Gift Guide for Anyone (Under $20!)

Today marks the final installment of my Gift Guide series. [Don't forget to check out my Women's Gift Guide & Men's Gift Guide for gift ideas under $100!] Money can be tight around Christmas though, so it's nice to have a few more budget friendly options to give. I think these would make great gifts on their own, but if you really want to spruce it up, add some pretty wrapping and maybe some homemade goodies! Because when it comes to gift giving, it's the thought that counts.

1. Christmas Throw - Walmart $4.96 - I bought this for a Secret Santa gift and paired it with a mug & a candle. It was a nice little gift, and those blankets are lovely! I got one as a gift a couple years back, and it is the softest, most festive blanket I own.

2. Christmas Movie - Best Buy $9.99 - Really any movie serves as a great gift, but a Christmas movie is even better! Also, they are usually on sale this time of year, so you can get a great price for them. Just make sure it's one they don't already have!

3. Mason Jar Mugs - Kmart $9.99 - I still think mugs are one of those gifts you can't go wrong with. Fill them up with some candy, and you're good to go! I love these mason jar mugs, and this comes in a set of 4! You can't beat that price.

4. SNOW! - Amazon $11.66 - If you live somewhere where it doesn't really snow, like me, this is a fun gift to give. You may make a mess, but it'll be a ton of fun to play with! Insta-snow... no shoveling required.

5. Phone Case - Urban Outfitters $16 - You can never really have too many phone cases. The good thing about these is that there's one for everyone out there. A funny one, a pretty one, a festive one - the options are endless.

6. Board Game - Toys R Us $16.09 - Board games are always a good gift. Whether it's Apples to Apples, Cranium, Cards Against Humanity, etc., it's always a nice gift to receive. Plus, once you're all done opening presents, you can pop in a movie and get to playing!

7. Calendars - Barnes & Noble $17.99 - Christmastime is the perfect time to give a calendar as a gift. And again, there's one for everyone! So, you can certainly find the perfect calendar for someone.

8. Onesies - Target $20 - Everyone loves a good onesie. I think this is one of my favorite gifts out of all 3 of the gift guides. It's a Santa suit that you can wear to bed! How awesome is that?!

9. Scratch Map - Uncommon Goods $20 - This is a great gift for someone who loves to travel. It's a fun way to record where you've been, and it's also quite satisfying to mark off another place. My best friend has one of these & it looks so cool hung up on her wall.

Well that wraps up these Christmas Gift Guides (teehee, wraps)! I hope these have been somewhat helpful. I'm a bit sad that they're over with, but now I have to go out shopping myself! Have a wonderful day!

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: 9 DAYS of BLOGGING!

DIY: Christmas Pocket Tee

I am so excited to share today's DIY project! For some reason people love t-shirts with pockets. I'm not exactly sure why a pocket makes a t-shirt 10x better, but it does, and I love it. So, if you have a little bit of time and a few products, this is a really easy, inexpensive gift to make for Christmas! I'm really happy with how these turned out. Here's the step by step process of how I made these.

Step 1: Gather your supplies. You will need: blank t-shirts, fabric, scissors, pins, rulers, and preferably a sewing machine.

Step 2: Cut out squares of fabric as well as a template for your pocket. You can print one or trace it for yourself. This will help to fold your pocket.

Step 3: Wait for your dog to move out of the way. Really, she insists on sitting right where I need to be.

Step 4: Use the template to help fold the fabric into the form of a pocket square. Then, pin the fabric into place.

Step 5: Sew along the upper part of the pocket.

Step 6: Pin your pocket square onto the t-shirt (as seen above) to prepare it for the sewing machine. It also really helps to have a pocket t-shirt or button down shirt next to you so you can position the square onto the t-shirt in the right place. Do not pin the top of the pocket!

Step 7: Sew the square onto the shirt. It would be possible to sew this by hand, but using a machine is a bit more practical. My mom graciously helped me during this part, because although I can sew, it would've taken me ages. (Thanks, mom!)

Voila! Now all you have to do is wrap these up & you have the perfect Christmas present! It takes a bit of extra time, but I think the result is worth it. My friends really liked this present, & now my mom even wants one for herself!

COUNTDOWN: 10 DAYS of BLOGGING!

(WHAT? 10!)

Men's Gift Guide (Under $100!)

Last week I posted my Women's Gift Guide, which was infinitely easier to put together than this one. I don't know what it is, but guys are very hard to shop for. When it comes to finding a gift for my dad or my brother, I'm usually always stumped. I have to say, I'm quite proud of this gift guide, and I hope it gives you a couple suggestions for gifts this year. Let me know your ideas! I could use the help!

1. Christmas Socks - Target $3.99 (or 3 for $10!) - I honestly would buy these socks for myself. It is important to take pride in your sock choice. These come in 9 different designs, so the combinations are endless.

2. Comic Book - Barnes & Noble $9.03 - When my brother and I were younger we had a collection of Baby Blues comic books going. I remember my dad taking us to the store and we'd run to pick out a new book. It's just something fun to read every now and again, & not something you'd normally buy for yourself.

