What's On My Holiday Wish List

What are your thoughts on gift guides? For me, it usually becomes too much to the point where they aren't even helpful anymore. So instead of sharing lists and lists of potential gifts, I thought I'd share what's actually on my holiday wish list this year! Talk about a curated list ;) 

And Mom, I couldn't put everything on my wishlist into this collage, so yes, if you bought something that's not on here, I do still want it!! 

Cravings: Hungry for More - Chrissy Tiegen's first cookbook was so good that I need this one too! It's maximalist cooking in the best possible way, and sometimes that's just the kind of recipe you want. I also have my favorite food blogger's new cookbook on my list - another maximalist! I guess they'll balance out my SkinnyTaste collection ;)
Madewell Coatigan - This cardigan has been all over blog land and Instagram this fall, isn't it pretty?! Something to add to my gigantic cardigan collection for maternity / breastfeeding wear ;)
Champagne Glasses - We somehow own what feels like 100 wine glasses but no champagne glasses, and I've been wanting a few for celebrating! Aren't these pink and gold ones pretty?? Sidebar: I went to school in Champaign, IL, and I still mix up the spellings for the two!
Fur Lined Mittens - A friend mentioned last year that her hands would get so cold pushing her daughter's stroller around, and since my hands are always freezing I decided to get ahead of the problem. I snagged a pair of ski mittens on Amazon (per the recommendation of Kelly in the City) but wanted a prettier pair too.
Tassel Scarf - How fun is this scarf?! I obviously love my multitude of plaid scarves (I just found another in my closet - that makes seven!!) but like having other options too!
Madewell Zippered Transport Tote - This has been on my wishlist for years but I never pulled the trigger - this year I finally thought to put it on my holiday wish list! It's so pretty and classic, something you'd have for years.
Barcelona Charm - Last year Jeff gave me a charm bracelet for Christmas, so I've been asking for charms for every special occasion since. Barcelona was our first international trip together and where we got engaged!
Ninja Blender - I've been making a lot of smoothies lately, and my old $20 blender from college is about to bite the dust so I thought I'd upgrade. My favorite is blueberries, strawberries, chia seeds, spinach, and coconut water, but since we got back from Hawaii I've been experimenting with tropical flavors too.
Nest Birchwood Pine Candle - This is the BEST holiday scent and by far my favorite candle. I have to hold myself back from burning it all day every day ;) I love the big size since it lasts so long.
Herbivore Set - I love the body scrub and have been using it weekly to keep my skin soft and to try to prevent stretch marks - would love to try some of their other products too!

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Black Friday Shopping Guide

Oh hey there, happy Black Friday!! Did you have a great Thanksgiving yesterday? Ours was exhausting but so so fun - it was great getting to see a ton of family and having not one but two Thanksgiving dinners!

On Black Friday, my mom's family always goes into downtown Chicago for our traditional "Christmas Walk." I'm told back in the day it involved actually walking around, looking at decorations, and shopping, but ever since I can remember we've just picked a restaurant and parked it for a few hours ;) A slightly lazier "walk" haha. So I usually don't hit the stores, but I do plan on doing a bit of online shopping today to get some of my Christmas shopping out of the way. Here are a few ideas I put together in case you're shopping online too: 

For the traveler: headphones / mini speaker / cosmetics bag / travel organizer / carry-on suitcase

For the homebody: blanket / fleece / joggers / slippers 

For the selfie-obsessed: iPhone ring light

For the kiddos: tea set / unicorn snow sled 

For the concert & sports lover: clear stadium bag

For the guy who "doesn't need anything": scarf / mug / sneakers / slippers / raincoat

For the person you don't really know: poncho / herbivore body set 

For the hostess: casserole dish / marble cheese tray

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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."

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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!

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Holiday Gift Guide for Him

Yep, it's gift guide time! Or rather, it was gift guide time about two weeks ago (because that's when you started shopping, right?) but I couldn't get my act together in time! 

Chances are you haven't bought a gift for those guys in your life yet though, because they're so hard to shop for. My husband just spent three hours trying to figure out what he wanted for Christmas and couldn't even think of something for himself. Which really, is a big chunk of the problem!

If you have a guy on your shopping list and can't figure out what to get him, here are a few ideas: 

1. A cool watch, so he can look important (and stop looking at his phone to get the time)
2. Nice rocks glasses, for his fancy whiskey sipping.
3. A cozy pullover, so he can still look nice when vegging out. Jeff has this exact one and loves it!
4. A cool plug that lets you turn on and off any electric device with your phone. Can I have one too?
5. Wireless headphones to make his workouts easier. We gave away a couple pairs of these at a work event, and the guys all went nuts for them.
6. A PopSocket, to make sure he doesn't drop his phone. All of the techies at my work conference last month were sporting one.
7. Cool leather sneakers, to up his style game.
8. The 36 Hours book, to plan your next weekend adventure - we have this and it's amazingly helpful!
9. A plaid shirt, because every guy needs another one.
10. A fancy suitcase, to replace the backpack he keeps bringing on his work trips.
11. Warm tech gloves, so he doesn't get frostbite when he checks his phone again for the time despite the fact that you got him that watch.
12. Cozy sweatpants, to replace the ratty ones from college he still wears around the house.
13. A lightning cable keychain, so he never has to worry about losing his charger.
14. A super-strong umbrella, so his never blows inside out on the way to an important meeting. This was on Jeff's Christmas list last year and he loves it.
15. A grill mat, for when he proves his manliness with fire (or rather, for when you trick him into cooking dinner).
16. A new wallet, because you know his is definitely falling apart.
17. Fancy boots, so he can look cool but still be comfortable. Jeff has these too because I forced him to buy them, and he wore them all over Paris last week without any issues.

