2021 Gift Guide

I got some Gilbert jewelry last year, which I really liked, and this Smiley Necklace is also adorable. Would definitely put a smile on someone’s face! The entire Gilbert site is 20% off.

I haven’t seen a ballet wrap sweater outside of a dance studio since low rise jeans were popular. Now that high waist pants are in, I bet this Spiritual Gangster Ballet Rib Wrap Top would look sleek. And it’s reversible! Shopbop is currently up to 50% off (with 6% cash back from Rakuten!).

Love the modern take on a classic that is the Nisolo Emma d’Orsay Oxford. So smart, and they’d go with anything! The Nisolo site is currently 25% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

I asked my sister, who has tried pretty much every skincare product on the market and does all 10 steps of the 10-step Korean skincare routine on the daily, what was the one product she would recommend. And it was the Innisfree intensive hydrating serum. The entire Innisfree website is currently 25% off. She also highly recommended the Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, which is currently being sold alone and as part of this Super Volcanic Mask Set–an incredible deal! In addition, these purchases come with a bunch of free gifts!

I often put pajamas on my gift guides because I love them and live in them and sometimes go to brunch in them. But truly, nice pajamas are one of those things that people can really enjoy, but usually don’t buy for themselves (unless there are major Cyber Monday deals…!). The Eberjey Gisele PJ Set looks so comfy and cute, and the entire site is currently 25-40% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

I got this Rains Long Jacket for my mom’s birthday, and she’s worn it a bunch, despite the fact that North Carolina didn’t get much rain this year. The long length is chic, yet super practical. No discounts, since it’s a smaller Danish brand.

I’ve always been a fan of perfume and scents in general, even when I was a kid. Not too long ago, I was wearing Jo Malone Wild Bluebell when I walked past someone who said, “oh, that’s what perfume is supposed to smell like that.” And I think that sums up Jo Malone perfectly. I’m currently recommending Wood Sage & Sea Salt for a neutral, yet distinctly happy scent. Jo Malone is including free gifts with purchases (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

The Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your gift list. Relaxing, while also stimulating the scalp and boosting hair growth! The Vegamour site is currently 35% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

Personally, I am still undecided on The Nap Dress, but I do like the Hill House Bea Jacket very much. The Hill House Home site is currently 20% off.

I have not tried anything from Bala, but their marketing has got me intrigued. The Bala Bangles, which weigh 1-2 lb each, can supposedly be worn all day for a constant resistance. Maybe worth a shot if you’re like me and find normal workouts extremely inconvenient. The Bala site is currently up to 30% off.

Where to begin with my sunscreen journey… I’ve never been one to wear sunscreen daily, which literally everyone (family, doctors, the internet, etc.) recommends. It was even difficult to remember putting on sunscreen when I knew I’d be outside all day in the sun. I knew I was pushing my luck, riding the genetic wave of my mom’s side. Something about sunscreen just bothered me–I think it was a combination of the smell, the residue, and the fact that the big labels are cheap and scream “CARCINOGEN.” Then last year I was constantly getting sunburnt from working outside every day with my horses, so I bought this EltaMD sunscreen after reading about it on a blog. It was fine, though the biggest motivating factor for me to use it was likely the price tag… Sometimes this tactic works, but other times even that is not enough! A few months later, Glossier released a “sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen,” aka me. I loved that it was a clear gel that left zero residue–it didn’t feel like sunscreen at all! I was so sold on Glossier’s that I ignored the increasing number of friends and family who raved about Supergoop! I just assumed it was another crazy Gwyneth Paltrow product. Until I ran out of Glossier and needed to buy new sunscreen asap for a trip. I casually went into Sephora–a store I hadn’t been inside in roughly three years–to test Supergoop! sunscreens… And I was blown away. Seriously, the Unseen Sunscreen is wild. I cannot understand how it is invisible, yet matted, and lightweight, yet velvety. I actually enjoy wearing it! The entire Supergoop! website is currently 20% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!). I’m stocking up on Unseen Sunscreen, as well as this full on jug of the PLAY Everyday Lotion, which is also amazing. Highly recommend for everyone on your gift list!

Attention: I am finally coming out of my exclusively Madewell jeans cave! Trying the Everlane Japanese Denim Cheeky Jean, which people seem to love. (Japanese denim is so hot right now.) Everlane jeans are currently 25% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

I’ve pretty much lived in Jack Rogers and platform Tevas for the last decade (but especially this past year, since most of my other shoes are still in storage). I love the extra height on the Teva Flatform Universal Mesh Print, and the colors and strap design are very cool. Teva’s fall styles are up to 50% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

I listened to Bad on Paper’s interview with the founder of Brightland Co., when I learned that olive oil is one of the most fraudulently labeled foods! Makes sense when you think about it. I tried The Duo EVOOs (right after I gave it as a host gift ;-), and it’s the real deal. Closer to the freshly pressed olive oil I tasted in Mallorca this summer than even the most expensive bottle at the grocery store. Also these bottles would look gorgeous on a countertop or table. The Duo and other Brightland Co. gifts are currently 15% off.

I have not tried the Ilia Balmy Gloss Tinted Lip Oil, but I want to! It has great reviews for its smooth texture and plumping effect. The Ilia site is currently 20% off. (And of course I ordered a new set of Fresh Sugar, as I do every year.)

Another incredible stocking stuffer would be this Cannoli Candle! Have you ever seen anything more precious? Imagine someone walking into your house for dinner, and this baby is burning on the table. The Catbird site is currently 15% off. If not the candle, at least the ornament!

My mom swears by humidifiers for combating dry skin in the winter. She got this Pure Enrichment humidifier for everyone in the family, and we all noticed a difference. I remember having a humidifier in my room when I was a kid, but it was bulky and loud. This one here is petit, but long-lasting and very quiet. Currently $5 off on Amazon.

I was joking with friends about how Goldbelly is just for rich people who want to eat Maine lobster rolls in LA or whatever. But then I saw that they sell the Raindrop Cake Kit, and never mind everything I said before! Based on what I remember about the Raindrop Cake when I tried it at Smorgasburg five years ago, this kit is definitely worth it, and actually very reasonably priced. The Raindrop Cake itself tastes refreshing and unique (obviously), but most importantly, it’s fun for the whole family! Goldbelly is currently 20% off The Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Scalp Massager would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your gift list. Relaxing, while also stimulating the scalp and boosting hair growth! The Vegamour site is currently 35% off (with 3% cash back from Rakuten!).

I do not own anything from LOFT, but I am curious about these Velvet Skinny Pants. The LOFT site is currently up to 65% off (with 15% cash back from Rakuten!).

My best kept secret (except I tell everyone I can hehe) for the past few years is the amount of Abercrombie & Fitch I’ve been wearing. It’s honestly been very satisfying whenever someone compliments something I’m wearing and I get to say: “Thanks, it’s Abercrombie.” They’ve truly upped their game, and at this point I would wear pretty much anything in their store. I mean how cute is this Turtleneck Sweater Dress? So versatile! The A&F site is currently 30% off.

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s