Holiday Gift Guide 2011

It is that special time of the year (how cliché)! THE HOLIDAYS!! The holiday season is my favorite part of the year without a doubt. I love the atmosphere of happiness and the romanticism the holiday's stir up. One issue I have with the holidays, however, is gifting. It is the ever so tricky, if-you-play-your-cards-right deal breaker of the holidays. But it doesn't have to be. One simple solution is ask the person what the heck they want. In the case that its a secret santa gift, or the person reply's with the unhelpful "I don't know." here is your fool proof guide. Together we will get through this.

Secret Santa

Secret santa is an annual festivity among my friends and me (I? I need to learn my grammar). Usually we just pick pieces of paper with our names on it, and make up our own gifts. But this year we decided to put gift suggestions on the pieces of paper. This new system actually helps in two ways. One it makes shopping easier, and two it makes sure that the recipient of the gift automatically likes their gift.  

My friends suggestions (written on her paper) were:

1. Sourpatch Watermelon
2. Essie Nail Polish
3. Black Guys
4. Pillow Pet
5. Kit Kats

My suggestion for you is a gift basket, its unique and fun! Don't have any idea as to what to put in your gift basket? No worries heres your guide:

1. Candy

• Candy canes, Snickers, Hershey's kisses, Ghirardelli/Godiva chocolates, maybe even some freshly baked cookies (not really candy but whatever you get the gist of it)

2. Beauty Products 

• Nail polish, 
• Mascara (Lashblast or Maybellines falsies/volumin' always does the trick)
• Lip balm

3. Jewelry

• A cute ring
• A pair of earrings from Forever21
• A necklace

4. Bath Products

• Mini lotions (from bath and body works)
• Hand sanitizer (I got about 30 from my friends last year)
• Body wash/Bubble bath (but watch out, some people have very sensitive skin)

5. Miscellaneous 

• A glove/hat/scarf set
• Make-up/toiletries bag (this gift is good for any girl, whether they are beauty fans or not, because every girl needs a discrete little bag)

Your Best Friend

The options are endless, but remember you may know your best friend better than anyone else, so use your gut instinct when buying a present for your friend. Either way its the job of a best friend to be supportive, and I'm sure she'll be happy you even went out of your way to get something for her.

1. Anything from the Secret Santa idea's above. They all work for a best friend!

2. Something with sentimental meaning:

• A scrap book
• A picture frame with a picture of you and your best friend in it

3. A subscription to a magazine. Sounds kinda' weird right? Well I know that most of my friends, and myself would love to receive a magazine subscription, PLUS its cheap.

4. Since you most likely know your best friend better than your secret santa girl you have more options when it comes to style:

• A cute shirt
• A bracelet
• A chunky sweater (SO IN STYLE RIGHT NOW)

5. Something personal

• A poster of the movie star she's obsessed with
• The CD of her favorite singer
• If shes a photographer get her a photo album
• If shes an artist get her a paint set
• If shes a skier get her some ear-muffs 

**** DONT FORGET THE OBVIOUS!! Sometimes we make gifting so difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Make sure you think about peoples personalities/hobbies. 

That "Special" Someone

I have an intense gifting anxiety, and this is something that gets my blood pressure running. I struggle with what to get a guy (or girl, no judgements here) whether it be his birthday or the holiday season. Here are some suggestions I have for you (and myself) depending on what stage your relationship is at, the newer it is, the harder it is.

1. For the sports fan:

• A football/basket ball/new gear hes been raving about
• A shirt from his favorite team
• A throw with the team logo printed on it
• (Depending on how well you know this person) Tickets to a sporting event

2. For the style concerned:

• A fitted/snapback aka a hat
• A scarf
• A cardigan
• A solid v-neck 

3. For the techies:

• Headphones (so IN I see every guy walking around with them, and hey, its functional)
• A x-box game

4. For the reserved:

• A book
• A gift card to a local coffee shop
• A mix CD of your favorite songs

*Remember the holidays are all about giving and even if you give someone the wrong gift, its the thought that counts! I hope this guide helped a little, feel free to comment with any other ideas you came up with!

xo. happy safe holidays.

Heather