Alas, it is HERE! Our annual guide to choosing the perfect gift for everyone on your list this year. I’ve done some digging, lots of research, and interviewed some of the pickiest people I know – to bring you this comprehensive list of holiday gift ideas for 2019. If you don’t see what you’re looking for on this year’s list, you’re sure to find some unique ideas on last year’s gift guide as well.
Now let’s not waste a another minute, we’ll get right into it! Here are our top picks for everyone on your Christmas list this year. You ready? Let’s get at it!
Items in this post were received complimentary for review and photography purposes,
and some affiliate links are shared as well. All opinions are always mine!
Man alive, let me tell you, I had A LOT of ideas to add to this collection this year. There is so much good stuff out there, so to all you husbands out there wondering what on earth to get her – listen up, you’re about to get a lot of information thrown your way here so grab a notepad and get ready.
Sunday Riley Acid Appeal Set – These first few here are coming straight at you from the always amazing, never-disappointing, Birchbox. In this set, they’ve put together a few trusty products from Sunday Riley that work to make your skin amazing. Rejuvenate, exfoliate, hydrate, and everything your face needs to restore that glow. ($120)
Bali Beach Night Fragrance – I love to feature perfumes in the mix of all the cosmetics because that’s an important element to your everyday routine too! This fragrance from Bali is the perfect fit for date night, it has kind of a romantic, spicy kind of scent to it. They describe it as a blend of Hawaiian island coconut and Tahitian vanilla. Can you smell it? ($58)
baggallini Mini Crossbody Bags – If you’ve got a lady that loves to travel, or she’s active, or she just doesn’t love the big trendy bags, then she will love these mini crossbody bags. They’re cute, they’re trendy and they fit all the necessities without being big, bulky or cumbersome. There are various styles and sizes with different pocket options and strap variations. Use them as a clutch, or crossbody – or both! ($48)
Limited Edition: Birchbox x Oribe 2.0 – If there was ever a hair product line that I use over and over, it’s Oribe. I am obsessed with their products and especially their hair sprays. This kit includes all the most amazing products from their lineup, all in one gorgeous, golden hexagon box. This is one you definitely want to check out if your hair needs a little boost. ($68)
Lay-n-Go Nailspa – If you’ve got a nail or makeup fanatic on your hands, she’ll love this little tote that opens up to display their goodies. Pack with makeup essentials, nail polishes, whatever you’d like, and when you’re ready to go just tighten the top strap and toss it in your suitcase! ($33)
Birchbox Find Your Lip Love Set – Okay, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is another set that is worth checking out as well! This one is completely targeted at your lip queen. It features lip liners, lip sticks, lip glosses and scrubs – everything beautiful. And yes, that is MAC that you see there, it’s their amazing Lipglass that is quite possibly my new favorite shade for this winter. ($34)
Birchbox Countdown to Beauty – Finally a women’s advent calendar that just gets better and better. Each little drawer opens up to surprise you with a sample-size beauty item. It’s a great way to test out a wide variety of high-end products for a fraction of the price. Like a chocolate advent calendar, I always have a hard time holding out and waiting to open them, but hey what’s the use in being an adult if we don’t get to finally break some rules? ($40)
Stila “A Knowing Glance” Eye Trio – I originally picked this set because the eyeliner is my all-time favorite. It’s the one liner that I’ve found will last all day and not smudge, not even a little. But as an added bonus, you also receive their glitter and glow liquid eyeshadow, and their Magnum XXX mascara. ($33)
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Shampoo & Conditioner – These have very quickly become two of my favorite hair products to use in the shower. I feel like I had tested everything out there for a shampoo and conditioner and everything kind of left my hair feeling heavy and greasy. What I like about these is that they smell really good, they are incredibly light, and at the same time they’re effective! Usually it’s one of those three, not all three at the same time. I would definitely recommend this duo all day long. ($68 for the set)
CHI Lava Flat Iron – It had been a while since I was in the market for a new hair straightener. I think the one I had been using was about 5-6 years old (yes that’s right, older than my child) and it just wasn’t cutting it for me. So I wanted to try out this new flat iron – the CHI Lava. It features 1″ ceramic plates infused with volcanic lava for gentle yet consistent heat. This means that you can style your hair at a lower heat for less damage, but the same great results. I’m still perfecting my hand at it, but so far it’s been a really nice switch for me. While I was once using my old straightener at about 400 degrees, I’m now using the CHI Lava at 350 and seeing much nicer results. ($159.99)
