Ladies 2019 Gift Guide
As you can expect, we've been talking A LOT about Santa over here and what kinds of things/gifts would qualify for a Christmas List....primarily a 4 year old Christmas List. But Kenny threw me a bone the other morning and kindly asked, "mommy what do you want for Christmas?" I thought for a moment and responded with, "I want all the things money can't buy!" That answer did not suffice for him and he came back with, "mommy you must pick something I can buy you at Target!" Clearly I go to Target too much, but my answer remains the same - I really do want all the things money can't buy, but since world peace and the guaranteed lifetime health of my children cannot be purchased at Target, I put together a list of items for your favorite ladies. :) Without further ado, here is my 2019 Ladies Gift Guide:
Air Pods: I've already raved about these, and as I've mentioned they're at the top of my Christmas list....and wait for it....they can in fact be purchased at Target. Hahaha. I'm probably the only person left in the world that doesn't own a pair, but every time I "borrow" AK's these climb a little higher on my must have list. We'll see if they make the cut for Santa or not.
Leather Tote: I'm frequently asked where one should get a classic tote. You know, one that's big enough, but not too big, one that is somewhat budget friendly and one that won't look completely awful with some wear and tear. I mean they're meant to be carried after all. There are a couple leather totes that I love, like this one by Nimes and this one by Madewell, but I ultimately asked for this one by The Frye Company. I'm a broken record I know, but here is why: it's the perfect size (I've carried it around the Frye store multiple times :)), Frye leather only gets better with age and use, and Frye is actually not making many accessories anymore so what is currently available is all they have left for an unknown amount of time. I couldn't resist and you shouldn't either.
Lululemon Align Jogger Pants: These pants are the most comfortable lounge pants I own, and I wear them all the time. I own two colors (grey and black) and I basically do laundry often enough to avoid them both being dirty at the same time. They are the first pair of pants I reach for after a long day and they are the only pants I travel in (by car or plane). I honestly cannot say enough about these pants. I love them and would gladly own every single color so I for sure had a clean pair every single day of the week, but for now an every 3 day laundry rotation will have to do. Size up one size in these bad boys.
Cashmere Sweater: I'm a big fan of classic anything. I will occasionally get caught up in fast fashion, but I tend to gravitate towards things that will last the test of time. I feel better about the purchase and I know I will be able to reach for that particular item time and time again. There are a couple cashmere sweaters I'm fond of: this one from Jcrew is really nice and the price point cannot be beat (I wore this in our family photos and I linked it on my Thanksgiving Looks post as well), I'm really in love with this one from Garnet Hill and the reviews on this number are pretty great, and I also really like this one made by Everlane. A cashmere sweater is a grand slam gift. It's not always something you'd buy for yourself and it suits many ages of woman ranging from college girls to MIL's. You cannot go wrong.
A nice coat: I really believe in wearing quality gear when it comes to inclement weather. My step dad has always said you can never spend enough money on comfortable shoes and warm Winter gear, and boy that is so true. I firmly abide by that opinion. My all time favorite coat is the down sweater hoodie from Patagonia. It's warm, reasonably priced and the color combinations are hard to beat. Patagonia also has A+ customer service. If you're going for a splurge and live in incredibly cold climates, I've heard this Canada Goose coat is legit and worth the amount of money. My mom and a few of her friends have this long down coat from Duluth Trading Co and they absolutely love it. A nice coat is a really fantastic gift and it's the kind of gift that keeps on giving and should last the test of time.
An experience: At this stage in the game, I'd love any sort of experience that involved quality time with AK and a break from the day to day. Andy and I try to maximize most every minute of most every day so if he presented me with a gift card to a fancy hotel or a fancy evening out (OR BOTH!), I would be elated. Sometimes having staycations in your own city/state is super fun and feels like a getaway without the expense of a flight and it forces you to discover lovely new things about the city/state you live in. I see a number of my friends who live in Chicago do this regularly - brilliant, huh? Sometimes a night away, a change of scenery, or an uninterrupted dinner + bottle of wine is all you need to recharge the batteries to handle days on end with toddlers/children (I love my children more than life itself, but they're toddlers....enough said!). We're lucky we live in a state that has some pretty epic getaways that are within driving distance.
I couldn't help myself and put together a jewelry gift guide as well. I know I said less is more this year and that is totally true, but sometimes our silly fellas need a little guidance when it comes to buying us beautiful accessories. Hey guys, I'm going to say this once, so listen up; nothing will beat diamond anything...necklace, earrings, ring, etc. Diamonds ALWAYS win....always and FOREVER. But if diamonds are not in your budget this year, I put together a few items that I either love or would love to have that do not cost what diamonds cost.
