Holiday Gifts: T&T Staff Picks
Every year, there's always that one last push to check off every item on your holiday gift list – and, depending on your due diligence throughout the beginning of the season, most of us find ourselves stuck on a person or two. Well, instead of mailing it in and getting your hard-to-shop-for friend or family member a lame gift card, our team put together a list of last-minute gift ideas that just might save the day!
Huggaroo Weighted Blanket (Amazon)
How can you pick just one thing? Between the body scrubs and lotion and bath bombs...OH MY! However, I did it. AND I picked something from the home and kitchen section because of all the things I have ever bought on Amazon, this is still my favorite purchase. The weighted blanket. Y'all this blanket has been life changing. The blanket is super soft and the weight actually feels like a warm protective hug all night. They are a perfect gift for anyone and come in many sizes and styles. This was my 1st weighted blanket and still my favorite. I hope you like it, too!
– Kaleena
Inward by Yung Pueblo, Paperback (Amazon)
Whether you love to read or not, this book is the perfect feel good for any time of the day. Each page has its own motivational poem, from self-love to unconditional love, to the power of letting go. I like to read a little bit every night before bed for some inspiring, up lifting words.
– Katy
Man on the Moon: The End of Day by Kid Cudi, LP 12" Vinyl (Amazon)
An uncle of mine is a music lover and a purist when it comes to sound. He has always maintained a very respectable vinyl collection and one of the finest turntable and sound systems that I've heard. I always loved going to their house and listening to his records when I was growing up, and it inspired me to invest in my own vinyl collection with the hope of one day passing on the love for music and pure sound to the next generation. With all that said, I use Amazon to build my vinyl collection because it's easy to find my taste in music in vinyl format there. Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon: The End of Day is currently my favorite album in my collection, and I look forward to continue adding to the list.
– Hunter
Boho Bandeau Headbands (Amazon)
Boho Bandeau headbands are SO fun! You can wear them on good or bad hair days. They're the best when you want to add a pop of color to your outfit or when you need to hide how bad your hair looks. Boho Bandeau's are the definition of versatile!!
– Ingrid
Royal Talens Ecoline Liquid Watercolor Brush Pen, Set of 10 (Amazon)
I love calligraphy and hand-lettering. It's so relaxing for me, and is a way to help get my creative juices flowing when I'm feeling stuck. These watercolor pens are truly amazing. They have such vivid colors, the ink is really "juicy", for lack of a better word, and are so fun to use. You can do thin letters, thick letters, and even blend the colors. I love the feeling of using a brush tip pen - the flow & softness of the tip gives you so much freedom in your drawing. Basically, if you like fun pens & being creative (like me), these pens are a MUST.
Bonus: I freakin' love candles. From the flicker of the flame, to the wonderful, warm smells, I can't get enough. I'm that person that has a candle shelf with all the different scents I've collected from different places. I recently discovered Circle E Candles while I was at Buccee's in Denton, TX, and I immediately fell in love with the Earl Grey Tea candle. I wasn't intending on buying anything that day, but once I caught a sniff, I knew it would be the most recent addition to my collection. It's a hard scent to describe but it smells like "home" to me. The second I light it, I feel like I need to curl up with a good book or movie and just relax in my favorite spot in the house. It's clean, warm and strong enough that it fills your house with it's wonderful aroma, but subtle enough that it's not overwhelming enough to give you a headache. Trust me, if you're a candle person, you gotta give this one a try. If you're not, this may be the one that changes your mind.
– Darby
You may not know this but I really REALLY love air plants! Why? Because they are gorgeous, but mostly because I have a black thumb and these things are impossible to kill. And I love this sustainable softwood art piece/planter even more. It is the perfect compliment to those fun little green blobs of love. Made in Cali, it couldn't be any cooler if it tried. You can find tons of other cool designs on the 'handmade' section of Amazon!
– Paige N.
I chose the Kendra Scott Marty earrings because, well, I’m a girl that moved to Texas and apparently I’m super basic. But really-they come in Ivory Pearl (GORGEOUS!) + a mix of a million other pearlized colors, and I can’t get enough. I always tend to lean towards neutral colors when it comes to bedazzling myself because I want to wear them with EVERYTHING, but if those pink ones showed up under my tree I Would. Not. Cry. Dear dudes, if your lady needs something special and you’re wandering the nearest town square clueless, here is the link for you......so you can get back to whatever is currently on ESPN while confidently knowing you got something perfect.
– Kelsey
I received this YnM weighted blanket from my husband and was able to use it once before my daughter made it her own. I didn't even have a chance! She goes to bed earlier and would sneak it into her bed before tuck her in time. I am sure she was thinking, what mom would take a blanket off her cuddled up kid? So, after the 2nd purchase and shipping I was afforded the luxury of this blanket and it is awesome. I am an oven when I sleep and didn't get hot. It is said to help with Autism, ADD, Anxiety and Stress. It keeps my Texas Tornado daughter in one place while she sleeps. I believe it to be one of those things you can't remember what life was like before you had it! Now if I could get her to stop stealing my Air Pods!
– Miki
Windowsill Herb Garden Kit (Amazon)
Who doesn't love fresh! Fresh herbs growing right in your own kitchen can make cooking just that much more fun and delicious. I love this herb kit because it comes with everything you need, except the sunny window sill. This is the perfect gift for anyone like me who loves to cook with fresh ingredients and loves gardening.
– Josie
Capri Blue Iridescent Jar Candle (Anthropologie)
Because the Capri Blue Volcano scent smells like unicorns. I ALWAYS have this candle burning at home.
– Claire
I love snacks. I love snacks from different countries. I love snacks from different countries delivered straight to my doorstep... so my pick is SnackCrate! I subscribed to the original size SnackCrate ($26/month) 6 months ago after years of salivating over Buzzfeed's "First Time Trying..." [food around the world] channel... and yaaaaaas! This size gives you a good amount of snacks, both sweet and savory. Last month's box was from the UK.. NANDO'S PERI PERI CHICKEN CHIPS. Since Nando's has yet to conquer the Lone Star State, an amazon subscription to these will do for now-- ~warning~ There will be snacks you will fall in love with and will spend more money to get it to you by means of Amazon... I see that as a great problem to have. Last note- obviously you're buying this for the snacks BUT as the Thiel & Thiel motto goes, Design Matters. , and SnackCrate does not disappoint- from opening the bright blue box, your snacks come lined in paper printed with phrases written in the country's national language and various national symbols, a sheet of stickers with larger versions of said symbols or figures, and a fact sheet for the country. Appetizing and Educational, what more can you ask for?
– Nixon
Shine On Stud Earring Gift Set (BaubleBar)
If anyone knows me at all, they know my love for statement earrings. Baublebar has some of THE BEST earrings I have ever seen! Honestly, I could probably close my eyes and just randomly click my mouse on any pair and be over the moon in love with them. This Christmas they have these AMAZING gift sets for AMAZING prices!! It’s unreal you guys. If you have never looked at BaubleBar you need to right this minute because any earring loving girl would flip for these!
– Alicia
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, y'all!