Things You Actually Want: A Holiday Gift Guide
Tell me if this happens to you, too: you think of things you want or need throughout the year (or ideas for family and friends), and then when the holidays come around you can’t remember any of it. Welcome to my life, especially as a new mom. In an effort to help you with your holiday shopping (and honestly, help myself too in the process 😜), I’ve written down some things my team and I have been loving and using consistently this year. They aren’t necessarily organizing products, but they are tools to make living easier, better, prettier, or more enjoyable. Let’s go!
Shockingly Soft (and Inexpensive!) Slippers
I bought my first pair of these a few months ago to have in my hospital bag before I had my baby and they’re amazing. Usually I prefer to invest in quality pieces and keep them for a long time, but when it comes to slippers I actually like that they don’t feel too precious.
The Perfect Tote
I have had my Baggu Duck Bag for 5 + years now and it’s still going strong. It’s made of this durable but soft canvas and is the perfect size: big enough to fit a laptop and your daily essentials, but not so huge that you’re going to give yourself shoulder problems. Plus it comes in tons of great colors and prints.
Your New Favorite Water Bottle
One of our team members Solange swears by this bottle. It’s leak-proof, there’s a straw inside so it’s a delight to drink from, there’s a flip up handle so you can easily carry it on hikes or walks, and it keeps your bevs perfectly cold all day. Also, it’s cute, which is a big win for me.
A Magnetic Pop Socket
I love the functionality of this thing. You can pop it onto your phone (as long as you have a mag-safe case) and then pop it off when you don’t want it anymore. It’s really strong too so you don’t have to worry about it falling off when you’re using it.
A Seriously Addictive Craft Project
I’ve been a huge fan of Loop Canvas for years now, and we recently hosted a class with them at our Space in LA. You can buy their kits online and I am not exaggerating: this is a truly addictive and fun project. I love that they have excellent collars with brands (like these designs from Clare V) and ineedlepoint is a great alternative to staring at your phone for hours. Loop also offers lots of great instruction videos if you need a little help getting started.
Mascara That Actually Stays On
What a concept, right?! It stays on, then it comes off easily with water when you want it to. Magic.
$32 Yoga Pants That Feel Like the Real Thing
When I was pregnant, I was living in my Lululemon Align leggings, and I heard a rumor that these Amazon dupes were shockingly similar so I tried them. I’m here to tell you that the rumors are true. I honestly cannot tell a difference between these and their more expensive counterparts. They wash well, they are so soft and comfy, and I’ll never go back to spending $86 than I need to.
Fancy Soap (With a Twist)
Ok, here’s my new favorite thing. You buy one bottle of this exquisite hand soap for $41. It’s expensive but such a great splurge. And THEN…you get refills from Element Brooklyn for a fraction of the cost. The Element Brooklyn soap is a near perfect dupe of the Aesop product. This is a delightful hack for your own home, and it makes a great gift!
A Magic Light
This light is perfection. A friend gifted it to us when our baby was born and it’s gorgeous and simple. You simply flip the orb over when you want it to turn on, and you turn it over again to switch it off. The rechargeable battery lasts for ages (I think I’ve only charged it twice in two months and we use it multiple times a day). I will be buying this for every single friend who has a baby from here on out.
Actually Great Socks
I’ve owned these socks for several years and they’re still my go-to every time they are clean. Soft, thick enough, cute. comfy. What more do you need?
Earrings You Can Sleep In
Taking your earrings out every night before you sleep seems like such a waste of time to me. Thank goodness these were invented!
A Sustainable Wardrobe Upgrade
As a 3+ year Nuuly subscriber, I think you could truly call me an ultra fan at this point. I’m always screaming from the rooftops RENT YOUR CLOTHES, PEOPLE! You get 6 pieces a month from excellent brands like Lisa Says Gah, and then if you truly fall in love with something you can buy it at a discount.
