Tag Archives: gift ideas

Gift Ideas For The Man In Your Life

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*This post may contain affiliate links.

When it comes around to gift-buying time, it’s always tricky to know exactly what to get your man. In truth, it can be a key moment. Of course, the best gifts are personal and based on an understanding of your man as an individual, but even so there are a number of gifts which would likely be loved by many. In this post, we are going to take a look at a few options. If you have an occasion coming up and are feeling a bit lost, take a peek below…

Fitbit

These health tracking devices are obviously all the rage right now, and they make for a perfect gift for pretty much anyone who might enjoy tracking and monitoring their fitness data. If your man is a health nut, or just wants to be more mindful of his steps, a Fitbit is going to be appreciated and a good choice for you to buy for him. Bear in mind that you don’t have to go for the branded option, and there are more affordable ones out there which do more or less the same thing.

Beard Growth Kit

If your man has a beard, then that opens up a huge number of possibilities in what gifts to buy. Whether or not he tends to put much care into his beard, you can be sure that there is a beard product he will enjoy. If he struggles to grow a thick and full beard, you might want to consider buying him a beard growth kit. As you can see here, these kits come with quite a few accessories, so it will feel like a gift he is really glad to receive.

Wallet

There are certain gifts that just always go down well no matter what, and regardless of the type of guy your man is. One example of this is a wallet, and this is going to be especially well received if his wallet has seen better days or if he is in need of something a little different. In any case, splashing out on a new wallet is a great way to show your man you care, and it’s something that can be both practical and fashionable – something a lot of contemporary men are happy about.

A Weekend Away

Of course, they say the best gifts are experiences, and that can certainly prove true. So when you are thinking of something to get your man, why not think about buying him a weekend away? This is ideal if you are thinking about trying to get him a romantic experience, or you just want to make it clear how much you enjoy spending time with him. Think whether there might be somewhere he always wanted to go. If so, that’s the one to go for, and he is bound to love it.

P.S. Need more gift ideas for the dudes in your life? Check out this post, this post, and this post!

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Need a Pick-Me-Up? Gift Ideas to Treat Yourself

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*This post may contain affiliate links.

We all get down sometimes, and one of the things that I find helps is to buy yourself a little pick-me-up. Everyone loves to receive gifts, who cares if the gift is from yourself!? At least you know what you like, and it’s going to be exactly what you wanted! In this post, I’m going to be looking at some of the awesome gifts that you can buy for yourself if you’re feeling down. So, if you want to know more, keep reading down below.

Something For Your Skin

The first thing that I am going to suggest is something for your skin. Whether this is some face wipes, toner or moisturizer, it doesn’t matter. Just think about something that you don’t have right now that would be a nice treat for your skin, and head to the store to buy it. Or, if you can only purchase them online, get on the internet and put it in your cart straight away. It’s always nice to feel your face all soft and smooth or to look at yourself in the mirror and notice a change in how your skin looks.

Make sure that you read the ingredients and reviews before you make a purchase. This is just to ensure that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients and that people can vouch for the fact that it works the way it says it does. While all skin-types are unique, customer reviews of skincare products can still be your best friend.

Jewelry Always Works

Or, if you want something a little different, gift yourself some jewelry. This always works when it comes to cheering yourself up. Look at earrings, necklaces, bracelets, maybe even an opal belly ring! More ideas can be found over at Urban Body Jewelry if this is something that interests you. It’s always a great feeling to see something shiny and new on your body, even if nobody else can see it!

Choose something that you think is awesome, and it will cheer you up massively when it comes. You might even find that when you put it on for the first time, it gives you a confidence boost, and this will help you with the blues that you have been experiencing. 

Makeup!

Finally, makeup is always a great way to make yourself feel better if you’ve been feeling a little down in the dumps. Those beautiful colors have a way of bringing a smile to your face, as it gives you the opportunity to try out something new! Enjoying your time creating new looks in the mirror is as fun as it gets for someone who loves makeup. With makeup, it’s more than just the product, it’s creative expression! 

