10 Favorite Gifts to Give

For the last day of my week-long series on holiday prep I’m sharing 10 Gifts I Love to Give! This week’s blog schedule lined up perfectly with Erin’s monthly 10 on the 10^th linkup and her prompt for the today’s linkup also fit perfect with my week’s theme! I love it when things to come together!!

Once again, I reached out to some friends and family asking them what were some gifts they loved to give others and their responses did not disappoint, per usual.

|One – Travel|

At many points during our marriage so far, Stephen and I have opted to do a weekend get-away or a vacation instead of giving each other gifts for a certain occasion. Primarily our anniversary. Once the girls get bigger, I would love to make a Disney trip our big Christmas gift for that year. Who am I kidding, that gift would be more for this mama rather than the girls. I LOOOVE Disney! So much! 

Gifting your spouse or family with a trip creates memories and moments shared together that you’ll never regret. Skip the junk gifts, and save for the experiences together!

|Two – Photos|

Every year I can count on my sister gifting us all with copies of their Fall family photos. I look forward to seeing them every December 26^th (when we have Christmas at my parents’ house). I love looking back and seeing how much our nephews have grown. I can also speak from experience that grandparents sure enjoy photos of their grandbabies! It’s an easy gift, and a lasting gift. Frame them, order them on a cavas, fill a book…whatever mode you take, photos for the win!

|Three – Photo Books and Calendars|

Ok, so for Grandparents Day I took a note from my sister and made photo books on Snapfish for my parents’ and Stephen’s parents of the girls from the past year. It was a HUGE hit. 

Something else that’s a huge hit is photo calendars! Every year one of my cousins makes one for our grandparents. She grabs everyone’s photos from the year off of IG or Facebook and then gets to work. It’s by far the most anticipated gift of the year and it gets passed around for hours after all the presents have been open because literally EVERYONE wants to look through it! You’ll find all kinds of deals and coupon codes online at Shutterfly and Snapfish from now until Christmas. Snapfish’scurrent deal is buy 1 calendar get 2 free with the Code “B1G2NOV17”. Three gifts or 2 gifts and 1 for yourself all for the price of 1..get to work!!

|Four – Monogrammed Bags and Wallets|

My favorite place to grab these is a local store, Select Designs. (Find them on IG @selectdesigns.) They have a great selection of colors and they hold up tremendously well. Last year, I got my sister one of these bags and she got me the wallet. We carry them both ALL. THE. TIME. 

These would be perfect for sisters, moms, and friends! The kids’ backpacks make great baby shower gifts or for any little one on your list. We received a couple for the girls from the shop owner herself when Amelia and Mae were born. They are so sweet! We’ve used them many times in the past year, and eventually will make great little church bags for the girls to carry themselves. #solongdiaperbag!

|Five – Magazine Subscription|

This is one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received as simple as it is. Every month, there’s a new issue in my mailbox of my favorite magazine and every month it seems as if I’ve forgotten about it.  It’s a fun little surprise and provides a few minutes of relaxed down time for this busy mama!!

|Six – Tickets|

Again, I’m all about gifts with experience rather than clutter. What a fun night out to spend with your spouse, friends, siblings or parents. Everyone enjoys something where a ticket is involved. Sporting events, concerts, plays…I LOVE gifting and receiving tickets!

|Seven – Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize|

Options are endless on this one and the price ranges will meet anyone’s shopping budget!! These are a few of my favorites..

I love Kate Spade stud earrings. I don’t even know how many pairs I own now, but they’re easy, classic and go with everything! Scarves are always welcomed this time of year! I’m also a fan of fun and meaningful jewelry. These morse code bracelets are right up my alley and with a variety of color options, it would make a great gift to give to someone on your shopping list, or add one on there for yourself!

|Eight – Food|

This time of the year, brings out the master baker in all of us. There is nothing more cozy than spending a chilly Saturday at home covered in flour and sugar whipping up your favorite holiday treats. Each year I make a big batch of cinnamon rolls, package them up on a decorative Christmas plate for the guys I work with, wrap them up with a pretty label and BOOM, done. 

Some people are difficult to buy for OR you want to give them a little something special but not break the bank. This is when you break out your apron and start baking!! Homemade treats are the perfect option for co-workers, your mailman, your hair stylist, neighbors, the list goes on!

|Nine – Amazon|

One gift always on my shopping list is an Amazon Gift Card for my dad. He is an avid reader and adores the Kindle we got him some years back. In fact he may have replaced it with an upgraded version since then….I can’t remember. Either way, he reads A LOT. Between me and my sister, Christmas, his birthday in February and Father’s Day, he’s never at a loss to be able to download whatever book he wants to read next. Just about everyone uses Amazon for something now.

 Whether it’s just general shopping, or their tv and movie streaming downloads, pantry services, or their subscription programs (which we used for the girls’ formula for a good 5 or 6 months with GREAT SAVINGS) or WHATEVER…there’s so much to explore. Amazon cards for all!

|Ten – Date Night|

A friend of mine recently told me about the Christmas gift a good friend of her’s gave her last year. It was a “Monthly Date Day or Date Night”. She and her husband would pick a weekend day or a week night for a date just the two of them and the friend would keep their son while they were gone and/or keep him overnight. I’m telling you, right now, that sounds like heaven in an envelope to receive! Give the gift of time to busy mom you know. 

Take some of her tasks and responsibilities and hustle and bustle off her hands. Give her and her husband time. If you’re a mom of older kids, you know how important that time to her would be – how much it would mean, how much it would be appreciated. If you’re not a mom yet, you will know one day how meaningful of a gift this is and someone will repay the favor for you.

Friends, I’ve had so much fun this week sharing some of my holiday planning favorites! Thanks so much for joining me and the comments along the way here and on social media or by text! It’s been so encouraging. Before you go, be sure to check out Erin’s blog today for her monthly 10 on the 10thlink up! 

Happy weekending!

(Also linking up here, here, here , and here today.)