Christmas is somehow only ten days away, and if you’re anything like me you’ve once again procrastinated so bad it feels like finals week all over again. Wow, thank god it’s not though, right? In our defense, this wild and difficult year has completely flown by and I feel like realistically it should only be about August, but here we are! Seeing as we don’t need to pile on any additional stress in 2020, I’m coming at ya with some fun and unique ideas for everyone on your list that will arrive before the 25th.
Pretty much every year I post about ~last minute~ gift ideas which may seem intentional, since I know not everyone shops during cyber week when most bloggers have their posts thoughtfully prepared – however most of the time I simply don’t have my shiz together until right about now. I had planned on doing a gift guide for every category of giftee this year (“this year will be different!” lol in 2020, who was I kidding), BUT life got in the way, my brain doesn’t work anymore, and it also felt a bit weird promoting so much shopping during a time when money might be tight. I still wanted to share my picks, since I know a ton of you don’t knock out their shopping until now, and might also be looking for more affordable ideas this year. So for another holiday season, it just made sense to proceed with my last minute gift guide for him & her, and all under $50!
Additionally, I had planned on dedicating two entire guides to small/local and Black-owned businesses, but instead I tried to include them wherever possible below and will continue to share as many as I can on my insta stories. I know a lot of my picks are from bigger stores (and too many are from Amazon, much to my chagrin #lovehaterelationship), but feel free to use the below just for ideas and then find similar items at small or local businesses in your neck of the woods! And when in doubt, for this year only, gift cards are temporarily not deemed a “copout” present, because our shops, restaurants, bars, bookstores, and gyms need us right now. Gift cards also make pretty great stocking stuffers, if you ask me โค๏ธ
Now let’s get into it!
For Her:
- Bala Bands, $49: My sweet sister in law gave me these ankle weights for Christmas a couple years ago, and hey Zoe, can I just say you were seriously ahead of your time with these?? I had never seen or heard of them at that point but now I feel like they are EVERYWHERE. They’re one pound each, aka just enough to feel more of a burn but not enough to lead to bulky muscles, and I use them on everything from quarantine walks to spicing up a home Pilates workout.
- Acrylic Cosmetic Organizer, $30: For the YouTube beauty tutorial lover who cannot try out enough products, this rotating organizer will be as functional as it is chic. Kick this gift up a notch with some mini products in her stocking, such as this cult classic, this travel size favorite, this gamechanger set, and this fun throwback.
- Champagne Opener, $35: If you’ve ever said or heard your BFF say “I’m afraid of opening champagne bottles,” please raise your hand ๐ As someone who isn’t crazy about that suspenseful chore, this little gadget is genius! Pair this with a bottle of Veuve in a pretty wine bag if your gift budget is closer to $100!
- Acrylic Bravo Coaster, $18: When I read “bravo coaster” I imagined a bravo rollercoaster at a theme park designed by Andy Cohen, kind of like “It’s a Small World” but instead with legendary housewives scenes (i.e., Teresa’s table flip, scary island, Aviva’s leg, and the Beverly Hills dinner party from hell, just to name a few). Bravo, I’m available for contract work whenever you’re ready! Anyway, this kind of coaster isn’t quite as great as that, but it’s still iconic. #dorindaforever
- Wine Rack, $28: Ok wow, moving on – we got this gold wine rack off our wedding registry and we absolutely love it. Since we have a small apartment, we don’t have a ton of storage for wine so we put this baby on top of the fridge and it’s the prettiest space saver I ever did see.
- KNC Beauty Eye Masks, $25: Give the gift of a well-rested night, or at least the appearance of one! This Black-owned business brings joy back to the word “mask” (too soon?) with these adorable eye and lip(!) masks that anyone would be thrilled to find in their stocking.
- Marble Cheese Slicer, $28: My bestie brought this out with her charcuterie spread the other week, and it was the biggest crowd pleaser. Even though I love a good cheese knife set, this handy contraption gives you a picture-perfect slice of cheese every time, and let’s face it, the only acceptable way to end 2020 is with the phrase “picture-perfect cheese slice.”
- Tula Eye Balm, $30: I’ve been shouting from the rooftops about this on my insta (see my “fresh faced” highlight), and for dang good reason. This cooling and brightening eye cream comes in a convenient little stick so you can’t laze your way out of caring for your under eyes (is that just me?). It’s also ideal for de-puffing after a long night and is filled for good-for-you ingredients. I love Tula products so much I even got a promo code, so you can now use CHLOANDTELL for 15% off!
