Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Is your holiday gift list stumping you? It seems like each year the holidays creep up with little warning, leaving me stressed about gift ideas (and often at the eleventh hour)! If you have a busy schedule, thinking about what to get your family and friends this holiday season can sometimes seem less joyous and more hectic, which is not what these gifts (or the holidays) should be about!! I rounded up some of my favorite go-to gift ideas to make the holidays a little less stressful. I added homemade gifts from the heart, as well as options for a larger budget so you can find that perfect gift that fits your lifestyle and shows your loved ones how much you care, no matter your financial situation. Plus, each gift idea keeps health and wellness in mind, because really, what better gift is there than the gift of health?
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A Class Pack for Their Favorite Fitness Studio
A lot of fitness studios run specials this time of year, allowing this often pricey gift to be more budget-friendly. Some of my favorites include Pure Barre, Soul Cycle and Exhale! This can fit a range of budgets depending on the studio and the amount of classes you choose to purchase.
A New Exercise Outfit
Sometimes motivation comes from within, and sometimes it comes from extrinsic factors, like being able to wear a new workout outfit! Also, for your fitness-minded friend, there’s a good chance s/he lives in activewear (athleisure, anyone??) and would love an extra outfit as a gift! Make this gift big (a whole ensemble, or a few!) or small (a headband, barre socks, a simple tank, etc.) based on your budget. As someone who prefers leggings over real pants any day, I promise they'll love it!
A Gift Card for Their Favorite Activewear Store
*or any store, for that matter!
If you are unsure of their size or style, simply giving a gift card to their favorite store is an easy way to brighten their spirits, so they have some spending money to put toward something they love. Also, if your friend is a fitness instructor, they may receive a discount at some activewear stores, so they would probably prefer to utilize their discount and pick out an outfit that’s perfect for them! Even if they aren’t a fitness fanatic, this gift works well for those beginning on their fitness or health journey, so they can pick out a fun outfit for them to begin to reach their fitness and health goals.
A Homemade Treat
I believe that food is love, and what better way to show someone you love them than to cook or bake a treat from the heart? This is an especially thoughtful gift that works well with a smaller budget. One of my favorite baked goods to gift is a chocolate bark or homemade cookies, like my 5 Ingredient Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies - it's so easy to package these in a glass jar or with a bag and a ribbon!
A Cookbook
For your friend who is also a chef (or is at least trying to navigate the kitchen better), a cookbook is always a heartfelt gift. It’s one of my favorite gifts to give, because it often adds to someone’s home decor (on a coffee table or in a kitchen hutch) and is so useful - so it's a win win! Plus, your foodie friend will find it so thoughtful, and it can be personalized by choosing a book that matches their goals or interests. Some of my favorites are below:
The Pescatarian Cookbook by Cara Harbstreet, MS, RD, LD
The Low FODMAP Diet Step by Step by Kate Scarlata, RDN, LDN and Dédé Wilson
The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook by Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN
Smart Meal Prep For Beginners by Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN
Also, The Bloated Belly Whisperer by Tamara Duker Freuman, MS, RD, CDN is a great book that contains recipes and ton of helpful info, especially for the friend who suffers from tummy troubles! It's available in January 2019, but you can preorder it by clicking the link above!
A Yoga Mat
I consider my yoga mat to be a necessity and the truth is, it's pretty old and I could definitely use a new one. Chances are, your yoga-loving (or fitness loving) friend, may feel the same! Yoga mats are versatile because you can use them in the studio and at home, and their use isn't only limited to yoga - I use mine during at home workouts as a basic mat! I'm a fan of the Gaiam brand mats, because they're beautiful and functional! Some of my favorites (and their accessories) are listed below:
Gaiam Beginner's Yoga Kit (Mat + Block + Strap)
Gaiam Keep Your Cool Yoga Kit (Mat + Water Bottle)
A Fitbit
This popular fashion accessory is also a great tool for fitness motivation and is perfect for your tech savvy friend (or even your not-so-tech-savvy friend, since it’s so user friendly)! Plus, there are so many cute styles since the first generation, so there’s sure to be one that fits your friend’s style.
You can get the new Fitbit Alta here and even order additional bands below:
A Gift Card to Their Favorite Restaurant or a Wine Tasting Event
I love this idea because it focuses on an experience rather than a material item and it also gives this person something to look forward to after the holiday season. This can be budget-friendly or pricey depending on your gifting needs, but it’s always a thoughtful gift!
A Cooking Class
This is a great gift for someone who wants to learn how to cook or for someone who loves to cook and already has experience, since they can do an activity they love! Usually a gift card for the location is best, so that the person can choose a day that works with their schedule. I've given this gift as a gift card that provides 2 seats in the class, so that the recipient cant bring a friend or a significant other. Sur la Table has cooking classes at many locations and there are likely additional local venues near you/your gift recipient, as well.
Fun Headphones
There are so many fun headphones on the market now, and this gadget is a fitness lovers’ best friend, especially if they enjoy running or hitting the gym over studio classes. This is a gift they will utilize everyday and there are so many great options within a reasonable price range. My favorite are the beats wireless headphones – they stay in my ears throughout a tough sweat sesh, they don’t get tangled or hinder my running! They're also compact and good quality, so I can keep them in my purse and always have them with me!
A Spa Treatment
The holidays can be stressful – a massage, a mani/pedi or a facial can help to combat holiday (or post-holiday) stress and give your friend/family member some quality “me time” to enjoy at their leisure. You can usually purchase a gift card for either a specific service, or a specified amount – just be sure to include gratuity in your total!
An At-Home Spa Gift Basket
This is probably one of my personal favorite gifts to receive, because there is nothing I love more than lotions, scrubs, face masks and other beauty goodies! I like to pick and choose each item and put together my own gift basket to fit the person best. Lush is one of my favorite stores for this type of gift, and I’ve also been known to shop at local farmer’s markets and pick up body lotions made with essential oils and other feel-good beauty products. For a pricier gift, Diptyque and Nest also have some amazing skin products and their famous candles are the perfect addition to round out any gift!
A Kitchen Gadget
If your friend loves to cook, a kitchen gadget is always a fun gift! Also, this gift can fit budgets large and small depending on what you choose. My favorite kitchen gadgets are below (because there are so many good ones):
Nespresso Milk Frother (For those of you who follow me in Instagram, you know I use this almost everyday! You can use it to make my homemade pumpkin spice latte all winter)
Joseph Joseph Cutting Boards (This is seriously the cutest set of cutting boards ever and it keeps raw meat, raw fish, produce and cooked foods separate!)
Oxo Tabletop Spiralizer (This likely gets the most use out of any gadget in my kitchen, other than the milk frother!)
Cuisinart Immersion Blender (I love using this for soups and dips - this made an appearance in my Broccoli Cheddar Soup blog, as well as my Roasted Cauliflower Soup blog!)
Kitchenware
For the friend who loves to entertain, bringing nice kitchenware to their holiday party or giving this as a gift in itself is a thoughtful idea. I linked some of my favorite items below:
Personalized Monogram Mug (I love to give this as a gift with quality tea, coffee or hot cocoa)
A Gift Card to Meet with Me!
Did you know you can give the gift of health this year by gifting a service or a package with me? Contact me to learn more!
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Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a healthy, happy New Year! What are your favorite holiday gift ideas? Comment below and share!
