When I was a child, the most wonderful time of the year officially kicked off on the day that the Sears Wish Book arrived in our mailbox. I circled every item I wanted for the holidays, making sure to write a “D” next to each one to make sure my parents knew it was on my list and not my sister’s.
My kids used to do the same with the Toys ‘R Us and Target holiday fliers, requesting approximately $3,428.76 worth of gifts. They had no idea how much things cost; they just knew what they wanted.
For the past several years, my teens put items they’d like in my Amazon cart, or send me text messages with links. It’s not how Santa would do it, but it is certainly convenient.
Online gift guides are the new Sears Wish Book, and I love perusing each one for ideas. This year I’m offering my own gift guide, with no particular theme except for the fact that all the items are from small businesses. There are items from past Love Lists, fun Internet finds, and ways to save a few bucks so you can treat yourself.
There are affiliate and referral links in this post.
Shop Smarter
If you do any online shopping at all, sign up for Ebates. Install the button on your computer or the app on your phone, and click through to the shopping site via Ebates. Then you get cash back on your purchases from hundreds of big name retailers, from Etsy to Kohl’s, from Under Armour to Macy’s.
Why you should sign up NOW: Ebates typically offers extra cash back on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And you’ll get a $10 bonus when you make a purchase of $25 or more within 90 days.
If you’re a hold out on Amazon Prime, this is the perfect time to sign up for a free 30 day trial. You can cancel after the trial (coinciding perfectly with Christmas) and pay nothing, but you may get hooked on the two day free shipping. Don’t think it’s worth the annual fee? Check out Julia’s post HERE, and find out. Regardless, the trial is free, so what have you got to lose?
Shop Naturally
Moody Sisters Skincare was on my Love List in October, and the products are fabulous holiday gifts. Try the sugar scrubs, lip balms, dry skin cream, and soaps. I have used all of them, with none of my typical allergic reaction to skin care products.
Savings Alert: Enter KISSMYLIST as the promo code at checkout and get 10% off your purchase. And shop in your pajamas this weekend for some specials.
Image courtesy of Moody Sisters; for more details visit HERE
Shop philanthropically
Another Love List item, Mitscoots socks, gloves, hats, and scarves are fashionable gifts that do good. For every pair of socks purchased, the folks at Mitscoots give away another pair to someone in need. The company also partners with organizations that help individuals get off the streets and into steady employment.
Savings alert: If you sign up for the email list at the bottom of the home page, you’ll get a promo code for 20% off your purchase.
Shop recycled
I have had a few pieces from Whisker Prints in my Etsy shopping cart for months. Whisker Prints are inspirational typographical art prints made from damaged vintage dictionaries from the early twentieth century. There is a quote for everyone on your list!
Shop yummy
Need a hostess gift? A gift under $10? A completely addictive snack that is made by a person instead of a machine? Hippie Chick Granola fits the bill. It’s all delicious, but my favorite is the chocolate pretzel blend. I haven’t bought the granola in awhile because I have absolutely no will power, but I may stock up for the holidays and those snow days when an hour of shoveling deserves a delicious reward. Bonus: Hippie Chick donates a portion of its sales to charitable causes.
Shop crafty
Over a decade ago I made my kids no-sew fleece blankets, and they still use them. I made myself one this fall, so that I could wrap myself in it during cold field hockey and lacrosse games.
I am Miss Uncrafty, but these blankets are easy. There are tutorials all over the Internet; just google “no sew blanket.” I used 2 1/2 yards of each piece of fleece for mine, and it’s huge. Granted, I’m only five foot two, but still.
Make one with school colors for a teenager, sports team colors for the diehard fan, or any of the oodles of patterns at fabric stores (I went to JoAnn’s). I made my blanket in the time it took me to watch a DVRed episode of Supergirl.
Shop unique
Finally, check out two websites that are full of cool and unusual gifts – Grommet and Uncommon Goods. Both sites feature goods from emerging artisans and aspiring inventors, and it’s easy to navigate the sites to find something for everyone on your list.
*****
Whether you brave the crowds on Black Friday, shop in your pajamas at home, or put it all off until December 24th, I wish you a holiday season filled with relaxation, laughter, and people you love.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Great gift ideas for those in the US…she’s got me thinking though…I could do the same in my place across the globe…Yes! Yes! Yes! Thanks for that!
You’re welcome!
Etsy poster – so cute. The no sew blanket? I’ve made these and definitely agree – they’re awesome! Oh, and I’d like those socks 🙂
They really are great!
