Lifestyle

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It’s that time of year again. Who’s ready for the first gift guide of the season? Christmas is just a month away and we’re all trying to figure out what to get our loved ones. This year I’m going to be publishing multiple gift guides so hopefully, you’ll be able to find something perfect on my blog!

This year has been rough and I know there are people who are struggling financially so I decided to make an affordable gift guide for those who don’t have a lot to spend this year but still want to get something for everyone on their list. While looking for the perfect items, I made sure each one had great reviews. Also, Amazon is the perfect “one-stop” shop if you’re trying to get your shopping done quickly and effortlessly.

Let’s shop for…

The One Who’s All About Self-Care

We all know someone who is adamant about having a self-care day. You know, face masks, affirmations, and a good bubble bath. I’ll admit that I’m totally one of these people so trust me when I say that these are awesome self-care gifts!

Sheet Face Masks

First up are these sheet face masks that come in a pack of 12 for only $9.99! Sheet masks are so relaxing and perfect for a self-care day. These all contain collagen but each one is targeted specifically for a different skin issue. For example, there are ones for hydration, brightening, and even purifying!

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Bath Bombs

If you have a bath lover on your list, they need these bath bombs in their life! There are so many places that sell expensive bath bombs so finding ones that are of excellent quality at an affordable price is so worth it. These bath bombs are all made of dead sea salt, shea butter, cocoa butter, and various essential oils.

A Guided Journal

Do you know somebody who loves to journal or maybe loves the idea but would rather have prompts to go off of? This awesome guided journal has lots of fun prompts and activities that help you focus on the positive things in life. Journaling is a great way to relax and is perfect for a self-care routine.

Affirmation Cards

These cards are for that person who lives by positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are helpful to improve moods and bring motivation to every day.

I love these because they’re not overly serious or corny. There’s a touch of humor in each card which keeps it interesting!

Coloring Book to Destress

Coloring is a great stress-relieving activity in general but this “maybe swearing will help” book is the most calming way to get any frustration out on a bad day. With a mixture of motivation, puns, and curse words, what’s not to love? I own one of these and I personally think every adult should own one!

The One Who’s Always In The Kitchen

When you think of someone who absolutely loves baking and spending time perfecting new recipes, who comes to mind? I’m sure that whoever it is will love these kitchen items!

Pro Food Chopper

When it comes to cooking, I think a lot of people dread the whole chopping process. Well, the pro food chopper is coming to the rescue with two dicer blades, a spiral blade, and a ribbon blade. I would definitely look forward to making veggies with this thing!

Indoor Herb Garden

You don’t need to be a plant expert to have an indoor herb garden! I personally have a few herbs growing in my small apartment so trust me when I say it’s easy and possible. Being able to harvest your own fresh basil, cilantro, parsley, sage, and thyme is a cooks dream. This kit has everything you need for an awesome indoor herb garden.

HotPop Popcorn Maker

Making popcorn has never been easier with this popcorn maker! I’ve been using a loud electric popcorn maker for years and I’ve always hated how much space it takes up, how long it takes, and how loud it is. This popcorn maker collapses which is great for space and it takes minutes in the microwave! Not to mention it’s a much healthier option to the greasy prepackaged microwave popcorn!

Funny Kitchen Towels

Cute and funny kitchen towels are a must for some people. Especially me. They add personality to the kitchen and even sometimes sparks up a conversation if you have guests over. It’s really the little things that make people happy.

The One Who Loves All Things Cozy

I don’t know about you but I would never say no to a new blanket or fuzzy socks. From somebody who is obsessed with cozy items, I found the perfect gifts for the lover of all things cozy.

Fuzzy Blanket

I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t love a new blanket for Christmas. Especially a super soft faux fur one at that! This blanket comes in multiple colors and sizes so you can find the perfect one for that blanket lover on your list.

House Slippers

Do you know somebody who has been wearing the same worn down slippers for way too long? It’s time for a new pair! Slippers are a must-have for a cozy night in. These slippers have a memory foam pad and plush fleece lining to keep your feet comfy and warm.