Dr. Jart+ Mini Must-Haves Experiment Kit – A little mini sampler kit for your face, this little box contains all the goodies for a nice little mini facial. I especially love the Dermaclear Micro Water that comes in this set, it works to remove makeup, cleanse and moisturize all at the same time. ($25)
Birchbox At-Home Facial Kit – I actually squealed in delight when I opened this one. I was over-the-moon for the rose quartz facial roller, I’ve been wanting to try one for the longest time!! Beyond that, the wide array of samplings from GlamGlow, Clarins, Acure, Huxley, Comfort Zone, Georgette Klinge, Estee Lauder and Sunday Riley. Not to mention a facial mask from Saturday Skin – those are always my favorite to throw on when taking a bubble bath! ($35)
Our annual holiday gift guide would not be complete without gift ideas for him. This year, just like every year, I ask my husband for not-so-subtle hints as to what he wouldn’t mind getting for Christmas this year. He always gives me a good range of ideas, and then he usually goes out and buys them for himself on Black Friday or Cyber Monday (of course). So to give you a glimpse into what might be on your guy’s list this year – here are some top contenders from his list this year!
Aqua-Vu micro Revolution 5.0 – This was the number one item on my husband’s list this year. He had been eyeing it up for a while as a more efficient way to find the right fishing spot. “It allows you to go hole to hole and see what kind of structure is at the bottom.” (That’s what I’m quoting him saying, as I had some research to do in the matter – obviously!) He was so pumped to test it out that we had to make a special trip out to the nearest lake when it came so that he could take it for a test run. His favorite part is that the display is handheld and easy to carry around, or just to get a good close look at. His holiday season was made with this one! ($349.99)
Deeper Smart Sonar CHIRP Winter Bundle – Keeping on topic of the tech-savvy fisherman on your list, you’ll need to check out these sonars from Deeper as well. They sync up to your smartphone or tablet to display, and are considered a “castable” sonar. This CHIRP Winter Bundle includes the deeper CHIRP sonar, a thermos, neck gaiter and a night fishing cover. It’s the whole package all rolled into one fun box! ($299.99)
Birchbox Men’s Countdown to Grooming (Advent Calendar) – Another favorite item that my husband loves getting is this advent grooming calendar from Birchbox. It allows guys to sample out products that they probably wouldn’t get a chance to try otherwise, and then if they like them they can purchase the full-size version. Last year my husband fell in love with Harry’s face scrub which came in his Birchbox (featured in the 2018 Holiday Gift Guide). I’m excited to share this one with him and see what his top pick is this year! ($35)
Grill Armor Gloves – This summer, my husband bought a wood pellet grill that he loves using but he’s burned through (literally, burned through) all of my oven mitts with it’s extreme temperature. For that reason, I did some digging and found these Grill Armor Gloves that are made for exactly that type of thing. They are heat resistant up to 932 degrees F, with non-slip silicone gripping. Not to mention, they come as a pair which are even machine washable. I gave them to him early so that he would stop ruining my kitchen mitts, and he’s been loving them ever since. ($32)
Nice Laundry Personalized Mens Socks – There is stylish sock movement among the men’s fashion industry right now and my husband’s jumped in with both feet (get it? I knew you would.) So I knew when I seen these personalized socks from Nice Laundry that he would love them. You can pick different color sets, design and of course initials to go on the socks and the price isn’t bad either! He is going to love these this year! ($45)
Ekster Men’s Senate Cardholder – Okay so if there’s ever anything lost in our house – it’s Tyler’s wallet. Is it in his truck? Is it in his office? Maybe in our bedroom? He jokes and says, “It’s always in the last place you look!” Which is never actually funny anymore, especially when we’re almost always running late anyways these days. Anyways, this prompted my search for trackable wallets and guess what, I came upon Ekster. These wallets are not only trackable (with the tracker card upgrade, they have a GPS chip plus an option to download an app to page your wallet), but they also have a quick-card access where you press that button and up pop your six most-used cards. They’re sleek, and the feature list goes on and on! There are other options as well if you want one that goes with your phone, among other options. ($69, with tracker card $98)
I usually have a couple ideas when it comes to gift ideas for kids but when it comes to the varying ages, genders and hobbies, I get a little lost along the way. So my digging his year for kids gift ideas was a little bit more work than I was expecting but that’s okay because I found some really neat stuff! So with great excitement, I bring to you this year’s “gift ideas for kids” section!
