OMG Gift Guide: Random Stuff I Really Like.

Another Gift Guide? Seriously? I'M SORRY. I just keep coming up with ideas and it's way more fun than talking about what I'm wearing today. This is going to be a mixed bag of stuff I personally really like and every single thing is under $25 because SERIOUSLY WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH. Okay:


S'Well Bottle

My friend Ashley gave me one of these last year and they are really popular on the campus where I work. Great colors, all stainless steel, doesn't leak and keeps my water cold for hours. Plus, it's a very pleasing shape! Mine is the medium sized but the cute 9oz is right at $25 and is the perfect size for stashing in your purse. It comes in all kinds of fun colors and in woodgrain!


Agent18 Glitter iPhone Case

My phone case is this one by Rifle Paper Co and it's slightly out of the price range, but Kate just got a seriously amazing case with floating glitter and I'm obsessed with it. It's entrancing. I am not even exaggerating, watch the video. Ooooh. Floaty star glitter. Aaaahhh.


L'Occitane Creme Mains Hand Cream - Vanilla Bouquet

I love the regular L'Occitane hand cream but recently tried the vanilla scented version and it's so nice! I am very picky about fragrance and this isn't too cloying or strong. Just warm, slightly sweet and subtle. It also comes in a little trio set in a cute little yellow tin (which is only slightly over-budget.)


Charley Harper Calendar with stickers

Calendars can seem like an impersonal gift, but nobody would feel that way if the calendar is Charley Harper. I buy myself one every year for my office and this one comes with three giant pages of Charley Harper stickers which are amazing. Otters! Cardinals! Racoons! Owls! Squirrels! Eep!


Microplane Soft-Handle Zester Graters

If you have to buy a gift for someone who cooks or is learning to cook or loves to make cocktails and they are still using the sad side of their box grater to zest things? Get them this microplane immediately. It's life-changing. It obviously zests like a boss and also works great for ginger root, garlic and parmesan cheese. (A note: It's sharp and really, really hurts when you slip and zest your hand but still totally worth it.) If they already have one, might I suggest a pair of OXO locking tongs? They are also crucial to life.


Bombas Socks

All my gym socks are Bombas ankle because once you start wearing them, you can't imagine not wearing anything else.  (They also work great with my new ankle boots because the blister tab keeps them from slipping down in the back.) They make men's and women's styles in a variety of great colors and for every pair they sell, they donate a pair! I really just can't recommend them enough. Plus! If you purchase through my link you get 25% off your first order. Yay.

Gift Guide: 10 Beauty Gifts under $50 from Nordstrom

Recently Marianne told me that she pretty much only purchases beauty stuff from Nordstrom these days and I get it. What's not to love? They have free shipping and returns and the holiday stuff is SO GOOD this year. Plus they carry some interesting brands, like Kiehl's and Jo Malone. For this gift guide I upped the limit to $50 (though several of my picks are $25 and under because I like to stay in the realm of reasonable.) Here's what I picked:

Oh, Dior Lip Glow. I have this and I've also given it as a gift. It's stupidly expensive but it's so nice! There's just something about it - just a little bit of luxury and the packaging is really satisfying. Lip Glow is a great gift, especially for people who like a little bit of makeup but not too much. 

I don't really do my nails but I love the whole nail art trend and a little Butter London tool kit in a cute tin? What nail fanatic wouldn't love this? I mean, I kind of want it and I have no business near any kind of nail kit ever. 

I think Clinique was probably most everyone's entry into department store makeup, in part because the products are really wearable and not too expensive. This Chubby Stick set is not going to, like, rock anyone's world, but they're good, wearable colors. Hashtag #safegift

Oh, man. I love Jo Malone so much. So so much. My current favorite is still the wonderful Wood Sage & Sea Salt perfume. It's over $50, however, so instead I'm suggesting the Body & Hand Wash which is pretty luxurious stuff. (Or, if you really want to impress, just spring for the perfume. It's worth it. Nutmeg & Ginger is also awesome. You're welcome.) 

Julep polish is good stuff and the colors ink this set look perfect for winter! Plus, they all come in an adorable festive box. Done and done. You don't even really need to wrap it. (Am I the only one who hates wrapping gifts? Because I truly hate it.) 

Another scent I love is Kiehl's Coriander and this set of Coriander Body Lotion and Liquid Cleanser is a deal. Kiehl's Coriander is great - a gender neutral, herby/soapy, clean scent that I can't get enough of. I'd be super-delighted if someone gave this to me. Like SUPER delighted. 

More Kiehl's! This set includes minis of some of their most popular items in a gorgeous box featuring the artwork of FAILE. (Plus, 100% of net profits from the sale of this product benefits Feeding America® so you can feel all do-goodery about buying this.) Kiehl's is just killing it this holiday with lots of beautifully packaged, inexpensive gift sets. Wouldn't this little duo be a great stocking stuffer or teacher gift?

A few years ago Marianne gave me a small Lorac eyeshadow palette and I was really impressed by how nice it was. I haven't actually tried this one but I love that these colors would work on pretty much anyone and it includes matte and shimmer colors. Plus, a tiny tube of primer! If this is more than you want to spend on your SIL, check out this Lorac rose gold palette which is under $30.

A Beauty Blender sponge is a the kind of thing you can only give to someone who's a makeup fanatic because norms will be all, "Um, thanks for the pink...egg... thing?" It takes a while to figure out how best to use the Beauty Blender, but once you get the hang of it, it's a really good tool. You can use any damn soap you want to clean it but it makes for a nicer gift to give someone the set.

Finally, MAC has some really fun sets out for the holiday and this Nutcracker Suite set is SUCH a good deal - you get four full-size eye products and a cute bag for under $40! All the MAC holiday sets are on sale right now, just FYI. Get to it. 

A complete list of the products I featured:

Dior 'Addict Lip Glow' Color Reviver Balm - 001 Sheer Pink • Christian Dior • $33
Butter London 'Colour Hardware' Nail Art Tool Kit • Butter London • $30
Clinique Chubby Stick Sampler Set - No Color • Clinique • $25
Jo Malone(TM) 'Wood Sage & Sea Salt' Body & Hand Wash • Jo Malone • $40

Julep(TM) Royal Suite Holographics Nail Color Set - No Color • $24

Kiehl's Since 1851 Classic Scents Coriander Edition Duo • Kiehl's • $45
Kiehl's Since 1851 Faile Collection For A Cause • Kiehl's • $45
Lorac 'Unzipped' Shimmer & Matte Eyeshadow Palette - None • LORAC • $42

Beautyblender Original Makeup Sponge Applicator & Cleanser Duo • $25

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Plum Eye Kit - Plum • M·A·C • $31.88