- Brumate Hopsulator Slim, $25: If I named the things I’ve used the most in 2020, my Brumate would be at least in my top 5. I cannot even put into words how much I love it, but I’m going to try. This grown up koozie is made especially for sparkling seltzers, so you never have to worry about a lukewarm White Claw ever again! I don’t know about y’all but I need my cold drinks *COLD* so if I start to feel them getting warm on me, I drink them way too fast (or even worse, waste them). Needless to say, this thing has been an absolute lifesaver. Although I purchased it for the beach, I use it every time I drink seltzers at home too! Truly (no pun intended ๐) could not recommend more.
- Phenomenal Woman Sweatshirt, $49: As a former biology major and overall supporter of scientific evidence in everyday life/global pandemics, not to mention a huge Dolly stan (of both her music and vaccine donations ๐๐ผ), this sweatshirt was made for me. But even better, this company supports the critical work that’s being done for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, getting justice for Breonna Taylor, the Black Lives Matter movement, and so much more. Bonus: if your mom/aunt/mother in law/etc. isn’t exactly on the right side of history, you can gift her the official “Phenomenal Woman” T-shirt and it can just be our little secret ๐
- Plant Mister, $13: For the plant-obsessed lady on your list, you can never go wrong with a bougie plant mister. I feel like this is something that a lot of people wouldn’t think to buy for themselves – aka the perfect kind of present! To support local businesses in your area, you can try a contact-free pickup at your neighborhood plant shop; otherwise, I also linked one that is sure to arrive by Christmas. Bonus points if you gift this with a little fiddle fig or pothos plant!
- Wine Glasses, $22: I’m super into an angular wine glass right now, and I feel like a set of 2 or 4 would be great for your favorite wino. These are the white wine glasses, but you can find the red ones here!
- Stackable Jewelry Organizer, $23: For that friend who can’t stop watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and The Home Edit, wrap up a set of these jewelry organizers! They’re stackable so they’ll easily fit in a drawer, they come in a bunch of colors, and are also made from yummy, high quality velvet. If this gift doesn’t freakin’ spark joy, I don’t know what will.
- Laniege Lip Mask, $22: One of my absolute ride or die products, this lip mask forever lives up to the hype. It’s right at the cusp of being an annoying price to spend on yourself, so again – easy present alert. I really love the vanilla lip mask for nighttime, but I also can’t live without the slightly tinted glowy lip balm in berry (which is also cheaper!).
- Rechargeable Lighter, $23: Speaking of ride or die, I don’t know how I was ever living my life without a rechargeable lighter. I first stumbled upon this ingenious product on Amazon maybe two years ago when we ran out of yet another plastic Bic, and I literally felt like a caveman who discovered the first flame. Now they’ve finally started to sweep the nation, and I feel like this is the future. This thing is SO easy to recharge, it’s better for the environment than all those wasted disposable lighters, and you feel like an actual chemist using it.
- Skincare Fridge, $40: For the girl who has everything, a skincare fridge might be the only thing left that she needs (“needs,” rather lol). I mean, who wants to keep their precious serums, masks, and pricey potions in the ole Frigidaire next to the mayo?! Not our best friend! The mini fridge I linked may not arrive by Christmas, so I also found this one that will, as well as this more expensive (but even more beautiful) one.
- Acrylic Mini Easel, $20: I’m constantly posting about this lil device to hold open my cookbook on the kitchen counter, but this one might just be giving mine a run for its money. This can be used not only how I mentioned, but for displaying a to-do list in the office, watching Netflix/reading on the iPad next to bed, you name it.
- Insulated Mug, $16: I can’t be the only one who can’t stand how fast hot coffee gets cold, right? An insulated mug is yet another item that most folks don’t think about actually getting for themselves, so there you are again being so thoughtful with your gift giving. Look at you! If the budget allows, I also love the idea of this mug & warmer set.
- Candle Accessory Set, $21: Pretty sure I’ve put this on about half of my gift guides, but ya really can’t go wrong. Most peeps probably don’t own sassy brass(y) candle accessories to trim/extinguish/revive their candle wicks, but I feel like we all deserve to feel a little bit more like Meryl Streep in a Nancy Meyers movie after the year we just endured! Again, I tried to find a small business to support instead of Amazon but the seller is no longer available so feel free to browse similar sellers on Etsy or just succumb to Jeff here, sigh.
