3 Gifts that are always a slam-dunk

When it comes to giving gifts to my loved ones, I always try to give something practical yet indulgent. With holidays and birthdays around every corner, I like to have a few ideas in mind when selecting a gift. While these 3 gifts ideas don’t apply to everyone’s needs or tastes, they easily elicit joy and smiles from all of my friends and family. Keep reading to find out what gifts knock the ball out of the park. The best part of this gift guide is that every gift is under $30!

Gift Idea #1: A unique Lunchbox

A lunchbox is a utilitarian item that most people use until it gets worn-out. As teachers who bring their lunch almost daily, my mom and I wear out our lunchboxes until they are falling apart. As I was thinking about what to get her for Valentine’s day, I was eating lunch at work. Suddenly, it dawned on me that a simple new lunchbox would definitely brighten up her lunchtime routine. I searched all over the web and came upon this cheerfully colorful lunchbox on Amazon for $16. The handles on this bag are comfy and easy to sling over your arm. I also sent my step-father a sturdy and masculine black lunchbox for $17. They both loved them tremendously and sent me a photo of their new gear! The photo is featured at the top of this post.

Gift Idea #2: Lipstick + Sunglasses

No matter who you are gift-shopping for, I promise that any of your female friends or family will enjoy a new pair of shades and lipstick, balm, or gloss. My go-to shop for affordable sunglasses is Ann Taylor Loft. Most of the eyewear costs $25, but is almost always on sale for $15. These pink round shades pictured above would be so cute on several of my friends! Once you’ve picked out a pretty pair of sunglasses, go ahead and select a lipstick for your gift recipient, too! There’s a rusty red-brown lip color that I love to give my friends and it’s incredibly affordable. It’s called Nyx Professional Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Berlin.” It’s a slam-dunk every time. I’ve gifted this lipcolor to at least 3 of my friends. It’s universally-flattering and a bit vampy. It’s the perfect glam gift for any girl who wears makeup. For the women in your life who rock that “no-makeup” look, pick up and gift-wrap the bareMinerals Moxie Plumping Lip Gloss for your friend. I love this gloss so much that I raved about it in my Finds of the Month: January 2018.

Gift Idea #3: Fancy Water Bottle + Tea

Since water is incredibly important to stay hydrated and healthy, everyone needs a trusty water bottle. I have about 10 different bottles that I rotate, depending on my mood. As a teacher who is essentially doing public-speaking all day long (in 2 languages-hah!), my accent and voice tone can be affected if my throat is dry. With that said, I love having a pretty water bottle at an arm’s reach. Most of my water bottles were gifted to me, so I like to return the favor by giving them as gifts. One of my favorites right now is a tall glass water bottle by Contigo for under $10! Along with the water bottle, if my recipient loves tea, I’ll throw in a box of high-quality tea, such as Harney & Sons Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea for $12.50.  How cute is this pastel tin box? I gave this tea to my friend Andrea as a late Christmas present and she sent me back the most adorable thank-you note.

So, there you have it! I hope this gift guide helps make your gift-hunt that much easier and fun. But, tell me: what are your go-to gifts for loved ones?