Candles

Nothing says cozy better than lighting a candle and wrapping up in a blanket. Now I love my bath & body works candles but this candle is my next favorite! It’s made with natural essential oils and has an amazing throw but it’s not overwhelming at the same time.

The Beauty Lover

I know we all know someone who is obsessed with beauty. Whether it’s new makeup or skincare products, these items will not disappoint.

Makeup Brushes

New makeup brushes are always an awesome gift for a makeup lover. Even if they have many, they’ll appreciate new ones to add to their collection. This makeup brush set comes with 16 brushes for every purpose.

Facial Cleansing Brush System

When it comes to washing your face, your hands just aren’t enough. Every body not only deserves a nice cleansing brush but a brush with 7 attachments for various uses. This brush system has you covered when it comes to face washing, exfoliating, callus removal, and massaging!

Makeup Vanity Mirror

Coming from a makeup lover herself, I have to say that one mirror isn’t enough when applying makeup. I actually have this exact mirror from Amazon and I love it. It makes doing my eyebrows and eyeshadow so much easier with the magnified mirrors and built-in lights. The storage tray is also great for holding jewelry.

Scrunchies

Scrunchies are very popular again so seeing 60 scrunchies for only $8 even makes me excited! Not only are they cute and comfortable when they’re holding your hair up but they double as a cute bracelet.

The Gym Rat

These gifts are for the one who’s serious about their workout routine and bettering themselves.

Yoga Exercise Cards

These cards are perfect for that yoga lover. These were made by a certified yoga instructor and the poses range from beginner to intermediate. Each card also has a QR code that you can scan with your phone to be directed to an instructional video for that pose!

Motivational Water Bottle

Everyone needs to drink more water but especially if they’re physically active. This water bottle, which comes in multiple colors, makes drinking water so much easier while keeping you motivated throughout the day. Dehydration? What’s that?

Fitness Journal

It’s important to keep track of your progress throughout your fitness journey. If you have goals, you should write them down. This fitness journal not only gives you the space to write down your daily workouts and progress in detail but it also has a helpful workout guide inside.

Running Belt

When going on a run or working out at the gym, this lightweight belt can keep your belongings in place comfortably. The phone holder holds most smartphones so you don’t have to worry about it being too small. It even comes with a headphone holder which is especially helpful if you like listening to music while working out.

The One Who Loves To Plan

Do you know somebody who needs to always jot things down in their planner, write notes, and needs to stay organized at all times?

2021 Planner

I’m somebody who needs to write down their schedule and plans every single week in their planner. I completely understand the need to have a good planner. I currently have this weekly planner and I love it. Included are life coaching pages to help you figure out your plan for the year and a sheet of stickers which I love.

Journal Pens

The one thing that I hate more than writing in my planner with a boring black pen is having my colored pens bleed through the pages. That doesn’t happen with these pens!

Planner Stickers

Adding stickers to planners makes planning fun and even therapeutic! This sticker pack comes with 1378 stickers! They range from purely decorative to productive and functional.

Desk Organizer

If they own multiple notebooks and planners, it’s likely that they need some cute organization for all of their items. This set comes with 5 organizers and has a variety of colors to choose from.

The Men In Your Life

As a woman, shopping for men is not my forte but after looking at amazon and asking a few men in my life what men typically like, I’m confident that the men in your life will love these gifts!

Beard Grooming Kit

If I do know anything about men is if they have a big full beard, they take care of it like women take care of their own hair. This kit comes with everything they need to properly care for their beard. A free ebook on beard care is also included!

Tactical Pen

Any guy on your list will appreciate this heavy-duty 10 in 1 tactical pen. Included is a flashlight, multitool head, screwdriver, knife, glass breaker, batteries, and ballpoint refills.

Smoked Spices Set

If he loves cooking, he’ll appreciate these spices that add delicious smokey flavors to his favorite dishes. These spices are also certified organic and kosher which is always nice!

Listening to music or talking on the phone just got easier and warmer! Nobody likes battling headphone cords when going on a run or heading to the store anyway.

Happy Gifting!

I hope you all were able to find at least one awesome gift through this affordable gift guide. There will be more gift guides coming to my blog very soon so make sure you’re on the email list so you don’t miss them!

