40 of the Best Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season and Beyond

My mom loves to tell everyone that my superpower is gift giving. She always says I have a knack for studying people and finding just the right gift that suits their personality and interests. I think my ability is just a mix of a love of shopping and a love of making people happy. Whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or for souvenir shopping on vacation, I genuinely enjoy finding the perfect gift for someone I care about. I see it as a fun challenge of sorts, my own little Olympic sport if you will. (Which I would totally get a gold metal in.)

As we enter the homestretch of the holiday shopping season, I wanted to share a little bit of my super power with all of you with this curated list of some of my favorite gift ideas. Perfect for birthdays and anniversaries, as well as Christmas, there is something for every budget, and they are all relatively easy to put together.

Here are 40 great gift ideas guaranteed to wow all your loved ones.

1. Pair a restaurant gift card with your loved one’s favorite bottle of wine for s fun date night. (Bonus points if the restaurant is a BYOB.)
2. Create the ultimate binge watcher basket with a Netflix gift card, bags of microwaveable popcorn, name brand boxed candy from the dollar store, and a cozy blanket perfect for snuggling. You can even include a list of move and tv show recommendations you think they may like.
3. Order a magazine subscription for her favorite publication and wrap up the confirmation with the most recent issue.
4. Any writer will love a beautiful journal, collection of pens, and book of writing prompts.
5. DIY a spa basket with bath bombs, face masks, and a pretty candle.
6. Gift a Barnes and Noble gift card with a list of book recommendations based on your loved ones previous favorites to help them find their next read.
7. Pick up the first book in a series you think they would love or next book a current series they are reading and pair it with a Barnes and Noble gift card they can put towards the next book.
8. Music lovers will adore an iTunes gift card, set of ear buds, and a book about their favorite band/artist or band tee.
9. Find a retailer that sells Alex and Ani bracelets and pick a bangle you feel perfectly captures her.
10. Slip a Sephora gift card and a couple of things from the budget friendly Sephora Collection (I recommend their lip balms/scrubs) into an inexpensive makeup bag.
11. Pair a pretty mug with fancy single-serve hot chocolate packs and some fancy marshmallows.
12. Wrap up a bunch of boxes of K-Cup pods or fancy bags of coffee with a mug for your favorite coffee lover.
13. Any tea fan will love some fancy tins of tea and pretty mug.
14. Write up a favorite recipe like for cookies or lasagna and include all the non-perishable ingredients and an inexpensive cooking utensil or from the dollar store.
15. Sign a loved one for a subscription box service where they can receive goodies monthly or quarterly. It will be be like Christmas morning all year long.
16. When you get a Starbucks gift card or a gift card to a local coffee shop or smoothie bar, purchase  a reusable cup or ask for an extra disposable one. Stick the card inside the cup and wrap. (Pinterest has a ton of cute ideas.)
17. Pair a cookbook with a fun oven mitt and spatula.
18. Wrap up passes/tickets to a museum with the free brochures about upcoming events and maps you can find at the museum counter.
19. Add a sentimental touch to a gift card with an ornament you pick out just for them.
20. Funko Pops. Almost everyone loves Funko Pops.
21. Get some inexpensive frames and frame a picture of a special memory for a truly special gift.
22. Give the gift of cozy with a super soft blanket shawl, comfy slipper socks, and a candle in their favorite scent.
23. Hit up Five Below for some board games to create a family game night all the kids and kids at heart will love.
24. Give tickets to a concert, comedy performance, or play/musical. They are always a home run. (Shout out to my amazing aunts who got me Rent tickets for my 30th birthday this year.)
25. Got a superhero or Riverdale fan in your list? Expose them to the source material with some graphic novels or old-school comic books.
26. Design your very own Taste of the Town by putting together a collection of your town’s best dining establishments. You can even include coffee shops and bakeries in addition to restaurants and bars. (We did this last year for my grandparents with all their favorite places and it was a huge hit.)
27. Know someone obsessed with burgers, crazy for coffee, or insane for ice cream? Get them gift cards a few local burger places, coffee houses, or ice cream parlors, so they can indulge their cravings at a bunch of different places.
28. Budding artists will love high quality coloring books and coloring supplies.
29. Does somebody have a big trip coming up to a place you’ve been? Pair a guide book with a list of recommendations and can’t miss attractions or mark up the book with notes and tabs.
30. For the person always on the hunt for something truly unique, you can’t go wrong with an Etsy gift card.
31. Help them stay warm this winter with a new winter hat, scarf, and gloves.
32. A new yoga mat or some weights and a nice water bottle are great for that person who loves fitness or plans to get in rocking shape in 2020.
33. Wrap up a bunch of those pretty vintage style $5.00 hand creams in a makeup bag or decorative box/tin for a gorgeously luxe yet affordable DIY gift set.
34. Write up a list of the top ten things you love about them or a list of things about why you are best friends or love them. Print it up on some pretty paper and put it in an inexpensive frame for a low cost but priceless gift.
35. If where you purchase alcohol offers it, create a mix-and-match six pack that your favorite beer drinker will love.
36. Pair a pretty wineglass with a bottle of their favorite wine.
37. Give beach lovers a taste of summer with a new beach bag, beach towel, flip flops, and a candle that smells like the shore.
38. Wrap up sporting tickets with a team t-shirt or jersey to wear on game day.
39. Wrap up homemade cookies in pretty tins from the dollar store for a sweet treat. You can even include the recipe.
40. Books. You can never go wrong with books.