Tinkertots Boxes – Locally created and produced right here in Minnesota, these cute little boxes are packed with activities for your little one to keep busy with during these cold, winter days. Each box contains five individually-wrapped packages filled with activity plans, tools and items to complete the activity. My four-year-old LOVED doing the activities and it was a seriously nice break from screen time. I love watching her learn through play, and it takes the stress off of me to try and come up with activities for her and prepping those activities! (Subscription based; $35/month)
Little Passports Box for Kids – Another subscription based box, this one focuses on helping your child learn about the world around them. Choose from a variety of options including Early Explorers (ages 3-5), Science Junior (ages 5-8), World Edition (ages 6-10), USA Edition (ages 7-12), or Science Expeditions (ages 9+). Each box is packed with the tools to learn and adventure about the world all around us! (Starts at $12.95 per month)
Relevant Play Toys:
Coilz Stadium Sensory Toy Set– (Left) Why settle for buying the child in your life just one game when you could go with Coilz Stadium and give them 15-in-1? This two-sided game offers over 15 different games that you can play in a variety of different ways. Beat boredom and keep that learning curve growing. ($19.99)
Build a Bot – (Right) As you’ve probably noticed, we are all for the games or toys that keep kids learning. This Build a Bot toy is great for STEM skills among many others. Kids can create their own robot kitten with the package featured above, which involves assembling the pet and learning how to make it work together! ($29.99)
Mad Mattr Galaxy Sand & Meteor Monsters – This sand is SO much fun for busy little hands. My daughter loves using the Galaxy molds to create little stars, space ships, and other fun shapes. The Meteor Monsters contain the same fun play sand, but they also contain a mystery monster as well! She had so much fun burying the monster, creating scenes for him and using the meteor as a mold itself! The fun is limitless, and it keeps their hands busy for hours! ($14.99 for Galaxy pack, $29.99 for 3-pack of Meteor Monsters)
Piper Computer Kit – Do you have a STEM smarty pants on your hand? Give them the gift of a challenge. This project will be one that they can’t get enough of, plus once they complete the challenge, more games ensue! Essentially your child will have the opportunity to build their own computer and then once it’s set up and ready to go, the computer allows them to play Piper’s own special version of Minecraft and Blockly. ($299)
Orbeez Wow World Wowzer Surprise Magical Pets – Surprise polar magic lays inside this mystery ball. These would make amazing stocking stuffers, and each little globe includes a little Orbeez friend allowing you the chance to collect all 20 friends! Just put water inside the little globe and watch the friends come to life. ($5.99)
Cutie Stix Compact Jewelry Kit – I love a gift that can double as an activity. This little compact jewelry kit will help kids work on fine motor skills while creating beautiful little necklaces and bracelets for them and their friends. This compact also comes in three different options; a piggy, puppy or kitty. ($9.99)
Lay-n-Go Lite – Great for little toys or legos, this little play mat allows for a small area of play and then a quick cleanup by just tightening the strap at the top. When you’re ready, loosen the strap and pick up where you left off! Fun storage, all while being practical at the same time. ($21.95)
Splashlings Princesses – My daughter is just always begging me for these types of toys, they’re cute and adorable and she just has to have them! These ones are fun as they each come with their own little princess mermaids and a few friends as well! Little fingers will love playing with these little princesses and their sea critters. (Starting at $6.99)
Do you have a gift idea to add to the list? Leave a comment below and share! We love to hear your feedback.
Happy holiday shopping!
Sarah
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