3. Silly Mugs - CafePress $12.99 - I just couldn't resist. Poop is funny, fart jokes are funny, and I think this is hilarious. There are all kinds of "gag" mugs out there to choose from.

4. The Sriracha Cookbook - Amazon $15.02 - I feel like every guy likes hot sauce. I've never tried it, but Sriracha seems like the popular hot sauce at the moment... which sounds ridiculous to say. I think this cookbook, along with a bottle of Sriracha would make a nice little gift for the hot sauce enthusiast in your life.

5. Beanie - Urban Outfitters $32.00 - A really nice quality beanie would make a lovely gift for any man in your life. I almost included a scarf on here, but unless your in a very cold climate, guys usually just go with beanies.

6. Box Set - Walmart $59.96 - I feel like we only ever watch TV On Demand or online nowadays. Giving someone their favorite TV show in a box set is again, not something you'd typically buy for yourself. Having the actual tangible item for yourself is a nice treat to have, though.'

7. Food Basket - World Market $79.99 - World Market has some pretty impressive food baskets in stock. I went with the Bacon basket for this guide, because like Sriracha, most every guy is obsessed with bacon. Just food in general really.

8. Shave Kit - The Art of Shaving $80.00 - A luxurious shaving kit would be a nice treat for any man in your life. Even though they probably won't admit it, sometimes guys like to feel pampered too.

9. Watch - Macy's $95.00 - This can be a tricky gift to give, because sometimes guys are very particular about their watches. However, what's one more watch in their collection? You really don't have to spend loads of money to find a nice watch, just do a bit of research first.

Well, that's all for my Men's Gift Guide! I'll be posting another guide next week, so if you haven't quite found the perfect gift for someone, don't worry!

COUNTDOWN: 16 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Secret Santa

Yesterday I got to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and let me tell you, those things are a blast. Even if they're sort of silly, I think it's still a fun way to get a group of people in the festive spirit. I'm also a big fan of the White Elephant game, where you can give away crazy things and see who ends up with it. But, for Secret Santa I gave away a blanket, a mug, and a candle as a gift, and I received the items in the photo above. As you can see, I went ahead and devoured all of the chocolate & colored in my stocking. Such a cute gift. Is Secret Santa something you've participated in?

p.s. If any of you are in college & going through finals, best of luck to you. I pulled an all nighter last night... and those Hershey kisses are about the only thing got me through. That, and Christmas music.

COUNTDOWN: 17 DAYS of BLOGGING!

Women's Gift Guide (Under $100!)

Finding just the right gift for someone is always tough. Someone may ask for something specific or you might have the perfect gift in mind already, but there are always a few gifts you can't quite figure out. Today's Gift Guide is for any lady in your life (2 more guides are coming!). You can take any gift below and sort of cater it to the person you are giving it too. They're sure to love it! Plus, everything below is under $100, and most of the gifts are under $50.

1. Christmas Mug - Pier 1 $7.96 - They're just adorable. & everyone loves a good cup of hot cocoa. You could even add hot chocolate, candy canes, and marshmallows to spruce it up a bit more.

2. Whitman's Sampler - Russell Stover $9.00 - It's no secret that women love chocolate. I pretty much get my mom a Whitman's Sampler every year... and then steal a bite or two.

3. Fresh Balsam Candle - B&BW $20.00 - These 3 wick candles are the best. They have so many scents to choose from at Bath & Body Works, and usually some sort of 2 for $20 sale!

4. Knit Scarf - ModCloth $24.99 - I think anyone can use a nice red scarf for Christmas. If you are scared to knit one yourself, ModCloth has a ton of cute options.

5. Coffee Table Book - Anthropologie $27.50 - Anthro has a bunch of different books that you could easily pick out for someone. I'm partial to the Paris one, but there are a few for fashion, dog, or food lovers too. This would also make for a nice hostess gift.

6. Spa Gift Set - Bed Bath & Beyond $45.99 - This gift set includes everything, so that's why I picked it out. These are great because you can get the most luxurious, expensive gift basket, or you can get an affordable one from Walgreens. There is so many options to choose from, and what girl doesn't like to be pampered?

7. Embellished Clutch - Urban Outfitters $49.00 - I am in love with this. The champagne/gold color & all of the beautiful beading makes this perfect for any holiday party. I think it is just gorgeous.

8. Naked Palette - Ulta $52.00 - This is a really good, basic palette for anyone. Even someone who doesn't wear much makeup. I have the first Naked palette, which is my favorite, but now there's a 2nd and now a 3rd as well.

9. Daisy Perfume - Sephora $89.00 - I have this on my Christmas list. A perfume is a really nice gift, and kind of a personal one as well. If you aren't quite sure of a particular perfume or scent someone might like, I suggest you go for a body spray. Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret have some great scents if you are wary of making an investment in a perfume.

That is all for this Gift Guide! Be on the lookout for a few more!

COUNTDOWN: 23 DAYS of BLOGGING!