8 Tips For Surviving Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Without Losing Your Mind

Getting ready to head out to the mall this weekend? Whether you shopping for a few people or shopping for everyone, here are my top eight tips to help you survive your last-minute Christmas shopping without losing your sanity.

Know your list and your budget.

It can be so easy to forget someone you need get a gift for or to overspend. Before you head out to the mall, write up a list of everyone you need to buy for and roughly how much you plan to spend on each person. I also like to organize my list by store. Don’t forget to bring a pen with you when you shop to check off each person as you make a purchase to help you track your progress.

Browse online before you hit the physical store.

Between sales, the desire to find the perfect gift, and the sheer amount of choices, it can be overwhelming to tackle any shopping list big or small during the holiday season. A little research can go a long way. Hit the web and get some ideas of what to buy and where is the best place to buy it. For example, does Hot Topic or Barnes and Noble have a better selection for your Harry Potter obsessed cousin? Also, look to see if you can tell if the items you are considering are available in store.  This way, you won’t be wasting time trying to find something that’s not there.

Map out the mall.

No one likes having to double-back when they are shopping, especially during this time of the year. Even if you’ve been to your mall a thousand times, I still recommend looking up the floor plan and mapping out where all the stores you plan on stopping at are to create the most efficient path. Factoring stops at Target and Walmart? You can apply the same tactics to your driving roots as well.

Take advantage of in-store pick up.

In this age of technology, convenience shopping, and Amazon, many retailers are allowing you to order from what they have in stock in store online and pick it up. If you know exactly what you want and it’s in stock, I highly recommend this option. You’ll be able to get in and get out without wasting time or making impulse purchases you don’t really need (aka me in Barnes and Noble).

Go early (or late).

I know. I know. Stores at the holidays are like summertime at Disney World- long lines, too many people, and aggravation run amok. However, you can minimize dealing with the crowds by planning your shopping trip around off peak hours. Aim to go out right when the stores open or a couple hours before closing. Sure, there will still be a ton of people, but the volume will be much more manageable.

Bring a tote bag.

Plastic bag handles can be murder on your wrists and it can be cumbersome to lug around multiple individual bags from store to store. I highly recommend bringing a large tote bag with you to the mall to stash all your purchases as you shop. Trust me. Once you start doing this, it will be a shopping spree staple all year long.

Stay nourished and hydrated.

No one enjoys shopping while hangry or dehydrated. All it leads to is crankiness, an inability to focus, and a gorging on junk from the food court. Throw some granola or protein bars and a bottle of water in your bag to stave off hunger pangs and ward off the temptation for less than healthy treats.

Treat yourself.

In the craziness of the holiday season, sometimes we need pamper ourselves a little bit. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive. It can be as simple as your favorite drink from Starbucks, a new book or magazine from Barnes and Noble, a fun lip balm from Sephora, or a pretty hand cream from Bath and Body Works. A little treat for yourself can be a nice reward for a job well done or a much needed pick-me-up.

Need a Last-Minute Gift? Here’s Where to Go

Christmas is just days away and, while you hoped to be done with your holiday shopping, there is still so much to do. You’ve got gifts to buy and little time to do it. Sure, you could hit the web, but it feels like even Amazon can’t guarantee you’ll get what you ordered in time for Christmas Eve. The only choice is to brave the crowds of other last-minute shoppers, complete with screaming kids, long lines, and parking wars.

I know. It sucks. I remember being back in college having to wait until the week before Christmas to shop due to finals, and I’ve gone out with my brother and dad (aka the kings of Christmas shopping procrastination) for many years on December 23. However, I have learned there are ways to get through your list in these next few days without losing your sanity. One of the easiest way to do that is to hit the stores that allow you to knock the most people off your list at once and give you the most bang for your buck. So, to help you out this holiday season, I’ve compiled s list of all my favorite go-to gift stores that I believe are truly sanity savers.