Thanks for sharing my Amazon Prime post. 🙂 I’m not a sewer, and those blankets look awfully comfy. I might have to try making a few… Thanks for the inspiration!
Sure! I’m laughing because I just read your comment and thought “sewer” as in the thing in the street…and I’m wondering why Julia is telling me she isn’t a sanitation drain??? Ah…SEW -er. Duh.
I read it the same way when your reply email came in. I’m definitely NOT a sewer. Perhaps “seamstress” or “handy with a needle” would have been better. 😉
That wish book! I’d circle all the NFL and Star Wars stuff, individually. I got probably .05% of what I wished for!
You must be in heaven this Christmas, Eli. Star Wars stuff all over the place!
It’s cautious optimism, Dana. Cautious. #BecauseDisney
I love Uncommon Goods. They’re my go-to vendor for wedding presents!
Oh, that’s a good idea Allie. We don’t get invited to many weddings anymore, but I will keep that in mind for the next time we do.
Love the socks! And FYI, I’m one of those people that want it all so I went through this post writing absolutely everything down. I’m quite possibly a teenager trapped in the body of a 47 year old.
Me too! Don’t tell anyone, but I bought myself just as much as I bought other gifts on Cyber Monday. Ssshhh…
Interesting suggestions! Usually, by now, I at least have a list ready for Christmas shopping, but this year I and WAY behind! I remember going through the Sears Wishbook, too. I will always remember my oldest, when she was little. It must have been he first time she was old enough to really look through the catalogs. I gave her one from Target and told her to show me some things she wasted Santa to bring. She started pointing to almost everything saying, “I wan this! What is it?” 🙂
Ha! Little ones want everything. My teens don’t want very much, so it’s tough to shop for them. Gwen isn’t so hard, but James…he’s tough.
Great gift guide! My niece made a big fleece blanket for T and we all love it. You can make one with two layers and it’s so wonderfully warm. Thanks for the great ideas!
My pleasure, Leslie!
I love the Tamara’s blend cameo. It’s almost like it’s me!
And my kids do that now to catalogs. Well, Scarlet does. And I did it too. And I vastly prefer this. I have heard great things about eBates and Uncommon Goods.
I have to tell you that I will not be shopping on Black Friday. Maybe Cyber Monday.
I shopped plenty on Monday! But I’m tapped out, and I still have more gifts to buy.
Great ideas! Love that etsy poster!
Isn’t it great? I hinted that it would be a great gift for me.
No sew blankets are awesome! I love the one my grandma gave me 🙂
I love mine too!
Great list! I’m already compiling shopping lists, and I feel like this year I’m gonna be a shopping CHAMP!! haha…
I hope it’s going well for you so far!
Those blankets sound heavenly. Especially for someone like me who is also 5 foot two and decidedly sewing challenged. Have I shared with you the delight of finally hand sewing all of the umpteen Brownie badges onto my daughter’s banner only to discover I’d sewn the banner to my pantleg? Uh huh. Great ideas here, Dana. Off to share.
That sewing mishap sounds like something I would do! I hated sewing on those badges.
Love the Mitscoots idea! I will be shopping there for sure for stocking stuffers. Thanks for the great ideas. Hope you and the fam have great Thanksgiving. T
We did, T – loved seeing your pics too. Happy happy to your crew!
Aw, Happy Thanksgiving and since Bev shared about Moody Sisters Skincare, they have been on my list, too. Oh and by the way, my girls have totally marked up the Toys R Us ad here for Santa, so I have to get a move on my shopping now for them 😉
Hope you are having a relaxing holiday weekend, Janine!
Oh how I loved the arrival of the wish book!! That thing was so fat and heavy and I would find a quiet corner and just flip from cover to cover, eventually turning it most of it RED with my marker!! Great memories. Now, we do the Amazon thing too. Just not the same.
I love those word prints, boot socks and I can’t keep enough Hippie Chick granola in the house!
Great list, once again, my friend.
Thank you Allie. I’m jealous that you can keep the granola in the house – I cannot be left alone with it.
I’m totally getting some socks from Mitscoots. American made and they give back? Yes please!
I can’t believe I’ve been shopping at Etsy all these years and didn’t know you could get 1% cash back from Ebates! I’ve been using FatWallet, but I need to also sign up for Ebates.
Great list, Dana!
Thanks Bev! And happy Small Business Saturday to you!