2017 Holiday Gift Guide

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Items you purchase from the list cost nothing extra to you, but provide me with a small commission to help keep this little ‘ol blog up and running. 

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!

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

This year, I’m interested in stuff like:

THIS GIANT PACK OF CHOCOLATE BARS

Alter Eco - Organic Chocolate Bar Bundle 10 -Pack

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

Hu Kitchen - Paleo - Vegan - Chocolate Bars, Variety Pack (7 Pack)

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! 

THIS ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER

URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser Aroma Essential Oil Cool Mist Humidifier with Adjustable Mist Mode,Waterless Auto Shut-off and 7 Color LED Lights Changing for Home Office Baby

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

Radha Beauty Aromatherapy Top 8 Essential Oils 100% Pure & Therapeutic grade - Basic Sampler Gift Set & Kit (Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Frankincense and Rosemary)

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. 

THESE ORGANIC COTTON ONESIES

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. 

THIS VERMONT MAPLE SRIRACHA

Vermont Maple Sriracha All Natural Hot Sauce

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! 

THIS GORGEOUS CANDLE

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! 

THE KINDLE PAPERWHITE

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. 

THIS SUPER CUTE LETTER BOARD

It’s obviously instagram-worthy, but also a trendy-yet-functional piece for your office, kitchen, bedroom, and beyond! 

THESE REAL-DEAL WOOL SOCKS

I own three pairs of these socks and would never turn down another. They are thick yet soft and cushioned, super warm, and totally durable. They’re great to layer into boots on cold days, but I love just wearing them around the house like slippers to keep my toes warm on chilly nights. 
 
Okay, you don’t have to buy it in blue, but I did and love it! Green or red would be totally holiday-appropriate, too. This is a gift that will literally last a lifetime- buy it for someone who loves to cook! I keep my dutch oven on the stovetop all winter long for soups, stews, and to bake bread in the oven, and it looks gorgeous sitting in my kitchen even on days it goes unused! 
 
Speaking of gifts that will last forever- these are the only storage containers I have and they are incredible. They can be frozen, microwaved, and even put in the oven (without the lid), and are perfect for storing leftovers, packing lunches, and even look nice enough for serving out of! If you know someone who has an overflowing cabinet of old mismatched plastic storage containers, upgrade them to this beautiful glass set! 
 
Have you ever considered how many phone cases end up in the trash? These biodegradable and compostable phone cases not only look chic and actually work, but they help keep plastic out of our oceans and landfills. It’s also shipped in a recyclable paper sleeve instead of plastic, which makes me feel even better about buying one for everyone I know! 
 
Plexus Wheel – YOGA PRO SERIES – Only Yoga Wheel Made in the USA! – Doesn't Break Down like other Yoga Wheels – Strongest & Most Comfortable Dharma Yoga Prop Wheel – 20,000+ Happy Customers (12-inch)
I bought myself the Plexus Wheel last year after spending a month in pain from a lower back injury, and have been using it every day since. I love using it to stretch out after sitting on the computer for long periods of time, and it would be a great gift for anyone who has back pain and/or sits all day! I imagine it would be great to keep in an office for taking stretch breaks. The Plexus Wheel also comes with a list of different stretches and body weight movements you can do if you’re looking for fun new ways to improve your balance, strength, and flexibility! 
 
Harry Potter Movie Light Quote inspired watercolor splatter Art Print, UNFRAMED, wall & home decor poster, Birthday - Inspirational - Valentines Day - Christmas gift, ALL SIZES
I am literally buying this for myself for Christmas this year. Team Dumbledore, for life. 
 
That’s it! Happy shopping from the comfort of your couch. I’ll be back Monday with a new recipe! 
And if you’re feeling as underwhelmed by the entire culture of gift-giving as I am, remember that gifting a homemade meal, a weekend or day trip away, or a fun day out together is often even better than the random presents people are used to getting this time of year. Trust me: it’s the togetherness, the undivided attention, and the deep-belly laughter that people appreciate the most, whether you show up with a gift or not. 
 
This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Items you purchase from the list cost nothing extra to you, but provide me with a small commission to help keep this little ‘ol blog up and running. Thanks for supporting the products I love, and in turn, supporting me! 
 
#, #, #, #, #

2 comments

  1. I completely agree with all your sentiments! So refreshing – it should never be about “stuff.” How much do we really need. I enjoy doing more of the charitable events for the less fortunate who don’t even have the necessities never mind any luxuries. But I also love the music and of course the baking! Your gift guide is great – many local items and various price ranges. Thank you.

    Reply

Add yours

*

*