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Now that Thanksgiving is over, and we’re all feeling well fed and slightly twitchy about the month left to prepare for the next holiday, let’s talk presents. Simple, easy, thoughtful presents. Ones that won’t stress you out or break the bank. These are items I’d love to receive, and will most likely be gifting to my friends and family, too!
Before we get started, I feel the need to tell you about my overwhelmingly melodramatic take on gift giving.
I’m at a point in my life where I’m just plain sick of STUFF. You know what I’m talking about, right?
STUFF. Items made by companies only concerned with their bottom line, sold to people who’ve been fooled into thinking they can fill their hearts by filling their homes with more and more things.
I’m just not interested.
Because I’d much rather shop from my couch and spend time at home with my family than go out and stand in line to buy excessive amounts of presents.
Because I’d happily receive nothing (or, um, let’s be honest- several bars of chocolate) instead of a dozen presents that will sit in a corner of my house for three months before eventually being donated to charity because, no, I don’t need three more throw blankets, another bulky piece of kitchen equipment to take up my precious counterspace, or any more STUFF to cram into a closet and never use.
Because the thought of all the materials used/wasted in the name of consumerism weighs heavily on my environmentally-friendly conscience.
Because I feel like all the excessive stuff clutters my brain and distracts me from the best parts of life, which, in my opinion, have nothing to do with stuff and everything to do with experiences.
Well, okay. There’s some stuff I could use, and I think you and your friends/fam will love, too. Don’t get me wrong- I think gift giving is fun, and I love this time of year. I just don’t understand the madness that is often connected to the act of gift giving, or more specifically, gift purchasing.
So, for my Holiday Gift Guide, I’m only sharing items I actually have and love, would pick out to give to my closest family or friends, or would love to receive myself. I hope you love them all as much as I do!
This year, I’m interested in stuff like:
THIS GIANT PACK OF CHOCOLATE BARS
You knew this was coming, right? Alter Eco is one of my favorite chocolates out there, and this 10-pack would literally be a chocolate lover’s dream come true. This chocolate is a little pricey for everyday snacking, but makes the perfect special treat for the holiday season. You could also buy the multi-pack and stick a bar or two into everyone’s stocking or tie one to a card with some string for an easy, cute gift for coworkers.
THIS OTHER GIANT PACK OF CHOCOLATE BARS
Yup. I could probably fill this list with all of my favorite high-end chocolate bars and be happy, but I’m guessing not everyone wants to exclusively give and receive chocolate (insert extreme eye roll here). Hu Kitchen is hard to find in stores, and is made with super high quality ingredients. It’s the perfect chocolate gift for your earthy crunchy or hipster friends. Trust me, they’re gonna love it.
THIS STAINLESS STEEL INSULATED WINE BOTTLE AND MATCHING TUMBLERS
These bottles and matching tumblers are cute, functional, and last forever. The perfect gift for someone in your life who loves going to the beach, on picnics, or just sipping wine in general. My favorite colors are the black or mint, but they are all gorgeous! They also make stainless steel insulated beer growlers, whiskey glasses, and more!
Small, affordable, and perfect for beginners or the essential-oil curious. These add moisture to the air like a mini humidifier, which is great for dry skin in the winter; depending on the oil you use, these can both smell amazing and have incredible health benefits, too!
THIS ESSENTIAL OIL STARTER PACK
If you buy the diffuser, you’re going to need some oils to start out with! This pack gives you a little bit of everything so you (or whoever you gift it to) can start experimenting with different oils.
I know I lamented the overpurchasing of STUFF, but these onesies are too good to resist. I linked the men’s set for all the cool Christmas-jammies-loving dudes in your life, but make no mistake: you need a pair for everyone in the family. Luckily, they sell women’s, children’s, and infant sizes, too. And they even have them in 2-piece sets if you feel like wearing a onesie is a little much for you and your family.
If you have a hot sauce lover in your life, they need a bottle (or two) of this spicy goodness in their life. It’s definitely on the expensive side- as hot sauce goes- but makes for a fun gift, and I promise, it’s totally worth it!
I have one of these Pumpkin Spice candles sitting in my living room right now, and it’s just perfect. The smell isn’t overpowering, and they’re definitely pretty enough to give as a gift!
Know someone who loves to read? I was gifted a Kindle two years ago and have used it almost daily since. It’s so light, so easy to read from, and can be literally tossed into a gym bag, backpack, or even a jacket pocket and taken anywhere. I could not recommend the Kindle enough! And for those of you ‘but I love the feeling/smell/experience of holding a book’-ers out there, I get it, but trust me: being able to take hundreds of books with you anywhere you go is worth the compromise.
It’s obviously instagram-worthy, but also a trendy-yet-functional piece for your office, kitchen, bedroom, and beyond!
