If you’re anything like me, you’re probably using the upcoming weekend to finish your Christmas shopping. Well, there’s no shame in that! I always tell myself that I wait until the last minute because I’m always thinking of new ideas to gift to the people I love most. I also like to give everyone gifts that will be useful to them and will not end up collecting dust on a shelf with other gifts they’ve received. I want my gifts to be used to within an inch of their life, to be enjoyed and remembered. I mean, wouldn’t we all like that?
I know it’s difficult this time of year to come up with meaningful presents for everyone on your list. So, to help you on your last minute gifting adventures, I’ve compiled a few of my favorite things to give (and receive!).
- Homemade Food. Do you have something that you’re really good at making? Maybe a salted caramel sauce, chocolate peanut butter cups, or any kind of cookie? Well, just package them up, add a cute ribbon, and gift away! The food item doesn’t have to be overly complicated or out of the ordinary; it just has to be made with love. I really enjoy receiving homemade food items as gifts because it really makes me feel loved by the gifter. And plus, you get delicious foods that you may have never tried before. It’s a win-win, people!
If you’re not very confident in your kitchen skills quite yet, gift some of your favorite snacks or condiments. A different type of hot sauce, some pretty cookies in a nice tin, or the ever-present peppermint bark, they all make great gifts, especially if you pair them with something else like a linen kitchen towel or pot holder.
- Fancy Tea or Coffee. Now, when I say “fancy” I don’t mean expensive. I mean something that is out of the ordinary and/or something the gift recipient wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. You could also gift someone with your favorite kind of coffee/tea/hot cocoa/matcha/your warm beverage of choice to show that you want to share your love of something with them. I love sharing the things I love with the people I love and appreciate most!
So. Much. Love.
- Candles. I know, I know, people rag on getting candles as gifts. They act as if, somehow, people have suddenly forgotten how amazing candles really are and they have been relegated to the bottom of everyone’s list of gifts to receive. I personally love a candle’s warm glow and inviting scent and have one in every room in our house. I especially have been really into the scents from the Hearth and Hand line at Target (created by Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame) lately.
If your gift recipient is sensitive to scents or is someone who has expressly said they hate candles, maybe some essential oils and a diffuser would be more their speed? The goal here is something that will bring a calming scent to any room of their house.
- A Framed Picture. Yes, I’m saying it. I miss when I received pictures of my nieces and nephews as gifts. Not to make any brothers and sisters-in-law feel bad, but I loved getting pictures of their kids to hang up on my wall/put up on my bookshelf. It’s a nice way to see just how much they have grown through the year, in direct comparison to the previous year, because wow! how time flies. If you have kids, and you are looking for something to give to a relative, please consider printing a nice picture of your little monsters and putting it in a frame. The frame could be from the dollar store for all that it matters! I bet the gift recipient will be thrilled with this blast from the past.
A framed art print for the gift recipient to add to a gallery wall would also work wonders. If you know this person quite well and you feel you know their taste in art, by all means, find a piece of art for them to add to their collection. I especially like buying a book of art prints, maybe this one or this one, carefully cutting out the prints I like with an Exacto knife and framing them. For around fifty dollars you have several gifts of art right at your fingertips.
- Your Time. Yes, something as simple as your undivided attention makes a wonderful gift, especially for those people you don’t get to see very often or someone who is in need of some extra support. Do you know a new mom that could use an hour to herself to take a nap/get a massage/take a shower uninterrupted? Or could someone really use your help with a project around the house that you know you could help them with? The gift of your time could significantly ease their burden.
Are there any other meaningful, but easy, last minute gift ideas you’d like to share? Tag/message me on Instagram (@belleannecooks @thebookishkitchen) or leave a comment below and let me know what you like to give (and receive)!