I hope that you have found this post helpful, and now have a few ideas about awesome gifts that you can buy yourself if you’re in need of a pick-me-up. Feel better soon! xoxo

Cute Gifts for Foodies

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Buying gifts for loved ones right now is proving pretty difficult. The coronavirus pandemic means that many shops are closed and we’re unable to leave our homes to browse different options. On top of this, we can’t hand the gifts we settle on over in person, as social distancing guidelines prevent us from going to one another’s houses. At the same time, birthdays and other important days go on and you’re going to want to send that perfect gift to the person you love. Now, there are endless potential gifts out there for all different kinds of people. But for now, let’s focus on the foodies in your life. Here are a few different gift ideas you can have delivered straight to the foodies in your life…

Pretzel Gift Boxes

Who doesn’t love soft pretzels? They’re delicious. These come in a range of flavors, from cinnamon sugar to vanilla sugar to various options with melted chocolate, caramel or other dips. This is a gift that can be delivered straight to your loved one’s house in time for their birthday through esprovisions.com. They’re bound to bring a smile to your loved one’s face!

Edible Arrangements

Flowers are a popular birthday delivery. But why not offer an alternative that the recipient can eat? Edible arrangements are essentially lots of pieces of delicious fresh fruit, cut and prepared into the shape of flowers and arranged into a bouquet. You can get all sorts of different arrangements with different varieties of fruit and even chocolate dipped options. Yum!

A Snack Subscription

For the gift that keeps on giving, consider a snack subscription. This can see a box of delicious goodies arrive at your loved one’s house every single month – generally for six months or a year. There are subscription boxes suited to everyone out there. From chocolate lovers to vegans, people who are gluten free and much much more. Browse the wide variety out there and settle on the options best suited to your particular foodie. 

Edible Photos

There are companies out there who will print pictures of your choice onto the icing sugar of delicious treats. This is a cute and sentimental gift for those who are nearest and dearest to you. The image could be one of you together, a picture of a pet, or anything else that they might like!

These, of course, are just a few potentially great gifts for the foodie in your life. It’s important to still make an effort with people during these difficult times. It’s easy to feel alone – especially on dates where you’d usually be out celebrating with your friends, such as birthdays or graduations. Hopefully, one of the ideas outlined above will offer the perfect surprise to show a loved one they are thought about and loved!

Photo above via Eastern Standard Provisions

Some of My Favorite Life-Changing Products (in case you need more gift ideas…)

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December is a popular time for bloggers to share favorites from the year. Today, I thought I’d get in on the action and gush about a few products I’ve found to be especially life-changing. I think any of these would make a fantastic gift, if you’re still looking for ideas, but they also get the Beth Berger stamp of approval as a doodad that has added value to my life in some way. Here we go…

1. Tom Bihn Synapse 19
I’ve talked about this backpack a lot on this blog, and for good reason. The design is absolutely genius and will keep everything you need to carry organized. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying somewhere for a weekend away or just heading to class, this bag is super fun to pack!

2. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner pens
Fine-tipped marker pens are my key to writing neat and fast. Plus, with all the colors these pens come in, it is super easy to create color-coded systems in my notebooks and planners.

3. Tangle Teezer hairbrush 
Ok, seeing is believing with this bad boy. And I certainly didn’t trust the fuss before trying this hairbrush out for myself. I have long, fairly tangle-prone hair and with just a few swipes of the Tangle Teezer all my knots are taken care of. Witchcraft? Probably.

4. Instant Pot
I thought the crock-pot was a thing of beauty and convenience until I cooked beans…FROM DRY…in a matter of minutes with the instant pot.

  • and steaming basket and silicone cover, too
    If you really want to up your IP game, this steaming basket is how we make a protein and a veggie side in one fell swoop, and the cover is great for saving leftovers to reheat the next day!

5. 8-days-a-week planner
A to-do list is only half the battle for me. Once I’ve planned out everything I need to do for the day, I like to take it one step further and plug those to-do’s into a schedule. This planner has the whole day laid out in half hour increments which allows me to see where things can go. I love this puzzle approach.

6. Nomatic compression cube
I’ve tried a ton of packing cubes and this one is by far my favorite! Not only does it slot perfectly down into my Tom Bihn backpack, but the fact that it is two-sided gives me an extra level of organization.

