One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is finding the perfect gift for everyone on my list. I LOVE hunting down the best present to show how much I love and appreciate the people in my life. However, I know holiday shopping is not everyone's favorite thing to do. I get it! The stores can be crowded, the weather icky, and sometimes you just don't know what to get someone!
To save you from some of that holiday stress, I've made a gift guide! But it's more than just your average gift guide, it's a DIY gift guide! It's basically a formula for finding a gift even the trickiest person on your list will love.
I've created a selection of gift baskets/boxes based on a variety of interests. Just grab a cute basket, box, or even a container included in the gift and load it up with the items you see!
Now, there's two ways to go about this gift guide....
You can use it as a "shopping list" and go out and find these or similar items. This is great if you enjoy holiday shopping and putting a personal touch on your gifts, but are struggling to come up with the right gift for someone on your list.
The second option is to buy the exact items you see shown. I've linked just about everything I could in each group so it's convenient and stress-free for you. This method is perfect if you hate fighting the holiday crowds and would prefer to hunker down with a cup of cocoa, a Christmas movie, and the "add to cart" button.
***Side Note: It can be difficult to make these baskets and boxes pretty if you're using the second option and shipping the gifts directly to the recipients. When I face this dilemma, I usually try to purchase all of the items from the same store and have them gift wrapped or I elicit the help of someone on the receiving end. For instance, if I'm shipping items for my sister, I may ask my mom if she can intercept the package and make it pretty first or at least combine separate packages into one. The logistics can get tricky, but I'm sure your loved one will still love their gift however it arrives!
Let's get started!
This is the time of year for ultimate coziness. So what better gift than the gift of cozy? Grab a cute basket (preferably one that will look great next to their couch later) and toss in a soft throw blanket (can't go wrong with plaid), a mug for warm, winter-inspired drinks, and a pair of fuzzy slippers. Top it off with a candle (if you aren't sure which one, Anthropologie's volcano candles are always a winner) and you'll be sure to bring your loved one lots of comfort and joy this year!
Baking is a HUGE part of the holiday season! It's a great way to bring people together and make fun, lasting memories. For this gift, you can use a large mixing bowl or serving dish like the festive red one pictured in lieu of a basket! Add some holiday-inspired dish towels, a fun cookie cutter set, and a couple baking items like a whisk, spoon, measuring cups, etc. One of my favorite items in this gift is the seasonal rolling pin. It'll leave an impression in your dough and make your cookies look like you went the extra mile! If gingerbread men aren't your thing, there's lots of beautiful designs out there!
There's always that one person who just can't get enough caffeine. Gift the coffee lover in your life something they're sure to use and appreciate. Because the items in this gift are smaller, I'd go for a small crate or a fun holiday gift box for packaging. Your caffeine addict will love a new french press and an "All you need is coffee" travel mug! Throw in some notoriously strong (and I mean STRONG! just check out the reviews!) coffee grounds and a keychain of a caffeine molecule any coffee lover would be proud to sport!
Coffee may not be for everyone, but who doesn't enjoy a cup of hot chocolate this time of year? Do cocoa right with a sampler pack of Williams Sonoma's hot chocolate mixes (they've got tons of delicious flavors to pick from) as well as some of their signature marshmallows. These adorable marshmallow mugs are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. Toss in a few candy canes or peppermint stir sticks for good measure and you're done!
As for packaging, I'd stick with a little gift box or pretty box since you're working with smaller items.
What to give to the person whose nose is always stuck in a book? A book may seem like the right answer, but what kind of books do they like? What haven't they read yet? Maybe a gift card for a book of their choosing instead. Too impersonal? Dress up that gift card with a few book-themed items! An amber reading light will help them read "just one more page" without hurting their eyes with harsh blue light. And a fun bookmark will ensure they never have to dog-ear a page. (Speaking of bookmarks, the orange one pictured below actually doubles as an Amazon gift card to buy even more books!) Nothing goes better with a good book than a warm mug and this Quippy book lover mug will definitely make them chuckle!
Bonus points if you can find a fake book "box" to package all these goodies in!
A favorite holiday activity of many is watching a feel-good Christmas movie. But don't let your loved one's movie watching experience be mediocre. Do it right with everything they'll need for a proper movie night! Pick out some of their favorite movie snacks (go all out!) and grab a Redbox or movie theater gift card OR a copy of their favorite holiday movie if you know it. Use a popcorn bowl for a fun way to package everything. This large, red "popcorn" one is perfect for families to use again and the smaller, "TV binging" one is great for a party of one.
Everyone gets a little stressed during the holidays. Give your loved one some R&R with a spa-themed gift! There's a WIDE variety of products to choose from so one tip I have is to include a color theme. Holiday colors, their favorite color, it just helps to make things a little more cohesive. Here's a run down of the items I've included below (remember, it's all linked!):
*A pair of adorable and oh so soft socks
*A couple bottles of nail polish (an easy way to cary on your color theme)
*A pink loofah (color theme again)
*Pomegranate Tub Truffles by Rinse Bath & Body Co. (Think bath bomb, but SUPER moisturizing)
*Cabernet Skin Stick by Rinse Bath & Body Co, (Basically solid lotion or chapstick for your skin. Perfect for moisturizing dry, problem areas from the cold weather without the mess of lotion. Also perfect for travel because you don't have to worry about size!)
*Cranberry Chutney soap by Finchberry (Gorgeous vegan soap handmade in Florida)
*Cranberry Chutney sugar scrub (Their cranberry chutney smells SO amazing, but they have lots of great scents to choose from!)
Sometimes there’s people on your list that you just don’t know that well. Maybe it’s someone you just met, maybe it’s a coworker you’re not very close to, maybe you just need a generic gift for a White Elephant or Secret Santa exchange. Whatever the reason, I’ve got you covered! I started with a pair of unisex, anti-slip, touchscreen-friendly gloves in a great neutral color. Next I added a seasonal Bath & Body Works candle, a charming vintage-style mug, and vanilla pucker stick by Rinse Bath & Body Co. (They make THE BEST chapstick! Perfect for chilly winter days and comes in a variety of flavors!) It doesn’t matter if you don’t know this person very well. You can still get them a great present they’ll appreciate!
I hope this DIY gift guide helps you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! You can use it as a general checklist while shopping, but if you do decide to purchase these exact items, I personally use or have gifted many of these things in the past or thoroughly researched them for you and I'm confident you and your loved ones will enjoy each and every one of these items!
Happy holidays and happy shopping!