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Have you been procrastinating on your gift buying this year? Every year I find most of my gifts pretty fast, but then stall on the last few and end up in a panic trying to get everything on time. This year I really struggled with Jeff, I finally ordered it and his gift is juuuuuust supposed to make it on time.

Luckily, if you aren't finished shopping yet and don't want to brave the mall, some stores offer free two-day shipping, like Nordstrom, Amazon (if you have Prime that is!), and Zappos. So really, tomorrow is your last day to order if you want to get delivery by Christmas Eve - better jump on it! Here are a few of my last-minute gift ideas:

Bracelet / Card holder / Initial mug / Tech gloves / Patagonia sweater / Clinique sampler kit / Bose speaker / Stuffed rabbit / Candle / Fresh Sugar lip set / Clutch / Slippers / Water bottle

If you're looking for more gift ideas, here are stocking stuffers, gifts for the hostess, gifts for the mixologist, gifts for the couch potato, and gifts for him.

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Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

Stocking stuffers are always my favorite things to find - cute little things are the best! I just got these mini tassel earrings (in pink!) and seriously love them. I have a problem with earrings that are too heavy, but I barely noticed these ones. I also love little beauty items, like my favorite hand cream and lip balm. I also have been weirdly into socks lately - patterns are so much more fun than plain white or black!

Tassel earrings / L'occitane hand creme / I'm Outta Here luggage tag / Glitter phone pocket / Okay sign bag tag / Bow bracelet / Reindeer socks / Kitsch hair ties / Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment / Gold charger cord

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Gift Guide: for the Hostess

Oh hey there, looks like it's time for another gift guide! Can you believe we're only two and a half weeks from Christmas?! This week I went after hostess gifts, which are some of my favorites because they're things people don't typically think to buy for themselves or won't splurge on. My favorite of course is this Nest candle, it smells freaking amazing! I tried buying a couple of cheaper Christmas candles but the scents don't permeate the way that the Nest one does - this seriously fills my house!

Pineapple bottle opener / Hello Beautiful mug / Recipe box / Reindeer platter / The Year of Cozy / Puppy calendar / Sugar & Cream set / Cheese knives / Pom Pom blanket / Nest candle

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out gifts for the couch potato, gifts for the mixologist, and gifts for him.

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Gift Guide: for the Mixologist

Who doesn't love a good cocktail, amiright? Or, you know, at least a cute glass to drink out of ;) But seriously, gifts that relate to drinking are perfect for coworkers, gift exchanges, or when you're looking for something to bring to a dinner party in addition to a bottle of wine. Yes way, rose!

Beer Snob Glass / Cocktail Kit / Wine bottle bag / Martini Pitcher / Decanter Set / More/Less Jigger / Pineapple Bottle Opener / Carry-On Cocktail Kit / Rose Candy / Fabulous Glasses / Pineapple Shot Glasses

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Gift Guide for the Guy Who "Doesn't Need Anything"

I always have a hard time shopping for the men in my life, mostly because they always say they don't need or want anything! Seriously, the closest my dad has gotten to telling me what he wants for Christmas is, "maybe some tools," which led me to the gift card section at the Home Depot. Very creative. Jeff rarely gives me any ideas either, but has generally loved the gifts I've given him. I got him a little Bose speaker for his birthday last year, and he loved it so much we ended up buying a second one to keep in the kitchen. I've always thought certain "man gifts" were lame, like dopp kits, but it turns out that they're that thing your boyfriend or husband will never think to buy for himself but will love and use all the time.

vest / watch / weekender bag / Bose speaker / Food & Beer book / decanter / slippers / key fob / dopp kit / Patagonia fleece

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Gift Guide for the Couch Potato

You guys, is it really time for gift guides already?! I actually bought my first gift of the year this week (!!!) so yeah, I guess it is! I've shied away from doing a ton of gift guides in the past because there are so many out there, but they're actually some of my favorite things to read so this year I decided to go for it! If I'm properly motivated, you can expect a gift guide for a different important person in your life every Wednesday through Christmas. So, let's start with the very most important person: the couch potato.

We all have that person in our life who loves staying in and getting cozy - okay, you got me, that person is actually me haha. Give me some comfy slippers, a candle, and a Netflix subscription and I am a happy camper. Lately I've been binging old episodes of Gilmore Girls - is anyone else so excited for the new episodes?! I know what I'll be doing the weekend after Thanksgiving ;)

candle / sleeping mask / slippers / sweater / perfume (my favorite to wear!!) / romper / necklace / slipper socks / bath salts

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KDTI Holiday Gift Guide

Hey you guys! I found some gifts to share that aren't all gold! I mean, some of them are gold, but how was I supposed to put together a gift guide that didn't include gold?! Here are my top picks for this year:

Public Transit / Mixologist / Traveler / Girl Boss / Outdoors Guy / Newlyweds / Pet Lover / Product Addict / Cook / New Mom / Girly Girl

How is your holiday gift shopping going? I'm about halfway done, which really means that I'm basically all done but will end up having to buy the gifts for Jeff's family because he'll have forgotten. Le sigh. At least I know it'll happen every year, just like I know that anytime I show up at my parent's house on Christmas Eve my dad will inevitably have a stack of presents he still needs wrapped.

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