Here are my favorite go-to stores for last minute gifts, and if you have a store you love that’s not on the list, share it in the comments below. I’d love to add it to my list!

Barnes and Noble

Who doesn’t love a good book? Whether it’s a hot new piece of fiction, a memoir about a famous musician, or a cookbook themed around a favorite television show, Barnes and Noble has the perfect book for everyone on your list no matter their tastes or ages. You can browse on their website and see what your particular store has ahead of time. Need something other than books? They also offer a wide array of toys, games, puzzles, tote bags, mugs, tea, and countless other cozy gifts everyone in your life will love.

Hot Topic

Got a tween, teen, or grownup fan of pop culture left on your list? Hot Topic is a one stop shop for great gifts themed after musical artists and popular shows like Supernatural and Riverdale. You’ll find a wide array of jewelry, clothing, and accessories featuring their favorite bands and fictional characters. Plus, like they are a great source for that perfect collectible Funko Pop guaranteed to make their holiday season.

Hallmark

When it comes to Christmas, Hallmark has the market cornered on sentiment. This store is a must for your mom, grandma, best friend, or anyone else you want to make go “awww” this holiday season. From candles and keepsake ornaments to cozy socks, pretty bracelets, and inspirational quote books, you’ll find that perfect gift filled with meaning that captures your relationship with your favorite person. Plus, their exclusive Hallmark Channel collection has everything you could want for the Hallmark movie fan in your life.

Bath and Body Works

There is a reason you will inevitably see something from Bath and Body Works under someone’s Christmas tree this holiday season. With a scent for just about everyone on your list, it’s a great store for friends and family who could use a little pampering. You can pick up one of their ready-made gift sets or DIY one of your own with their wide array of products. They are known for their awesome sales and BOGO deals, so you’ll be able to check off a lot of people without breaking the bank. Plus, who wouldn’t love a pretty hand cream or adorable antibacterial gel tucked in their stocking?

Sephora

Some people may write off Sephora off as being a little too pricy, but you can actually stretch your dollar there farther than you think. The Sephora Collection offers gift sets as low as $10.00 with high quality products for just about every age and skin color. You can also find gift sets from brand names L’Occitane like designed to be broken apart into multiple gifts or you can split up a value set yourself for multiple gifts. A set of five lipglosses that retails for $25.00 can broken up among five people, costing you only $5.00 per gift. Plus, this is the peak season for the best priced sets, so some of the slightly more expensive sets are actually a pretty great value if you have someone on your list who uses a specific brand.

Five Below

If you’re looking for gifts on a budget, Five Below is a the store for you. These stores carry an endless supply of Secret Santa gag gifts, toys for kids, fitness gear, and even Bluetooth speakers. It’s a great place if you are creating gift baskets, looking for something small to pair with a gift card, or are in need of stocking stuffers. It’s also a the store to hit for those cheap but not cheap looking gifts we all somehow seem to need for last-minute party crashers and people we have to buy for but never see.

Dollar Store

Like Five Below, your local dollar store is a great place for picking up those little items you may have overlooked earlier in the season without breaking the bank. I’m a big fan of this place for name brand candy for movie night baskets and stocking stuffers, cute gift boxes and bags for those DIY gift sets and small kitchen items to pair with spices or a beloved cookbook. I also recommend buying any greeting cards here. You’ll get the Hallmark quality without the Hallmark price tag.

Grocery Store

Many people overlook the grocery store when it comes to holiday gifts, but your local Giant can be a total lifesaver. Most carry tons of gift cards to places like Amazon, American Eagle, and Olive Garden, and many now sell alcohol, saving you trips to the liquor store and the mall. Plus, don’t discount edible items.  A basket of all the non perishable fixings to create a beloved family recipe for the resident chef or microwaveable treats for college students are always big hits.

The Internet

Okay, you may be thinking, “Is she crazy? I’m not paying a ridiculous fee to overnight something for [insert relative here]!” The good news is you don’t have to. While Amazon may not be able to guarantee your package will be tucked under the tree by Christmas Eve, you can still finish off your gift list in the comfort of your own home. You just need to think a little outside the box. Here are a few of my top picks for gifts that will appear in your inbox as soon as you hit place order. All you need to do is print and wrap.

• A gift card to their favorite store or for a website they frequent like Etsy, Alex and Ani, or R.Riveter.
• A subscription to their favorite magazine or a magazine you think they’d love
• An experience gift like tickets for a concert, play, sporting event, or comedian, or yearly passes to a place like the zoo or a museum