Moscow Mule Gift Basket

Are you looking for a fun gift idea? I come from the kind of family where we write exact wish lists with specific items we want, and then just buy based on those lists, so I'm not always great at coming up with something when it isn't specified. I mean, give me a wedding or baby registry and I am that person who only buys things from the registry.

We got invited to a couple's "stock the bar" party for Jeff's brother a couple of weeks ago. The concept was, instead of a wedding shower, we could have a fun cocktail party instead. Guests were asked to either buy something bar related off of the couple's registry, or to bring wine or liquor to fill their bar.

Of course I waited a little on the long side to actually buy a gift from their registry (because that's just the type of procrastinator I am) but there were still Moscow Mule glasses available. I had been planning on spending a little more on the gift, so I decided to make it into a gift basket!

Our gift basket included the Moscow Mule glasses (of course), vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and limes for the cocktails. I also tossed in fun cocktail napkins, some pretty coasters, and reuseable straws. And then of course I picked out a pretty basket that was big enough to hold everything and would also look nice in their house.

Someone else had already purchased bar tools off of their registry so I didn't want to toss in more random things, but you could also add in shot glasses, beer or wine openers, a pretty cocktail shaker, or other bar tools to fill out the basket. Some other ideas I had were a mint plant (some people will muddle mint into the drink or use it as a garnish), cute dish towels, a candle, or a gift card to a liquor store.

To put the basket together, I first added in the extra items that wouldn't fit in the top of the basket, so the rest of the Moscow Mule glasses, additional bottles of ginger beer, and the rest of the set of straws. Then I added a layer of tissue paper and some pretty metallic shredded paper. I arranged everything else on top, with some extra shredded paper in the glass so you could see the limes I put inside. Add a cute card and you're good to go! This would also be a fun gift idea for a 21 year old's birthday or for a bachelor or bachelorette party.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Holiday Gift Guide for the Home

I think you know you're really a grown-up when you start asking for things for your home for Christmas. Now that I've hit full adult status, home goods are some of my favorite gifts to give and receive - especially if they're pretty! Here are a few home good gift ideas:

1. A gold banana leaf tray to collect keys on their entryway table.
2. An amazingly cozy blanket for date night on the couch.
3. The prettiest champagne glasses, because you should always be ready for a celebration.
4. An espresso machine, to fancy up their morning coffee routine.
5. A pretty bottle / wine opener, so they can open their beverage of choice on the go.
6. A cookbook, to up their weeknight dinner game.
7. A fun tray, obviously for piling up with cheese the next time you visit.
8. Fancy cheese knives, for cutting said cheese.
9. A pretty serving dish that doubles as decor.
10. Fancy candlestick holders to dress up the dinner table.
11. The cutest little teapot that will look great on their countertop.
12. The best holiday candle - these things smell amazing!!
13. A fancy throw blanket to dress up their couch or the end of their bed.
14. A beautiful citrus juicer that they'll actually use, as opposed to that giant contraption that's still sitting in its box in the basement. Not that I'm talking about any specific juicers in any specific basements.
15. A stylish wine rack to store all of their "chef juice."

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Holiday Gift Guide for Her

What to get for the ladies in your life? I always like to try to think of pretty or fun indulgences that she wouldn't think to buy for herself. Here's the holiday gift guide for her:

1. A pretty personalized keychain, so she can always find them floating around that giant bag of hers.
2. A necklace with her initial, to wear every day.
3. The cutest bow scarf, to keep her warm (and stylish!) this winter.
4. Fun wine glasses, for her Friday night (and every night) happy juice.
5. A giant pink thermos, because sometimes you need to be able to take an entire bottle's worth of wine on the go.
6. Thermal leggings, to keep her cozy and cute at home.
7. An indulgent face mask, to keep her face hydrated this winter.
8. A mini wallet, to keep her cards organized in even the smallest of bags.
9. A pretty watch in millennium pink, because we all need a little more millennium pink in our lives.
10. The cutest mug, to help her get her day started on the right foot.
11. A fun water bottle, for easy hydrating during barre class.
12. A pretty phone case, for when she repeatedly drops her phone while trying to take selfies.
13. A fun gold peace sign, to liven up her work desk.
14. A cute pair of earrings that go with everything - I wear mine all the time!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

National Hot Cocoa Day

Mug / Jingle bells / Wood tray / Gold reindeer / Candle

I'm not usually one to celebrate a "day" since there's basically a day for everything these days - pizza, socks, the Dewey Decimal system...

Leggings / Slippers

But I mean, hot cocoa?! Who can say no to that? Any excuse for drinking hot melty chocolate covered in marshmallows I'm definitely down for.

Sweater / Similar Tee

I don't drink coffee or tea but still love a hot drink now or then, and hot chocolate is my go-to. Unless I'm in with co-workers and don't want to be mistaken for a small child in the morning when they're all ordering espressos, in which case I go for the good old fashioned chai latte ;) "Kids temperature hot chocolate" just doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well.

A few years ago I got a jar of fancy hot cocoa mix in a gift exchange, and to date it's probably one of the best gifts I've gotten in one of those. I found some adorable jars with rose gold hardware in the dollar section at Target last month, and decided to put together a jar of my own to put into a couple of white elephants this year.

Gold label

Antler tray

The gift itself is super easy. Once you find a cute jar, fill it up halfway with cocoa mix, then add layers of chocolate chips (I went with milk chocolate Ghirardelli chips - yum!!), mini candy canes, and of course marshmallows! Paired with a cute mug (I found this one at Walgreens - no, seriously! Isn't it cute?!) or a bottle of Baileys or RumChata and you've got yourself the perfect gift!

So tell me, what kind of gift do you usually put into a gift exchange?

Shop the post:

Linking up with Style Me Wednesday, Confident Twosday.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!