- Slow Burn Candle, $38: Some things in this garbage fire of a world just make sense, like this Kacey Musgraves + Boy Smells candle aptly named “Slow Burn” after Kacey’s Golden Hour bop. Since y’all know how much I love a bundled gift, you could grab a 70s fruit or soda crate and arrange this, the lighter and candle accessories above, Kacey’s Christmas show album on vinyl, floral sage smudge sticks, a mug such as this one, and some CBD tea (or something else herbal) ๐ค
- Carhartt Beanie, $17: I love myself a good Carhartt beanie, and the color options for this one are endless. I’m especially into the neon ones for winter!
- Dior Roller Pearl, $48: Perfumes can be a little difficult to gift, but I think J’adore Dior Eau de Toilette is a super safe bet. Perfumes that are “de toilette” are less intense than “de parfum” so that’s already on your side, and this one is also a mini size (aka ideal for testing out). Since I can’t be trusted to identify the scent profile myself, the website describes it as a fresh floral scent, listing blood orange essence, neroli, and damascena rose essence as the main notes.
- Diamond Ice Molds, $15: If you have an an annual gift exchange, an engaged BFF on your list, or need a present for a cocktail lover of any kind, bring a whole new meaning to “on the rocks” with these fabulous diamond ice cube molds. I also found a $10 4-pack which can be found here.
- Ana Luisa Chain Ring, $39: Like I mentioned, this holiday season it’s important to support small businesses wherever possible (like I’ve attempted to do above), and highlighting Chlo & Tell jewelry fav Ana Luisa was a no brainer! I collaborated with them over the summer, and have been a huge fan ever since. I love the vintage vibes of the pieces, quality, and price, and I know the ladies on your shopping list will too! I wear this unique chain ring every single day and it has held up SO well.
- Smartwool Socks, $25: I know socks are sort of the modern day equivalent of getting coal for Christmas, but Smartwool socks are an A+ gift for both hygge and hiking lovers alike. I don’t know how it took me so long to try these but I was drawn to a pair on our fall Vermont trip, and I love them so much that I legitimately miss them when they’re in the hamper. Despite the wool of it all they aren’t remotely itchy, and they keep my feet toasty warm but are super moisture-wicking at the same time. Since they’re annoyingly expensive I don’t see myself shelling out $50 to get me through life until every laundry day lol, so friends/family if you’re listening…
For Him:
- Herschel Toiletry Bag, $30: Will has had the same old toiletry bag for years, and I think it’s finally time for something a little more stylish. If your man uses some janky bag (or even worse, a *plastic* bag ๐), it’s time to upgrade.
- Personalized Pocket Knife, $23: Kind of like a swiss army knife, but way cooler looking – and more meaningful! This would be a super thoughtful gift for your guy or your brother, and I don’t know about your dad but mine has had his ~favorite knife~ since before I was born lmao. If you’re local, you should also look into District Cutlery!
- Bluetooth Speaker, $20: You can never go wrong with one of these, and I think this speaker is so sleek looking. It also comes in a few other colors!
- Lounge Pants, $30: For some reason Will donates a pair of lounge pants every time he does a closet sweep (wow, we are very different), so I’ve learned to stock him up each holiday. These look extra soft, are currently in stock in every size, and also come in grey!
- Portable Charger, $40: I was ranting and raving about this charger on insta the other day, and I don’t think it will be the last time. I am obsessed with this thing. It plugs right into the wall instead of coming with an extra cord that you’re probably going to lose, and charges my phone surprisingly quick. I would have put this in the “for her” guide (because what even is gender these days, ya know?) but I had too many other cute things AND if you buy this for your dude it can also double as a gift for yourself ๐
- Lululemon Baseball Hat, $38: I hear wonderful things about Lulu’s baseball hats, and I really love this print! Alternatively, to help support small businesses, browse some of your man’s favorite brewery/restaurant/coffee shop websites for their merch selection. I got Will the sickest hat from his favorite brewery in the area and it felt great supporting a local spot.
- Pulled Pork Claws, $8 (originally $13): I always appreciate a good kitchen utensil, and this might be one of my all time favorites. Making pulled meat is usually so annoying, but these lil claws will get the job done in a fraction of the time. Plus, he’ll get to feel like Wolverine while he does it!
