It wouldn't be a holly jolly holiday without a gift for everyone
The holidays are a wonderful time of the year—the most wonderful, some would sing—don’t let the blues of shopping for the whole fam decrease the number of gifts under the tree.
Picture a wonderful time of the year where the weather is colder, and the food is warmer. All the family is over, and that one crazy uncle is sitting on your couch. And what did you get him this year… Now that is the age-old dilemma. Well, we’ve got you because we know (*impersonate Mariah Carey voice) all you want for Christmas is happy guests. ;) There are a few things we’ve learned about gifting over the holidays, so here is our gift to you. Just a few minor tips on what you can do to make your house the North Pole of the Year.
A Few Guidelines
1. First & foremost, identify gifting groups. See below.
2. Decide whether gifting is a thing. If not, skip to go (kidding, we’re not in a game, but it feels like it).
3. Then decide… are we gifting to a specific person or general gifts?
4. Designate what type of gifting will happen.
Identify Gifting Groups
Family holiday
Best friends
Extended family
Work life
Any others?
These first few things might seem elementary, but trust us. Holiday parties are all the more bright when the communication is all the more clear. And we are the senior squad, after all, when it comes to parties.
General Gifting
White elephant party
The only thing you need to know about gifting for a white elephant party is this: are gifts to be funny or genuine? Then pick from the list below and go all out. Our two cents are this: either be super ridiculous or super intentional and people will love you. Bonus points if you come dressed as Santa. ;)
Here are a few places to shop:
Dollar section at Target
Local thrift stores
FB marketplace
Amazon (bc duh)
Party City
Favorite things
What could be better, really? The concept here is that all guests come to the party with something they would classify as one of their, you guessed it, ‘favorite things’. A dollar range on the invite is helpful here to guide guests. We love your favorite gum flavor, but when Sophia shows up with the latest mascara hot on Poosh, well, your gum doesn’t shine so brightly.
Guests each show their ‘favorite thing’.
Navigate gifting with a standard gift exchange practicum.
Allow trading of course!
All guests walk away with a gift.
Gift exchange in $$ range
Purchase a fun gift of your choosing that could be enjoyed by any of the guests who may receive it. Think broad items like accessories, books, cozy socks, electronic accessories.
Category gift exchange
In this gifting type, a gift category is specified beforehand.
i.e. book, game, accessory, makeup item, cooking utensil, etc.
Every guest brings a wrapped gift of the decided specific item type.
Come party time… guests trade and open gifts.
Specific Recipients
Secret Santa
Pick names!
Simple as that…every participant picks names beforehand. We love Elfster.com to automate your name-picking process.
Participants all shop for the name they picked.
Choose to give gifts anonymously so guests get to guess who picked their name after gift exchange.
Couples gifts to couples
We love love, and we love this one. Put each couple's names in a hat, and draw. Each couple now selects a couple from the hat and can take the intentional time to spend money on a gift. Rather than trying to pick just the right gift for that one person, sometimes having a couple to focus on is even more sweet.
Gift experiences
Experiences are the gift of the century. The following could be used as ideas to gift either couples or individuals. A few of our favorites:
Gift card to the nice restaurant in town
Broadway show
Gas card: personalize it with a map of highlighted places to visit.
A written pre-planned date: ie directions to the local destination mountain town and gift card to ice cream or local shop.
A deck of cards and a gift card to the local hot coffee shop
Massage: couple’s edition, hello!
Nails: his and hers, it’s the 21st century after all.
Drive-in movie
You get the point. Spend money on things that will create lasting memories. We all need clothes, but what we all really need is more quality time with the people we love.
The holidays hold some of our fondest memories. Giving gifts to our favorite people are intended to be acts of love, but the hustle of the season sometimes interferes with the objective. That’s why we’re here. Pick the gifting type that suits your crew. Our goal is to remove the stress of gift giving and give you the leg up to the nice list.
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Cinnamon Spice and All Things Naughty and Nice
A flirty, naughty, not-nice affair. Drink an extra cocktail and you may forget Santa’s bringing you coal this year. Makes a great late-night gathering courtesy of our friends at Shaker & Spoon.
Apple Picking
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What’s a Little Murder Between Friends?
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Hi-Fi Holiday
A retro Christmas shindig with all the flair! Bright pops of color, metallic sheen, irresistible dishes and drinks that will make you flip your lid! Fun for a holiday party, Christmas party, or even a New Years Eve (NYE) party.
Friendsgiving
Everyone's favorite excuse for two Thanksgiving dinners but it always hits differently with your chosen fam. Serve it up family-style or make it a potluck (or, do both!).
Wreath Making Party
Welcome in winter with a fun and fragrant wreath making party that will put everyone in the ho-ho-holiday spirit.
Potluck
A potluck is always a good idea. Remove the stress of needing to cook and just invite your favorite people to share their favorite dishes. We love setting a theme and asking each guest to bring a dish to share.
Shabbat Dinner Party
Hit pause and reconnect with loved ones this weekend with light, airy decor, warm bread, and relaxing company.
Fall Harvest
Cozy, delicious, nostalgic — we capture all those fall feels with our harvest party. Bring in the new season with a get-together that relishes drinks and time with friends.
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