It seems like everyone wanted to try their green thumb at taking care of plants during quartantine. Yes, I am one of those people. Long story short, I am now obsessed with plants and have done endless research about the plants I have and the ones I want in the future.

If you have thought about adding some plants to your house, I’m going to be showing you 5 of my favorite and “hard to kill” plants you can take care of even if you don’t have plant experience. Basically, these are the best beginner plants in my opinion!

Pothos

Pothos are literally my favorite. You need a pothos especially if you just want to dip your toe in the plant world. Fun fact, before I was even interested in plants, my mom dropped off her pothos for me to “adopt.” Uh yeah, I think I only watered it a few times that year and it didn’t die.

The thing that I realized is you can neglect a pothos and it’ll become stagnant but it’s a stubborn one and just sticks around. The only way it would die is if you had it in full sun without months of watering because it would just end up frying.

So you’ll have a pretty plant that won’t grow but won’t die if you don’t give it water right away. The second you give it attention though, it won’t stop growing! I have three jade pothos in my apartment and two of them are literally climbing my apartment walls. Going for that jungle vibe? Pothos is your plant!

Snake Plant

My second favorite plant is definitely a statement piece. The snake plant is actually considered a succulent which I was unaware of when I first bought it. For succulents, you want to make sure you use “succulent mix” soil when you repot it from the original nursery pot you got it in. The good news is that means it naturally needs less water. In fact, the fastest way to kill a succulent is by overwatering it. In this case, less is more. The plant likes the soil to pretty much dry out before being watered again. This can range from a couple weeks in the summer to a couple of months in the water!

Aloe Vera

We love a plant that is not only pretty but has medicinal properties, yeah? Here’s another very popular succulent! I remember when I was growing up, my grandma used to have a huge aloe vera plant in her living room and she always used the aloe inside the leaves whenever we got a cut or a sunburn. It’s such a rewarding plant that again, could be neglected for a couple of months and be okay.

I bought this succulent on Etsy and it was a tiny little thing when I first received it. It’s growing pretty nicely! These don’t like constant sunlight so I placed it in my room where it receives indirect sunlight in the evening.

Various Succulents

You’ve probably seen arrangements like this in your local grocery store which is exactly where I bought these guys! I think they’re so fun. They come with multiple succulents in a pot but they’re all similar in the fact they need little water and lots of sun!

I’ve noticed that these guys actually start turning colors when they’re getting enough sun. See the pink on that neon green plant and the red tips on the others? Those colors weren’t there when I first bought it. After research, I came to the conclusion that this is when you know they’re happy!

When you have a happy succulent, it may start growing like a weed depending on the type. That neon green succulent grows so much that I actually cut it and propagate it every few months. Propagating is basically taking a cutting from a plant, sticking it in water or soil, and seeing it grow into a whole new plant! So that one plant can easily become ten. I’m going to start handing out succulents for Christmas I think!

Christmas Cactus

This plant is a special one. It’s been in my family for generations! It was first my great grandmas then when she passed, my great aunt took it on. When my aunt heard about my love for plants, she allowed me to have it. It is a cactus so just like succulents, they don’t need constant water and could survive with neglect. In fact, I think it was stuck in stagnation when I brought it home because it was bone dry then I watered it once and those baby tips started popping up all over the place. The soil even grew a tiny little mushroom which after research I learned is an indication of healthy soil!

Also, these bloom! I haven’t had this plant that long so I haven’t actually seen the flowers but Christmas cacti’s are supposed to bloom around, you guessed it, Christmas. I’m looking forward to seeing that!

Take The First Step

If getting a plant has been on your mind lately, I say go for it! Any one of these 5 plants would be perfect beginner plants just because they aren’t very needy when it comes to water.

Some tips to remember:

• When watering, less is always more.
• If you’re getting a succulent or cactus, use succulent mix for soil.
• Unsure of when you should water? Stick your finger in the soil about 1-2 inches. If it’s dry, it’s time to give it some water.
• You may become obsessed, just let it happen!

If you have plants, let me know what you’re favorite one is down below in the comments!