Gift Guide

Are you at a loss for what to buy people for the upcoming holiday? For me, I love to search for the perfect gift. There is nothing better than thinking about a friend or family member and racking your brain for what they might like and then suddenly stumble across the perfect gift. I've been seeing a lot of websites and magazines have "gift guides" for the holiday and wanted to create my own as well.

Most of these are inexpensive items though there are a few that are over $20 just because they were so cute I couldn't help but include them. A lot of these are just suggestions and might lead you to a gift that you hadn't yet thought about for someone in your life. I've included all the links under the photos so if you find something you just have to have - either for yourself or as a gift for someone - you can easily buy it!

I've separated the gifts in four different categories that I hope you like! This doesn't cover every person on your list, but it might give you some ideas!

"Trendy" gifts

By trendy, I sort of mean those, well, trends you see a lot of. Right now I feel like those are copper and gold accents and marble. I know I can't walk five steps in say a TJ Maxx without seeing something copper or a marble finish. Then there are all the other big things you see in every beauty guru's home for example, like delicate ring holders, ornate picture frames and candles.




Ring Tray
Copper Mugs
Candle Holder
Pineapple Pillow
Jewel Photo Frame
Phone Case
Makeup bag
Photo Frame
Marble Candle
Tea light holder


"Silly" gifts

Everyone can appreciate a good funny, slightly useless, gift. Rue21 has a lot of that type of thing, especially if you know someone who loves emojis. Seriously, there are stickers and magnets as well as this pillow I found, which would be great for stocking stuffers. The following are things that made me laugh and could really be given to anyone if you just want something light.

Penguin ring tray

Cat tape dispenser 

Smartphone Projector

Photo clip string lights

Instagram (4x4) photo frame

Playing cards

Dog shaped ring holder

Macaron lip balm

Emoji Pillow

For the coffee lover

Self explanatory. If you know someone who loves coffee - or tea - to an extreme, a sort of lazy gift is a new coffee mug. At the same time, you can turn this "lazy" gift into something special by finding a fun coffee mug to fit their personality. There are a ton of coffee themed PJ's and shirts - especially from Forever21 - if you're looking for more things like this.

Coffee "Yes you can" shirt

Now you make speak mug

Travel mug

Don't Care mug

Gold mug

For the book lover

My suggestion is to never try to actually buy a book for someone unless they have specifically told you what they want, or unless you know their personal book collection well. You don't want to give them something they already have with no way to return it, so there are a few other choices for the book lover in your life. You could get them a gift card, but sometimes that's a little impersonal, so you could always throw in a few extras. Book lovers often love journals and writing, so that's a safe bet. Book ends are cute, fun and useful that add style to a room.  Wall art is fun too, with a nice quote to go near their bookshelf.

Sticky note planner
Gold Candle
Quote wall art
Ampersand bookends
Photo album
Books I haven't Read bookend
Kate Spade notebook 


I hope you got some ideas and are getting excited for the holidays! I bought a few of the things above for myself and some family members and hope it inspired you as well.

Until next time,

Rose

The Christmas Tag

This is a very long tag because I decided to pick and choose from a lot of different Christmas tags that I found online. I hope you enjoy and I encourage anyone to fill the tag - in a blog post or video - and be sure to send it to me if you do!

1. Do you like to stay in your PJ’s, or dress up for Christmas? 

We've never been the family to really "dress up" for Christmas. When I was younger I definitely stayed in my PJ's, but now I'll usually throw on jeans or comfortable sweatpants. Lately I've been living in my "Walk the Moon" sweatshirt, especially since my mom keeps the house colder. 

2. Do you open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

My mom and I have a tradition that we open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest the next morning. When I was younger and it was me and my cousin we would open presents first thing - but now that I'm older we'll usually wait until the evening or late afternoon to open presents. 

3. What’s your favorite Christmas meal or treat? 

Some of the usual staples that my family has for both Thanksgiving and Christmas - twice baked potatoes are a huge favorite. Then of course cups of hot chocolate! This year I'm going to make a bunch of cupcakes for Mia, Marissa and I (also a batch of Hanukkah ones for them!) and my co-workers at Barnes & Noble. 

4. What’s your favorite holiday movie (or specials)?

The Santa Clause, The Holiday, The Last Holiday, A Christmas Movie, Home Alone, Christmas Every Day - then of course all the Christmas Specials of my favorite shows. I love watching the Glee Christmas episodes, the Danny Phantom Christmas episode is hilarious, as well as other random shows with nice specials. Of COURSE the Doctor Who Christmas Specials - both the new one on Christmas day and past ones. 

5. Have you ever made a snowman?

I have! When I was a kid in North Carolina. We didn't make a snowman, because it was actually February at the time - but we had a lot of snow fall in Prescott as well.

6. Show us an embarrassing Christmas Card photo!

I guess this counts! This was probably my family's Christmas card photo in like, 1992? Maybe 1993. 

7. What holiday tradition are you looking forward to most this year?

Not too many, honestly. Christmas has been pretty different the last few years and grown a bit smaller with just my mom and Grandma in the same state to celebrate it. The Christmas "traditions" I'll probably still have are watching my favorite movies with my family. 

8. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?  

Fake!

9. Be honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better?

I honestly love both. I love picking out the perfect gift for someone. That moment in the store when you see something and immediately think of a friend or a relative and know it would be perfect. Then wrapping it or putting it in a cute gift bag is amazing. Of course, there is nothing like getting a gift someone obviously picked out with care! 

10. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season?

I'd love to be in New York City for the holiday - I went a few days after the New Year a few years ago, but I'd love to be there in the thick of Christmas. Another place to go would be England, or a very snowy place. 

11. Does your family have a special holiday recipe you like to help make?

We have these things called "Gloopers" - I don't know if many other people make it or not. You make it by getting lunch meat ham, spreading cream cheese over it and then putting a green onion in the middle and rolling it up. You put them in the freezer for about an hour, pull them out and cut into little bite size pieces - sort of like sushi rolls. They're so good and my grandma has been making them since before I could remember.

12. Most memorable Holiday moment?

The morning I woke up - I was probably only in first grade, maybe even kindergarten - and got a set of Sailor Moon dolls. I just remember the dogs running around and being so happy about those dolls. I played with them so much. 

13. What made you realize the truth about Santa?

I was either in 2nd or 3rd grade. I went to my grandma's closet to grab something for her and I saw a bag full of things. I distinctly saw a Furby and thought, "oh, it's my present!" On Christmas day....it was Santa who gave me the Furby. So I sort of put 2 and 2 together.

Figures it was the evil Furby who destroyed my childhood.

14. Favorite Christmas songs?

Here's a few - surprise surprise, most of them are Glee. 

15. Do you make New Years resolutions? Do you stick to them?

I don't really make them anymore - because I didn't stick to them! 

16. What makes the Holidays special for you?

Being around friends. Spending time with my family (even though they drive me crazy sometimes). The religious connotations of the holiday and the celebration of that day. And of course, the gifts are special - they don't have to be materialistic, but the thought and care that went into the gift itself.

I hope everyone has a happy holiday - whichever one you may be celebrating! 

For this I tag: 

Mia

Izzy

Lauren

and Rachel Whitehurst why not 

Until next time, 

Rose