The holidays are coming!   Not only does Hanukkah start on Nov 28, but we got a whole slew of boats hanging around SoCal ports with goods that have not made it to the shelves.  The holidays mark the end of the year with light. That light can be created with loved ones, so gifts aren’t the most important part. They can come in the form of homemade gifts (last year, I made vanilla extract for everyone), or having a no gift exchange understanding and losing that stress altogether. But if you need some ideas, I have 6 suggestions all under $40 of items that I love.  All gifts are perfect for men and women!  Links for each product are in the bold and underline type, as well as the entire photo!

Exquisite Nighttime Complex - This is my new favorite night cream.  The smell is amazing and it is made with 100% natural ingredients. It feels light going on, and is incredibly moisturizing.  You just need a quarter size, sometimes more if it is dry.   I pull some up with the back of my nail, rub it in my fingers, and pat or gently rub it into my face.  If you are one of my family members, STOP READING HERE and move on to the next idea!  Bye! That is because this year, I have bought this for my family for the holidays.  Tania, who makes this miracle potion, is not only a lovely person, but is quick to respond to any questions, and quick to ship.  She is on Etsy, and makes everything herself, so I feel good supporting her magic.  She uses high quality, pure ingredients. One of the ingredients is grass fed tallow, which Tania says “matches our skin’s fatty acid profile for ultimate moisture”, so if you have a vegan or vegetarian in your life, this may be the worst gift ever.  When I put it on, I smell orange and rose essential oil freshness.  My skin is soft in the morning too!  She has many other offerings in her store as well.  I also recommended her lip balms and body butters.

Out of the thousands of dollars I spent getting my home studio in order, one of my favorite toys is under $20.  The Original Stretch Out Strap is my unlikely hero.  I have a simple yoga strap, so who knew that could be elevated?  This looped strap keeps my feet looped in and hands comfortably holding. It’s genius in its simplicity.  It even comes with a book with some stretching ideas. There is a lot of controversy around static stretching.  I like to do it or teach it after a workout if needed.  But it’s helpful to have a strap if you don’t have anyone to help you, like a dear Pilates and strength trainer you may know…

My sister gave me this for my birthday this summer, and I thought it was the ugliest thing I have ever seen and wondered how fast I could get rid of it.  My sister is the hippest in my family, but I thought she really lost it.  I tried it and now love the Stanley 40 Ounce Adventure Quencher.  When I say love, I mean  obsessed with its unsightliness!  It keeps your drink cold, refills and washes easily and is so easy to sip, sip, sip all day long. I know I am getting some good water intake in my day.  It is double walled stainless steel, but has a plastic straw and lid.  I am currently looking for a 12 inch glass straw to replace it.  I use it at night, during the day, and on the go.  The best news keeps coming, it will fit into your car’s drink holder, unlike other 40 ounce bottles.  The downside to this is it’s a bit heavy to carry around.  I usually use it at home, or leave it in the car when I run errands.  If they spill, gravity wins and out goes your drink. I'm not the only one in love with this drinking container - they are out of stock until early December, but you can sign up to be on their mailing list to be informed the stock is back in, then run fast to your computer or phone to buy - they will sell out. Mine (as shown in pic) is a little beat up as I did that thing where you leave your drink on top of the car, then proceed to drive off with it on the roof still, but it survived!

I love having my nails did, but they chip so easily, and then the time and money to go and get them done.  Not for me!  So my best solution is Dashing Diva.  I almost always have the Gloss line on my nails. They have press ons called Magic Press, a new gel line called Glaze, and cute stickers for kids. They are good for about 2 weeks, never chip, and they never damage my nails.  Out of all the nail aplicades brands I have tried, these work the best.  They look expensive, good quality, and are always conversation starters with strangers.  They have solid colors, nail designs, including fun, creative ones for all the holidays, and they ship fast.  The link above saves you $5 too. They are a fantastic gift for all ages. Dashing Diva recently changed their nail sizes to accommodate bigger hands, so your gender fluidity friends can enjoy them too! 

My mom got me this a long time ago.  I pretty much use it everyday and it has held up great.  I wouldn’t say it is high fashion, but it is very functional! It’s a two part magnetic pouch. One part is thin, comfortable material that goes inside your pants, while the other part snaps into place securely outside.  That section has a divider to hold your phone, some cash, and your keys.  The Buddy Pouch is perfect for hiking, running, walking, or a quick errands in which you can ditch the purse or pocket.  I wear mine on the back of my pants.  It never bothers me, and sure beats a big fanny pack or sling.  

This is always my go to gift when I don’t know what to give.  Who doesn’t need socks!  These Stance no show socks are my favorite.  They are uniquely designed, well made, don’t slip off (other brands tend to do), and last a long time.  I really like buying from their website, as they have great sales and selection.  The no show socks are made for men and women. They also have an eclectic array of other socks too.

I hope this was a helpful guide on some gift giving, and even sparked inspiration for other ideas.  There are other ways to give, like donations to your favorite charities, or sending food or groceries to others.  Or picking up an old fashion phone and checking in can be a gift as well! Whatever way it is, enjoy these last months of 2021!