7. Whirly board
This has been SUCH A FUN addition to my workouts over the last couple months. Not to mention a really fun way to get in an active break in the midst of my work day. I just peel myself away from my desk, hop on the board for a few minutes, and PLAY. Bonus: Makes me feel like a badass skater/snowboarder chick.

8. Mask brushes
I try to do a mask every Monday evening. (Set it and forget it self-care FTW!) When I started this ritual, I was just using my fingers to gloop on the masks…which is fine. But then I discovered mask brushes and it was a total game changer!

9. Minimalist wallet
Sometimes I just don’t have a need for a huge billfold and I want to slap a few cards together, throw them in my back pocket and GO. This is the wallet I use for those times. Plus, it even comes with a little spot to tuck a key! Love it.

Do you have any life-changing products you think I should check out? Leave ’em below! 

P.S. The entire 2018 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

Our Cotton Anniversary Couch (+ a 2nd Anniversary Gift Idea Round-Up)

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cotton anniversary couch

Hey friends! Chet and I recently celebrated our SECOND YEAR of marriage and we marked the occasion with a….couch?! That’s right, in honor of our 2nd anniversary we replaced our old (and very worn) Ikea number and got the absolute BABE of a sofa pictured above. I mean it IS fabric and there’s probably some cotton in there somewhere, right? (IDK I’m not a textile expert or anything.)

I’m still a far way off from the entryway of my dreams as you can see above, but I just had to share this lil home decor update anyways. So in love with this couch, you guys!

[Related: Check out all my posts about our wedding HERE.]

couch leg on the corner of a rug(Please disregard the staple that was left behind from the packaging which I carelessly forgot to remove because I was too excited but thankfully got rid of before it impaled anyone’s ankles, AHEM!)

I also gifted Chet with a pair of shoes and he got me 5 lovely hosta seedlings that we planted in our backyard along the house. Year 2 was pretty terrific!

Now, in honor of this marriage milestone, I thought I’d round-up a few “Cotton Anniversary” gift ideas. (Just in case you’re not buying the whole couch as cotton option, lol!)

 

2nd Anniversary Gift Ideas:

Pajamas,
Neck Tie or Scarf,
Bathrobes,
Apron,
Hammock,
Plant Hanger,
Throw Blanket,
Table Cloth and Napkins,
Decorative Pillows,
Bed Sheets,
or Your Wedding Vows Printed on Cotton Paper.

Have you celebrated any fun milestones lately? How did you mark the occasion? 

mid-week round-up

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grated window

Hello! How’s your week going? This morning, Chet and I are departing on a road trip! We’re making stops today in St. Petersburg, to see my sister, and Gainesville. Then on to New Orleans tomorrow! On Saturday we are attending the wedding of our sweet, sweet friends Carrie and Ganer. I can’t wait to spend the next few days celebrating their love with the loveliest people on earth! And hopefully soak up a bit of NOLA, too! Have a good one, and take a look through my list o’ links…

Scientists prove what my speech memorizin’ self already knew to be true.

Why the U.S. hasn’t had enough nurses for the past half a century.

Gift ideas for the bookworm in your life.

A place to play!

Astronaut secrets revealed.

A story about online bullying in five podcasts.

This salad looks right up my street.

Accurate.

Obsessed with this ring. (Opal!)

Special high-five to this rad barber.

An important comic.

On Airbnb: “The irony is that amateur innkeepers who couldn’t be trusted with the banal task of photographing and marketing their properties are expected to excel at hospitality’s most important rule: keeping guests safe and alive.”

Cheeky Etsy Finds

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Sometimes I stumble upon some real gems when perusing the hallowed pages of Etsy.com. I swear with just a SMIDGE less self-control I could blow my whole paycheck. Check out these recent cheeky favorites…

patriarchy

A wall hanging with an important reminder for all.

mark twain bike tee

A t-shirt for folks brave enough to navigate on 2 wheels.

breaking bad cutting board

A cutting board for serious cooks and Netflix binge watchers.

bad ass bitch candle

A candle for the lady who DGAF but still wants a pretty smelling room.

fox necklace

A sweet fox necklace for a love-sick babe’s darling neck.