Locket Sisters Locket: This could easily be the number one gift on any of my gift guides. To give someone a special locket with a special photo is about the most heartfelt gift one can give. I was connected to Allyssa and Amy through another blogger I've met on this journey, and to say they are incredible is not saying enough. All of their lockets are curated by hand, they thrive on knowing the story behind the locket and their turnaround time is QUICK! They also donate a portion of their proceeds each month to a non-profit of their choice and they pretend to be Lutheran Ladies from Minnesota on IG stories and it's one of the funniest things I've ever heard (I'm Lutheran and I grew up in the Midwest - they're hysterical!). I ordered one of their lockets in August with my favorite picture of my kids and I and I wear it all the time. I also got my mom a locket for her 60th birthday that she adores. If nothing else, give these lovelies a follow on the gram and be prepared to laugh until you cry - then eventually you'll order a locket. I swear on it. Order by December 10 to have this in time for Christmas.
Jennifer Fisher Dog Tag Necklace: My mom got me this necklace for Christmas two years ago - the year Matilda was born. That same year Matilda had to have a heart procedure to close a hole in her heart and it was scheduled for December 22. I did this for a number of reasons: 1. We had met our deductible so ideally we wanted it done before the end of the year. 2. I wanted certain people to do the procedure and that was the only day that aligned for all their schedules. And 3. We were only supposed to be in the hospital for 24 hours and then we were going to have the entire holiday week to recoup and recover. That didn't exactly happen - another post for another day - but in theory it was all going to work. My mom came out to stay with Kenny while Matilda had her procedure and gave me this necklace the night before her procedure was scheduled. While Matilda was in the OR, I kept rubbing it and praying for her safety and well being. I've barely taken it off since that day. It's such a special meaningful gift. Perfect for a new mom, a newly married lady with new initials, or even a college graduation gift for those graduating mid year. Don't knock those of us that ran a victory lap. :). This necklace also layers well with my Locket Sisters locket! And it comes in 14K gold, white gold and rose gold, so take your pick!
Pyrrha Charm Necklace and charms: I received this charm necklace for a Mother's Day gift this past May and I love it. It's such a sweet sentiment and can be customized with all their different charms or symbols of your favorite things - they have shapes, numbers, letters, etc. I originally learned about Pyrrha when I worked at r.s.v.p, a local paper and gift boutique in Iowa City, IA, and my love affair was rekindled when I found them on the 'gram last Spring. All their pieces are unique and special and would make a great gift. They are a Vancouver, Canada based company, so maybe order sooner than later.
Signature Wrap Hoops: You cannot go wrong with a good pair of hoops, and these Signature Hoops made by Bloom are outstanding. I love that you can basically customize them for your liking as they have have small to large sizing and they offer gold, silver, and two tone options. I personally own the two tone in the medium size and they go with everything. There is seriously not an outfit they don't go with and I'm planning on wearing them for every holiday occasion I have on my calendar. Such a sweet gift and depending on your budget, they would slip nicely into a stocking as well.
Skinny Bangle: I have a hard time with bangles, because they always tend to get in the way and I don't like a lot of cluster on my wrist(s). But these skinny bangles by Bloom are great. They offer just enough pop on the wrist, they look great with a t-shirt and jeans and add a little something with more formal attire. They layer nicely with other bracelets and actually go well with my Apple Watch. Again, you can customize what you like as far as color goes. I own both the gold and two tone, and they look great together. This could be a nice teacher gift, a gift for a girlfriend, or even a tough to buy for SIL. I love these so much!
Thin Triple Wrap Leather Cuff: My last piece of jewelry on this never ending gift guide, is a leather cuff also by Bloom. If you can't tell, sometimes I get attached to certain things and brands and have a hard time navigating away, but I have found their pieces to be unique, fashionable and well made. They are also a local Colorado company, owned by two women and they offer a lifetime guarantee on all their products. Not only that, I'm lead to believe they will customize about anything you want. So that right there, is reason enough to order something you really love exactly the way or length you want it. But back to this cuff - it's great alone or layered, it comes in a thin size (linked above) and it comes in a thicker band as well, and a few different colors that are great. I own the thin band one and am in love. It looks great with my skinny bangles or sometimes I wear it paired with just my watch, but rest assured, I'm constantly getting complimented on all my Bloom Jewelry. As a side note, I'm also really obsessed with this necklace and the entire Signature Collection. So take your pick, you cannot go wrong! And one last plug - all of these Bloom pieces would be great to jazz up any holiday look, so maybe treat yo' self?
Alright. That does it. That's a wrap on my Ladies Gift Guide for 2019. Hopefully you found something special for a deserving lady in your life, or maybe you read this and strictly instructed your hubs or S.O. to head this way. Either way, a number of my favorite things are included, as well as a few of my most wanted items. Enjoy!
Cheers,
AFK