the art of gifting

Let’s all be real- everyone is on a budget. Or at least you should be. Shopping is fun but it’s even more fun when you know you got a really good deal! As a shopper, I know that I love to buy stuff. I think my favorite part of the holidays is giving though. I just love when I buy someone a gift and they love it (it makes me feel like I succeeded at getting them a good gift). Below I will go into detail about some good gifts that are great on a budget and some tips for getting the most for your money! (just as a warning these are gift that I like, so these might not be right for everyone but I know that if I got it I would love it!)

Tips!

  • Online shop first
    • Online shopping is fun but I prefer to go to the store. Before going shopping you should do some online shopping (as research), it will allow you to see which items you really like. Also online shopping has the low to high price feature which lets you know that these items are more budget friendly!
  • Create a budget
    • Make sure that before you know exactly how much you want to spend. This will allow you to go into stores knowing your budget
  • Stick to your budget
    • I would say a good rule is if your item is 10% or more over budget, you need to evaluate if this is really the right gift for you. Some gifts will be worth it, but at least you will think about it
  • Create a theme
    • having a theme for your gift is important especially if it’s a lot of small items. You want to make sure the person knew that you were thinking when you picked this out, not just throwing random stuff together.
  • Be flexible
    • It’s the holiday season. The store might not have exactly what you are looking for, but they might have something just as good. Just know that it is not the end of the world if you get the navy tie instead of the pastel blue.
  • Imagination is key
    • Marc gave me the idea that if I’m looking for a card for someone, have an imagine in my mind of what I want. Think about the color and message you’re looking for. This tip has saved me so much time (and heartache!)

Gift ideas!

  • Bath and Body Works
    • Bath and Body works is the perfect stop for gifts! You can get three minis (which can be a mix of lotions, body gels and sprays) for $12 I believe.
    • They also have gift kits, but you can mix and match items to make your own (plus they give out gift wrap or will wrap it for you)
    • The combination of rose salve, a pair of fuzzy socks and a mini super hand lotion is about $20. Remember! You can customize your items to get whatever price you want!
  • Build a Bear workshop
    • build a bear sells tiny teddy bears for about $6. Their normal sized bears start at $12! Also they sell asthma and allergy friendly bears so if your giftee (lol the person getting the gift) suffers from asthma or allergies they’re set!
    • The combination of a bear and balloons is very popular for birthday, Valentine’s day, etc. Just remember that dollar stores sell balloons and they last!
  • Forever 21
    • This is one of my favorite stores because they always have little stuff!
      • On their website they have this link called Gift Shop and they even have a list of stocking stuffers started at $1!
    • Forever 21 sells fuzzy socks for about $4, which is about half the price of the ones at Bath and Body Works. Plus they’re in a two pack!
    • Last week I went to forever 21 and in their basics section that had this really cute white long-sleeved crop top. It was super stylish and super comfortable! Plus is was only $6!
    • The jewelry here is also really cute! It’s all fake but it’s great for just a night out!

I hope that this has given you some suggestions on what to gift! Also remember that the thought that went into the gift is more important than the cost!

happy-holidays

decemeber 1st

It is officially my birthday month!!! In 23 days I will turn 19 years old and I honestly couldn’t be more excited! This year in celebration for my birthday I’ve decided that I will do one fun thing a day. It’s my way of treating myself. Also my plans include resting nine hours a night, taking a nap per day, and drinking/eating healthy! I’m so excited to start this month! Remember that each month symbolizes a new beginning. This is your time to shine! I have a couple blog posts planned out this month- I’m thinking easy holiday gifts and some other festive stuff! If you have anything particular you’d like for me to discuss please feel free to comment! It’s a special month and I hope you feel it too!!!

birthday

november 2016

new month new you! november means fall and family. you need to make sure that this holiday season you take care you! a lot of people associate holiday season with weight gain, so make sure you’re taking care of your body too! As this semester comes to an end, make sure that you’re staying healthy and focused on school! Finish strong! Start this month really strong and finish it this way. you can take care of you and have fun too. stay true to yourself and stay happy! 

Snow

In Michigan, we get snow in the winter. It’s inevitable. Normally I’m not as excited about the snow, but today was the first snow of the year. Since it is late November, this is actually really late for the first real snow. It’s been warmer than usual, but the snow was refreshing. To me it represented a positive time, the holiday season and my birthday which both make me very happy. Cheers to the snow!

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Holidays

My favorite time of the year is Christmas. Well my birthday, then Christmas (since my birthday is on Christmas Eve, technically it comes first). I love the holiday season and the feeling of love. It’s beautiful. It’s the time of the year that you try to work on communicating with your loved ones, and helping others. It’s a time of service, without any compensation. It’s a time of love and joy and fun. It’s a time for physical healing. I’ve been lately trying to work out more, and eat healthier. Two of my new healthy drinks are green tea and hot lemon water. They help your system get back in balanced. Balance is key to staying healthy and staying happy. Take time to do little things with people you love. There is always time, and a time and a place for everything. Find yourself. It’s an amazing journey to be honest with you. Learn who you are. It sounds silly, but it’s so simple to lose yourself. Meeting your inner self, your inner child, is almost like meeting a different person. Make sure you take your time. Running from your past, and things that you cannot control is not a good idea. Take each day as a blessing and breathe. Sleep. Don’t forget about sleeping, but you cannot sleep away your problems. Stay brave. Listen to the music, drink some tea, and mediate. Trust me, it’ll do wonders.