop for them, instead gift them one of two things:
1. A consumable item – their favorite pie from a local bakery, the best beef jerky in town, local coffee beans, maybe prepare a basket of their favorite consumable goods for them! I always go this route for my dad
2. An experience: spa service, concert tickets, a gift card for a date night out at their favorite restaurant, etc!
3. A donation to their favorite charity in their name – for someone on your list, this may be just the gift their heart needs this season!
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy holiday season!!
Love, Kelsie