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , ,

IMG_0302

Happy week before Christmas, folks! I hope you’re enjoying time with your friends and family and making memories to last a lifetime. I’ve been loving spending evenings by the Christmas tree and generally feeling festive. And in Internet-land I’ve been loving all the gift guides and keeping up with Vlogmas! Enjoy your week, may it be packed full of Christmas parties and cookie baking, and here are some links I thought you’d find fun…

These would make awesome presents if you have a whole gang of (over 21) people to gift.

1-day detox to give your body a quick reset after too much indulging.

Story of my life.

Gift ideas for the coffee lover on your list.

Inspiration for budget-friendly gift-baskets. (Think Dollar Store hacks!)

Font obsessed.

Fantastic sister collaboration.

Why writers are procrastinators.

For kicking things up a notch on-the-go.

Photo project turns to food to highlight global disparities.

When you think someone is doing it right–TELL THEM.

Necessary sacrifices for financial health.

 

DIY: Mason Jar Bath Salts

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bathsalts

Ok, I realize the concept of bath salts has been getting a bad rap as of late, ever since weirdos in Florida started smoking them and eating people’s faces off. But ACTUAL bath salts, the kind you soak in, are freaking awesome. Combine the benefits of essential oils with the benefits of salt in your bath water and you have a recipe for mindfulness, muscle recovery, stress relief, improved circulation, and a headache solution. This is a really simple DIY that you can adapt based on your favorite colors, scents, and containers to customize to your liking. Make a huge batch and you’ll have an arsenal of gifts you can break out at a moment’s notice. Not to mention, during the process, your house will smell amazing! I packaged this batch in mason jars because DUH! and I love mason jars (I also wanted to decoupage the tops for some added flair) but I think these, these or these would work well too. You could even be super thrifty and reuse cleaned out food jars.

What you’ll need:

For the salts–

-1 cup of epsom salt

-1 cup of sea salt

-essential oil (I used peppermint and lavender)

-food coloring (I used red and blue)

For the mason jar packaging–

-mason jars with this kind of lid

-magazine cutouts

-decoupaging supplies (I used glue, water and a paintbrush but use Mod Podge if you’re feeling fancy)

-pretty ribbon/s (twine would also look adorably shabby chic)

-a fun charm to tie around the top of the jar

and how it all comes together:

-Mix one cup of epsom salt and one cup of sea salt in a large mixing bowl.

-Add 3-6 drops of food coloring. Mix and add more until you reach your desired hue.

-Add 5-10 drops of your chosen essential oil(s). (You can do a little online research if you’re not familiar with oils and their various benefits.)

-Set the bowl aside and pretty up your mason jar tops by decoupaging a tiny collage on top.

-Spoon your salts into the jars and throw the top on.

-Tie a small charm or gift tag/label around the jar with your chosen ribbon/s.

Voila! You’re well on your way to giving someone the gift of stress relief and a proper pampering.

DIY: Stitch a trip.

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map1

Recently, my brother and his girlfriend moved from Danville, KY to Savannah, GA. Lucky lil ducks, I say. I decided to do a little DIY brainstorming for ways to commemorate their big move with a crafty gift. I settled upon a project which ended up being a super easy afternoon endeavor that I’m sure anyone could replicate. Simply hand-stitch a map from point A to point B. Honestly, the toughest part about this craft was finding a suitable map. This would be a great way to remember a meaningful vacation, study-abroad trip or long distance trail hike and would look so sweet hanging amongst other frames on a mixed-media gallery wall.

What you’ll need:

– Map

– Embroidery Thread

– Embroidery Needle

– Frame

And how it all comes together:

– Find a suitable map and cut it to fit your frame. My map was torn from a book of U.S. maps that I found in a discount book bin.

– Sketch out the route and embellishments with a pencil (very lightly). I went with the route, an “X” at point A, a heart at point B and initials.

– Use your needle to poke evenly spaced holes over top of your sketch. Erase any visible pencil marks.

–  Sew through all your holes using a backstitch. (In layman’s terms–Start by threading the needle from the back of the paper through the second hole. Then insert the needle in the first hole and pull through the third. Etc. Clear as mud?)

map2   map3

map4

-Frame and admire your handi-work!

map5