- Electric Toothbrush, $40: Another gift idea to file under: no one feels like buying for themselves. If you have a coffee drinking guy in your life, chances are he could use a little help in the whitening department – starting with a powerful toothbrush. This one is such a great price and has over 36K reviews on Amazon!
- Skull Ice Cube Mold, $13: As you can tell from my picks for her, I’m having a real moment with novelty ice cube trays ๐คฃ Although I love the diamonds, the skulls have my heart. These would be fun in an antique wooden Coca-Cola crate (guess I’m really into crates!!) with his favorite whiskey, a pair of classic glass tumblers, bar accessories, and some Jack Rudy bitters.
- Neck Massager, $43: Would you judge me if I said this would be another gift you could reap the benefits of as well? Sorry to be self-centered but I see no problem with gifting Will with something cool for the apartment, records to add to our collection, or an experience we get to do together. Two birds, one stone! I can see myself loving this warming neck/shoulder massager almost as much as he would ๐
- Briogeo Haircare, $49 & Scalp Massager, $16: This Black-owned business has been having a well-deserved moment recently, and I’ve heard fantastic things about it. If his scalp needs a little extra love, I’m sure your partner would enjoy an upgrade from his usual Head & Shoulders, and this head massager looks super dreamy!
- Power Drill, $49 (originally $99): Whether it’s for your dad, brother, or main squeeze, this price is too good to pass up. It’s also cordless, comes with 30 pieces in the kit, and has $14,500(!) reviews – so it’s ideal as a replacement for his old one or if he’s just learning how to be handy (@ most millennial boys).
- Screwpop Keychain, $10: Yes, every man who’s ever been in a fraternity probably has a bottle opener keychain, but what kind of unicorn has one that includes a corkscrew as well?! The guys on your list can forever be the hero of every social gathering, and hopefully you’ll never have to worry about pushing the cork down into the bottle ever again when you’re with him. Just me? K.
- Odin Beanie, $24: Is it just me or are some guys repelled by logos? Unless it’s his favorite team or the few brands he’ll be seen with, I know a some guys that wouldn’t even be into a chill beanie like Herschel or Carhartt because of the big tag on the front. This plain one is great and comes in a bunch of different colors!
- R2-D2 Airpods Case, $10 (originally $17): Oh my goodness, this might be the most adorable thing on here. Our nerdy guys will absolutely die over this Star Wars themed case for their Airpods. This one also comes in BB-8 (my fav!) and is currently on sale!
- Coffee Subscription, $16.50+: Another way to support your local community would be a coffee subscription or gift set from his favorite shop! I know Mudhouse in Charlottesville has a cool one that’s really customizable, and DMV’s Rako has a great holiday box. If you’re not finding one in your area, Bean Box also looks amazing.
- Blue Light Glasses, $35: With all the screen time in 2020, the men on our list surely need a little eye TLC. These spectacles come in three different colors (I really like the clear ones!) and will help prevent eye strain for all of his computer ga–I mean, zoom calls ๐
- Yeti Can Cooler, $25: I couldn’t just put a Brumate on the other guide and let these males drink warm beer! I bought this for Will before the beach and not only does he love it, but I also use it at home sometimes for La Croix and Diet Coke hehe.
- Armani Cologne Sampler, $48: If your favorite guy wants to “try getting into cologne” (direct quote from my husband), what better way to test the waters with a sampler pack? While perhaps a little overdone, I think Acqua Di Gio is a great first cologne to try since it’s not too overpowering. According to Armani, Pour Homme blends aquatic nuances with patchouli, while the Absolu takes a on a warm, woody twist, and the Profundo offers a mysterious take with cypress and lavender. All I know is it smells dreamy as heck.
- Parks Project Mugs, $18: I’m loving the Parks Project gear, especially their mission of protecting and preserving public lands. These Joshua Tree campfire mugs are super cool and would go well with the coffee subscription I mentioned above, along with accessories like an electric kettle or travel size Chemex.
- 3-in-1 Charging Dock, $28: If your tech loving man isn’t the most organized person in the world, this charging dock would be the best gift. It has a mount for his iPhone, Apple Watch, and Airpods, so he can grab them and go each morning.
Happy shopping and let me know if y’all need any other specific ideas!
